Torticollis is a condition of the neck in which the child’s head tilts toward one shoulder and often the chin rotates toward the opposite shoulder.  It occurs when muscles in the child’s neck, most often the Sternocleidomastoid (SCM), is tight. This postural condition may impact postural alignment of the entire body. Whether just the neck or the entire body is affected, it can affect the way baby learns new motor skills. Physical therapy plays an important role in individualized treatment of torticollis, including stretching, strengthening, motor skill development, myofascial release, visual motor development, and overall postural symmetry. Torticollis should be treated by a skilled professional who provides manual therapy interventions to address the restrictions and follows up with neuromuscular re-education to promote progression of motor patterns with good postural alignment. The sooner baby starts Physical therapy, the greater opportunity for improvement.

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Torticollis is often accompanied by flatness on the head. 1 in 10 babies present with "Flat Head Syndrome" or medically termed Plagiocephaly. "Physical therapy is recommended over repositioning education alone for reducing prevalence of infantile positional plagiocephaly in infants," according to The Congress of Neurological Surgeons, (Flannery, A.M. et al, Summary: Evidence Based Guidelines for the treatment of pediatric positional plagiocephaly). Earlier physical therapy intervention renders optimal results, faster. Helmet therapy is recommended after conservative management (physical therapy) or in more extreme cases.