How to deal with the violation of posture in children

In patients aged 1-3 years, the leading symptom is a shortening of one or both legs sternocleidomastoid muscle with the tilt and rotation of the head. If more shortened thoracic leg muscles, which is mainly involved in turning the head, the more pronounced head turn when clavicular - more pronounced lateral head tilt. Greatest severity of the deformation reaches patients by 3 to 6 years of age. At this age, facial asymmetry is increased, further deteriorating posture. Violation of posture is manifested in the form of scoliosis of the cervical spine and verhnegrudnogo with different levels of standing shoulder girdle and blades (higher on the affected side). Deformation is due to retarded growth of the affected muscles, the shortening of the trapezius and serratus anterior at the correct growth of the cervical spine. In what may develop compensatory curvature in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine. Struck sternocleidomastoid muscle is tight, tight to the touch, thin normal.

The main purpose of conservative treatment is to eliminate the strain without surgery by improving the trophic system of the affected muscles, reduce and eliminate muscle contraction, providing a compensatory increase in muscle tone in the healthy side, to prevent deformation of the head and neck. Conservative treatment should be long enough for at least a year, and regular medical check-up should be carried out at least until school age. The application of conservative methods of treatment is especially effective in the first year of life when more elastic tissue and possible to stretch the affected muscle. In the process of restorative treatment using massage, physiotherapy, physical therapy, performed at the foyer of the corrected position of the head of the child.

The goal of treatment provision - increasing the distance between the points of attachment of the affected muscles. Child must often be laid to sleep on his side. If the child is lying on the affected side, the head is enclosed by a high pillow, if it lies on the healthy side, the pillow is not used at all. If a child sleeps on his back, various adaptations ensure that its head was upright. Baby bed should be installed so that the wall was turned healthy side. Watching what is happening in the room, turning on the light, which, however, should not be bright, the child will thereby give the correct position of the head. In newborns and infants first weeks of life can use cotton-gauze collars after giving the head of some overcorrection. From 3 to 4 weeks of age in the collar can be inserted to the strength of a strip of cardboard with a width equal to the distance between the lower jaw and collarbone in the correct position of the head. This device should not put pressure on the neck, but only serve as a spacer between the clavicle and jaw. Massage plays an important role in the complex early conservative treatment of torticollis. It is held against the backdrop of general massage, the appropriate age and physical development of children. For muscle changes are applied gently with a soft massage techniques - moving and oppressive stroking, rubbing and vibration to relax the muscles to prevent deep scarring. Stroking is held between two fingers of the mastoid process of temporal bone in the direction of the clavicle. Rubbing is the end of the middle or index finger. Vibration is applied in the form of tapping with the fingertips in any direction. Does not recommend the use of massage techniques that could help strengthen the affected muscles and thus would strengthen the muscle contracture.