The Reflux-Torticollis Connection Nobody Warns You About

One thing I have seen consistently in my practice that surprises parents: torticollis and GI upset (especially reflux) show up together far more often than you'd expect, and it's not a coincidence. When a baby has reflux, that burning, uncomfortable sensation in the esophagus makes them want to arch, extend, and twist their body to try to relieve the discomfort, often pulling the head and neck to one side in the process. This can eventually cause the tightness seen by parents. On top of that, babies who are uncomfortable from reflux/gas or constipation often get ‘stuck' in whatever position soothes them most, whether that's tilted to one side during feeds, held a certain way to ease digestion, or avoiding the flat, symmetrical positions (like tummy time) that would normally help stretch and strengthen the neck evenly. They often prefer to be stiff and extended or arching to ease the pain. Over weeks, that asymmetric positioning can create genuine muscle tightness on top of the digestive issue.

This is exactly why infant physical therapy is often part of the care plan even when the root issue looks like just a GI problem. As a Physical Therapist who works with newborns, I’m not only stretching a tight neck muscle. I’m looking at the whole picture: how your baby's discomfort is shaping the positions they default to, overall body tension and tightness, how feeding posture might be reinforcing a lean to one side, and how to build in movement and tummy time in ways that don't fight against your baby's comfort level. Craniosacral Fascial Therapy can help decrease this tension and help with GI upset as well.