Chiroblog

Babies are born soft, squishy and incredibly adaptable! There are plenty of reasons for that. A baby’s cranium, which encases the brain, is made up of multiple bones that have not fully fused yet. This adaptation allows for the baby’s head to be flexible as momma and baby dance through birth. This adaptation also allows for providing the space for the rapid growth and development that occurs in the first few years of the infant’s life.

During those early newborn weeks, you might notice that your little one naturally turns their head to one side, snuggling into the same cozy spot, or preferring one direction while they sleep or play or sit in their car seat. This might be due to a what Dr. Heiner Biedermann calls KISS syndrome, or “Kinematic Imbalance Due to Suboccipital Strain”.  That ‘strain’ can also be accelerated by a slight flatness on one side of the baby’s head, which over the course of a few weeks can worsen into what is known as positional plagiocephaly, commonly referred to as flat head syndrome. This is a relatively common occurrence (studies show 25% of newborns develop some form of head malposition). The good news? Early recognition provides opportunities to support healthy movement and head shape development from the beginning.

Certified pediatric chiropractors focus on assessing the baby’s overall movement pattern, strength, musculoskeletal tension, and total nervous system functioning. Gentle chiropractic care, including working with the cranial bones (the bones of the head), along with individualized home exercises, can help improve range of motion and help balance movement patterns. The goal of care is not to force anything, but rather support the baby’s optimal ability to grow, develop, and thrive. And ultimately, the goal is not just how well the baby turns its head but how well the newborn interacts with its environment.  Children with a flatter head usually have less fluid movement of their neck, which can affect their eyes, their reflexes, and many other seemingly unrelated parts.  When a child can move better they mature better and their brain and nerve system are stronger because of it!

References:

Pastor-Pons, I., Hidalgo-García, C., Lucha-López, M.O. et al. Effectiveness of pediatric integrative manual therapy in cervical movement limitation in infants with positional plagiocephaly: a randomized controlled trial. Ital J Pediatr

Ellwood, J., Draper-Rodi, J. & Carnes, D. The effectiveness and safety of conservative interventions for positional plagiocephaly and congenital muscular torticollis: a synthesis of systematic reviews and guidance. Chiropr Man Therap

Biedermann H. Manual therapy in children: proposals for an etiologic model. J Manipulative Physiol Ther.