We assess and treat patients with torticollis, a common presenting complaint in babies. Parents are particularly concerned because of their babies’ tendency or reluctance to fully move their head to one side. The doctor assesses the range of motion and whether the head tilt is passively correctable or not. A clinical examination and an ultrasound scan of the sternocleidomastoid muscle is also performed in order to assess whether there is a lump within the muscle which signifies muscle shortening and a mechanical block to movement. Parents of children with no muscle shortening (full passive movement) are given advice and a home programme that aims to actively correct the tilt. Children with muscle shortening are put through a physiotherapy programme for stretching exercises and an active dynamic movement of the neck muscles. Failure to improve the range of motion may require either a Botox (Dysport) injection or surgical intervention later on in life.
