Baby Hates Tummy Time? Try Joint Compression | Torticollis Pediatric Physical Therapy #60

🧠 Joint Compression: Sensory Prep Before Tummy Time & Torticollis Work | Pediatric Physical Therapy #60 Torticollis is a condition where a baby’s head tilts to one side and turns to the other. Before starting stretching or strengthening for torticollis, many babies first need sensory preparation — especially babies who dislike tummy time or resist weight bearing through their arms. In this video, pediatric physical therapist Amy Sturkey demonstrates joint compression as a sensory-based strategy to help babies better tolerate tummy time, upper-extremity weight bearing, and early torticollis positioning. 👶🏼 Meet Bode, a typically developing 7-month-old who does not have torticollis. He’s here to model how gentle, rhythmic joint compression through the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands can help prepare a baby’s body for movement and postural work. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & meet Bode 00:16 – Why sensory prep matters for torticollis 00:26 – Why some babies dislike tummy time 00:37 – What joint compression is (sensory input) 00:51 – Shoulder joint compression 01:02 – Elbow joint compression 01:08 – Wrist & finger compression 01:29 – Repeating compression on the other side 01:50 – Holding joint compression (alternative method) 02:01 – Bilateral shoulder compression 02:08 – Bilateral elbow compression 02:18 – Whole arm compression 02:32 – Whole arm compression (other side) 02:49 – Making tummy time more tolerable 03:05 – Final thoughts & encouragement 03:10 – Subscribe & notifications 💡 In this video, you’ll learn how to: • 🤲🏽 Use joint compression to provide calming proprioceptive input • 👶🏾 Prepare babies who resist tummy time or arm weight bearing • 🧠 Support sensory processing before torticollis stretching • 💪🏿 Increase tolerance for shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand loading • 🎯 Help babies feel more organized and ready to move • 💕 Make early therapy calmer, gentler, and more successful This technique can be especially helpful for babies who feel overwhelmed by tummy time or who struggle with the upper-body support needed for rolling, propping, and early mobility. 👶🏽 Helpful for viewers searching: • Sensory preparation for torticollis • Baby joint compression exercises • Tummy time struggles • Proprioceptive input for infants • Pediatric physical therapy for torticollis • Early intervention strategies for babies • Infant sensory processing support 🙏 Special thanks to Bode’s family for allowing him to help demonstrate these techniques. Bode does not have torticollis — he is modeling sensory preparation strategies used in pediatric physical therapy. ⚠️ If you believe your baby has torticollis… Consult your doctor and a pediatric physical therapist for an individualized plan. Early intervention makes all the difference. 📘 Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Congenital Muscular Torticollis: https://pediatricapta.org/clinical-practice-guidelines/Congenital-Muscular-Torticollis.cfm 🧩 Watch the entire torticollis playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjOS1oT3rtE8PzHf_KL-dAz9 ⚠️ Safety Note: These videos are educational and are not a replacement for in-person physical therapy. Every child is unique. Please do not try these techniques if your baby’s health or motor skills differ significantly from Bode’s. (I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated.) 📧 Contact amysturkey@gmail.com 🌐 Website www.pediatricPTexercises.com 🪶 Accessibility: Closed captions have been reviewed and corrected. To turn on captions: Click CC To change languages: ⚙️ Settings → Subtitles/CC → Choose language or Auto-translate If captions block details, they can be toggled off in the video player. 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey (Amazon): “P is for Poop and Pee Accidents” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 “A is for Anxiety” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V “A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR “C is for Cerebral Palsy” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP “D is for Down Syndrome” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 “A is for Autism” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB 🧠 Professional PT Books: Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD