Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 51

For those babies
who develop
torticollis, early
intervention
is key. A team
approach
between parents,
pediatricians and
therapists makes
all the difference
in the world
with outcomes.
Physical therapist
Liz Zurek works
with mom Jina
Saltzman and
baby Nathan
with exercises
designed to
stretch and
balance muscle.

A physical examination in the pediatrician's office
will show if the baby's head tilts toward the affected
side while the chin points to the opposite side; if there
is a shortening of the neck muscles; or if the entire
head pulls and turns to one side (in more severe cases).
Then, depending upon the evaluation, the parent can
be taught neck-stretching exercises to practice with
baby at home. In certain cases, the physical therapy
team is recommended for more intensive treatment.
"The good news is that most babies with torticollis improve after regular position changes, stretching
exercises and physical therapy," Katbi explains.
Physical therapists work with babies as young
as 6 weeks and up to 8 and 9 months to address the
condition. Infants can benefit from gentle range-ofmotion stretching exercises, head turning and eyetracking activities and repositioning in the form of
"tummy" time.
"Physical therapy sessions serve as a reminder
every week for us to continue to stretch and motivate our babies to turn their heads while at home,"
Saltzman says.

What You Can Do
"Early intervention is important as the majority
of head shaping happens between newborn and

18 months, with the peak period being from 0-6
months," Zurek says. "When there is tightness in
the sternocleidomastoid muscle, it can impact the
entire myofascial system and can lead to limitations
in other joints as well, pulling the head and facial
features to the side and downward. Torticollis can
lead to other conditions, too, which can be hard
to treat, such as toe-walking, joint instability and
plantar fasciitis."
In some cases, a head orthosis or shaping helmet
is used as an adjunct therapy when more aggressive
support is needed to correct head shaping. Treatment
with a STARband® orthotic device begins with an initial laser scan of baby's head using a STARscanner™.
The scanner takes 3-D measurements and the child
is fitted for a soft helmet. Wearing the helmet takes
pressure away from the flattened areas and allows
cranial growth to occur more rapidly in the areas of
least resistance.
"We're here to offer reassurance, be a resource
and to provide skilled intervention," Zurek says. "We
offer a free class called Infant Massage and Baby's
Development where we teach about the importance
of 'tummy time,' discuss infant massage, provide
educational handouts and answer questions about
baby's development in the first year."
SUM MER 2014

51



Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
Making the Grade
Stroke Survivors
Stress SOS
The Truth About Sunscreen
The Transformers
Get Your Head in the Game
The Journey Continues
On the Cover
The Foot Follies
Friendly Fat
Virtual Health
What’s New?
SPOTLIGHT ON: Community Hospital
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Catherine Hospital
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical Center
Finding the Silver Lining
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Contents
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Community Message
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Community Briefs
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Making the Grade
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 5
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Stroke Survivors
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 7
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 8
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 9
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Stress SOS
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 11
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 12
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 13
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 14
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 15
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - The Truth About Sunscreen
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 17
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 18
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 19
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - The Transformers
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 21
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 22
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 23
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Get Your Head in the Game
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 25
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 26
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 27
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - The Journey Continues
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 29
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 30
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 31
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - On the Cover
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 33
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 34
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 35
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 36
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 37
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - The Foot Follies
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 39
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 40
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 41
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Friendly Fat
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 43
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 44
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 45
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Virtual Health
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 47
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 48
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - What’s New?
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - SPOTLIGHT ON: Community Hospital
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 51
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Catherine Hospital
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 53
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical Center
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - 55
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Finding the Silver Lining
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Cover3
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Community Healthcare - Cover4
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