Today, disorders in the cervical spine or neck muscles are a very common problem, as evidenced by the statistics – more than 80% of children and adults are victims of this disease. The most harmless manifestation of such disorders is facial asymmetry. Do not trust the opinion that facial asymmetry – this is the norm and this phenomenon develops in connection with the intensive work of one of the hemispheres. In fact, the cause of any head asymmetry is to be found in the neck.
The most common cause of head asymmetry is problems during childbirth and during the first days of life baby:
- narrow maternal pelvis or its irregular shape;
- incorrect delivery or caesarean section;
- Wrong sleep pattern of the child (should turn the child from time to time from one side to the other, do gymnastics).
In the process of incorrect delivery or caesarean section, a child's cervical vertebrae can be broken at least 4 times. Thus, harm can be done in the process when the child is taken out by the head or upper palate, the child's head is turned, the child's head is sharply tilted back and forth, the child's pelvis is pushed up.
Specialists note that in almost 100% of cases, children who are born by caesarean section have disorders in the cervical vertebrae.
For adults, disorders in the cervical spine often develop as a result of injury or improper exercise.
How does torticollis manifest in babies?
- The baby's head leans towards the injured muscle, while at the same time turned in the opposite direction and slightly tilted back.
- If the torticollis is pronounced, the scapula and shoulder girdle are slightly higher, while the back of the head on the healthy side is slightly sloping. A slight asymmetry of the face may appear.
- Turn of the neck is predominantly to the right side, but there is also left-sided and bilateral torticollis.
- A child with torticollis is capricious, does not sleep well.
In case of improper obstetric care, the first vertebra also suffers – atlas, which performs the function of shifting the head forward-backward and right-left. Violation of the position of the atlas impairs blood circulation and nutrition of the brain. These circumstances
negatively affect the development of the child.
Incorrect position of the atlas provokes the development of the following disorders:
- migraine and headaches;
- neck pain;
- stiffness (rigidity) of the neck muscles;
- shoulders are at different levels;
- scoliosis, back pain, pelvic curvature.
Check if your child has cervical spine disorders
If at least one of the following questions is answered positively, immediately show the baby to a trauma surgeon!
- Sit (place) the child in front of you. The baby can be shaken a little and played with him. Is it noticeable that the head is tilted to the side, no matter which direction you shake the child?
- Pay attention to the symmetry of the child's face – eyes, ears and eyebrows are at different levels?
- When looking at the back of the child's head, is the head tilted to one side noticeable? Maybe you have seen dense “paths” along the neck, a hole or furrow in the center of the neck?
- When looking at the head from above, is the seal visible on one side, on both sides, or behind?
In addition to the visual examination, the traumatologist surgeon will also pay attention to the hands of the child, because in children suffering from disorders in the neck, the hands are often hypotonic.
Pay attention! Self-medication can harm your child. The correct diagnosis and treatment regimen can only be provided by a qualified specialist!
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