The Effect of Pediatric Physiotherapy on Positional Plagiocephaly: A Retrospective Trial

Abstract

Objective Positional plagiocephaly represents one of the most common asymmetries in infancy with increasing incidence in the last three decades. Therapeutic options are numerous. Therefore the comparison of physiotherapeutic approaches according to Bobath concept versus Vojta principle for correction of positional plagiocephaly gives an inside view. Material and Methods Cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and ear shift at a mean age of 3/6/9 months of 189 infants with positional plagiocephaly were measured by three-dimensional scans. The effectiveness was determined and compared based on CVAI and ear shift. The correlation of severity was calculated. Results The relative probability of success was 84% higher for Vojta compared to Bobath. Mean change of CVAI revealed a significantly greater reduction for infants treated with Vojta, as well as for ear shift. Improvement occurred especially from age of 6–9 months. Treatment duration was significantly shorter with Vojta and severe cases of positional plagiocephaly benefited significantly more. Conclusion Comparing the effectiveness of both physiotherapeutic treatment concepts on a neurophysiological basis according to Bobath and Vojta the presented retrospective data analysis provides statistically superior results in reducing skull asymmetry more effectively and faster in favor to the Vojta principle. Physiotherapy should be applied independent from severity and is effective for children older than 5–6 months.