Baby plagiocephaly in Barcelona
Gentle osteopathy and treatment
What is plagiocephaly in babies?
Plagiocephaly is a common deformation of a baby’s skull that causes a flattening of the head. Although it is usually benign, it is important to detect it early to prevent it from worsening.
. This anomaly can be worrying for parents, however, with adequate information and early action, the effects can be mitigated or even reversed.
It is usually associated with constant sleeping positions or limitations of movement.
It is essential to educate parents about the importance of early detection and repositioning techniques, which can be simple but crucial for healthy skull development.
The paediatric osteopathy can help release tension in the baby's skull and neck, promoting more balanced development.
Have you noticed that your baby’s head is flattened or that they always turn their head to the same side?
It is recommended to carry out an assessment after birth and to provide follow-up if any asymmetry appears.
Osteopathy can help
to improve neck mobility and release tensions that promote plagiocephaly
Preventive actions
If you notice your baby always turns their head to the same side, consult your doctor as soon as possible to prevent plagiocephaly from worsening.
Why does plagiocephaly occur?
Understanding mild plagiocephaly and its causes
Plagiocephaly can develop for a number of reasons, many of which are related to positional and environmental factors. The most common causes include:
Constant pressure
Flattening can occur when the baby spends too much time in a position that puts pressure on a specific part of the skull. This is particularly common since it is recommended that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Tortícongenital colis
Some babies prefer to turn their head to one side more than the other, either for comfort or due to conditions where there is tightness or shortening of the neck muscles.
The importance of early diagnosis of plagiocephaly
The diagnosisóEarly diagnosis of plagiocephaly is essential for effective treatment.
Detecting asymmetry early
Early recognition of signs of plagiocephaly allows the implementation of preventive techniques to avoid its progression.
Prevent further worsening
Early intervention ensures better chances for the baby's head to return to a more natural and symmetrical shape.
Reduce the need for a helmet
Early diagnosis can reduce the need for more invasive treatments, such as the prolonged use of corrective helmets.
The aim is to promote a balanced and harmonious development.
Preventing aggravation of the condition contributes to the baby's overall comfort and health.
A complicated delivery or the use of instruments may influence the shape of the skull at birth.
However, it is important to distinguish positional plagiocephaly from craniosynostosis, a medical condition in which the skull sutures fuse prematurely, restricting skull growth and requiring surgical intervention.
Factors to consider for early diagnosis
- Observe the shape of the baby's head regularly.
- Detect a side preference
- Encourage tummy time
- Alternate positions
Some signs include:
- Unilateral flattening: One side of the back of the head appears flatter compared to the other side.
- Ear asymmetry: one ear may be positioned further forward than the other due to flattening.
- Bulging forehead: on the same side as the flattening, the forehead may appear to protrude more.
- Lump at the back of the head: on the side opposite the flattening, a compensatory lump may develop.
It is essential to rely not only on visual observation but also on touch; feeling the back of the baby's head can help to detect irregularities.
If in doubt, get an assessment as soon as possible.
Early care makes all the difference
Moderate plagiocephaly
In moderate plagiocephaly, there is obvious asymmetry with minimal forehead prominence or facial asymmetry.
In these situations, care involves adapting the baby’s positioning to relieve pressure on the flattened area.
Motor development therapies, stretching and mobilisation can also be used.
Severe plagiocephaly
For severe plagiocephaly, significant flattening of the occiput is observed, protrusion of the forehead on the affected side, and the ears may be clearly misaligned.
In these situations, the use of an orthotic helmet may be considered, along with appropriate specialised follow-up.
It is important to mention that the treatment should be stepped, starting with the least invasive measures such as repositioning and osteopathy.ía and considering options such as the orthopaedic helmets depending on the severity and the patient's response to initial treatment.
Early care, particularly in the first months, helps greatly limit the progression to more pronounced forms of plagiocephaly.
How to avoid plagiocephaly: tips and practices
Treatment of plagiocephaly in infants generally focuses on corrective and preventive practices:
Osteopathy: postnatal assessment and follow-up in the early months
Parent Education: How to Prevent and Correct Posture
Positioning: alternating the head and encouraging tummy time
.Physiotherapy: improving cervical mobility
Orthopaedic helmet: in moderate to severe cases
Each of these methods aims to take advantage of the natural ability of the baby's skull to reshape itself, promoting a balanced and harmonious development.
.Osteopathy can help to improve mobility and reduce the stresses that lead to deformity. it has a preventive approach, which can treat the source of the problem before the deformity develops, and it can also help to reduce the stresses that lead to deformity.ómanifests
- Manual techniques: gentle and precise movements to release tension and promote balance in the cranial structure.
- Holistic approach: osteopathy considers the body as a unit and looks for the origin of the asymmetry in order to treat it.
Osteopathy may be a viable option for treating plagiocephaly, and it is important to consult with qualified professionals.
Questions about plagiocephaly
Positional plagiocephaly is a flattening of an area of a baby's head, usually at the back or on one side. It typically develops when a baby repeatedly rests their head in the same position during their first few months of life.
It can appear when the baby consistently turns their head to the same side, when they have less comfort moving freely, or when they spend a lot of time resting on the same area. Sometimes, the position during pregnancy or birth also plays a role.
Osteopathy can help by observing the baby holistically: their mobility, their rotation preference, their tensions, and their body organisation. In our practice, we do not seek to “mould” the head, but rather to support the baby with a gentle and respectful approach to encourage better mobility and adaptation.
We value how the baby turns its head, how its neck moves, how its body is organised, and if there are any tensions that might always favour the same position. We also take into account the baby's daily routine, its postures, and the way it is held, fed, or placed.
No. In our practice, we work with gentle, tissue-based, and biodynamic osteopathy, without abrupt manipulations. The aim is to respect the baby's rhythm and support their natural capacity for reorganisation.
It can be helpful to vary positions when the baby is awake, to encourage the baby to look both ways, to encourage supervised tummy time and to alternate sides when holding or feeding. These are small changes that can go a long way in everyday life.
It is advisable to consult when you notice a clear flattening of the head, a marked preference for one side, difficulty turning comfortably, or when the asymmetry does not improve over time. Early assessment is usually more helpful than waiting too long.
No. Osteopathy does not replace paediatric assessment. In our practice, we work in a complementary way, with a holistic and respectful approach, and we refer when more specific medical assessment is required.