Torticollis is a condition brought about by tight muscles that appear on the neck making turning of the head difficult. This condition also makes the head tilt to the affected side of the neck. Most infants get a version called congenital muscular torticollis or CMT whereby it affects two percent of the newborns resulting from lack of space inutero. It also results from poor inutero positioning or from low levels of the amniotic fluid. Special baby care tips are essential to a baby suffering from such a condition.
The first baby care tip is providing your child with various opportunities to tilt its head to the opposite direction. For instance, if your baby has the condition on its left side, you should encourage it to turn to the right side for some exercise. The other tip is to place your baby on the bed and then turn its head gently so that the non-affected side of the neck lies against the mattress. When you discover the condition, you should ask a practitioner for a referral to the physical therapist. This therapist will guide you through safe and appropriate stretching exercises designed to stretch out the tight muscles. Â
Another baby care tip for torticollis is to allow the baby engage itself during playtime on its stomach when possible. This enables the muscles that are on the back of its neck to be stronger. It is also important that you keep monitoring its head shape every now and then. Several babies, who have the condition, normally develop a flattened head on one side of the neck, a condition called positional plagiocephaly. Â In case you notice that your baby's head is flat, you should consult your medical doctor immediately to attend to the baby.
In this condition, approximately fifteen percent of these cases need surgery so if your baby does not improve even at the age of eighteen months, you should expect a referral to the orthopaedic surgeon from a physical paediatrician or therapist. In addition, it is not advisable to start any therapy not unless you are in the supervision of a therapist or a doctor. A baby care tip for treating torticollis includes; filling in the prescription that a doctor issues, and giving the baby medication according to the specific dosage instructions from the doctor. Another tip is that you should avail the baby for all the various set appointments to get treatment, whereby the importance of this is to relax the neck muscles that are contracted by the doctor.
It is always important to book an appointment with your neurologist if the baby's symptoms keep on recurring or persists. The general physician would want to try certain medication and also other physical therapy before he/she refers you to a neurologist. He/she may also undertake several x-rays and other diagnostic tests on your baby when necessary to view the condition. You should give your doctor the full details about the specific condition and medications that you are otherwise giving to the baby. Inform him/her of any events that may have brought the onset of the condition too.
The first baby care tip is providing your child with various opportunities to tilt its head to the opposite direction. For instance, if your baby has the condition on its left side, you should encourage it to turn to the right side for some exercise. The other tip is to place your baby on the bed and then turn its head gently so that the non-affected side of the neck lies against the mattress. When you discover the condition, you should ask a practitioner for a referral to the physical therapist. This therapist will guide you through safe and appropriate stretching exercises designed to stretch out the tight muscles. Â
Another baby care tip for torticollis is to allow the baby engage itself during playtime on its stomach when possible. This enables the muscles that are on the back of its neck to be stronger. It is also important that you keep monitoring its head shape every now and then. Several babies, who have the condition, normally develop a flattened head on one side of the neck, a condition called positional plagiocephaly. Â In case you notice that your baby's head is flat, you should consult your medical doctor immediately to attend to the baby.
In this condition, approximately fifteen percent of these cases need surgery so if your baby does not improve even at the age of eighteen months, you should expect a referral to the orthopaedic surgeon from a physical paediatrician or therapist. In addition, it is not advisable to start any therapy not unless you are in the supervision of a therapist or a doctor. A baby care tip for treating torticollis includes; filling in the prescription that a doctor issues, and giving the baby medication according to the specific dosage instructions from the doctor. Another tip is that you should avail the baby for all the various set appointments to get treatment, whereby the importance of this is to relax the neck muscles that are contracted by the doctor.
It is always important to book an appointment with your neurologist if the baby's symptoms keep on recurring or persists. The general physician would want to try certain medication and also other physical therapy before he/she refers you to a neurologist. He/she may also undertake several x-rays and other diagnostic tests on your baby when necessary to view the condition. You should give your doctor the full details about the specific condition and medications that you are otherwise giving to the baby. Inform him/her of any events that may have brought the onset of the condition too.