Congenital Muscular Torticollis: Implementing Evidence Into Practice

Presented by Tatiana Fernandez

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Video Runtime: 50 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 29 Minutes

Congenital muscular torticollis is a musculoskeletal condition that results from unilateral tightness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In 2018, the American Physical Therapy Association published an update to the clinical practice guideline to provide clinicians with current best evidence. Implementing evidence into clinical practice is important to ensure a high quality of care and successful outcomes. This course will provide clinicians with the tools required to use the clinical practice guideline to facilitate clinical decision-making during the examination, evaluation, and treatment of infants with congenital muscular torticollis.

Meet your instructor

Tatiana Fernandez

Tatiana Fernandez is a pediatric physical therapist working at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, renowned for excellence in pediatric care. She is residency trained and a board-certified specialist in pediatrics, with significant experience in implementing current best evidence into clinical practice. She enjoys sharing her…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Introduction

1. Introduction

This chapter will describe the diagnosis of CMT, explain its typical clinical presentation, and identify associated findings commonly seen. It will discuss the three types of CMT and the characteristics present with each group.

History, Systems Review, and Differential Diagnosis

2. History, Systems Review, and Differential Diagnosis

This chapter will focus on history-taking, systems review, and differential diagnosis. It will explain the importance of ruling out nonmuscular causes of CMT to determine if a referral is needed when findings are inconsistent with the typical CMT presentation.

Examination and Evaluation

3. Examination and Evaluation

This chapter will detail the tests and measures that should be used during your examination to assess patients’ primary impairments. It will focus on the importance of movement analysis and functional testing to identify delays in motor milestones. Lastly, this chapter will discuss the interpretation of the examination findings and how this will guide the development of the patient’s treatment plan.

Intervention

4. Intervention

This chapter will focus on the importance of implementation of treatment interventions to address range-of-motion limitations and functional strength deficits while facilitating symmetrical motor skills acquisition. Also, this chapter will reinforce the importance of a home program to allow for carryover into the patient’s natural environment.