Baby storage

For infants with a torticollis, positioning is an important part of the therapy. The child is not yet able to influence his or her posture in everyday life and, in order to prevent unpleasant tension, will be pulled into the torticollis position again and again by the shortened muscle. Through a specific positioning, which should be instructed by a specialist, the child’s posture can be influenced and supported in a targeted manner, so that the muscles are stretched in the long term and the neck position is changed.

The furnishings of the crib or room should also be taken into account. For example, mobiles or toys can be placed on the “weak, neglected” side to encourage the child to actively involve them in his or her movements and activities. Correct positioning is of great importance in the treatment of a child’s torticollis. However, bedding material should be dosed and used professionally! Too much material in the crib can have dangerous effects on the child.

Exercises to counteract a torticollis

During the first months, turning the baby can be used as an exercise for a torticollis. The parent can grab the child’s pelvis with one hand between the legs and the shoulder blade on the side of the shortened muscle with the other. By initiating a rotation, the child is encouraged to turn its head to the other side.

If necessary, instead of fixing the child to the pelvis with the free hand, a toy can also be used to animate the child to actively move the head to the healthy side. The rotation is then performed with or without support. Alternatively, from the prone position, the child can be stimulated by an object, e.g. a little bell, to raise the head from the incorrect position to the neutral position.

It is best to support the trunk slightly. At the beginning, the head can also be gently supported during movement. Stretching exercises for the neck muscles are also part of the exercise program.

These should first be instructed by a professional so that parents learn how to stretch with what intensity. The Vojta concept is particularly suitable, but requires its own instructions. Please ask an appropriate therapist.

More exercises for the neck can be found here:

Mobility training spine
Mobilization training neck
Physiotherapy according to Vojta
Wryneck exercises

Osteopathy is a therapeutic option for torticollis in children and infants. Osteopaths not only deal with the bony and muscular conditions, but also look at organs and fasciae. It is a holistic treatment method.

There are osteopaths who specialize directly in children and infants. They can correct possible blockages and functional disorders of the spinal column by means of targeted grips, but they can also influence the cranial plates (craniosacral therapy), influence the temporomandibular joint (craniomandibular therapy) and treat the connective tissue and any organs that may be involved. An osteopathic treatment is preceded by an intensive and detailed examination, which clarifies the causes of the child’s torticollis individually and puts together a suitable treatment concept. There are health insurance companies that subsidize osteopathic treatment.