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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Positional plagiocephaly from structure to function: Clinical experience of the service of pediatric osteopathy in
Monica Filisetti1, Donatella Cattarelli1, Stefano Bonomi2
1Desenzano del Garda Hospital (ASST del Garda, Bs), Italy.
Insights
Positional plagiocephaly affects infant development, not just head shape. Early osteopathic intervention, considering the whole baby, improves growth, behavior, and development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Osteopathy
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Craniofacial Development
Background:
- Positional plagiocephaly is a common condition in newborns.
- It is often associated with developmental concerns.
- Current interventions may not fully address functional impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate disorders associated with positional plagiocephaly.
- To introduce a novel early intervention model using an osteopathic integrated approach.
- To assess the impact of this approach on infant development.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical experience from a dedicated service for high-risk newborns.
- Analysis of clinical data from 310 newborns followed into early childhood.
- Examination of perinatal history, general features, and plagiocephaly-related disorders.
Main Results:
- 81% of infants with positional plagiocephaly exhibited isolated or associated disorders.
- These disorders impacted infant growth, behavior, and overall development.
- The study highlights the functional implications beyond cranial shape.
Conclusions:
- Positional plagiocephaly is linked to significant functional disorders in infants.
- An osteopathic integrated approach offers a holistic early intervention strategy.
- This approach addresses the infant's overall well-being and environment, not just cranial morphology.
Objective:
Aim of the study is to evaluate disorders related to positional plagiocephaly and introduce a new model of early intervention based on the osteopathic integrated approach.
Methods:
We review clinical experience of the "Program for Neurodevelopmental Follow-up and Pediatric Osteopathy", a service dedicated to newborns at risk for developmental disorders.
Results:
We present clinical data of 310 newborns followed during first years of life. Data analysis examines perinatal history, general features and disorders that could be related to plagiocephaly.
Conclusions:
The experience confirms that plagiocephaly is not only a problem regarding the shape of the head, it involves the functions. In our Service most babies (81%) with positional plagiocephaly showed isolated or associated disorders that had an impact on growth, behavior and development. The early intervention based on the osteopathic integrated approach is addressed not only to the cranial shape but consider the baby as a whole, and the environment where he lives.
