Torticollis Intervention Torticollis Is a Condition Which

Torticollis Intervention

Torticollis is a condition which can be either temporary and of a minor inconvenience or it can be chronic and physically debilitating. The implications of the condition can run the gamut of severity and susceptibility to treatment. Torticollis, or a twisting of the neck, can be extremely common but its causes and impact exist across a wide range of variations. The discussion here will offer a concise overview of the condition with consideration of its various suspected causes, its most salient symptoms, strategies for its treatment and existing technologies or adaptive strategies aimed at helping individuals live with the condition.

Condition Background:

Torticollis is not an altogether uncommon presence at the time of birth. When the condition is present at the time of birth, it is referred to as congenital or inherited torticollis. According to the research provided by the Baby Center Medical Advisory Board (BMAB) (2012) "about 1 in 250 infants are born with torticollis. (Ten to 20% of babies with torticollis also have hip dysplasia, in which the hip joint is malformed."

When occurring at birth, there are a number of possible explanations for the displacement of twisting of the neck. In most cases, the twisting has been caused by the child's positioning in the womb. Here, the child's head may be tilted to one side through an extended duration during pregnancy, resulting in a tightness of the muscle that connects the collarbone and breastbone to the skull. This same effect may be rendered in the child during labor. In either case, this is considered a less severe variation of congenital torticollis.

By contrast, there is a variation occurring only in uterine where the bones of the neck have become fused together. According to the BCMAB, this variation is known as Klippel-Feil syndrome and can carry several potentially serious side effects. Among them, the child may suffer from hearing deficiencies or renal function abnormalities. As will be discussed in the section hereafter, it is critical to determine which of these forms is present before determining the course of research.

Before proceeding though, it is relevant to note that there is also a form of acquired (as opposed to congenital) torticollis that is common with infants but may also occur with adults. With adults, the source by Cunha (2009) indicates, the cause may be chronic bending or misalignment of the neck or it may be a traumatic injury with worsening long-term repercussions. According to Cunha, "When the disorder occurs in people with a family history, it is referred to as spasmodic torticollis. The characteristic twisting of the neck is initially spasmodic and begins between 31-50 years of age. If you leave the condition untreated, it likely will become permanent."

Support groups for those living with torticollis include the National Spasmodic Torticollis Association (NSTA), which offers support group contacts for individuals suffering with the condition and which works to promote awareness about the condition. The primary research objective supported by the NSTA calls for continued work to find a cure for the condition.

Intervention Research:

There is no way to predict that torticollis will occur in an unborn child. Though there are some recorded cases that this may be a genetically acquired condition, this is difficult to determine in advance. Therefore, the focus of intervention research must be on addressing the condition upon its appearance. To this point, according to Medline Plus (2011), "while there is no known way to prevent this condition, early treatment may prevent it from getting worse." (p. 1)

With respect to choosing a treatment, as denoted above, the infant form of torticollis requires diagnosis first and foremost before treatment intervention can be performed. As the source by BCMAB indicates, the conditions that share comorbidity with torticollis in the Klippel-Feil variation require their own separate and immediate attention. Moreover, the prescribed course of intervention for the standard form of congenital torticollis may not only be inappropriate for one with the Klippel-Feil variation, but it may be potentially harmful.

That said, in standard cases of congenital torticollis, intervention is typically a non-invasive and simple course of stretching therapy that has a proven track record of reducing any detectable impact from the condition. Medline Plus indicates that "passive stretching and positioning are used in infants and small children. These treatments are often successful, especially if they are started within 3 months of birth."

However, it is incumbent upon the child with this inborn condition to monitor its progress throughout early childhood. According to Medline Plus, if the condition has not been successfully addressed through stretching therapy by the time the child begins preschool, surgical treatment may be appropriate.

For adults suffering with chronic or post-injury forms of acquired torticollis, an Occupational Therapist may be required. Here, the Occupational Therapist can help ensure that stretching and physical therapy are engaged. With the assistance of an Occupational Therapist, these strategies may also be supplemented by a number of additional therapeutic measures. As for evidence-based treatment strategies, Medline Plus mentions the use of heating surfaces, traction-based therapy or massage. Additionally, the source suggests that certain prescription therapies are not uncommon in the treatment, including "the anticholinergic drug baclofen." The Medline source also indicates that the use of botulinum toxin or "Botox" injections every three months can help to relieve muscle tightness and any associated pain, discomfort or misalignment.