Plagiocephaly and Torticollis: Making the Head Shapes of Racine Look Normal!

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that babies under the age of 6 months sleep on their back in order to reduce the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

While that recommendation has made an impact on the number of children affected with SIDS, it has also caused a big increase in the number of flat head that I see. That condition is called plagiocephaly, and the muscular condition is often occurs with, and probably because of, is torticollis.

As kids approach term in the womb, they are squished in a pretty small space.  They probably find a position which is most comfortable for them,  often tilting their head to one side or another.  When we had the kids sleeping primarily on their stomach (and I absolutely don't want you doing this now!), they needed to symmetrically use their neck  to lift their head  Now, while lying on their back, they often tilt their head to the side that was comfortable in the womb.

If they keep that head tilt, the sternocleidomastoid muscle ( the long ropey muscle that goes from about your jaw to your collar bone) on one side gets longer, because it's stretched, and the other side gets short, and often is very hard to stretch.  The kids often keep their head turned away from the side that's shorter.  That means if we don't reposition the kids to use that short muscle in their neck that they are going to lose range of motion, their neck stays in one position and they get their head molded to that position.

The shortening of that neck muscle and the resultant head tilt is called  torticollis. Torticollis can have other causes, so make sure we talk about this before we do too many interventions.  If it is muscular torticollis, then  I can show you some repositioning exercises, and some stretching exercises and we'll talk about tummy time. 

If that doesn't help, usually by 4 months of age, I'll have you see a physical therapist.  If therapy doesn't change the head shape, then we go to either a DOC or a STAR band, depending on your insurance.  They are plastic helmets that reshape the child's head, usually after a few months of therapy. 

Before we pursue any of these options, let's chat first.  Plagiocephaly and torticollis can be caused by other stuff -- we can sort it out together.  The best way to prevent this though is to get tummy time in the routine of an awake child very early in life :)

 

Other info and resources: www.plagiocephaly.org  (including cool tips on decorating the helmets!)

DOC band supplier  http://www.cranialtech.com/clinic/wi.html

Physical therapy:  Medical Support Services or Racine County Birth to Three