Frequency-Specific Microcurrent for Treatment of Longstanding Congenital Muscular Torticollis.

PURPOSE: This case describes the first episode of care, using conservative treatment, massage, and frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM), for a 19-month-old boy with grade 8 left congenital muscular torticollis with fibrotic nodules. METHODS: Ten weeks of physical therapy provided stretching, strengthening, massage, and parent education, adding FSM in weeks 3 to 10 for this patient. RESULTS: Full passive cervical rotation and lateral flexion, 4/5 lateral cervical flexion strength, improved head tilt, and inability to palpate fibrotic nodules were achieved by week 8, with partial home program adherence. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Excellent outcomes were achieved with conservative care in a patient with poor prognosis and likelihood of surgical referral. Combining stretching, strengthening, massage, postural reeducation, and FSM resulted in full range and good strength in an exceptionally short time. The combination of massage and FSM, not previously reported, are tools that may be effective in congenital muscular torticollis treatment.

A randomized, single-blinded pilot study evaluating the effects of kinesiology taping and the tape application techniques in addition to therapeutic exercises in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of kinesiology taping and different types of application techniques of kinesiology taping in addition to therapeutic exercises in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis. DESIGN: Prospective, single blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: An outpatient rehabilitation clinic in a tertiary university hospital. SUBJECTS: Infants with congenital muscular torticollis aged 3-12 months. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 included 11 infants who only received exercises, Group 2 included 12 infants who received kinesiology taping applied on the affected side by using inhibition technique in addition to exercises. Group 3 included 10 infants who additionally received kinesiology taping applied on the unaffected side by using facilitation technique and on the affected side by using inhibition technique. MAIN MEASURES: Range of motion in lateral flexion and rotation of the neck, muscle function and degree of craniofacial changes were assessed at pretreatment, post treatment and, 1 month and 3 months' post treatment. RESULTS: Friedman analysis of within-group changes over time revealed significant differences for all of the outcome variables in all groups except cervical rotation in Group 3 ( P<0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any of the follow-up time points for any of the outcome variables ( P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is no any additive effect of kinesiology taping to exercises for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis. Also different techniques of applying kinesiology taping resulted in similar clinical outcomes.

The immediate effect of kinesiology taping on muscular imbalance in the lateral flexors of the neck in infants: a randomized masked study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effect of kinesiology taping (KT) on muscular imbalance in the lateral flexors of the neck. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-nine infants with congenital muscular torticollis and muscular imbalance in the lateral flexors of the neck were chosen consecutively. In addition, 5 healthy infants with no signs of muscular imbalance in the neck were tested. METHOD: The infants were randomly allocated to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group had kinesiology taping applied on the affected side using the muscle-relaxing technique. The healthy infants were tested both with and without kinesiology taping. The evaluator was blinded to whether the infants were or were not taped. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the change of Muscle Function Scale (MFS) scores between the groups (P < .0001). In the intervention group, there were significantly lower scores on the affected side that had been taped (P < .0001) and also significantly higher scores on the unaffected side (P = .01). There were no significant differences in the control group. For the healthy infants, with no imbalance in the lateral flexors of the neck, there were no changes to the MFS scores regardless of whether the kinesiology tape was applied. CONCLUSIONS: For infants with congenital muscular torticollis, kinesiology taping applied on the affected side had an immediate effect on the MFS scores for the muscular imbalance in the lateral flexors of the neck.

The effectiveness of physiotherapy for cervical dystonia: a systematic literature review.

Cervical dystonia is a form of adult-onset, focal dystonia characterized by involuntary contractions of the neck muscles, leading to a disabling, abnormal head posture. CD has a great impact on the activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life. Currently, the most widely used and recommended first line treatment is botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) injections. Physiotherapy is a potentially useful adjuvant, but little is known about its effectiveness. Consequently, our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of physiotherapy alone or as an adjuvant treatment to BoNT/A injections in cervical dystonia (CD) by means of a systematic literature review. Two online databases, PubMed and Web of Science, were searched for articles describing the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment for CD. After screening, based on predefined in- and exclusion criteria, 16 studies were retained. Their methodological quality was assessed according to Cochrane guidelines. The methodological quality of most studies was low. Examples of shortcomings are small sample sizes, lack of randomization or blinding, and diversity in therapeutic techniques and outcome measures. Only seven studies were clinical trials; the remaining were either case reports or case series. The reported physiotherapy treatments included EMG biofeedback training, muscular elongation, postural exercises and electrotherapy. Improvements in head position, pain, cervical range of motion, quality of life and ADL have been reported, which is promising. Cautious interpretation on the effectiveness of physiotherapy as an adjuvant therapy is required. Before firm conclusions can be drawn, additional high quality trials are needed.

Immediate effect of scapular repositioning with active cervical rotation in acute spasmodic torticollis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the immediate effects on pain and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of a scapular repositioning technique in patients with acute spasmodic torticollis. METHODS: A randomized, single blind pilot study was conducted. The subjects were 23 individuals (age 20-40 years) with a clinical diagnosis of spasmodic torticollis. Visual analog scale pain score, cervical active ranges of motion, and PPT were assessed before and after the intervention. The comparison group was treated with only conventional physiotherapy (microwave diathermy, submaximal isometrics, and ergonomic advice). The intervention group was given scapular repositioning with active cervical rotation technique, in addition to conventional physiotherapy treatment. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in intensity of pain (P < .01), cervical rotation to the ipsilateral side (P < .01), cervical side flexion to the contralateral side (P < .01), and PPT (P < .01) immediately after the treatment of the scapular repositioning and conventional therapy compared with the conventional therapy alone. CONCLUSION: The present pilot study demonstrated that scapular repositioning may have an immediate hypoalgesic effect on individuals with spasmodic torticollis in terms of pain severity, PPT, and cervical range of motion. Therefore, further controlled trials are warranted.

Tortícolis congénita: incidencia y actuación fisioterápica en neonatos con contractura en el esternocleidomastoideo / Congenital torticollis: Incidence and physiotherapeutic performance in newborns with contracture of sternocleidomastoid

Con el objeto de diferenciar casos de Tortícolis congénita por hematoma o por contractura en el ECM, tanto en su evaluación como en su tratamiento, hemos realizado este estudio en una muestra de 45 neonatos de una Zona Básica de Atención Primaria de Badajoz durante el primer año de vida. Se pretende demostrar la importancia en todos los casos del tratamiento precoz y seguimiento, precedido de una buena evaluación.Antes de iniciar el método de tratamiento realizamos una evaluación del desarrollo psicomotor del niño teniendo en cuenta la Actividad Refleja y los Hitos en las Etapas del Desarrollo. Destacar además la valoración de la musculatura tónica del cuello, tronco y extremidades para así hacer un tratamiento más diferenciado. La metodología empleada ha sido Tratamiento Neurodesarrollante de Bobath, y Reequilibración Tónica, así como enseñanza a los padres de medidas paleativas durante este primer año de vida. Los resultados más significativos han sido una mayor incidencia de contractura que de hematoma, más incidencia en niños que en niñas, mejores resultados obtenidos cuanto antes nos fueron derivados, siendo la edad media de derivación de 2,5 meses, así como mayor presencia de plagiocefalia como patología asociada (AU)

The effect of two different rehabilitation treatments in cervical dystonia: preliminary results in four patients.

The most widespread approach to rehabilitation of cervical dystonia is electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback. However, consensus is lacking regarding the true effectiveness of this technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate how cervical dystonia was influenced by two rehabilitative treatments, namely a standard biofeedback program and a novel physiotherapy program consisting of postural reeducation exercises and passive elongation of myofascial cervical structures. Both programs were consecutively administered to 4 patients with cervical dystonia. The study design was a behavioral analysis of single cases. The main outcome measures were a head realignment test, a disability questionnaire and a pain visual analogue scale (VAS). Each patient's performance was evaluated before the study and after the first and second program. Furthermore, the disability questionnaire and the pain VAS were administered 3, 6, and 9 months after the end of the treatments. The physiotherapy program showed therapeutic effects comparable to those of EMG biofeedback. Reductions of disability and of pain were still present 3-9 months after the end of the treatments. These preliminary results suggest that the physiotherapy program proposed in the present study may be a promising method for rehabilitation of cervical dystonia.

Tortícolis muscular idiopático: estudio de 30 casos en tratamiento rehabilitador / Idiopathic muscular torticollis: study of 30 cases in rehabilitation treatment

Objetivos: Realizar una aproximación diagnóstica de tortícolis en la infancia, describir una pauta de tratamiento cinesiterápico en los casos de tortícolis muscular idiopático (TMI), valorar los factores que influyen en la evolución y señalar el momento más adecuado para la indicación quirúrgica en los casos con evolución desfavorable.Pacientes y Métodos: Se valoran 30 niños diagnosticados de TMI que iniciaron tratamiento cinesiterápico consistente en movilizaciones cefálicas, estiramientos pasivos y estimulación de rotaciones activas mediante estimulación visual y acústica. La media de edad al inicio del tratamiento fue 5,4ñ7,3 meses (rango de 1 a 38 meses). Se realizó evaluación quincenal mediante medición del arco articular cervical y valoración estético-funcional según los criterios de Canale.Resultados: El tiempo medio de duración del tratamiento fueron 71,4ñ22,8 días. Se detectó asociación con otras alteraciones ortopédicas en el 23,3 por ciento de los casos. No se halló relación con la evolución del TMI para las variables sexo, tipo de parto y lateralidad de esternocleidomastoideo afectado. La presencia de asimetría facial se asoció con peor evolución, alcanzando significación estadística (p<0,005). La evolución fue satisfactoria según los criterios de Canale en el 96,6 por ciento de los pacientes y se objetivó mejoría del arco de movilidad cervical pre y postratamiento valorada con prueba de la t para datos apareados (p<0,001).Discusión: Se precisa un diagnóstico diferencial minucioso para la confirmación de TMI. El tratamiento cinesiterápico debe iniciarse de forma precoz, ser intensivo y mantenerse hasta la resolución del TMI en niños menores de un año. Debe realizarse un estrecho seguimiento para detectar las recidivas y valorar la indicación quirúrgica si se asocia a asimetría facial severa, si el diagnóstico se realiza de forma tardía o si la evolución con cinesiterapia es desfavorable después del primer año de edad (AU)

Factors that ameliorate or aggravate spasmodic torticollis.

A sample of 72 patients with adult onset torticollis were asked to complete a checklist to indicate how a list of situations and activities affected the severity of their torticollis. Stress and self consciousness were reported as aggravating factors by more than 80% of the sample, whereas walking, fatigue, and carrying objects were noted as exacerbators by over 70% of the patients. For more than 40% of the sample, torticollis improved in the supine position, by relaxation, sleep, and lying on the side. However, the last four factors also worsened the head deviation in 16% to 25% of the patients. Use of a "geste antagoniste" to maintain the head in the body midline, was reported by 64 (88.9%) of the patients, which was still effective in correcting head position in 47%. The sensitivity of torticollis to social and emotional factors can be best explained in terms of a possible link between extrapyramidal and affective disorders through overlapping changes in catecholamine metabolism. The worsening of torticollis with peripheral motor activity (walking, running, writing) or its improvement with changes in body posture or with the geste antagoniste is best viewed in terms of alterations of peripheral proprioceptive feedback or central corollary discharge provoked by the motor output or command.

Unilateral pallidal stimulation in cervical dystonia.

Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis) is a focal dystonia of the cervical region. Various treatment modalities have been performed with variable success rates. We present a 42-year-old woman complaining of involuntary head rotation for the last 3 years. Different medical treatments had been used for 3 years. Botulinum toxin injections resulted in temporary and moderate improvement for periods of 3-4 months. Pallidal stimulation was performed using a quadripolar electrode and a battery-operated programmable pulse generator. We conclude that a unilateral pallidal lesion or stimulation is an effective method of treatment in focal dystonia. The target must be the pallidum contralateral to the contracted sternocloidomastoid muscle. Deep brain stimulation is superior to lesioning because of the capability of manipulating the stimulation parameters which can modify the pallidotomy effect.

Spinal cord stimulation: a quarter century of development and investigation. A review of its development and effectiveness in 1,336 cases.

The past two and a half decades have seen the development of a spinal cord stimulator from the early 2-electrode fixed system to the present multielectrode computerized systems. During these 25 years, spinal cord stimulation has been studied in the treatment of motor disorders. The effectiveness was studied in 1,336 cases, including cerebral palsy (456), dystonia (173), torticollis (90), multiple sclerosis (130), spinocerebellar degeneration (71), spinal cord injury (303) and posttraumatic brain injury (113). It has become increasingly evident that the maximum therapeutic effect is achieved by virtue of the applied field variables of the spinal cord level stimulated, the field configuration, its polarity, and the frequency of the stimulation. These observations have led to investigational corollaries of the therapeutic specificity of the applied field, the neurophysiologic mechanisms of these fields and the underlying abnormal neurophysiologic substrate, which may indeed be secondary to abnormalities in the nerve impulse itself.