Baby Torticollis & Flat Head physiotherapy treatment in London

Paediatric physiotherapist specialised in treatment of baby torticollis and baby flat head at home or at the practice in Belgravia SW1, Clapham SW4 & Monument EC3

Excellence Physiotherapy offers baby torticollis and flat head treatment by specialised and experienced paediatric physiotherapists, based in London. Our London physiotherapist for baby will tailor a specific treatment plan based on the personalised baby assessment done on your child. Depending of the assessment our physiotherapist might also refer your baby to our osteopath in London to fasten the treatment. We usually carry out treatment for baby torticolis during home visits in London to avoid taking your baby on public transport. However, if you prefer for your child to be seen at the practice, we offer sessions either at:

• Our clinic in Monument near Bank, Moorgate and London Bridge
• Our clinic in Belgravia Westminster near Victoria, Knightsbridge and Sloane Square
• Our clinics in Clapham near Battersea and Balham

We can also offer a full assessment of your baby’s overall health. Contact us for details or if you whish to ask a question about your baby’s condition to one of our London paediatric physiotherapists.

Our physiotherapy and osteopathy treatments are covered by most health insurances and are Bupa registered & recognised (BUPA Global and BUPA UK), Axa registered & recognised (AXA International, AXA ppp), Cigna registered & recognised and WPA registered & recognised

For appointment with our London physiotherapist or London osteopath call : 0207 125 0262 – 07824 553765

More information about baby torticollis and flathead in London

What is baby torticollis?

Torticollis in babies, also known as wryneck, refers to the condition where the head of the baby is tilted to one side and they have difficulty turning their head. It might look uncomfortable and painful, but it usually isn’t. It is caused by the baby’s position in the womb, when they don’t have enough room to move around during the last stages of the pregnancy. Some babies with torticollis can also have Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), as this is also caused by abnormal positioning due to restricted space in the womb.

What are the symptoms of baby torticollis?

• The baby’s head is permanently tilted to one side
• The baby only turns their head to one side
• When breastfeeding, the baby has difficulties feeding on one side and prefers one breast only
• When you move, the baby looks at you over one shoulder, rather than turning to follow your movement with their eyes
• The baby seems to struggle to turn their head
• The baby might have a lump or bump on the side of their neck

What is baby flat head?

Babies with torticollis may also develop positional plagiocephaly, also known as flat head, flattened head or flat head syndrome. This term refers to the condition where the back or one side of the baby’s head is flattened, often with little or no hair growing in the affected area. This is caused when the baby lies or sleeps in the same position all the time, due to the stiff neck from the torticollis. This happens because infant’s heads are soft during the first year of life, in order to accommodate the rapid growth of their brains, and the bone is therefore flexible and susceptible to modifications.

Are baby flat head and baby torticollis reversible?

Both baby torticolis and baby flat head conditions are reversible and the most effective and fastest treatment for them is physiotherapy. The earliest the pathology is detected and treated, the easier it will be for the physiotherapist to release the tension in your baby’s retracted neck and reshape the head back to normal. This is done by loosening the baby’s neck muscles with soft tissue massage and teaching them to turn their head both ways through little games, visual and audio stimulation. The physiotherapist will also show you daily exercises that you can help your baby perform, in order to preserve mobility and speed up the recovery.