Tarheel Footprints

Torticollis, by definition, is a spasm/shortening of the sternocleidomastiod muscle in the neck. This is the muscle that becomes prominent in the front of your neck when you look to one side (rotate) and then drop your front ear towards your chest (side bend). Torticollis is most often diagnosed in infants and children. It may be due to positioning in utero, it may be caused by a flat spot on the head that causes the child to rotate his head to one side when lying on his back, there is theory that children with reflux tend to rotate and side bend their necks to one side to close off the esophagus to prevent refluxing....there are many other possible causes but these are the most pronounced. 

Conventionally, torticollis has been treated by stretching the shortened sternocleidomastoid muscle in the neck. While it is the traditional approach and can be effective, most infants and children do not tolerate the substantial stretching required to truly elongate the muscle. Parents often have trouble getting the child into the appropriate position and holding him there to allow for a prolonged stretch. In addition, most children and infants cry during stretching as their pain systems are not fully developed and any pain (whether we would perceive it as good or bad) is pain to a child. 

Total Motion Release, TMR, therapy looks more closely at the restrictions and asymmetries found throughout the body that may be impacting the neck. I have found in practice that children with torticollis often also demonstrate asymmetrical movements within the trunk and occasionally within their extremities. During the TMR course, I learned that there are also often restrictions in the hips that cause neck range of motion restrictions as well. The TMR theory suggests that by treating the restrictions in the trunk and the hips, the neck asymmetries will correct as well. 

Thinking of it like potting a plant, if the flowers and stems are growing out of the ground at an angle, you don't grab the stems and pull it up right, you dig it up replant the roots upright and refill the soil around it. Similarly here, you fix the root/bulb and the flower corrects itself.