Sitting to Crawling Position

As I mentioned before, babies' torticollis may improve once crawling becomes established.  That's why I spend time doing physical therapy exercises that encourage crawling.  This specific exercise will help my daughter become more comfortable moving from the sitting position to crawling position.  When babies first start crawling, they will often get into crawling position from the seated position.  So this exercise encourages that natural transition that babies will often make into crawling position.  I am including a video  and written directions (with pictures) below to demonstrate how I do this exercise with my daughter.

Video Tutorial:

Shoulder Stretch for Elevated Shoulder

Along with her right torticollis, my daughter often elevated her right shoulder.  This caused her torticollis to look a lot worse than it actually was.  Once I started doing this stretch with her regularly, I noticed that she did not raise her shoulder up as much or as frequently.  If your baby doesn't elevate her shoulder, then disregard this stretch. As you'll see below, I included a video tutorial and written instructions to show you how I do this stretch with my daughter.

Video Tutorial: 

Supported Crawling Position

You may be wondering, 'Why are you concerned about crawling? Shouldn't you be working on torticollis-specific exercises?'. By encouraging Kellyn to learn to crawl, I am indirectly treating her torticollis. Once she starts to crawl, she will hopefully be less likely to tilt her head. Before a baby crawls, she obviously needs to first be comfortable on all four's. This exercise focuses on becoming comfortable on hands and knees, which is a precursor to crawling. Below I have a video tutorial and written step-by-step instructions to show you this simple exercise.

Video Tutorial:

Range of Motion Stretch for Right Torticollis

In addition to a head tilt, many babies with torticollis also have limited range of motion in the neck to one side.  Kellyn's limited range of motion is to her right side.  Therefore, I stretch her head in the right direction.  In this post, I will provide both a video demonstration AND a written explanation of the exercise (with pictures).

Video Tutorial:

 

Range of Motion Exercise #2

Here's another simple range of motion exercise we learned at physical therapy that helps increase Kellyn's range of motion towards her right side.  Its very common to have limited range of motion to one side with torticollis.  Please note that these exercises are for her limited range of motion of head towards the right side.  Both a video tutorial and written step-by-step instructions are included for your convenience.

Video Tutorial:

Football Hold Strengthening for Right Torticollis

This is a great exercise for Kellyn to work against gravity and strengthen her weak side of her neck muscles.  She also stretches the tight side of her trunk muscles during this exercise.  This is a great two-for-one exercise as it simultaneously works her neck and trunk muscles in different ways.  In this post, I'll include both a YouTube video demonstration AND step-by-step written instructions with a picture.  Please note that this exercise is for babies with right torticollis.

Video Tutorial:

Stability Ball Strengthening for Right Torticollis

Since Kellyn's left neck and trunk muscles are both weak, this is a great two-for-one strengthening exercise for her.  This exercise looks so fun that my son Luke gets jealous when I do this with her.  The only way I can complete this exercise with Kellyn is if I promise that he gets a turn doing the ball exercise after her.  Just what I need...even more physical therapy exercises to do :) Anyways, here's a video tutorial AND step-by-step written instructions (with pictures) below.  This exercise is for babies with right torticollis.

Video Tutorial:

Rolling Belly-to-Back (towards right side)

Kellyn could easily roll from belly-to-back towards her left side.  This makes sense since her trunk favors the left side.  She had a much harder time putting weight and pressure on her right side of her trunk.  Therefore, her PT really encourage us to work with her on rolling this way.

1.  Place Kellyn on her tummy and put a toy on her left side of her body.

2.  If possible, encourage her to reach her left hand up and out towards the toy.  Her head should tilt back as she looks up at the toy.

Kellyn's got some serious bed-head going on in this picture.

Basic Neck Stretch for Right Torticollis

This stretch will help Kellyn tilt her head in the opposite direction that she's inclined to lean.  It also helps her stretch her tight right neck muscles.  This is one of her least favorite stretches. Please note that she has right torticollis.

1.  Take your left hand and hold down her right shoulder.

2.  Take your right hand and very gently bring her left ear towards her left shoulder.

Football Carry Stretch for Right Torticollis

The football carry stretch exercise stretches the tight neck muscle on the right side of Kellyn's neck that contributes to her right torticollis.  In this post, I included both a YouTube video tutorial and written step-by-step instructions below.

Video Tutorial: