Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Peggy Mohr

Keywords

Torticollis -- therapy; Mayo, Brianna; Satyasharan, Patel

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Since 1992 there has been an increased number of children diagnosed with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), which is a condition that affects the position and shape of the head. This study was designed to find out from parents involved in an infant toddler screening program about the information they have received regarding torticollis and if they feel it has been satisfactory.

Subjects: A survey of 150 parents with children who participated in an infant toddler screening program were initially included in a randomized sample for this study. Fifty-four surveys were returned to the researchers, of which 4 were from parents of children with torticollis.

Method: The survey was designed to assess the knowledge and satisfaction of information received by parents in reference to CMT. Survey items also addressed the time children were placed on their stomachs or in supportive positioning devices (car seats, swings, etc.), or on their backs for sleep as these factors were aspects which influenced the incidence of torticollis.

Results: Thirty-nine percent of respondents indicated that their children slept on their back. Twenty-one percent of parents placed their child on their stomach for 0-9 minutes per day. Thirty-one percent of respondents indicated that they placed their child in a car seat for 30-39 minutes daily. Sixty-four percent responded that they placed their child in a swing for 0-9 minutes per day.

Discussion and Conclusion: Based on our. findings from this study it is suggested that parents increase the amount of time their child spends on their tummy while awake and decrease the amount of time their child is in a car seat and, or swing through early education provided by healthcare professionals. Due to the small return rate from parents whose children have torticollis (n=4) it was not possible to determine the significance of these results. The overall conclusion from comments made by parents of children with torticollis was that early education for parents and communication between all healthcare providers is important to best serve all parents and their children.

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