What is Torticollis?
February 13, 2025
What is Torticollis?
What is it?
Roughly 200,000 cases of Torticollis a reported annually, primarily affecting infants. It is a twisting of neck due to tight muscles (mostly involves the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle)that causes the head to rotate and/or tilt to one side. Torticollis can lead to plagiocephaly, which is a flattening of the head. It's best to address Torticollis as soon as possible (which is typically around 4-6 months of age) to start with shaping helmet due to rate of head growth.
What Can Cause it?
- A breech position in-utero and little in-utero motion
- Can be from an injury (birth or after), vigorous movement, sleeping in awkward positions or devices (car seats, swings, etc.), and neck spasms
- Can be secondary from slipped facets, herniated discs, viral or bacterial infections
What Are The Symptoms
- Neck pain (hard to verify in babies)
- Inability to turn/tilt head symmetrically to both sides
- Muscle spasms
- Reflux
- Difficulty feeding
- Difficulty with positioning
What You Need To Know + Tips!
- Early intervention is key! If you have concerns, talk to pediatrician and seek physical therapy services
- If not treated it can affect a child's: vision, sensory processing, feeding, fine/gross motor skills, shoulders, trunk and hips
- Stretch! Helpful stretches include:
- Neck rotation
- Neck side bending
- Neck extension
- Varied your child's positioning to back, tummy side-lying, and sitting. Pay special attention to the way your child moves in opposite of their muscular tightness
- Use toys for motivation to get a child to move in different ways
- Limit time in single device such as a stroller, swing, or car seat
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A Fun Way to Introduce Your Child to Food!
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