The Importance of Early Detection of Torticollis in Babies
The arrival of a baby is the most beautiful, yet challenging period for every parent. As you carefully watch your baby's every movement, smile, and breath, you might sometimes notice that your baby persistently holds their head tilted to one side. This common, but treatable problem in pediatrics is called torticollis, or wryneck.
Although parents often worry when they hear this diagnosis, it is important to know that with timely intervention, torticollis is curable. Below, we reveal what torticollis actually is, why you should not wait for your baby to simply outgrow it, and what the path to full recovery looks like.
What is Torticollis and Why Does it Occur?
Torticollis is the third most common congenital musculoskeletal anomaly in babies. It occurs in approximately 0.3% to 2% of newborns.
Fundamentally, it most often involves the shortening and spasming of a neck muscle called the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Due to this shortening, the baby's head is tilted toward the side of the shortened muscle, while the face is turned toward the opposite side.
The causes vary. Torticollis often arises due to an improper position of the baby in the womb during pregnancy. However, it also very frequently occurs as a result of childbirth itself, whether due to an unusually fast delivery, a breech presentation, or a C-section. “In such stressful conditions for the baby's neck, leading to the formation of a hematoma, or a blood clot, within the muscle. The presence of a hematoma can be easily, painlessly, and accurately confirmed with an ultrasound examination,” reassures pediatric physiatrist Dr. Katina Cvetković.
When is it Detected and Why is Time Your Greatest Ally?
In many cases, torticollis is noticeable right at birth, and the pediatrician will dutifully note it on the hospital discharge papers. If you notice this note, or if you spot the asymmetry yourself during the first few days at home, it is essential to seek professional help immediately.
What happens if torticollis is not treated on time?
A baby's body develops incredibly fast. If one neck muscle remains shortened, it acts like a stretched rubber band pulling the entire postural system out of balance. The consequences of untreated torticollis are serious:
- Loss of muscle elasticity: As the child grows, the elastic muscle tissue is gradually replaced by harder, fibrous tissue. Restoring the muscle to its original state becomes incomparably harder, and in some neglected cases, it even requires surgical intervention.
- Facial and cranial asymmetry: Due to constant pressure on one side of the head while lying down, flattening of the back of the skull and asymmetry of facial features can occur.
- Scoliosis: Because of the tilted head, the child compensates by raising the shoulder on the affected side to maintain balance and look straight ahead. This directly curves the spine, which, over time, leads to severe scoliosis and poor posture.
What Does Treatment Look Like and What is the Goal of Therapy?
The treatment approach depends on whether a hematoma is present in the muscle or not, but in both cases, the key lies in therapeutic exercises, or kinesitherapy.
Treatment Without a Hematoma
If the ultrasound shows no hematoma, the focus is on educating the parents. A pediatric physiatrist will teach you how to independently perform gentle stretching exercises through routine activities. Alongside the exercises, correct positioning of the baby is crucial: you will be taught how the baby should sleep, how to carry them properly, and even from what angle to feed them and animate them with toys to stimulate them to turn their head toward the side with torticollis.
Treatment With a Hematoma
When a hematoma is present, exercises alone are not enough. Physical therapy—specifically, electrotherapy adapted for babies—is introduced to stimulate the resorption of the hematoma. Electrotherapy is applied until the hematoma completely subsides, while kinesitherapy exercises are performed concurrently.
“The primary goal of therapy is to achieve a full, symmetrical range of neck motion. This means the baby can freely and without any resistance turn their chin to their shoulder and tilt their ear to their shoulder on both sides. The duration of therapy varies depending on the clinical findings; it can last a few months, or even up to a year,” informs Dr. Katina Cvetković.
Golden Rules and Notes for Parents
For the treatment to be successful, there are certain guidelines that parents must strictly follow:
- The right time to start: A visit to a pediatric physiatrist is recommended as early as the baby's 21st day of life. Curing it in the first year of life is the basis for preventing later bone deformities.
- Do not stop therapy on your own: Improvements are often visible after just one month of exercising. However, if you proactively stop the exercises before the doctor indicates it, torticollis returns in a large number of cases.
- Persistence makes a difference: Initially, the fact that you have to do the exercises up to 40 times a day sounds daunting. However, they quickly become part of your routine, for example, during diaper changes, bath time, and play. Continuity is absolutely paramount!
- Educating the entire environment: Grandparents, babysitters, and anyone who feeds or carries the baby must be taught how to hold them. Exercises will not yield any results if someone else regularly carries the baby in an improper position that encourages muscle shortening.
- Caution with gear: The use of baby carriers is not recommended for babies with torticollis, as they do not provide adequate support and control over the head and neck position.
- Long-term monitoring: A cured torticollis requires supervision. Check-ups with a pediatric physiatrist are mandatory every 3 to 4 months during the first 2 to 4 years of life. This is especially important when the child starts walking.
Do Not Wait for the Baby to Outgrow the Problem
One of the biggest traps parents can fall into is listening to well-intentioned advice from their surroundings: "Let it go, they’ll grow out of it, it's normal." Torticollis does not resolve on its own. Ignoring this condition leads to parents contacting a doctor when it is already too late for quick results, and the consequences, such as severe scoliosis and a shortened muscle, require much more aggressive, prolonged, and sometimes even surgical treatment.
Do not leave your child's development to chance. At Primea, our pediatric physiatrist is dedicated to the early detection and proper treatment of torticollis. Through a detailed examination, ultrasound diagnostics, and careful training for parents, together we will ensure that your baby grows healthy, straight, and without limitations.
Schedule a consultation on time and take the best first step for your child's proper development!
