Pediatric Torticollis

My granddaughter, Aubrey, was born in January of 2008. I noticed at 2 weeks she would not turn her head at all to the right. I had my daughter ask the pediatrician about it. The pediatrician said she had a tied up neck muscle which happens sometimes and to lay her in the floor on her back and force her head to the left while holding her right shoulder down several times a day. She even saw a second pediatrician at 1½ months of age and he said the same thing.

At 2 months of age, I was really getting concerned. She would only turn her head to the left very little. What was most alarming was she would not hold her head up at all. She reminded me of a rag doll. We continued doing the exercises but really never saw any improvement. She was also getting a rash on her neck where she was holding her chin down to her chest. By this time her head was also becoming misshaped. The pediatrician was still saying do the exercises and make sure she lies on her left side. Aubrey and I met Dr. Matt at a social function when she was 3 months old. He explained to me what was going on with her and assured me that it could be corrected. He asked me to make an appointment. He knew he could help Aubrey. I was a little apprehensive at first due to her age. I am a firm believer in chiropractors, but it was just her age. He explained that he works with children and it would not hurt her at all.

I made an appointment right away. Dr. Matt scanned her and explained to my daughter and I the results. Aubrey had Acute Congenital Muscular Torticollis. The strength in her right arm was much weaker than the left and one leg was longer than the other. The scan showed that her C-1 nerve was not working correctly. Dr. Matt adjusted Aubrey which she slept through while laying face down atop her mother. He said we should start seeing a little improvement in 2 weeks.

After her third visit I could not believe the improvement. She was holding her head up, very unsteady but it was off her chest finally. When we laid her on her stomach she raised her head up to her breast when before she would only rest her chin on the floor. Aubrey even turned her head more to the left as well. She rolled over from her stomach to her back after the fifth visit.

We are now 4½ months of age and just finished her twelfth visit. She has become a pro at holding her head up, nothing wrong with the strength in her arms. She rolls from her back to her stomach constantly. She has also started to stand in our laps when before she just refused to put her feet down. It doesn’t seem it will be much longer before she will start crawling which Dr. Matt said would have been impossible prior to chiropractic treatment.

The only regret I have is not taking Aubrey sooner than we did. Dr. Matt is very gentle and patient. You can tell he loves his job. The staff is very nice and friendly as well.

Thanks. A very proud and relieved first grandmother.

-Aubry, Sharpsburg, GA