When her son Nathan was only 1 month old, Jina Saltzman began to see the telltale signs and symptoms that she missed when her first child, Evelyn, was born. Like his big sister, Nathan had difficulty turning his head to one side and favored his right side whenever he was in a lying position.
Pediatrician Lamia Katbi, MD, diagnosed Jina’s babies with torticollis – the abnormal positioning of the head and neck that is caused by tightness in one of the neck and shoulder’s major muscles.
“With Nathan, I was on the lookout,” she says. “I knew the signs and symptoms and how important it was to be able to get Nathan into physical therapy much earlier. Both children are doing fine today thanks to the early referral by our pediatrician and the care we received at Community Hospital.”
“Early intervention is key,” says Elizabeth Zurek, MPT, supervisor, Physical Therapy. “We’re here to offer reassurance, be a resource and to provide skilled intervention. Our team approach between parents, pediatricians and therapists makes all the difference in the world with outcomes. As we make more parents aware of what we can do for this condition and work toward earlier interventions, we expect to have many more success stories.”
Torticollis, which means “twisted neck,” is equally common in both newborn boys and girls. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is the large, ropelike muscle that runs on both sides of the neck from the back of the ears to the collarbone. Shortening of this muscle on one side can create tightness on one side of the body, making it more difficult for baby to turn his head to one side or tilt his ear toward one shoulder.
“The good news is that most babies with torticollis improve after regular position changes, stretching exercises and physical therapy,” Katbi explains.
Learn more about the Pediatric Therapy services offered by the hospitals of Community Healthcare System.
