Patient's question:
The baby's skull was slightly tilted at birth (the right cheekbone was smaller than the left), and it was discovered on the 8th day that her head also tended to tilt to the right. There were two hard lumps on her right neck. Could she have had torticollis since she was in the womb? I would like to ask if torticollis can be treated with massage, and how long does it usually take?Doctor's answer:
There is no need to worry about neonatal torticollis. You can apply talcum powder or high-quality powder to the neck to protect the skin, then gently massage the affected area with the palm of your hand 2-3 times a day, for about 5-10 minutes each time. After the massage, hold the baby's head with both hands to perform passive neck exercises, such as gently bending the neck left and right 10-15 times, and rotating the head left and right 10-15 times. Additionally, when the child is sucking, let the head droop to the healthy side, or support the head with your arm to tilt it toward the healthy side, which helps with overcompensation. After using the above methods, the effects on both sides are significant, and patients can recover within 4-6 weeks.