The birth of a baby is a big celebration, an important event for new parents, they still do not know all the charms of motherhood and fatherhood. But, despite this, they will find many new things, previously unknown. Often young couples meet with the concept of "torticollis", what is it and how to treat it?
Now they prescribe a massage with a crank, there is nothing wrong with this, because the child is not yet fully formed, now there is time to fix everything, the main thing is not to start it.
Torticollis
What is it all the same? This is a change in the musculoskeletal system in the neck. Signs of torticollis in newborns are clearly expressed:
- head tilted to the side;
- turned to the side.
But you should not panic, the signs of torticollis in newborns are found in ninety percent of cases. Now the baby needs your help. Consult a specialist, he will prescribe a massage with a crank.
As a result of neck deformation during the growth of the baby, incorrect posture is formed. This is a very common disease that occurs quite often in girls, less often in boys. Torticollis in a child (2 months is the age when this problem is most often detected) most often has a muscle shape.
Kinds
In total, two large groups of torticollis are distinguished:
It is not difficult to guess that in the second case, the child is born with this defect, and in the first case it acquires it as a result of life. Massage with crankshaft will not cause discomfort in your baby, do not be afraid to go to the hospital.
Why does torticollis appear
The cause may be intrauterine underdevelopment of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which is involved in processes such as nodding, turning, tilting the head. If a torticollis is congenital, an underdeveloped shortened neck is formed.
Also, in-utero torticollis can develop as a result of improper and prolonged installation of the head, when the load is not enough on this muscle.
Even torticollis can be the result of labor activity if:
- gross manipulations were used;
- there was a pelvic presentation;
- improper head tipping;
- birth injuries of muscles (tear, rupture, hemorrhage, ischemia), as a result, an inflammatory process develops.
Acquired torticollis can occur as a result of constant lying on one side or because of an uncomfortable crib. In all of the above cases, massage with crankshaft is prescribed. Do not do it yourself, massage a newborn baby is very different from this procedure for an adult.
Contact any hospital, now massage is done even at home, if it is not possible to visit a medical institution on your own. Nevertheless, we will describe how to do massage with crankshaft in this article, for general reference only.
What will inaction lead to?
Massage therapy with crankshaft is necessary, otherwise there may be disastrous consequences. Which ones, we will analyze in this section. First you need to know that the symptoms do not occur immediately, but after two to three weeks, they can be detected by an experienced orthopedist.
If at the age of two to three weeks there is a thickening and pronounced muscle tightening on the neck (on the one hand) - this indicates a problem. If you do not deal with treatment, then torticollis will increase. How does a child behave when palpating? He can act up, frown, cry. If you try to turn the head to the other side, it will become clear that this is impossible, the baby experiences pain and discomfort.
If you do not massage, a newborn child will be tormented by pain in the neck, the head will fix in the wrong position, the muscle will shorten and tighten. As a result, all this will lead to the fact that the muscle atrophies. The skull will form incorrectly, there will be a pronounced asymmetry. If the lesion is severe, then a raised shoulder is possible from the damaged muscle. Explicit deformations of the facial and brain parts of the skull.
What to do
To get started, contact an experienced specialist. Diagnosis of this disease is carried out by probing the muscles, comparing the sick and healthy. The next stage is an x-ray or MRI of the cervical spine. Next, a massage and a special collar are prescribed for the baby to properly position the head and prevent the development of scoliosis.
Treatment
Note why it is worth correcting torticollis at an early age. The body of the child is not formed, very supple. In this case, the muscle can be extended without surgery. Conservative methods will not work if the case is difficult or neglected.
What does conservative treatment mean? Stretching the muscle due to special laying on its side, massage for better blood circulation and relieving inflammation, using Shants collar, electrophoresis, heating pads, sleeping a child in a special position (with a roller under the back).
Surgical intervention
On average, conservative treatment takes five to six months. During this time, the damaged muscle is fully stretched and is no different from healthy. Surgical intervention is possible if the child is two years old and torticollis is severely neglected.
During surgery, the muscle artificially builds up. Recovery takes no more than two months. At this time, the child needs to do special gymnastics, massage to stretch the muscles.
Forecasts
With modern treatment, torticollis can be quickly and safely cured, it will disappear without a trace. If the child is not involved, then without treatment there will be deformations of the skull, shortening of the muscle, impaired support function of the spine, resulting in disability.
Baby massage with crankshaft
We remind you that a massage should be done by a specialist. This section is for guidance only. If you want to do the massage yourself at home, then be sure to take special courses, training. Improper movements during massage can lead to even more curvature.
It is difficult to find a specialist, but still possible. We proceed directly to the massage technique. Movements must be performed gently, smoothly, without sharp jerks.
Put the child on the back and fix the head by pulling it slightly towards you. Next, you need to smoothly turn the head from side to side. Pull up your chin. Closely monitor the child's reaction. Massage should not cause pain. Distract him with different toys, sound and light effects.
The next exercise: put the baby on a barrel, on which the damaged muscle, fix the head, then sharply remove your hand. With this exercise, the muscles on the other side of the neck are strengthened, which will help overcome the torticollis. Repetitions must be done no more than twenty.
Efficiency
Massage promotes better blood circulation, increased tone from the intact side. It should be done two to three times a day, and the course of treatment is thirty to forty procedures.
However, daily and prolonged massaging can cause a child’s bad mood. Doctors say that the child becomes nervous and irritable. That is why torticollis in newborns is treated not only with massage, but they create a whole complex that includes alternating:
- massage;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- electrophoresis;
- compresses and so on.
Also for treatment, there are specially designed magnetic posture correctors, they are used by German and Israeli orthopedists.
Features of massage for newborns :
- the affected side is massaged and warmed up;
- then a little vibration is applied;
- massage of the opposite side;
- stroking, pressing, kneading.
Massage of newborns ends with stroking the arms, legs, abdomen, all babies like this procedure. So that the child does not overwork, the duration of the session should not exceed fifteen minutes.
Choose only a highly qualified specialist in order not to aggravate the situation. In conclusion, I would like to add that any treatment should cause only positive emotions and good memories in the crumbs.