ACTION STATEMENTS

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Physical Therapy Association.

Physical Therapy Management ofCongenital Muscular Torticollis

American Physical Therapy Association

Publication Date: Oct 1, 2018

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION Grading System

Strength of Recommendation
Grade	Recommendation	Description
A	Strong	A preponderance of level I and/or level II studies supports the recommendation, This must include at least 1 level I study.
B	Moderate	A single high-quality randomized controlled trial or a preponderance of level II evidence supports the recommendation.
C	Weak	A single level II study or a preponderance of level II and TV studies supports the recommendation.
D	Theoretical/foundational	A preponderance of evidence from animal or cadaver studies, from conceptual/theoretical models/principles, from basic science/bench research, or from published expert opinion in peer-reviewed journals supports the recommendation.
P	Best practice	Recommended practice based on current clinical practice norms, exceptional situations where validating studies have not or cannot be performed, and there is a clear benefit, harm or cost, and/or the clinical experience of the guideline development group.
R	Research	There is an absence of research on the topic, or higher-quality studies conducted on the topic disagree with respect to their conclusions. The recommendation is based on these conflicting or absent studies.

Document Overview

Document Title: Physical Therapy Management of Congenital Muscular Torticollis

Authoring Society: American Physical Therapy Association

Document Publication Date: Oct 1, 2018

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: journals.lww.com/pedpt/fulltext/2018/10000/Physical_Therapy_Management_of_Congenital_Muscular.2.aspx

Source Citation: Kaplan, Sandra L. PT, DPT, PhD; Coulter, Colleen PT, DPT, PhD, PCS; Sargent, Barbara PT, PhD, PCS Physical Therapy Management of Congenital Muscular Torticollis: A 2018 Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline From the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Pediatric Physical Therapy: October 2018 - Volume 30 - Issue 4 - p 240-290 doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000544

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: Informs clinicians and families as to whom to monitor, treat, and/or refer and when and what to treat.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Management, Rehabilitation, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH): D014103 - Torticollis

Keywords: Congenital Muscular Torticollis, Pediatric Torticollis

Inclusion Criteria: Adolescent, Child, Infant

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Hospital, Operating and Recovery Room, Outpatient

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents: 211

Literature Search Start Date: Sunday, January 1, 2012

Literature Search End Date: Friday, September 1, 2017

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: Yes