Head Asymmetry (Plagiocephaly)

 

 

Plagiocephaly is also known as "flat head syndrome". 

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Symptoms include:

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• The head is flattened on one side, causing it to look asymmetrical

• The ears may be misaligned and the head looks like a parallelogram when seen from above

• Sometimes the forehead and face may bulge a little on the flat side

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A young baby's skull is still relatively soft and can change shape if there's constant pressure on a particular part of their head. Flat head syndrome happens due to

 

• a longstanding one-sided pressure on the head of the infant in utero

• when the baby sleeps in the same position most of the time after birth

• problems with the neck muscles.

 

Occasionally but more rare, a flattened head can be caused by the plates of the skull joining together too early. This is known as craniosynostosis.

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As most infants with plagiocephaly also have some degree of torticollis, Osteopathy, which is a very gentle manual treatment, and stretch exercises at home will be part of the recommended treatment.

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Osteopaths Inès De Beer and Julia Santos have a lot of experience treating this disorder.

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