Physical therapy management of congenital muscular torticollis: an evidence-based clinical practice guideline: from the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association.
BACKGROUND
Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is an idiopathic postural deformity evident shortly after birth, typically characterized by lateral flexion of the head to one side and cervical rotation to the opposite side due to unilateral shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. CMT may be accompanied by other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Infants with CMT are frequently referred to physical therapists (PTs) to treat their asymmetries. This evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) provides guidance on which infants should be monitored, treated, and/or referred, and when and what PTs should treat. Based upon critical appraisal of literature and expert opinion, 16 action statements for screening, examination, intervention, and follow-up are linked with explicit levels of evidence. The CPG addresses referral, screening, examination and evaluation, prognosis, first-choice and supplemental interventions, consultation, discharge, follow-up, suggestions for implementation and compliance audits, flow sheets for referral paths and classification of CMT severity, and research recommendations.
Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences (Dr Kaplan), Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Dr Coulter), Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, Department of Pediatrics (Dr Fetters), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Sandra L
SL
Kaplan
Colleen
C
Coulter
Linda
L
Fetters
D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014103:Torticollis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States