Stretches for Torticollis

Torticollis (wry neck) is a symptom that causes a child's chin to be rotated to one side and his head to the other side. Disorders that can cause torticollis include congenital muscular torticollis, acquired torticollis, atlanto-axial rotary subluxation, and spasmus nutans (head tilt, nystagmus and head nodding).

Congenital muscular torticollis occurs when the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side of your infant's neck becomes tighter than the other, pulling the head and neck to that side. This can occur when scar tissue forms in this muscle so that it can't grow properly. Congenital torticollis is sometimes the consequence of injury to the muscle during delivery, although it is also thought that it may occur prior to delivery and be a contributing cause to a difficult birth and not its consequence. It can also be caused by congenital abnormalities of the cervical spine, so sometimes xrays are required in evaluating newborns with torticollis.

If the right sternocleiomastoid muscle is affected, the infant will hold his head with his chin rotated to the left and his head rotated to the right. In addition to the head posture, you may be able to feel a lump in the affected muscle, which is usually most noticable between 2 and 8 weeks of age. Unlike acquired toticollis, congenital muscular torticollis is usually painless.

Congenital muscular torticollis usually improves with range of motion and stretching exercises and massage, but it can lead to positional plagiocephaly and facial asymmetry if your child's head lies in the same position all of the time. If it isn't quickly improving, then your child may need to be evaluated by a physical therapist. In cases that aren't improving by 12-18 months, a surgical release/lengthening of the sternoidcleidomastoid muscle may be required.

Here are some stretching exercises recommended to help with Torticollis. These exercises are provided by KeepKidsHealthy.com:

• Instructions for Stretching and Positioning Left Sternomastoid Torticollis: stretching, side bending, rotation, positioning, carrying and other suggestions to treat your child with congenital torticollis.
• Instructions for Stretching and Positioning Right Sternomastoid Torticollis: stretching, side bending, rotation, positioning, carrying and other suggestions to treat your child with congenital torticollis.

If you have any questions or need more information regarding torticollis, please fill out the "contact me" form below or call 412-860-4557.

Gary Tate Jr.
President and Founder
Alexandra's P.H.A.T.E.
Pittsburgh, PA
412-860-4557
gary@alexandrasphate.org

What does torticollis look like??

Isn't This picture adorable? We thought so too. However, it was trying to tell us something, but we couldn't see the forest through the trees. What Does Torticollis Look Like? Hmm, the first question people usually ask is, What is torticollis? Most new parents are completely unaware of what to look for when they bring their newborn home from the hospital. If during your pregnancy, you had low amniotic fluid, or your baby was breech there is a higher possibility of torticollis. In our case, low amniotic fluid caused our baby's head to be held in the same position because of lack of room to move.

This lack of movement, caused the sternocleidomastoid muscle to be tight on her left side(Torticollis or Wry Neck). We have created a video to show parents the signs of Torticollis in infants. Initially, most won't see any issue with the photos, but it is plain as day. If you know what Torticollis looks like. Had we been able to view this early on in Alexandra's life, we would have know right away, what Tortcollis looks like. You can link directly to the video by clicking here.

Gary Tate Jr.
President and Founder
Alexandra's P.H.A.T.E.
Pittsburgh, PA
412-860-4557

mailto:412-860-4557Gary@alexandrasphate.org

Meet Cazzy!

Meet Cazzy.  He received his helmet in January of 2012.  His journey has just begun, but he still has a big, big smile on that cute little face.  Best of Luck Cazzy!  See our other STARband kids by visiting our website at www.alexandrasphate.org/

Gary Tate Jr.
President and Founder
Alexandra's P.H.A.T.E.
Pittsburgh, PA
412-860-4557
http://www.blogger.com/gary@alexandrasphate.org

Welcome Emily to our STARband blog family!

Please check out our newest blogging family.  Emily has just started her STARband journey and has invited us along for the ride.  You can follow her journey here.


You can also visit her blog by visiting http://myhelmetbabysquared.wordpress.com/

Gary Tate Jr.
President and Founder
Alexandra's P.H.A.T.E.

Pittsburgh, PA
412-860-4557
http://www.blogger.com/gary@alexandrasphate.org

Alexandra's P.H.A.T.E. --Welcome Natalie to our STARband Family!

Hi Friends.  Meet Natalie.  She is our newest addition to our STARband family.  We were able to make a donation of a STARband to Natalie and her family.  Special thanks to Blake at Orthomerica, Inc. and Level Four Orthotics.  Without their help, we wouldn't have been able to assist this family in need.  Kudos to everyone involved.

Natalie's family will be blogging on our website HERE .  Check it out and stop back often for updates on her progress.





Gary Tate Jr.
President and Founder
Alexandra's P.H.A.T.E.
Pittsburgh, PA
412-860-4557
Gary@alexandrasphate.org