Physical Therapy

My son and daughter tilted their head to the left a bit too, but we brought them to a chiropractor and within a couple sessions, they were holding their head straight up and hasn't had any problems since then. It might be a quicker fix to seek out a chiropractor than physical therapy (just my opinion). My sisiter's baby tilts his head too and she is looking into seeing a chiropractor as well.

I know when we first inquired, the chirpractor said it's very common and that the younger the kid, the easier for them correct. I think my son took 2-3 appointments and that was it.

Good luck.

Hi B.,

I'm actually a pediatric PT:) It sounds like your baby has what's called torticollis. It's a tightening of the SCM muscle and is VERY common in babies these days(we aren't sure why). The good news is that it's usually pretty easy to treat! Get in with a PT as soon as you can to get therapy started. Which side is he turning his head to? Does his head also tilt to the opposite side? Lastly, does he have any head flattening because of it? Feel free to send me a message and I can send you a website with some exercises you can get started with!

He has torticollis so yes take him to Physical Therapy. It's the only way to correct it and the longer you wait the worse it can get. Once you take him they will be able to tell you how bad it is and how long he may need treatment. If it's not that bad they may only need to see him like once a week and then have exercises you can do at home with him. Like say if his muscles are tight on his right side, then they might tell you to make sure that (if he is breast fed) you nurse him longer on the breast that makes him stretch his neck more toward the left and if he is bottle fed then again hold him the opposite arm so his again his neck is stretching left. Also make sure that when he is sleeping you rotate his head and the position in which you lay him down. They can also give you stretches to do with him or play games like wiggling toys to make him move his head in the direction that needs work. Torticollis is totally treatable so just get him in and he will get the help he needs.

Don't be sad. This doesn't sound serious. And... why would you think it was something that would benefit from pt? You're a good mother. Physical therapy is helpful and not indicative of anything serious. The goal is to relax and strengthen muscles. The process of being born is stressful to a baby. Muscles are stretched and crunched. Many parents take their newborns for a chiropractic treatment. Physical therapy is similar.

I've had lots of physical therapy and think of it as a more focused form of physical education or sports training. Many of us need help in making our bodies work as well as they can.

I know that its hard to hear that your baby need a little extra help, but think of it in a brighter light... they caught it early and this is a very fixable issue. Physical Therapy is a wonderful resource. The are extensivly trained to fixes these types of problems. PT that work with children choose to work with children. It will basiclly be playtime for baby using techniques that will help stretch that muscle. Don't worry to much about it, everything will be alright!!

My kids have not received PT, but my cousins son (3 months) does. He goes for help with his acid reflux. They basically do a bunch of massaging and manipulating of the arms and neck - nothing that hurts just kind of stretching him out.

good luck!

For torticollis in addition to PT I would take my child to a chiropractor. If the neck muscles are tight they could also be holding the cervical spine in an improper position, which, if left untreated could cause neck pain, headaches, and nerve damage after an extended time. Better safe than sorry! Find one who works with children. They will likely use just gentle pressure or a tools called the activator, which is very safe. My kids have been adjusted since day one!

My son was diagnosed with "Torticolis" when he was an infant and we took him to Hinsdale Hospital for therapy. They do a lot of stretching exercises which helps that muscle to stretch alowing him to turn his head better from side to side. (My father was the one that noticed it and when we mentioned it to his pediatrician, she sent us to a specialist in Naperville). They also gave us excercises to do at home. Our son is now 17 and has no difficulty turning his head either way. Good luck, I'm sure your little one will be fine.
M.

B.,

I totally know how you feel! I know it's kind of scary to have to go through it but please try not to worry about it! Since they noticed it early it should be easy to correct. We had to do the same thing for my son. He had to have therapy for something similar and it was very interesting to me. They basically just play and help him turn his head to excerise those muscles. They will have you sit on the side that needs the work and then have you talk to your baby so he will move his head in that direction. Ask to be involved and you will learn a lot that you can also do at home. They will probably tell you to do more tummy time and lay him on his side so he can use more of the muscles. I hope this helps!
T.

Actually my 6 mo old son is going through PT as of now. I was nervous in the beginning and felt really bad for undermining this symptoms, but he is a lot better since his diagnose and evaluation. At the evaluation, the PT and developmental therapist were present and gave me lots of tips. It took about a month between the evaluation and actual sessions, but I did lots of tummy time (at least 30 min every time he was up) and intentionally encourage him to turn his left (which he had trouble turning to) during that month. My PT said he made so much progress in a month even w/o therapy, just a few session would be enough for him. Educating yourself is the key. Watching him in the therapy is actually fun and getting the evaluation was very helpful us to be aware of next milestone of his physical development. I believe this is a blessing in disguise!