HOW CAN PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP?
It is vital to seek treatment on behalf of infants or children who are experiencing this type of head or neck positioning. If left too long without intervention, children may experience permanent disability due to shortening neck muscles. One of the first treatments doctors recommend are stretching exercises designed to lengthenand strengthen the neckmuscles holding the head in the incorrect position. 80 percent of all children respond well to this type of treatment plan and do not experience any lasting effects. If these non-invasive treatments do not work, doctors will recommend surgery to lengthen short muscles and return the child’s head to a normal position. Once completed, the child may need physical therapy to strengthen her neckmuscles and prevent the problem from recurring. How We Can Help Physical therapy is the primary treatment for torticollis. At Fitness for Health, our services are designed to facilitate gross and fine motor skills through flexibility, neuromuscular re-education, and muscle activation/inhibition techniques. Our physical therapist will first conduct an assessment to test your child’s range of motion and evaluate any other conditions that often accompany torticollis. The whole child will
be assessed to determine how torticollis is impacting overall function. Once the evaluation is complete, the physical therapist will discuss her findings and a potential treatment plan. She will educate the family on stretches and exercise techniques that should be implemented daily. Therapy may include performing stretching exercises both in the office and at home to increase range of motion and strengthen the neck muscles. Thesemay include passive stretches aswell as active stretches of the neck and shouldermuscles designed to strengthenmuscles that are used to maintain good posture. Even in infants who do not seem to be strong enough to reliably hold their own heads, these stretches and exercises can correct the problemquickly. In fact, early intervention for torticollis often provides the best results. If your child is experiencing painful, incorrect positioning of the head or neck, don’t hesitate to contact Fitness for Health today. We can help you or your little one become pain-free, improve range of motion, and eliminate torticollis for good.
Source: http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/torticollis.html http://www.healthline.com/health/torticollis
KID’S COOKING CORNER Banana Foster Parfaits
• 2 cups plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt • 1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 2 large ripe bananas • 6 Tbsp dark brown sugar • 2 Tbsp unsweetened apple juice • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter • 1/4 tsp salt
Directions Peel bananas and cut each in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 3 pieces. Combine sugar, apple juice, and butter in a nonstick skillet. Cook overmedium- low heat for 3 minutes or until mixture begins to bubble. Add bananas to pan; cook for 2 minutes or until bananas begin to soften. Spoon 1/2 cup yogurt into the bottom of each of 4 parfait glasses. Divide banana mixture evenly among glasses. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon chopped and toasted pecans.
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