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Effects of manual therapy on treatment duration and motor development in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly: a randomised controlled pilot study

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Abstract

Purpose

Despite growing evidence regarding nonsynostotic plagiocephaly and their repercussions on motor development, there is little evidence to support the use of manual therapy as an adjuvant option. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a therapeutic approach based on manual therapy as an adjuvant option on treatment duration and motor development in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.

Methods

This is a randomised controlled pilot study. The study was conducted at a university hospital. Forty-six infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly (types 4–5 of the Argenta scale) referred to the Early Care and Monitoring Unit were randomly allocated to a control group receiving standard treatment (repositioning and an orthotic helmet) or to an experimental group treated with manual therapy added to standard treatment. Infants were discharged when the correction of the asymmetry was optimal taken into account the previous clinical characteristics. The outcome measures were treatment duration and motor development assessed with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at baseline and at discharge.

Results

Asymmetry after the treatment was minimal (type 0 or 1 according to the Argenta scale) in both groups. A comparative analysis showed that treatment duration was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the experimental group (109.84 ± 14.45 days) compared to the control group (148.65 ± 11.53 days). The motor behaviour was normal (scores above the 16th percentile of the AIMS) in all the infants after the treatment.

Conclusions

Manual therapy added to standard treatment reduces the treatment duration in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Ilustración SN, 18016, Granada, Spain

    I. Cabrera-Martos, M. C. Valenza & G. Valenza-Demet

  2. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Ilustración SN, 18016, Granada, Spain

    M. C. Valenza

  3. Early Care and Monitoring Unit, Pediatrics Service, San Cecilio Clinical Hospital, Av Madrid SN, 18071, Granada, Spain

    A. Benítez-Feliponi & C. Robles-Vizcaíno

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Av Madrid SN, 18071, Granada, Spain

    A. Ruiz-Extremera

Authors
  1. I. Cabrera-Martos
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  2. M. C. Valenza
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  3. G. Valenza-Demet
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  4. A. Benítez-Feliponi
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  5. C. Robles-Vizcaíno
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  6. A. Ruiz-Extremera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. C. Valenza.

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Conflict of interest

One of the authors (ICM) received a grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport of Spain to support this research (FPU grant AP2010-3603).

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Cabrera-Martos, I., Valenza, M.C., Valenza-Demet, G. et al. Effects of manual therapy on treatment duration and motor development in infants with severe nonsynostotic plagiocephaly: a randomised controlled pilot study. Childs Nerv Syst 32, 2211–2217 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-016-3200-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-016-3200-5

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