Efficacy of microcurrent therapy in infants with congenital muscular torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid muscle: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Objective: To compare the effects of a combination of therapeutic exercise and ultrasound with or without additional microcurrent therapy in infants with congenital muscular torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid muscle. Design: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: An outpatient rehabilitation clinic in a tertiary university hospital. Subjects: Infants (n = 20) with congenital muscular torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid muscle. Interventions: Group 1 comprised 10 infants who received therapeutic exercise with ultrasound alone and Group 2 comprised 10 infants who received the same treatment with microcurrent therapy. Main measures: Passive cervical rotational range of motion was measured at before treatment and one, two, three, and six months after initial treatment. Thickness, cross-sectional area, and red pixel intensity on colour histograms, which were all assessed before treatment and at three months after initial treatment. Additionally, the duration of treatment was measured. Results: The mean passive cervical rotational range of motion measured at three months posttreatment was significantly greater in Group 2 (101.1 degrees) than that in Group 1 (86.4 degrees), and the thickness, cross-sectional area, and red pixel intensity of the affected sternocleidomastoid muscle were all less in Group 2 (7.8 mm, 100.3 mm(2), and 126.1, respectively) than those in Group 1 (9.6 mm, 121.5 mm(2), and 140.5, respectively). The mean duration of treatment was significantly shorter in Group 2 (2.6 months) than in Group 1 (6.3 months). Conclusions: Microcurrent therapy may increase the efficacy of therapeutic exercise with ultrasound for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis involving the entire sternocleidomastoid muscle.