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Updated: Oct 13, 2025
Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Effects of osteopathic approach in infants with deformational plagiocephaly: an outcome research study
Margherita Gasperini1, Nicola Vanacore2, Luca Massimi1,3
1Osteopathic Service, Osteobimbo Paediatric Clinic, Rome, Italy.
Insights
This study found that osteopathic manipulative treatments significantly improved deformational plagiocephaly in infants. Parents reported high satisfaction and no adverse events, suggesting a safe and effective treatment option.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Osteopathic Medicine
- Cranial Deformities
Background:
- Deformational plagiocephaly is a common condition in infants.
- Early intervention is crucial for optimal outcomes.
- The efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in infants diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly.
- To assess parental satisfaction with OMT.
- To determine the safety profile of OMT for infant deformational plagiocephaly.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of infants diagnosed with deformational plagiocephaly.
- Inclusion criteria: infants aged 6 months or older with plagiocephalometry assessment.
- Data collected on osteopathic treatments, postural advice, and plagiocephalometry indices at 12-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- 37 infants with deformational plagiocephaly were included in the study.
- Significant reductions were observed in Oblique Diameter Difference Index, Cranial Proportional Index, and Ear Deviation Index after OMT.
- Average of 6.5 osteopathic manipulative treatments plus postural advice were administered.
Conclusions:
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) shows promise as a treatment for infant deformational plagiocephaly.
- The approach was well-tolerated by infants and their parents, with high satisfaction reported.
- Further multicenter randomized controlled trials are recommended to confirm these findings.
Background:
The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of the osteopathic approach in infants with deformational plagiocephaly at 12-month follow up and to evaluate parental satisfaction and safety of the treatments.
Methods:
The authors reviewed charts of infants with a medical diagnosis of deformational plagiocephaly consecutively seen in a private paediatric outpatient in Rome, Italy, between December 2016 and February 2018. After applying the exclusion criteria, infants under 6 months of corrected age, with diagnosis of deformational plagiocephaly and assessed with a plagiocephalometry were included.
Results:
37 infants (mean age 16,6±5,7 weeks; 19 females) were eligible for this study, generating 35 unilateral deformational plagiocephaly (21 right-sided) and 18 brachycephaly (16 infants had both). After an average of 6.5±2.8 osteopathic manipulative treatments plus postural advice, a significant reduction of all indices of the plagiocephalometry assessments was reported at 12-month follow up. Oblique Diameter Difference Index decreased from 109 ± 4.5 to 103.7 ± 1.9 (Mean diff - 5.3 CI 95% {-5.83; -3.41}, p<0.001); Cranial Proportional Index decreased from 94.9 ± 3.8 to 85.6 ± 2.4 (mean diff -9.3 CI 95% {-11.39; -7.37}, p<0.001); Ear Deviation Index decreased from 7.7 ± 3.3 to 3 ± 1.6 (mean diff -4.7 CI 95% {-6.1; -2.84}, p <0.001).
Conclusions:
Osteopathic approach could be considered an interesting option in the treatment of infants with deformational plagiocephaly. Parents were overall satisfied with this approach. No adverse events or reactions were reported in this study. Multicentre randomized controlled trials are recommended.
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