This is Donna---Stephanie Pruitt is the author of the book The Truth About Tummy Time. Her book has been reviewed on this blog, and I highly recommend it. I'm honored to have her blog here!
It is always a pleasure to work with other
professionals on a shared interest.
Thank you, Donna, for the opportunity to post this guest blog on your
site.
In working with parents for the last several years,
I am always shocked to hear one say “The doctor told me this would just go
away.” In terms of torticollis
(shortened neck muscles) and plagiocephaly (flattening of the skull), this
cannot be further from the truth. Both
conditions can and will get worse if nothing is done to correct the
situation.
Although torticollis and plagiocephaly have a number
of things that cause them, the most common cause we see today is positional
related. What this means is the baby
spends a disproportionate amount of time in one position throughout the
day. This can be long hours spent in car
seats, swings or bouncers or always being placed in the same position when laid
down to sleep. These conditions have become
much more common since the advent of the Back to Sleep campaign as most parents
always place babies on their backs and rarely place babies on their stomachs
even to play.
If left untreated, torticollis can lead to a number
of difficulties for the baby as he or she grows Some of these include scoliosis,
shoulder alignment problems, muscle imbalance of the neck and back resulting in
developmental delay or compensatory movements to accomplish movement goals-
developmental milestones. The eyes can
also be affected if the baby is unable to turn his or her head to one direction
or if the head is tilted to one side.
The brain will reset the horizontal for this tilted view of the world
which can then lead to balance challenges.
Lastly, a baby can experience facial and ear deformity as a result of
the abnormal muscle pull on the face and side of the head.
Studies have shown that untreated plagiocephaly can
lead to long-term problems such as subtle brain dysfunction which present as
language disorders, learning disabilities, and attention deficits when a child
reaches school age. This may be due to
“compression in certain areas of the brain” during growth in the first year.*
It is estimated that 40% of children with untreated, persistent plagiocephaly
require additional services such as special education, physical therapy,
occupational therapy and speech language pathology. Plagiocephaly can also cause facial deformity
due to the disproportionate forces on the head.
While torticollis and plagiocephaly are treatable,
the best treatment is prevention.
Placing your baby in a variety of positions- tummy, on each side as well
as on the back- will ensure balanced muscle development and head rounding. If you are concerned about a head tilt or the
shape of your baby’s head, ask for a referral to a pediatric physical therapist
to assist you in treatment.
For further information about Torticollis and
Plagiocephaly or to read more about The
Truth About Tummy Time A Parent’s Guide to SIDS, the Back to Sleep program, Car
Seats and More visit www.abouttummytime.com
or follow the blog at www.abouttummytime.blogspot.com
Stephanie
J. Pruitt, PT
Director
of Pediatric Physical Therapy at Eagle Rehab, Madison, AL
Author
of The Truth About Tummy Time
I don't disagree with Stephanie's suggestion about a pediatric physical therapist. For the developmental implications, please check out www.parentswithpurpose.com!
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