Essential, Often Overlooked Head Control Work 👨🏻‍🦰 | Lateral Tilt Exercise | SMA Pediatric PT #20

In this video, I work with Cillian 👨🏻‍🦰, who is 2 years, 3 months old, on building neck and trunk control during a lateral tilt challenge. I’m Amy Sturkey 👩🏼, a retired pediatric physical therapist. In Cillian’s previous session, we practiced holding his head upright during a backward lean. In this video, we change the direction of the challenge and work on maintaining head control while tilting him slightly to the side. 📘 Cillian’s Medical & Therapy Background Cillian was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) through newborn screening. He received Risdiplam by day 5 of life until eligible for Zolgensma, which he received at 5 weeks of age. He restarted Risdiplam at 10 months of age. Cillian has also been diagnosed with: • Nystagmus • Cranial asymmetry • Scoliosis • Hip dysplasia Cillian began physical therapy at 3 months of age and currently receives: • Physical therapy • Occupational therapy • Feeding therapy 👉🏽 Watch the full Cillian playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjOBUy-rQKVN5ACa37e72liK 🚗 Session Focus Cillian is working on: • Neck strength • Upper trunk stability • Lateral head control • Postural endurance • Maintaining head alignment when his body moves off center 💡 What’s Happening in This Session Cillian sits on my lap facing the camera while I support him at his trunk. • I gradually tilt him about 30 degrees to the side. • His job is to hold his head upright instead of letting it fall sideways. • We count to 10 to give the effort a clear ending point. • After the count, he earns his reward — putting cars into his spiral car track 🚗 If the tilt is too large, the child cannot succeed. If it is too small, the muscles are not challenged enough. After the first attempt, I reduce the tilt slightly so he can successfully hold his head upright for the full count. And if you listen carefully near the end of the video… you may hear something unexpected happening beneath us. The small monitor bench I’m sitting on begins popping and cracking as it struggles to hold us both. Right before the outro, Cillian’s mom calls out from off camera with perfect timing. 🧠 Why This Matters For a two-year-old with SMA, holding the head upright against gravity is demanding work. During this activity, Cillian must combine: • Neck strength • Trunk stability • Motor planning • Endurance • Attention • Motivation through play Rather than isolating exercises, these sessions blend strengthening with meaningful activities that keep a young child engaged. ⚠️ Important Note These videos are educational and are not a replacement for in-person pediatric physical therapy. Every child is unique. Please consult a licensed pediatric therapist before trying new exercises or positioning strategies. I cannot provide individualized treatment without an in-person evaluation. 🌐 Contact / Learn More Website: https://www.pediatricPTexercises.com Facebook: Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises Email: [amysturkey@gmail.com](mailto:amysturkey@gmail.com) 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey, PT Children’s Educational Books (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 Pediatric Physical Therapy Books (Amazon) • Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips — https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 • Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees — http://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 • Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD 💬 Captions / Accessibility Captions were reviewed and corrected for clarity and accuracy. To turn on captions: click CC To change languages: ⚙️ Settings → Subtitles/CC → Auto-translate → choose your language ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Amy & Cillian 0:12 – SMA background 0:28 – Explaining the side-tilt challenge 0:45 – First attempt: holding head upright 1:10 – Counting to 10 1:45 – Adjusting the tilt angle 2:05 – Second attempt with improved control 2:30 – Cars as the reward 2:50 – Bench cracking moment 😄 3:05 – Wrap-up and explanation 3:10 – Subscribe & notifications