congenital torticollis

This is a fairly common condition that affects 1 in 250 babies born in the United States. If your baby has this condition, you will notice that he keeps his face turned to one side of her body more than the other. Also, his head will tilt or turn to the opposite side. Parents of babies with this condition have also reported being able to feel a small but noticeable bulge in the center of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) on the side of the baby’s neck. Tea SCM It is a large, rope-like muscle that begins at the scapula and ends at the base of the skull. This muscle is responsible for tilting and rotating the head.

How is Congenital Torticollis discovered?

Congenital torticollis is usually detected during a routine exam by the baby’s pediatrician within the first month or two after the baby is born. Most cases of congenital torticollis are subtle and often go unnoticed by parents who may not know what to look for. Once your doctor has ordered x-rays to confirm the diagnosis, he or she may also recommend that your baby receive physical therapy. It is important to start treatment as soon as possible for this condition because, if left untreated, torticollis could cause your baby to develop plagiocephaly (flat-toe). head syndrome), a condition that causes the back or side of the baby’s head to become flattened due to prolonged pressure on the same part of the skull. Premature babies are especially susceptible to plagiocephaly because their skulls are softer than the skulls of full-term babies.

How is Congenital Torticollis treated?

This condition can be corrected using simple stretches and positioning at home. Also, torticollis can be resolved by turning your baby’s face to the opposite side each time she puts him down to sleep.

1. Tea “Turn the headneck stretch

• Lay your baby on his back on the couch with his head close to your body.
• Hold a brightly colored toy 4 to 6 inches in front of his face and move it from side to side so he has to turn his head to follow the toy.
• As your baby turns his head to look at the toy, lower the toy to the surface of the sofa so that he has to turn his head in the opposite direction from the side he normally turns his head to.
• Put your hand to the side of her head to keep her head turned toward her. underprivileged side as long as she can tolerate it.
• Rub her tummy and talk to her to keep her calm during this exercise.

two. Soccer stretch (for right-sided torticollis)

• Hold your baby with her back against your chest.
• Lean your body so that it leans at a 45 degree angle with your head toward your right arm.
• Slide your left arm between her legs and up across her chest and hold her Correct shoulder with his left hand.
• Use your right hand on the right side of your head and gently tilt your head to the side until your left the ear touches the top of it left shoulder.
• Now he is stretching the Correct Sternocleidomastoid muscle.
• If your baby has left-sided torticollis, reverse the instructions above to stretch the left sternocleidomastoid muscle.

3. stretch while bottle feeding (Right Side Torticollis)

• if your baby has Correct lateral torticollis, he would have difficulty turning his head towards her Correct side.
• Hold the baby in your left arm and start feeding her with a bottle.
• When you are comfortably nursing, remove the nipple from your mouth.
• Touch the nipple on the right side of her mouth and ask her to turn her head to the right to return the nipple to her mouth.
• Repeat this process of removing the nipple from her mouth and coaxing her to the right side to place the nipple back in her mouth until her head has turned all the way to the right side.
• Complete the feed with your head turned all the way to the right side and this will stretch your head to the right. SCM muscular.

This condition should gradually resolve if you stretch your baby’s tight neck muscles 4-5 times a day.