Congenital torticollis (Right side)

Positioning

Tummy time (when your child is awake) is really important to strengthen your baby’s neck and enhance developmental skills. Set aside time every day to actively play with your baby on their tummy. Encourage them to look up and especially to the left. Make sure their elbows are under their shoulders so they can prop themselves up. You can put a rolled-up towel under their chest to help. Position your child’s car seat so the window is on their right-hand side so they are encouraged to look towards the light on the right. Encourage your baby to turn towards the affected side with play, toys, feeding, etc. You could also move their cot so they have to look right to see you. When holding your baby against your shoulder, put them on your left as they will turn to the right to look around and your cheek will prevent them from turning to the left.

Stretching

You will be taught the stretches below by a Physiotherapist, it is very important that you carry them out at home several times each day. Do the stretches slowly. Your baby may resist due to frustration or tightness but they will not hurt them.

Side bending

Exercise 1

• Hold your baby’s right shoulder down and hold their head with your right hand.
• Gently but firmly side bend the head to your baby’s left side (ear to shoulder).
• Hold this position for 10–15 seconds and repeat regularly during the day.

 

Exercise 2

• Hold your baby in your arms on their side with their head in the crook of your right elbow, and facing away from you.
• Use your right arm to tilt their left ear up towards their left shoulder whilst holding their body still.
• Hold this position for 10–15 seconds and repeat regularly during the day.

Other carrying positions

Some other carrying positions are shown above.

Rotation

Exercise 1

• Hold your baby’s left shoulder down and gently turn their head as far as you can to the right.
• Hold this position for 10–15 seconds and repeat regularly during the day.

Exercise 2

• Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you.
• Hold their left shoulder steady so that their body will not twist when you move their head.
• Gently turn their head to the right.
• Hold this position for 10–15 seconds and repeat regularly during the day.

You can also do this stretch against your body, with the baby facing you and their left cheek against your cheek or chest.

Exercise 3

Encourage your baby to actively look to the right to help improve movement and stretch their neck muscles.

Torticollis can sometimes be associated with plagiocephaly which is when your baby’s skull becomes flattened due to moulding at the back or on one side. This is purely cosmetic, there are no other symptoms and it does not affect your baby’s brain. If relevant, your Physiotherapist will give you further information regarding this.

If your baby is bottle fed we would advise trying to feed them in your right arm with the bottle held in your left hand. This will encourage them to look to the left. If you are breastfeeding we would advise that you continue feeding from both sides although may want to try different holds that may still help encourage your baby to turn to the left.