This post is about Neck Pain and Torticollis in a Child: Chiropractic Can Help. Are you concerned about a fixed head tilt in your infant or child? If your child has Torticollis, chiropractic treatment may be the best choice for relief!
What is Torticollis (Wryneck)?
Torticollis (called also wryneck) is an acute or chronic often painful condition characterized by involuntary intermittent or sustained contraction of the muscles of the neck. This causes the head to tilt or turn sideways, bend forward or backward.
For instance, these muscles could be the sternocleidomastoid (muscle located at the base of your skull on either side of your neck, behind your ears and goes to the sternum and clavicle) or trapezius (either of a pair of large triangular muscles extending over the back of the neck and shoulders and moving the head and shoulder blade).
Furthermore, torticollis may occur secondary to an injury or a preexisting condition (such as a musculoskeletal abnormality or a neurological disease), but is often of unknown cause.
Torticollis in Children
Firstly, in congenital (born with it) torticollis, the infant will have a fixed asymmetry of the head that is seen within hours (or sometimes weeks) of delivery.
Secondly, in infancy, this is the most common cause of torticollis (wryneck). The cause is a contracture of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle.
Thirdly, the torticollis can be due to a breech delivery (fetus’s buttocks, feet, or both are in place to come out first during birth) or other birth trauma.
Fourthly, congenital torticollis may result in a hematoma (bad bruise) or fibrous mass developing in the SCM. Similarly, plageocephaly (baby’s head has a flattened appearance) is common with this type of torticollis.
Other Causes of Torticollis in Children
Other possible causes of torticollis in children are infection (e.g. respiratory), spinal cord tumor and/or it may be associated with hip dysplasia (hip socket doesn’t develop properly).
In adolescent children, torticollis may be acute following no specific event or minimal trauma. Moreover, the muscle spasm may be secondary to lymphadenitis (inflamed and enlarged lymph nodes) and/or a “chiropractic subluxation” (misalignment).
Chiropractic Treatment
Adjusting (Chiropractic manipulative therapy) the cervical spine (neck) may decrease any associated pain and resolve the problem. Chronic torticollis in an older child is often due to contracture in both heads of the SCM muscle. Again, if due to muscle spasm, gentle soft tissue manipulation, stretching and adjusting the cervical spine may be of benefit.
Pediatric Chiropractic Care
In 2009, a survey found that there were about 68 million pediatric visits to chiropractors. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ most recent practice analysis, issued in 2010, found that about 17 percent of chiropractic patients were under age 18 — approximately 7.7 percent aged five years or younger and some 9.4 percent between ages six and 17. In deed, the American Chiropractic Association cites a study done in 2014 confirming that chiropractic adjustments are overwhelmingly safe in infants and children.
The fact is Chiropractors receive training to adjust all people, from babies to the elderly. Many children have benefited from chiropractic care, including babies.
So conventional (allopathic) medical care is great for saving our lives, but doesn’t do a lot for everyday quality-of-life issues that plague us. Similarly, there’s a lot more anxiety and stress in kids’ lives today. Chiropractic adjustments are great and powerful. Similarly, along with adequate nutrition, sleep and physical activity, adjustments can be life changing for children. For parents who are looking for answers besides putting their kids on more drugs, Chiropractic is a great solution.
Meiri Chiropractic in West Palm Beach
Children have the same joints that adults do, but not fully formed yet. They are still developing and adjustments get the spine back in alignment to keep the body balanced and to prevent further problems. Additionally, kids joints are still more cartilaginous than truly bony. Therefore, the adjustments have to be a little bit faster but with less force. This is due to the increased flexibility within the joint and the smaller surface area targeted.
Dr. Natalie Meiri delivers fast adjustments that are low intensity (low force) and low amplitude (low displacement). She also has helped babies and kids utilizing soft tissue techniques, cranial sacral therapy, and homeopathy. Dr. Natalie Meiri has treated babies with ear infections, kids with ADHD, autism, scoliosis, sports injuries and various growing problems. Contact her at 561-253-8984 for further information on Neck Pain and Torticollis in a Child: Chiropractic Can Help or to make an appointment.