Sometimes, plagiocephaly or any other cranial deformation in babies is corrected naturally if parents follow certain tips to prevent it from birth, such as changing the baby's position often, placing them face down to play, carrying them, and picking them up so that they do not spend too much time with their head resting on a surface that puts pressure on it, etc.
However, in many cases, plagiocephaly requires the help of a pediatric physical therapist who knows how to treat cranial deformities in order to correct them as soon as possible, especially since this asymmetry may be related to nervous system problems that can cause constant discomfort in the baby, such as torticollis, difficulty turning the head, delays in crawling, etc.
When should you see a physical therapist?
It is very important for parents to regularly examine their baby's head to detect any cranial asymmetry early on. It is also a good idea to observe whether the baby always rests on the same side of the head while sleeping or whether they turn their head to only one side.
Early diagnosis by parents will allow corrective measures to be taken in time. Ideally, a physical therapist should be consulted before the baby is 6 months old, when the skull is still malleable, in order to obtain faster and more visible results.
There are several stages of maturation of the baby's skull:
0-3 months: During these months, the baby's skull is very malleable.
3-6 months: During this period, the skull remains malleable.
6-12 months: The skull is less mobile, but results can still be achieved.
12-18 months: Results will be more limited.
+18 months: After the baby is 18 months old, there is very little room for improvement in asymmetry or plagiocephaly, although other consequences can be treated and balance in the rest of the body can be improved.
What physical therapy techniques are used?
We could say that the treatment of plagiocephaly requires action on the part of parents, through the adoption of corrective postural measures at home, and on the part of physical therapists in the clinic.
The clinical treatment consists of gentle maneuvers, which are completely painless and safe for the baby, through which the baby's skull bone is molded and functionality is restored to the nervous system, if it was damaged.
The physical therapist will perform different rehabilitation techniques in several sessions, such as neck stretches to correct muscle dysfunction and torticollis, cranial osteopathy to resolve overlaps and bone dysfunction, etc.
Only if necessary, in severe cases of plagiocephaly, may the specialist recommend the use of orthopedic helmets or corrective devices for babies (cranial orthoses). However, these helmets do not address the root of the problem; they do not change the internal twists, but only mold the outside, i.e., the asymmetries in the "large" bones, usually when plagiocephaly has begun to be treated later than desired. Therefore, their use is recommended once the physical therapist has treated the internal tensions using chiropractic techniques.
