Torticollis Information &

Home Exercise Program

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!What!is!torticollis?!

!•Torticollis!is!most!commonly!due!to!the!tightening!or!shortening!of!the!sternocleidomastoid!(SCM)!muscle!of!the!neck,!which!connects!the!skull!to!the!collarbone!and!sternum.!!

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•The!right!SCM!bends!the!neck!to!the!right!side!and!rotates!the!neck!to!the!left!side.!The!left!SCM!bends!the!neck!to!the!left!side!and!rotates!the!neck!to!the!right!side.!!•A!tight!or!shortened!SCM!may!cause!your!baby!to!hold!his!or!her!head!in!a!tilted!and/or!rotated!position.!•Your!baby!may!have!difficulty!holding!his!or!her!head!in!midline!or!actively!moving!toward!the!nonQpreferred!side.!

!What!causes!torticollis?!

!•Neck!position!in!the!womb!! QRisk!factors:!breech!position,!high!birth!weight,!multiples!!•Delivery!complications!or!trauma!to!neck!muscles!during!birth!! QExamples:!use!of!forceps!or!vacuum!extraction!!•Positioning!after!birth!! QAlways!feeding!or!carrying!your!baby!in!the!same!position,!placing!!! toys!on!one!side!of!the!crib,!extended!time!in!carriers!!!•Less!commonly!caused!by!congenital!abnormalities!of!the!neck!vertebrae!

QWill!not!respond!to!muscle!stretching!!

What!you!can!do!at!home!

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•Tummy!time!!QAs!much!time!as!possible!throughout!the!day!

! QHelps!develop!neck!and!shoulder!muscle!strength!! QKeeps!pressure!off!of!your!baby’s!skull!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!•Encourage!active!turning!to!the!opposite!side!with!toys!or!positioning!of!yourself!and!family!members!during!playtime!!•Perform!your!baby’s!home!exercise!program!daily!

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!Stretches!

Images!from!orthoseek.com!

Right!torticollis!

!Hold!your!baby!so!his/her!right!side!is!against!your!arm.!Use!your!hand!or!forearm!to!gently!tilt!your!baby’s!head!to!the!left!!

!With!your!baby!lying!down,!apply!downward!pressure!on!his/her!right!shoulder!and!tilt!his/her!head!to!the!left!

!!With!your!baby!lying!down!or!being!held!against!your!chest,!rotate!his/her!head!to!the!right.!Use!one!hand!to!rotate!the!head!and!one!hand/forearm!to!stabilize!the!shoulder!and!torso!

!Stretches!

Images!from!orthoseek.com!

Left!torticollis!!

!Hold!your!baby!so!his/her!left!side!is!against!your!arm.!Use!your!hand!or!forearm!to!gently!tilt!your!baby’s!head!to!the!right!!

!With!your!baby!lying!down,!apply!downward!pressure!on!his/her!left!shoulder!and!tilt!his/her!head!to!the!right!!

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!With!your!baby!lying!down!or!being!held!against!your!chest,!rotate!his/her!head!to!the!left.!Use!one!hand!to!rotate!the!head!and!one!hand/forearm!to!stabilize!the!shoulder!and!torso!