The Torticollis

« My baby often turns his head on the same side!" He mainly looks on one side! What are the implications? What to do ? »

there is a very important relationship between a Torticollis and the plagiocephaly of babies.

That's why we decided to make you aware of Torticollis at the
new born.

A Torticollis is characterized by an inclination associated with an opposite rotation of the baby's head. Infants often seem to be looking in the same direction and have difficulty turning their head to the other side.

Well-known causes ...

Torticollis can be of Congenital form (present from birth) following: bad position of the baby in utero (seated position, early engum against the pelvis, ...) or a difficult delivery (prolonged labor, instrumental extraction: forceps, suction cup).
In its functional form, the most frequent, the Torticollis appears in the first weeks of the baby's life linked to the contraction of a neck muscle (SCOM).

Be careful ! Because an untreated Torticollis will certainly lead to Plagiocephaly and vice versa, Plagiocephaly will very often cause a Secondary Torticollis. One often goes with the other.

Other anomalies such as deformation of the spine (cervico-thoracic scoliosis), vision disturbances, asymmetry of the face and musculoskeletal disorders, are sometimes the consequences of an untreated Torticollis.

To correct a baby's torticollis, in addition to the osteopathic and / or physiotherapy sessions that are essential, health professionals recommend that parents help their child in their daily life to accelerate Torticollis treatment:

Exercise 1: The seesaw

relaxes the neck muscles and improves baby's cervical mobility

Place your child on your back facing you.
Slide your thumbs into his hands and with your other fingers grab the wrist of his hands. Bring your baby's hands together without taking the shoulders off.
Gently rock your child on the right side, hold the position on the 7s side, then tilt it on the left side and keep the 7s position.
Repeat the exercise 4 times: morning, noon and evening

Exercise 2: Stretching the neck muscles:

relaxes the neck muscles and relieves muscle tension

Place your child on one side.
With one hand, hold his head. The other hand embraces his shoulder and gradually descends it down. Keep position 7s.
Then make the same movement on the opposite side.
Repeat the exercise 4 times: morning, noon and evening

During the awakening phases:

• Stimulate your baby to look in the direction that interests him the least:
  (with a toy, light, music, the sound of your voice, etc.)
• When your baby is positioned on the back (play mat, changing table, etc.) remember to constantly turn his head to the side where he looks the least to correct his position.
• When wearing it, hold it so that it looks in the opposite direction to its preferred side.
• When transporting (baby carrier, stroller, car seat, etc.), place the baby's head on the side opposite to its usual side.
• When bottle-feeding, take advantage of the fact that your baby relaxes his neck muscles while eating, to bring his head to the restricted side.

During the sleep phases:

• Position him in his bed so that he turns his head to the restricted side. Place the night light or what attracts him the most to the side where he looks the least.
  If despite all your efforts, your baby continues to bring his head always on the same side.
   Health professionals recommend positioning your baby on the side with a lateral baby wedge, during the day and during supervised naps, to prevent him from turning his head on his preferred side.

Ex: if your baby turns his head preferentially on the right side, you must position your baby on his left side with a lateral baby wedge.