If you notice that your baby likes to only look one way or that they tilt their head to one side, they may have torticollis. Torticollis is common in infants and is treated primarily through stretching, positioning, and exercises prescribed by a physical therapist. Keep reading to learn the top 5 exercises we at Highbar recommend for torticollis.
What is Torticollis?
Torticollis is when your child has a preference to turn or tilt their head in one direction. It’s primarily caused by a tight muscle in the neck, but can be associated with your child’s vision or digestive system. For muscular torticollis, physical therapy is the primary treatment to facilitate stretching and strengthening to improve the development of your child’s muscular system.
What exercises should I try for my baby with torticollis?
The exercises a physical therapist prescribes for torticollis address lengthening tight muscles, strengthening weak muscles, and promoting development of gross motor milestones. Our favorite exercises for infants under six (6) months of age with torticollis:
1) Side-lying Play
Having your child lay on their side helps to strengthen the neck, and also takes pressure off their head. This position promotes strengthening of their core and is safe to do with very young infants. You can practice this on the floor, on a wedge pillow, or even in your arms.
2) Prone Prop (aka tummy time)
Tummy time is integral to improving neck strength and stretching out the front of your child’s neck to help with feeding. If tummy time is a struggle, try propping your child over a small pillow or against your chest to make this easier. A few seconds of tummy time practice can lead to a few minutes in just a week, so try your best to be consistent with this position. And if you’re child is really hating it, reach out to your local pediatric physical therapy team for more pointers!
3) Football Hold
Holding your child on their side in your arms helps to develop muscles on the side of the neck and their core muscles! This active stretch works double-time to strengthen and lengthen the muscles around the neck.
4) Cervical Range of Motion
Because the muscles in the neck may be tight, it can be hard for your child to turn their head freely. Using toys, your voice, or a sibling, you can encourage your child to track something moving in front of their face to get them to look in both directions. You can encourage your little one to turn their head in any position – sitting, on their back, or on their belly! This exercise helps to promote a full range of motion of the head and neck.
5) Sitting
Once your child is able to hold their head up, you can practice sitting with them. This helps to develop good strength on all sides of the neck to get even strengthening and lengthening throughout.
Have you used any of these exercises before? Let us know! Do you think your little one would benefit from some physical therapy? Click here to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping your child reach their fullest movement potential.