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The Role of Physical Therapy in Treating Positional Torticollis and Promoting Head Control in Infants: A Case Report
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1  Masters of physiotherapy in community based rehabilitation, DR DY Patil College of physiotherapy pimpri pune, Pune, Maharashtra 411018, India
Academic Editor: Iuliana Adelina Platon

Abstract:

Torticollis is a postural malformation of the head and neck that can be congenital or acquired. It typically results from trauma, inflammation, psychogenic causes, or neoplastic conditions and is most commonly due to unilateral fibrosis and shortening of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. Improper positioning of neonates can lead to malformations in their bones and muscles, hinder brain development, and cause abnormal neurological symptoms. Preterm infants tend to have delayed motor development and poorer self-regulation compared to full-term infants. Insufficient postural support and a lack of positional variation can lead to developmental issues. Positional torticollis occurs when the SCM is neither tight nor formed as a mass. Common treatments for torticollis involve passive stretching, guidance on handling, strengthening the neck muscles, and encouraging an active cervical range of motion. This retrospective case study examines a 4-month-old baby with positional torticollis who received various physiotherapy exercises over 15 days. The baby's progress was monitored using a clinical head control scale and the Cheng–Tang torticollis scale, with photos taken periodically to track changes. After 15 days, significant improvements in neck movement and head control were observed. This study focused on combining head control exercises with passive stretching, which led to notable improvements in the baby’s head control, cervical range of motion, and overall neurodevelopmental progress.

Keywords: Positional torticollis; preterm infants; Cheng-tang scale; Neonatal Positioning

 
 
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