Torticollis is an involuntary posture adopted by a baby where the head is tilted to one side and/or turned in the opposite direction. This can occur for many reasons. Examples of these include birth trauma, inner ear dysfunctions, esophageal reflux and congenital conditions, ie. something in the babies in utero development. Often it is called idiopathic, which simply means the cause is unknown.

In CranioSacral Therapy the therapist is trained to use light touch to assess and treat tightness in all the tissues of the body. An infant with torticollis may present with tightness in the head, neck and/or the trunk. Treatment gently releases high muscle tone (which is an abnormal involuntary contraction in the muscles) and tightness in the connective tissues which may be contributing to the problem. The smooth muscles of the gut are also relaxed, so if constipation leading to reflux is the contributer, this will deal with the root cause. Tightness in the tissues of the trunk and neck muscles can be released allowing for full range of movement.

Case history.

Sophie * came to me at 6 months of age. Her mom was very distressed as she had noticed her baby was showing more and more of a tendency to maintain her head turned to one side. This had started a few months earlier, but the doctor had said she would grow out of it. When she was laying on her stomach and pushing up on her hands her mom noticed that every time her head would be turned to the same side. It actually caused her to roll over fairly early because the trunk will follow the head in this gross motor movement.

On her first visit I saw a bright little girl who looked like she had her head coyly tucked to one side. The mother was worried because she was not growing out of it as the doctor had predicted. On examination she showed quite a bit of tightness at the base of the skull where it meets the top of the spine. The first session was spent releasing this area as well as balancing the digestive organs and releasing tightness in her trunk.

After the first visit her mother reported that she slept very well and maintained her head upright for three weeks. The next two visits completed the releases of the tension at the base of the skull and in the head and trunk. The mother reported she maintained a normal head posture. Mom brought Sophie to the Children’s Cranial Network where three therapists worked together balancing out some residual tensions in the skull and pelvis. She was charming and cooperative during the session and her mom is very pleased with the outcome. She may come back after she goes through a few major motor milestones, just to recheck that everything stays balanced, but for now no further treatments are required.

Copyright 2007 Marcia Bamber P.T. All rights reserved

*name changed to protect privacy