Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Sternocleidomastoid ultrasonography data for muscular torticollis in infants
Bo Young Hong1, Young Jin Ko, Joon Sung Kim
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Introduction:
This study was performed to obtain normative ultrasonographic data of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle in infants and to describe an ultrasound method for evaluating muscular torticollis.
Methods:
The thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the sternal and clavicular heads of the SCM in 84 subjects were analyzed retrospectively. The diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US) was estimated using receiver-operating characteristic analysis.
Results:
Muscle thickness increased with age until 10 months. There were no significant differences in thickness or CSA between the right and left sides (P > 0.05) in normal subjects. A ratio of the thickness of the affected side to the unaffected side for the sternal head of the SCM muscle of >1.19 showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 97.9% and specificity of 96.4%.
Conclusions:
Distinguishing the heads of the SCM muscle and comparing the thickness of the same head on both sides using US may be helpful for evaluating torticollis in infants.
More Related Videos
07:24Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane
Published on: August 22, 2025
07:01Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound-Assisted Scoliosis-Specific Exercise in Mild-Grade Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Published on: December 2, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
Muscles that Move the Head
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...
Ultrasonography
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...
Muscles of the Anterior Neck
Assessment of the Abdomen I: Inspection and Auscultation
The abdominal examination is a cornerstone of clinical medicine, serving as a critical tool in diagnosing various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. It involves a systematic approach that includes inspection and auscultation, each with distinct yet complementary roles in assessing the abdomen. This article will delve into these two primary methods healthcare professionals use to examine the abdomen.
Inspection of the Abdomen
The first step in any abdominal examination is inspection.
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...