When you first bring your baby home you think it is going to be this magical experience- and without a doubt it is! But it can be difficult, exhausting, and draining when your baby won't stop crying.
It breaks your heart. That tiny whimper of discomfort and anguish. It slices your poor motherly heart into a thousand pieces.
You'd do anything to make the pain stop for your baby. ANYTHING! You just don't know what it is... You've swaddled. You've patted. You've rocked.
You changed your diet... You cut out gluten. dairy. eggs. nuts. nothing works. The crying won't stop.
Then one day you notice something... Why won't she look to the right? How come she only nurses on one side? Why does she scream when you touch one side of her neck?
Think about it this way...
Torticollis is like having a gigantic Charlie horse in your NECK!
That would terrible, wouldn't it?
What could have caused it?
According to a study of 624 infantile torticollis cases by the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics, the most common associations included:
1. difficult labour breech deliveries, or caesarean section -- (62.2%)
2. muscular torticollis alone -- (36.7%)
3. postural -- (27.88%)
Here's the good news!!!
That same study by the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics found,
"In patients presenting in the early stages, 97% of all infantile torticollis cases resolved with conservative treatment, active stimulation, and a passive stretching program."
That is EXACTLY where your chiropractor can help. Chiropractic is conservative treatment with gentle, specific care. Your skillfully trained chiropractor can:
take a thorough history to try to pinpoint the cause
address muscular imbalances associated
make sure there is proper joint motion
suggest sleeping or feeding positions to make things more comfortable
If we can ever be a resource, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Text Dr. B: (225) 339-9911
RESOURCES:
Cheng JC, Au AW. Infantile torticollis: a review of 624 cases. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994 Nov-Dec;14(6) 802-808. PMID: 7814599.
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Dr. Rebekah Bruner is passionate about healthy living & preventative healthcare learning. She enjoys speaking and writing about empowering people to become their own health advocate.
Dr. Bruner's post-doctorate training is in functional medicine, neurology, & pediatrics. She is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association & she is completing additional training through the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs (medMAPS).