Infant torticollis. it typically happens as a result of birth trauma, though it may also begin as a result of positioning in the uterus. In modern childbirth, there is so much intervention involved in bringing babies into the world. With vaginal delivery, for instance, as soon as the baby’s head is visible, an instrument may be used to help pull the baby out of the birthing canal.
Such intervention can cause damage to the upper neck. Muscles that work to hold the head go into a severe spasm, which in turn causes the infant to present a tilted head posture – much like when an adult gets a tough kink in the neck. Pulling on a twisted neck only worsens the problem. This can lead to nursing issues like breast preference and uneven milk supply, as it hurts the infant too much to turn to the other side to nurse.
The most common symptom of torticollis is the rotation of the head to one side, and rotation of the chin to the opposite side. Other symptoms include discomfort and pain, decreased neck range of motion, tight neck muscles, and difficulty breastfeeding on one side. Chronic torticollis in infants can result in the flattening of one side of the head (plagiocephaly) due to consistent sleeping positions when lying on their backs. In serious congenital cases, face asymmetry, hearing difficulty, vision problems, and developmental delays can occur.
Chiropractic Help Children with Torticollis
A common case of torticollis can be treated in 3 or 4 chiropractic sessions. Regular chiropractic treatments help patients avoid developing conditions like it.
Other torticollis treatments include physical therapy and osteopathy. Deep tissue massage may also provide pain relief. Other alternative treatments include acupuncture and acupressure, which provide pain relief and stop muscle spasms.
Regular chiropractic treatments help patients avoid developing conditions like torticollis. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure
