By Dr Karli Plowright (Chiropractor)
Nomad Chiropractic Mosman
What is torticollis?
Torticollis is a head tilt to one side, usually incorporating a rotation to there other side; or difficulty in turning the neck.
What causes torticollis in babies?
Most commonly this is due to a muscle on the side of the neck (the sternocleidomastoid), which has become tight and shortened, causing the neck to tilt. In newborns this can be caused by a number of things such as: the baby's position in the womb, after a difficult child birth or be a symptom/sign of something systemic underlying (ie. a symptom of something bigger than a muscluloskeletal issue).
How would I know if my baby has a torticollis?
Your baby's head is tilted to one side (+/- rotated to the opposite side as well)
Your baby is struggling to turn the head one or both ways
Your baby is finding it hard to feed on one side in particular
There is a flattening on one side of their head (Plagiocephaly)
Your baby has symptoms of dysplasia of the hips +/- clubfoot
What happens if I don’t correct my baby’s torticollis?
The human body is amazing so it may resolve itself but we highly recommend having it checked because it could be a symptom of something else. Furthermore torticollis may cause pain, stiffness, and even impact the shape of the head. Anything that impacts the ability of the baby to move freely can impact their vestibular system, their motor and neurological development (ability to lift their head / do tummy time / milestones etc) and so on. The earlier it is recognised the easier it is to ease the restriction allowing the body to heal/recover.
How can I help my baby’s torticollis?
Chiropractic treatment is gentle, safe and effective for babies with torticollis - we highly recommend an assessment to see if chiropractic is the right choice for you and your baby. Some other recommendations include encouraging feeding on both sides and making sure the baby is getting tummy time every day.
What home-care exercises can I do for my baby’s torticollis?
(Click here for some videos of the below)
Begin in a tiger hold, place your baby’s head down on the tilted side. Gently stretch the affected side (tilted) away.
Begin in a football hold, move the shoulder up on the same side as the neck tilt.
Cuddle bub, whilst turning (rotating) the neck to the non preferred side.
There are a few types of torticollis, this is just a list of some basics, so it is recommended to get checked. If you have any queries (mothers intuition is key!) then get in contact with your Mosman Chiropractor’s to get your baby checked.
Till next time!
Chiro Karli
*Disclaimer: advice is general only and not specific to you and your baby. If you’re at all concerned please consult with your local paediatric health practitioner
NOMAD CHIROPRACTIC IN MOSMAN NSW HAS A PREGNANCY AND PAEDIATRIC FOCUS.
Book in online with your Mosman Chiropractors Lucy Bartlett, Kristin Webb, Olly Kerr and Sandy Ghobrial at www.nomadchiropractic.com.au
Located at: Suite 1, 563 Military Road Mosman NSW 2088 (rear entry)
Ph 02 9969 7503
For more Paediatric focussed blogs click here
For more information on why you would have your baby checked by a chiropractor click here
*Note: Karli Plowright moved back to WA in December 2022 and as such is no longer a practitioner at Nomad Chiropractic in Mosman. All of the practitioners at Nomad Chiropractic are trained in the above.