title: The effect of postural control intervention for congenital muscular torticollis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of manual stretching and postural control intervention in infants with congenital muscular torticollis and to investigate the factors that predict treatment duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient rehabilitation clinic in a tertiary university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants <6 months of age with congenital muscular torticollis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 included 38 infants who received postural control intervention. Group 2 included 38 infants who received manual stretching.
  
  
  METHODS
  The thickness of the sternocleidomastoid tumor, rear head and facial asymmetry, and head tilt were variables measured before and after treatment. Additionally, the treatment duration was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean treatment duration was 92.53 ± 34.38 days for group 1 and 88.21 ± 37.23 days for group 2. The mean change of thickness of the sternocleidomastoid tumor was 6.88 ± 1.90 mm for group 1 and 6.05 ± 2.85 mm for group 2. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean treatment duration and the mean change of thickness of the sternocleidomastoid tumor between the groups (P > 0.05). The first treatment day after birth was associated with the treatment duration. In addition, facial asymmetry, the first treatment day, tumor thickness, and head tilt were associated with the treatment duration (P < 0.05). This regression model had a 57.4% explanatory power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference between these treatments regarding the treatment duration and the change of thickness of the sternocleidomastoid tumor. Infants with congenital muscular torticollis who were treated earlier had a shorter treatment length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Keimyung University, Dongsan Hospital, Daegu, Korea einhee@email.com.
authors.forename: InHee
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D011187:Posture; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014103:Torticollis / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Congenital muscular torticollis; infants; manual stretching; postural control; sternocleidomastoid muscle