Newborn torticollis is one of the most common conditions seen in early infancy, yet many parents are unsure what it is, why it happens, or when to seek help. The good news? With early physiotherapy intervention, torticollis responds extremely well and most babies make a full recovery.

If you’ve noticed your baby prefers looking to one side, has difficulty turning their head, or develops a flat spot on their skull, physiotherapy can play a crucial role in correcting it early.

What Is Newborn Torticollis?

Torticollis refers to tightening of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, causing a baby’s head to tilt one way and rotate the opposite way. It can be present at birth (congenital) or develop in the first few weeks of life.

Evidence shows congenital torticollis affects 0.3% to 2% of newborns, making it a relatively common early-life musculoskeletal condition (Petronic et al., 2010).

Common Signs of Torticollis

Parents often first notice:

• Baby prefers turning head to one side
• Baby struggles to breastfeed on one side
• Head tilt (ear toward shoulder)
• Flat spot on the skull (plagiocephaly)
• Irritability during tummy time
• Shoulder elevation on one side
• Asymmetrical rolling or delayed motor milestones

If you’ve noticed one or more of these, early intervention is recommended the earlier it is treated, the quicker the recovery.

What Causes Torticollis?

Torticollis may develop due to:

1. In-utero positioning

Limited space, breech position, or pressure on the neck region can contribute (Huang et al., 2015).

2. Birth trauma

Difficult or assisted deliveries can increase the likelihood.

3. Postnatal positioning habits

Sleeping or feeding on one side more than the other can worsen tightness and contribute to head shape changes.

4. Associated conditions

Torticollis often occurs alongside plagiocephaly (flat head) (Loveday & de Chalain, 2001).

How Physiotherapy Helps Newborn Torticollis

Physiotherapy is considered the first-line treatment for congenital muscular torticollis (Kaplan et al., 2013).

At Trilogy Physiotherapy, Palada, our physiotherapist with training in newborn and paediatric care, provides gentle, effective and parent-friendly treatment programs suitable from birth.

Treatment may include:

1. Gentle stretching & muscle release

Helps lengthen the tight SCM and restore symmetrical neck movement.

2. Positioning strategies

Evidence-based positioning during sleep, feeding, carrying and play helps rebalance muscle activity and reduce preference to one side.

3. Tummy time coaching

Essential for strengthening neck and trunk muscles (Davis et al., 2018). Palada will demonstrate graded tummy time alternatives for babies who dislike it.

4. Parent-led home exercises

Simple, safe movements designed to integrate easily into daily routines.

5. Monitoring head shape

Early physiotherapy reduces the risk of plagiocephaly and may prevent the need for helmet therapy (van Vlimmeren et al., 2007).

How Long Does Recovery Take?

Recovery time depends on the baby’s age and severity of tightness:

• Under 2 months old: typically resolves in 4–8 weeks
• 2–4 months: may take 2–3 months
• Over 6 months: tends to require longer and more consistent home exercises

Early physiotherapy provides the strongest outcomes (Kaplan et al., 2013).

When Should You See a Physiotherapist?

Book an assessment if your baby:

• always prefers turning to one side
• has difficulty latching on one side
• has a visible head tilt
• has a flat spot developing
• hates tummy time
• seems delayed in early motor milestones
• was breech or had a difficult delivery

Early assessment can prevent future asymmetries in rolling, crawling and sitting.

Why Choose Trilogy Physiotherapy for Newborn Torticollis?

• Palada is trained in newborn, infant and paediatric physiotherapy
• Gentle, family-centred treatment tailored to your baby’s comfort
• Experienced in treating torticollis, plagiocephaly and early movement delay
• Located conveniently in Sinnamon Park, close to Jindalee, Oxley, Seventeen Mile Rocks & Mount Ommaney
• Private treatment rooms and child-friendly environment
• Medicare EPC, Private Health and NDIS accepted

Book Newborn Torticollis Physiotherapy in Brisbane

If you’re concerned about your baby’s head position, neck movement or early development, early intervention can make all the difference.

Book with Palada at Trilogy Physiotherapy today. Your baby’s development starts here. Click here to book now!

References

Davis, B. E., Moon, R. Y., Sachs, H. C., & Ottolini, M. C. (2018). Tummy time and positional plagiocephaly: Assessing parental opinions and practices. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 42, e64–e69.

Huang, Y. C., Chang, C. L., Chen, W. C., & Wang, L. J. (2015). The timing and diagnosis of congenital muscular torticollis. Journal of Child Neurology, 30(6), 760–765.

Kaplan, S. L., Coulter, C., & Sargent, B. (2013). Physical therapy management of congenital muscular torticollis: An evidence-based clinical guideline. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 25(4), 348–394.

Loveday, B. P., & de Chalain, T. B. (2001). Active counterpositioning or orthotic device to treat positional plagiocephaly? Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 12(4), 308–313.

Petronic, I., Brdar, R., Cirovic, D., Nikolic, D., Lukac, M., Janic, D., & Cirovic, S. (2010). Congenital muscular torticollis in children: Distribution, treatment duration and outcome. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 46(2), 153–157.

van Vlimmeren, L. A., van der Graaf, Y., Boere-Boonekamp, M. M., L’Hoir, M. P., Helders, P. J., & Engelbert, R. H. (2007). Effect of pediatric physical therapy on deformational plagiocephaly in infants. Pediatrics, 119(2), e408–e418.

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To learn more about pediatric physiotherapy in Brisbane, check our our blog.