This session is part of two comprehensive series:
Birth to Three Annual Conference PROGRAM B – ON-DEMAND
and
Birth to Three Annual Conference – ON-DEMAND
COURSE DESCRIPTON:
Learn to utilize important strategies when providing intervention to infants and children with torticollis through multidisciplinary management and education. This course will provide an overview of the contributing factors associated with torticollis as well as focus on intervention strategies for the physical, occupational, and speech therapists involved in the care of the infant with torticollis.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Apply intervention strategies and treatment techniques to address functional impairments associated with torticollis using interactive case studies
- Choose an appropriate and evidence-based tool to use when working with infants, toddlers, and children with torticollis
- Determine a child’s response to intervention and make appropriate modifications to treatment plan accordingly.
AUDIENCE:
Birth to three therapists including OTs, PTs, SLPs, and Special Educators.
COURSE OUTLINE:
- Torticollis (CMT)
- Three types of CMT (postural, muscular, SCM nodule)
- Etiology & Pathophysiology: (primary myopathy SCM, fetal malpositioning, intrauterine crowding, prematurity, first born, male, breech)
- Postnatal factors: positional preference (presence of deformational plagiocephaly)
- Early identification: The NICU (prematurity) and at birth
- Developmental milestones and skill development
- RED Flags
- Late onset torticollis developing AFTER 6-12 months of age
- Neurological signs and considerations
- The Assessment of Postural Alignment
- Postural issues and limitations (difficulty breastfeeding, bottle feeding challenges, preferred head positioning preference, decreased postural stability, poor behavioral organization)
- Gross motor RED Flags
- Abnormal or asymmetrical tone
- Retention of primitive reflexes
- Resistance to movement
- BPI
- Impacts on development
- Compensatory postures
- Visual conditions
- Impacts on feeding
- Facial Asymmetry
- Tongue control and coordination
- Swallowing
- Gastrointestinal RED Flags
- Reflux
- Sandifer syndrome
- Constipation
- Key interventions/strategies to improve postural control
- Demo: treatment strategies:
- strengthening activities using elevated surfaces/wedges
- therapy ball
- rocker boards
- Stretching
- Tummy time
- Massage
- Treatment for GERD
- Positioning
- Prone and left lateral positioning decrease any of gastric contents with LES under supervision
- Reflux precautions
- Hold upright 30 min after feeds
- Pulling it all together
- Gross motor
- Postural stability
- Nutritional support to achieve gross motor milestones
- Developmental
- Sensory and behavioral organization
- Nutritional support to engage in appropriate developmental and play tasks
- Feeding
- Breastfeeding strategies and support
- Bottle feeding intervention and appropriate transitions
- Weaning from intervention strategies
- Complementary solids
- Considerations
- Introduction of based on gross motor skills
- Teaching families therapeutic touch and movement to support feeding
- Lab: Infant massage techniques (Hearts of Love; abdominal massage “I Love You” massage for gas relief and stool evacuation; foot reflexology
- Demo and Lab: multi-disciplinary treatment strategies
- Positioning strategies (struggle with tummy time, tension/head turn preference)
- Therapeutic handling
- Feeding interventions
- Clinical scenarios and problem-solving case studies
Dr. Trisha Thorne is a licensed physical therapist and Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy (PCS). She has over 15 years of expertise in pediatric settings including Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU), multidisciplinary NICU follow up clinic, hospital outpatient settings, home health, and private practice. She is a Certified Neonatal Therapist, Certified Neonatal Touch and Massage Therapist, and Certified Neurodevelopmental Therapist. She specializes in myofascial/manual therapy interventions, treating medically fragile infants; as well as, infants with torticollis and developmental delays. As a wife and mother of two boys, she intimately understands the family centered care model to provide exceptional care and treatment of your little one.
Anais Villaluna, SLPD, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, CLC is a trilingual Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. She earned her Bachelor of Science (2006) and Master of Science (2008) degrees from Texas Woman’s University and completed her clinical doctorate (SLPD, 2025) at Northwestern University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Services Research at Texas A&M University, focusing on improving the implementation of evidence-based care for pediatric dysphagia.
Anais practices in a variety of pediatric hospital settings, including pediatric hospital inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and multidisciplinary specialty clinics with gastroenterology and otolaryngology teams. Her clinical work is centered on medically complex infants and children with feeding and swallowing disorders, and she is passionate about translating evidence into practice to improve care quality and outcomes.
She has presented nationally and virtually on topics related to pediatric dysphagia, culturally responsive practice, and implementation science, and is a published author in peer-reviewed journals. Anais also holds leadership roles with organizations such as the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) and Feeding Matters. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, clinician education, and ethical, system-level change to advance pediatric dysphagia care.
Financial Disclosure: Anais Villalluna receives a salary from Texas Children’s Hospital and Feeding and Swallowing Specialists of The Woodlands. She receives a speaking honorarium from Education Resources, Inc.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Anais Villaluna has a non-financial relationship with IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative) as a US IRG Pediatric Co-Chair, Communication Committee Member. She has a non-financial relationship with Feeding Matters as a volunteer for Digital Outreach Committee.
Dana Kizer is an occupational therapist, Board Certified in Pediatrics, and has a special interest in feeding as well as sensory processing. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including a pediatric hospital, specialty clinic, private practice, and home health. Dana has presented on feeding therapy and interventions nationally and across virtual platforms. Dana is a published author on the subject of pediatric feeding disorders. She currently volunteers her time with Feeding Matters by serving on the Pre-Conference Committee and the Family Advisory Council to help families navigate the complex world of pediatric feeding disorders. In addition to her professional experience with feeding disorders, Dana brings a family perspective to her treatments and teaching experiences as her initial experience with feeding therapy occurred when she would accompany her younger brother to his feeding therapy appointments. She has seen first-hand the difference therapy can make in the lives of patients and their families.
Financial Disclosure: Dana Kizer receives a salary from Texas Children’s Hospital and Feeding and Swallowing Specialists of The Woodlands. She receives a speaking honorarium from Education Resources, Inc.
Non-Financial Disclosure: Dana Kizer has a non-financial relationship with Feeding Matters as a volunteer for the Family Advisory Council and the Pre-Conference Committee.
Once you purchase an online course you will have access to the course materials. If you have purchased this course, please ensure you have logged in to your account in order to take the exam.
Once you purchase an online course, you will have the opportunity to take an exam to test your retention of the material. If you have purchased this course, please ensure you have logged in to your account in order to take the exam. The exam must be completed with a pass rate of 80% or more in order to receive your certificate of attendance.
This course meets the criteria for 2.5 contact hours (0.25 CEUs) Intermediate Level. License #_________.
Education Resources Inc. is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID#09073. This Distance Learning-Independent course is offered at 2.5 contact hours 0.25 CEUs. (Intermediate level, OT Service Delivery & Foundational Knowledge). AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures. This course can be used toward your NBCOT renewal requirements for 2.5 units. Approved Provider for the FL Occupational Therapy Association CE Broker for 3 CE Hours - CE Broker #20-1214890. This course meets the approval of the TX Board of OT Examiners. ASHA CE Provider (Intermediate level)This session applies 0.25 ASHA CEUs toward approval but must be combined with all Part B Sessions to receive ASHA CEUS. ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures. ASHA credits are accepted by the TX Department of License and Renewal. This course has been approved by the MD State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 2.5 Continuing Education Hours. Approval #2407-33 by the NJ State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 2.5 CEC's. Approved sponsor by the State of IL Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for Physical Therapy for 3 contact hours. Application has been made to IL EI Training Program. Approved provider by the NY State Board of Physical Therapy for 3 contact hours (0.3 CEUs). Education Resources Inc. is an Approved Agency by the Physical Therapy Board of CA, PTs will receive 2.5 CEUs. This session applies 2.5 contact hours (0.25 CEUs) toward approval but this must combined with another session of this series to receive CEUs and approval number by KY Physical Therapy Association. Approved Provider for OK State Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision #BAP202310003.This activity provided by the Texas Board of PT Examiners accredited provider Approval #2210017TX for 2.5 CCU's and meets continuing competence requirements for PT's and PTA's licensure renewal in Texas. The following state boards of physical therapy accept other states’ approval: AK, AR, AZ, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, KS, MA, MI, MO, MS, NC, OR, PA, RI, SC, UT, VA, VT, WI, WY. The following state boards of physical therapy either do not require course pre-approval or do not require CEUs for re-licensure: AL, CO, CT, IA, ME, MT, NE, ND, NH, SD, WA. 2.5 hours of this course qualify towards the discipline-specific hours for the 20-hour requirement for NDTA re-certification. They do NOT qualify towards the 8-hour NDTA Instructor requirement for re-certification.
Education Resources Inc. 266 Main St, Suite 12, Medfield, MA 02052 • 800-487-6530
