Question
My baby is now 54 days old, and about half a month ago, I noticed a hard lump on the left side of her neck. It was diagnosed as torticollis. How should I give my baby a massage? Where can I find the relevant assistance? How many times should the massage be performed each week?
Answer
The incidence of congenital torticollis is not low. Our clinic usually receives 10 such children per week. Generally, within 10 days after birth, a hard nodule may be found on one side of the baby’s neck. The baby’s head tends to tilt to one side. Hospital ultrasound may show regional thickening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side of the baby, usually between 8 to 20 millimeters. Typically, a general orthopedic doctor would recommend that parents perform the massage at home for their baby. If the condition does not improve, surgery may need to be considered after 1 year.