{"id":214890,"date":"2024-07-20T09:53:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-20T09:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e3232af3e5.nxcli.net\/?p=214890"},"modified":"2024-07-29T16:02:59","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:02:59","slug":"straightening-the-course-treating-torticollis-with-pediatric-physical-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gopt.us\/childrensrehabcenter\/straightening-the-course-treating-torticollis-with-pediatric-physical-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Straightening the Course: Treating Torticollis with Pediatric Physical Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cTorticollis<\/a>\u201d translates literally to \u201ctwisted neck,\u201d which can make it an alarming diagnosis to receive about your infant. In reality, however, torticollis affects about 16% of newborns, and the condition is usually easily resolved. At Children’s Rehab Center, we offer one of its best treatments: pediatric physical therapy for torticollis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Torticollis has several potential causes that all result in your baby\u2019s head being turned and\/or tilted to one side. If left untreated, this position can cause issues later in your child\u2019s life, impacting their overall posture, balance, and stability and delaying their development of gross motor skills, such as crawling or walking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, treatment for torticollis is usually straightforward. Physical therapy at Children’s Rehab Center can help improve your child’s neck’s muscles function and range of motion, correcting the impairment before it can have a lasting impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our staff is happy to help you understand torticollis. Call our Kearney, Hastings, or Grand Island clinic<\/a> to schedule an appointment today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding The Causes and Types of Torticollis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Experts divide torticollis into three groups. The most easily treatable is positional torticollis<\/strong>, in which the child has either a muscle imbalance or a strong preference for certain positions, which can lead to a sideways head tilt. Regular physical therapy will almost always resolve this type of torticollis, although it\u2019s important that treatment not stop too early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muscular torticollis<\/strong> occurs when a child\u2019s neck muscles are too tight, leading to a restriction in their neck\u2019s range of motion that causes them to hold their head to one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCM (sternocleidomastoid) torticollis<\/strong> is the most severe form. It\u2019s sometimes referred to as \u201ctumor torticollis\u201d because it causes a large bulge in your child\u2019s muscle tissue, leading to muscle tightness and decreased neck mobility. This bulge is not actually a tumor, but this form of torticollis can take the longest to treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact causes of torticollis can vary. Most infants have congenital torticollis. Certain unavoidable factors can cause children to be born with the condition, including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n