Infant Torticollis

Physiotherapy helps lengthen and stretch your baby’s tight neck muscles. Physiotherapy for torticollis is made of specialist stretches, handling, and exercises to encourage muscle balance in your baby’s neck. The physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk will show you the proper exercises and stretches that you will be required to perform them on your child several times a day. Most baby’s respond well to physiotherapy.

With proper treatment, 90% to 95% of children improve before the first year of life, and 97% of patients improve if treatment starts before the first six months

There are a number of studies which demonstrate excellent results with the initiation of physiotherapy at an early age. These studies demonstrate the most important factors impacting on how quickly the torticollis improves and resolves include: the type of torticollis, the severity of restriction in movement and the age of referral for physiotherapy.

In general, the earlier the baby is referred to physiotherapy, the better the outcome. Physiotherapy can help torticollis by stretching the tight muscle. The physiotherapist will work with the parents to develop a home program of gentle stretching exercises and ideas for play and positioning.

In babies over six months, strengthening exercises may also be included to assist the baby to develop their ability to hold their neck upright. This home program is best incorporated into the baby’s daily routine of nappy changes, feeding, sleep and play time. The gentle stretching exercises should not be painful or upsetting for the baby.


Treatment

  • stretches to lengthen the tight muscle

  • exercises to strengthen your baby’s neck muscles

  • ways to carry your baby to encourage them to look to their non-preferred side or to stretch their tight muscles

  • positions to play with your baby to help all of the above, as well as their development.