The small amounts of movement that exist in the infant skull permit the baby's head to adapt to the forces of labour. However when birth is complicated by being unduly slow or fast, or when other complications occur such as the need for forceps delivery the infant head may not fully recover from the distortion.
This may result in subtle changes in function leading to problems such as feeding difficulties, colic and disturbed sleep patterns.
The gentle, skilful application of osteopathic treatment by an osteopath experienced in treating babies can often bring about a significant improvement in these distressing cases and is increasingly being considered as a treatment of choice for some conditions caused by difficult or traumatic birth.
As children grow older, problems may become apparent which may have arisen because of earlier strains or as a result of trauma such as knocks on the head or falls.
Recurrent infection in the nose and ears (glue ear) may be due in part to restrictions in the small yet important movements between the various bones of the growing skull.
Many osteopaths experienced in this field also consider that mechanical stresses on the body can be an important factor in cases of developmental delay such as delayed speech, educational difficulties and problems with co-ordination and physical development that have no particular medical diagnosis.
Such children often make better progress once osteopathic treatment has been started.