Question
My child has congenital torticollis, and I don’t know how to treat the child. Are there any good methods?
Answer
Congenital torticollis is a common pediatric condition caused by the shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. If there is no improvement within three months, early treatment is necessary to prevent affecting growth and intellectual development. Early treatment is best for pediatric congenital torticollis. It can be divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical Treatment: For infants aged 1-3 months, since the onset is early and the course is short, the affected sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side has not yet developed fibrosis and contraction to form a hard lump. Manual massage can be used. This method involves lying the infant face-up on the mother’s lap, then pressing closely against her abdomen, with the head extending beyond the knees. Turn the infant’s head towards the healthy side, stretch the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and bend the neck towards the healthy side. Perform continuous massage for 20-30 times, with each session lasting 20-30 times, twice a day.