What Is Torticollis? How Is It Treated?
November 30, 2011
Torticollis is a form of dystonia (prolonged muscle contractions) in which the neck muscles contract involuntarily causing the head to turn. Torticollis may occur without known cause (idiopathic), be genetic (in
herited), or be acquired secondary to
damage to the nervous system or muscles. It may develop in childhood or adulthood.
Congenital torticollis (present at birth) may be caused by malpositioning of the head in the uterus, or be prenatal injury of the muscles or blood supply in the neck. Torticollis is a condition that may cause mild neck discomfort in infants and affects approximately 2% of newborns. There is no way to prevent this condition, it is a result of the position of the baby in-utero, too little amniotic fluid, trauma at birth or lack of space while in-utero. An infant will exhibit symptoms that include the head and neck tilted to one side. Although it looks uncomfortable, torticollis produces no severe pain. Generally, torticollis will not be noticed immediately as a newborn will have a typically wobbly head. Within the first week to the first few months, however, the condition will become more noticeable and will be diagnosed by a pediatrician.
Treatment
It is imperative that an infant exhibiting the symptoms of torticollis be given treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, torticollis may become a permanent issue. Chiropractic care and physical therapy work well to reverse the muscular dysfunction. Stretching exercises will help to lengthen the tight muscles of the neck. Other exercises will be required daily to be done at home throughout the day to help an infant with increasing head and neck mobility and range of motion. Having the infant turn their head from side to side is also necessary to help reduce stiffness of the neck. Tummy time is also helpful in getting the baby to strengthen the neck and back muscles. If diagnosed early and if exercises are done daily, improvement will be seen within a few weeks and the condition may be fully resolved within one year.
Review of the literature on Chiropractic effectiveness treating Torticollis
Chiropractic correction of congenital muscular torticollis. Toto BJ. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1993 Oct;16(8):556-9
- Suggests that chiropractic intervention is a viable treatment option forcongenital muscular torticollis. Further studies should be performed to compare the effectiveness of other treatment options.
Congenital muscular torticollis: a review, case study, and proposed protocol for chiropractic management. Colin N. Topics in Clinical Chiropractic, September 1998:volume 5, number 3, pp27- 33.
- A 7- month- old child subject became more confident and responsive, had better motor control, and his head centered rather than being twisted and tilted after chiropractic care.
Chiropractic care of the newborn with congenital torticollis. Fallon JM and Fysh PN. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol 2, No.1 1997. P. 113- 115.
- Chiropractic management of congenita torticollis, using a combination of spinal adjustments, cranial re-alignment and soft tissue therapies can produce rapid resolution in many cases of congenital torticollis and plagiocephaly (an asymmetrical and twisted condition of the head and face due to irregular closure of the cranial sutures, frequently occurs in con- junction with congenital It is important that the doctor of chiropractic become part of the multi-disciplinary team and that medical doctors become aware of chiropractic management as a solution to the most common causes of congenital torticollis.
Pediatric traumatic torticollis: a case report. MooreTF, Pfiffner TJ, Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics Vol. 2, No. 2 1997.
- Two weeks following the spinal adjustment, the patient returned to the clinic reporting thatcomplete resolution had occurred and no clinical signs or symptoms were present to substantiate further radiographic study.
Chiropractic adjustments and congenital torticollis with facial asymmetry: a case study. Hyman C.A. ICA Review September/October 1996. Pages 41- 45.
- A two- month- old black female presented with obstetrical brachial plexus injury (Erb’s palsy) who had been under thecare of several medical pediatricians without resolution. The condition showed complete resolution under chiropractic care without any complications or residual impairments.
Kinematic imbalances due to suboccipital strain in newborns. Biedermann H. J. Manual Medicine 1992, 6:151- 156.
- Removal of suboccipital strain is the fastest and most effective way to treat the symptoms. One session is sufficient inmost cases. Manipulation of the occipito-cervical region leads to the disappearance of problems.
Chiropractic correction of congenital muscular torticollis. Toto BJ. JMPT. 1993:16:556- 559.
- After 5 months of chiropractic care head tilt and associated muscle spasm were absent with dramatic improvement inchild’s general demeanor. Regurgitation became much less frequent with some residual facial asymmetry remaining.
The overall results indicate that patients with torticollis may benefit from chiropractic care via contact specific, high velocity, low amplitude thrusts to sites of misaligned areas as well as physical therapy therapeutic exercise and modalities.
When considering treatment to correct torticollis, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ offer a safe and painless treatment option. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for fasterservice, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
How Can Fish Oil Help My Pain?
November 14, 2011
There are a lot of benefits to taking a fish oil dietary supplement. No matter how young or old you are or what your health status, it can help prevent and even treat many common ailments.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation by interfering with the production of inflammation-producing chemicals which stimulate pain nerves in the tissues.
While it is true that there are some vegetarian sources of omega-3’s like walnuts, flaxseed (linseed) oil, canola oil, soybean oil, etc., all of these are short chain polyunsaturated acids which must be converted by the body into longer chain PUFAs to be useful. Since fish oil already contains long chain PUFAs, it’s the best dietary source.
In fact, fish oil is so effective, that some studies have shown that it can relieve pain symptoms even in cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a serious autoimmune condition that can affect joints and soft tissues throughout the entire body.
One study showed that fish oil reduced morning stiffness and joint tenderness and increased the effectiveness of NSAIDs in patients with RA.1 Another study suggested that the long-term use of fish oil (over 12 weeks at 6 grams a day) may decrease the need for NSAIDs and other RA medications. Finally, a recent Australian study showed that fish oil reduced the use of NSAIDs by 75% in RA patients and reduced inflammation-causing chemicals by up to 41%.
In addition to pain relief fish oil consumption has been linked to helping treat the following:
o Heart disease – the Omega 3
fatty acids found in fish oil dietary supplement therapy helps keep blood
pressure and cholesterol down, thereby helping patients avoid cardiac problems.
o High cholesterol
o High blood pressure
o Diabetes – Omega 3′s help keep glucose levels stable
o Obesity – by keeping fats from attaching to tissues, more bad fats can be
flushed form the body, helping users lose and maintain their weight
o Arthritis – a wonderful anti-inflammatory, Omega 3 fatty acids are one of the
best non-prescription ways to keep arthritis pain away
o Alzheimer’s – the lower a person’s Omega 3 levels are in the brain, the more
apt they are to suffer memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s
o Skin Disorders/Irritations – Omega 3 fatty acids help to boost skin cell
production, keeping everything from acne to wrinkles at bay
o Asthma
o Cancer
In addition to treating these disorders, fish oil has also been proven to boost a person’s overall immune system; provide important nutritional support to pregnant women (and help their baby grow optimally); help build bones; regulate cell growth; improve memory and even help you maintain a healthier weight.
Foods that are rich in fish oil are fish like wild salmon, sardines, anchovies and mackerel along with walnuts and soybeans are rich with fish oil. If you are consuming these foods on a regular basis fish oil supplementation may be needed.
For specific questions regarding if fish oil supplementation is right for you or the dosage amount to consume for your condition set up free consultation at our office. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
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