Osteopathic treatment safely improves head shape in infants with plagiocephaly

Physicians used osteopathic manipulative treatment to effectively improve the head shape of babies who developed a flattened spot on the back or side of their head, a condition called positional plagiocephaly (PP), according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego Oct. 2-6. 

 Authors of the abstract, "Safety and Feasibility of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) in Addressing Plagiocephaly," studied 67 families whose infants underwent the treatment over ten visits. No serious adverse events occurred, showing OMT is safe and well-tolerated by infants, according to researchers. 

Families of infants with plagiocephaly often want treatment options that are gentle and non-invasive. Our study demonstrates that osteopathic manipulative treatment is safe, well-accepted by families, and provides additional benefits for the baby's health." 

Kimberly Wolf, DO, FAAP, FACOP, FAAPO, NABBLM-C

Many babies develop a flattened spot on the back or side of their head in the first few months of life due to sustained pressure on one area, especially since pediatricians began recommending that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS. The pressure on the baby's soft, still-forming skull causes it to flatten. Current management typically consists of repositioning strategies, such as encouraging more tummy time, physical therapy when appropriate, and helmet therapy for selected infants with persistent or more severe deformity. 

"A flat head is a common reason parents bring their infants to the pediatrician in the first few months of life - yet until now, families have had strikingly few choices for treatment," Dr. Wolf said. "Our research team wanted to know if there we could help close that gap - finding an option that works with the baby's own body to help improve the head's shape and addresses the root causes behind the flat head." 

Parents whose infants completed the osteopathic manipulative treatment visits identified other secondary benefits, such as improved feeding, fussiness, reflux, and sleep, she said. Parents have highlighted how important the treatment has been as an alternative to helmets.