What are the massage techniques for torticollis

When it comes to torticollis, I believe everyone is not very familiar with it. Torticollis mostly occurs in infants. Torticollis is mainly caused by contracture of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side, which leads to the deviation of the head and neck. In a few cases, it is caused by malformation of the cervical vertebrae. As long as people detect the symptoms of torticollis in time and receive timely treatment, torticollis can be cured. Torticollis can be treated with massage, sandbag immobilization, traction, or positional therapy. So, do you know what the massage techniques for torticollis are?

1. Local massage: The doctor uses the thumb or middle and index fingers to gently knead the enlarged mass of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the affected side from top to bottom. This can stretch and straighten the contracted sternocleidomastoid muscle, improve local blood circulation and promote metabolism, and gradually soften the local hardened muscle fibers.

2. Rotate the head left and right: The doctor holds the baby's head with both hands and rotates it left and right, 10 to 20 times each time. This can loosen the tough sternocleidomastoid muscle.

3. Swing the head left and right: The doctor holds the baby's head and swings it left and right, 10 to 20 times each time, so that the strong sternocleidomastoid muscle on the affected side can be stretched and activated. When swinging left and right, you should pay attention to correcting in the opposite direction of the tilt. By repeating this correction many times, the tough muscle fibers can be softened and the crooked head and neck can be kept upright.

4. Stretching the neck up and down: The doctor holds the baby's head and jaw with both hands and stretches them vertically up and down, once a day, about 10 to 20 times each time. This action can gradually lengthen and soften the sternocleidomastoid muscle that has become thicker and shorter. The above four massage techniques should be performed continuously each time. In addition to the daily massage in the hospital, the techniques should be taught to parents, who are asked to massage their children 1-2 times at home when possible. One course of treatment is three months.

The above is what we introduced to you about the massage techniques for torticollis. Did you all understand it clearly? If you find that your baby has torticollis, you should take the baby to treatment in time to prevent more serious consequences in the future. It is best not to treat torticollis when the child is more than one year old, otherwise surgery will be required.