Flat heads in babies (plagiocephaly)
Flattening of the head is common and occurs to varying degrees. It can result from the position of the baby in the uterus or secondary to a developmental issue such as torticollis, scoliosis, or simply from the baby spending too much time lying on one side of his head.
Flat spots can be the cause of much unnecessary distress for the parents. By assessing the degree of flattening and the amount of movement in the joints we can determine the severity of the moulding.
Treatment will involve resolving any mechanical strains in the head, neck and spine that may be maintaining the distortion of the cranial bones. We will also help you find ways to encourage your child to stop lying on the affected side and develop better sleeping habits.
There is currently much debate about the use of helmets to encourage re-moulding of the cranial bones. There is little evidence to suggest they cause undue harm, however their use in all but very severe cases is purely aesthetic. Feel free to discuss your concerns with us.
Click here to read a research article on osteopathy and asymmetries of the head and spine.
