Torticollis

Known as “twisted neck,” torticollis is a common musculoskeletal problem due to babies sleeping on their backs.

The condition results in an abnormal tilt of your child’s head and neck. For example, if your child’s left side is affected, they tilt ear-to-shoulder on the left and rotate their head to the right.

Torticollis is most frequently seen in infants who lack the muscle control to compensate for gravity. That lack of developed muscle control, combined with common, everyday infant activities, can lead to acquired torticollis.

Good Shepherd Pediatrics specializes in evaluating and treating the effects of torticollis.

What Are Signs of Torticollis?

• Baby’s face consistently looks in one direction and reverts to that position if placing looking to the other side
• Flattening of the back of the skull
• Use of only one arm
• Difficulty feeding when on one side or when fed in a different arm

Torticollis is diagnosed more frequently in the winter. Children are bundled up to keep warm and spend more time in car seats that place them in a tilt position. The more bundled children are, the less they are able to move against gravity.

Treatments

Rehabilitation can help reduce or reverse torticollis’ symptoms and help improve physical function.