Dr. Barbara Newlon, Pediatric Osteopathy

Dr. Barbara Newlon, Osteopathic Physician specializing in Pediatric Osteopathy

Torticollis, wry neck in newborns

Torticollis (wry neck) is the shortening of the neck muscles on one side so the baby cannot freely move the head to one side and usually prefers to suckle only one breast (the one it can turn to most easily).

schematic of brain and spinal cord of newborn This is commonly seen and often physical therapy is recommended, but I find that most torticollis cases will not resolve completely with physical therapy because there is always cranial bone distortion involved and unless this is addressed, the results are poor to average. Often mothers report to me that the baby screams a lot in physical therapy sessions. This is because only one area is addressed, when in actuality the body is complex. The baby screams because the body cannot let go completely if only the muscles are addressed. The connective tissue around the brain called the dura mater needs to move freely because it is continuous through the base of the brain and surrounds the spinal cord, having direct bony attachments to the first three cervical vertebrae. There is also a direct ligament connection to the dura between cervical vertebrae one and two.

pediatric cranial sacral osteopathy sessionI also find that there is thoracic and rib bone compression in torticollis cases, as well as shoulder bone involvement.

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Dr. Newlon - pediatric cranial sacral osteopathy session