If there is one thing that I love about my job as a teacher and researcher, it is to build bridges. We have developed many areas of knowledge isolated from others. It is possible that from the hyperspecialization of health sciences. In recent years researchers are in a movement that seems fascinating to me. The movement of relating, joining and creating bridges.
Therefore, the title of this work by Sargent et al (2019) on Congenital Muscular Torticollis seems so attractive to me. “Building bridges between research and clinical practice.” It is already a luxury to find union and not attacks between research and practice. This in times when instead of helping each other, researchers sometimes look down on clinicians for their lack of evidence. Clinicians in turn accuse researchers of not understanding the multivariable aspect of a real patient.
One of the authors of this article, Sandra Kaplan, directed a clinical guide in 2018. It was a job for the American Academy of Physiotherapy (APTA). She is probably one of the world’s leading experts in Congenital Muscular Torticollis.
What does this article provide?
First, it offers practical keys to education for parents. More prone times of course, side stimulation, prevention of postural preferences, etc. Education empowers and empowers parents who can thus prevent. Also refer to pediatricians and physiotherapists before.
On the other hand, the authors offer clues to the assessment and treatment in physiotherapy. Well described and very evidence based. How much does a baby have to rotate the neck at the sides? How to measure it? And other interesting details.
Finally and very interesting. It shows us which are the key clues to detect the non-muscular causes of asymmetry. Neurological, visual or gastrointestinal aspects among others can cause a torticollis. Knowing them is important as well as knowing which specialist to refer to.
It is a great article and you have it available in the private area of TMPI-PIMT.
Sargent B, Kaplan SL, Coulter C, Baker C. Congenital Muscular Torticollis: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Clinical Practice. Pediatrics 2019 Aug; 144 (2). pii: e20190582.
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