Comparison of the Effectiveness of Face to Face Rehabilitation and Telerehabilitation in Infants With Congenital Muscular Torticollis

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Neurodevelopment Treatment; Telerehabilitation; Torticollis Congenital; Infant; Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Treatments: Other: telerehabilitation; Other: face to face rehabilitation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06957522

GErol1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Who is this study for? This study is designed for infants aged 0-6 months who have been diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT). CMT is a condition observed at birth or shortly after, characterized by the shortening of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle, leading to the baby's head tilting to one side and rotating to the opposite side. It affects both boys and girls and may result in limited neck movement, abnormal posture, facial asymmetry, and potential developmental delays if left untreated.

What is the purpose of this study? The goal of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two different physical therapy methods-face-to-face rehabilitation and telerehabilitation-in treating infants with CMT. In addition to evaluating the outcomes of these two therapy methods, this research also aims to provide families with reliable, accessible information through a web-based educational platform.

Why is this study important? Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for optimal recovery in infants with CMT. Studies show that infants who begin therapy by one month of age have up to a 98% chance of full recovery. However, if diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the recovery process can take longer and may be less effective. This study will help determine if online (telerehabilitation) sessions can be just as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy, offering a flexible and accessible treatment option for families.

What are the benefits of participating?

• Access to a structured, evidence-based rehabilitation program for your child
• Guidance from trained pediatric physiotherapists
• Increased awareness and knowledge about CMT through a web-based family education platform
• Contribution to research that may benefit other children and families in the future
• Evaluation of your baby's progress through professional assessments

What will the therapy program involve?

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a face-to-face or telerehabilitation group. Both groups will follow the same therapy program, focusing on:

• Increasing passive and active neck movements
• Promoting symmetrical head and body movement
• Providing recommendations for environmental adjustments
• Educating parents or caregivers on home-based exercises and care

Program structure:

• Face-to-face group: Therapy sessions will be conducted in a clinic setting, twice a week for 30 minutes each session, over a period of 8 weeks.
• Telerehabilitation group: Therapy sessions will be conducted via Zoom, with the same frequency, duration, and content as the face-to-face sessions.

How will outcomes be measured?

Infants will be assessed before and after the 8-week therapy period for:

• Passive cervical range of motion (rotation and lateral flexion)
• Gross motor function
• Muscle function Parental adherence to the home program will also be evaluated through a questionnaire. A follow-up will be conducted one month after therapy ends.

How can I participate? If your infant is aged 0-6 months and has been diagnosed with CMT, you may be eligible to participate. You will need access to a device with internet for telerehabilitation sessions, if assigned to that group. Participation is voluntary and free of charge. Families will receive detailed instructions and ongoing support throughout the program.

Additional Resources:

As part of this study, a web-based educational platform will be made available to all participating families. This platform will include:

• Clear explanations about CMT
• Instructional videos and home exercise guides
• Tips for daily care and positioning
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ) for parents Why is this research unique? This is one of the first studies to scientifically compare face-to-face and online rehabilitation for CMT infants, while also providing a reliable online resource for families. It aims to help develop alternative, flexible care models that meet the diverse needs of families and infants.

Contact Information:

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact our research team at:

[[e-mail] / [phone]] We are committed to supporting your child's health and development. Thank you for considering being a part of this important study.

Full description

Study Design This study is designed as a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of face-to-face and telerehabilitation programs in infants diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT) between 0-6 months of age. Both groups will receive an identical intervention protocol, consisting of two sessions per week, 30 minutes each, over a total of 8 weeks.

The intervention content includes exercises to increase active cervical range of motion (ROM), activities promoting symmetrical movements, family education, home exercise programs, and practices to support gross motor development.

Study Population and Sample Size In a study by Lee et al. (2015), the effect size for head tilt angle was calculated as 1.45. Based on this effect size, with α = 0.05 and a power of 99%, the required sample size was determined to be 19 participants per group. With an anticipated 15% drop-out rate, the total sample size was set at 42 infants.

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosed with Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT)
• Infants under 6 months of age
• Classified as level 1 to 3 according to the CMT classification system

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of ocular torticollis
• Neurological complications (e.g., cerebral palsy)
• Congenital anomalies of the cervical spine or spinal cord
• Visual or auditory impairments

Participant Recruitment and Randomization Infants referred with a diagnosis of CMT will be screened, and those who meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate. Families will be informed in detail, and written informed consent will be obtained. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups (face-to-face and telerehabilitation) using computer-generated simple randomization (n = 21 per group).

Outcome Measures

All outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period:

• Passive cervical range of motion (ROM): Measured using a goniometer
• Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS): To evaluate gross motor development
• Head tilt angle: Assessed using a standardized photographic measurement protocol
• Muscle Function Scale: To assess the functional status of neck muscles
• Adherence to home exercise program: Evaluated through a parent-reported checklist

Statistical Analysis Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage) will be presented for both categorical and continuous variables. The Levene test will be used to assess homogeneity of variances. For between-group comparisons, independent-samples t-test will be used for normally distributed data; otherwise, the Mann-Whitney U test will be applied. A p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Research Hypotheses H₀: There is no significant difference between telerehabilitation and face-to-face rehabilitation in infants with CMT in terms of cervical ROM, gross motor function, muscle function, and parental adherence.

H₁: There is a significant difference between telerehabilitation and face-to-face rehabilitation in infants with CMT in terms of cervical ROM, gross motor function, muscle function, and parental adherence.

Enrollment: 42 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: Under 6 months old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Infants aged 0 to 6 months
• Diagnosed with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT)
• Classified as Grade 1 to 3 CMT severity based on clinical assessment

Exclusion criteria

• Plagiocephaly
• Ocular torticollis
• Neurological complications
• Musculoskeletal disorders of the cervical spine
• Visual impairments
• Hearing impairments

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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42 participants in 2 patient groups

Telerehabilitation

Experimental group

Description:

The telerehabilitation group receives the same structured, neurodevelopmentally-based rehabilitation program as the face-to-face group. However, the delivery method-via online video conferencing (Zoom)-represents a novel mode of application for this specific intervention in infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). To date, this therapeutic program has not been delivered through telehealth for this population, and its feasibility, effectiveness, and comparability to the conventional face-to-face method have not yet been studied. Therefore, this arm is considered experimental as it involves a new and previously untested method of intervention delivery, even though the therapeutic content remains the same.

Treatment:

Other: telerehabilitation

Face to face rehabilitation

Active Comparator group

Description:

The face-to-face rehabilitation group receives a structured, neurodevelopmental treatment program that is already in routine clinical use for infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). It represents the current standard method of delivering this intervention in clinical settings. Since the objective of the study is to compare the effectiveness of a novel telerehabilitation delivery model against this established, routinely used face-to-face method, the face-to-face arm serves as the active comparator. This arm provides a baseline for evaluating the outcomes of the experimental telerehabilitation approach.

Treatment:

Other: face to face rehabilitation