​Positional plagiocephaly is an asymmetrical deformation of the infant skull from prolonged external pressure on the soft cranial bones of the infant, in the absence of craniosynostosis (fusion of bones) (1). Do you know of a loved one who has positional plagiocephaly? This is an important article that could make the world of difference to you.
 
“Among those with positional head deformity, 7.5% had a developmental disorder within 7 years of follow-up” (2)
 
Risk factors for positional plagiocephaly include prematurity, prolonged labour, unusual birth position, assisted delivery, multiple birth, first-born child, neck problems, maternal age greater than 35 years, and male (3). Plagiocephaly of the back of the head, posterior occipital plagiocephaly is quite prevalent today and has reached an incidence of 19.7% at 4 months (4). It has been reported to be associated with delays in motor development, language, cognition, visual field restriction, malocclusion and muscular dysfunction (5,6,7).
 
The helmet is considered a low-risk and effective intervention for moderate to severe plagiocephaly, with its effectiveness strongly age dependant, with optimal outcomes achieved when initiated before 6 months of age (1,8). Can chiropractic also be of benefit with the management of plagiocephaly?
 
In a recent research literature, where they did a retrospective cohort study, 24 infants were looked at. They were divided into 2 groups, 12 infants only had the helmet therapy, while the other 12 infants had the helmet therapy combined with chiropractic care. It was found that helmet therapy duration was not shortened with combined chiropractic care. However, for the infants that had combined chiropractic care and helmet therapy, superior cranial symmetry outcomes were observed at discharge, potentially indicating more efficient symmetry correction (9). Though a larger sample group would help further substantiate these findings, these findings are quite positive.
 
If you want to find out if chiropractic may help manage plagiocephaly for your loved ones, have a chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist.
 
“The earlier the intervention the more positive the outcome”
 
1. Kim, J., Kim, J. and Chae, K.Y., 2023. Effectiveness of Helmet therapy for infants with moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly. Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics, 67(1), p.46.
2. Lynch, M.E., White, M.J., Rabatin, A.E., Brandenburg, J.E., Theuer, A.B., Viet, K.M., Hollman, J.H. and Driscoll, S.W., 2024. Incidence of nonsynostotic plagiocephaly and developmental disorders. JAMA pediatrics, 178(9), pp.899-905.
3. Bialocerkowski, A.E., Vladusic, S.L. and Wei Ng, C., 2008. Prevalence, risk factors, and natural history of positional plagiocephaly: a systematic review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 50(8), pp.577-586.
4. Bridges, S.J., Chambers, T.L. and Pople, I.K., 2002. Plagiocephaly and head binding. Archives of disease in childhood, 86(3), pp.144-145.
5. Cabrera-Martos, I., Ortigosa-Gómez, S.J., Lopez-Lopez, L., Ortiz-Rubio, A., Torres-Sanchez, I., Granados-Santiago, M. and Valenza, M.C., 2021. Physical therapist interventions for infants with nonsynostotic positional head deformities: a systematic review. Physical therapy, 101(8), p.pzab106.
6. González-Santos, J., González-Bernal, J.J., De-la-Fuente Anuncibay, R., Soto-Cámara, R., Cubo, E., Aguilar-Parra, J.M., Trigueros, R. and López-Liria, R., 2020. Infant cranial deformity: cranial helmet therapy or physiotherapy?. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(7), p.2612.
7. Panza, R., Piarulli, F., Rizzo, V., Schettini, F., Baldassarre, M.E., Di Lorenzo, A., Tafuri, S. and Laforgia, N., 2024. Positional plagiocephaly: results of the osteopathic treatment of 424 infants. An observational retrospective cohort study. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 50(1), p.166.
8. Corte, A.D. and Rohde, M.A., 2025. Use of orthotic helmets in children with positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly: a systematic review. Child's Nervous System, 41(1), p.163.
9. Marchand, A.M., MChiro, M. and Leader, M.C., Chiropractic manipulative therapy with helmet therapy, association with treatment duration and cranial asymmetry outcomes for moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly: a retrospective cohort study. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHIROPRACTIC PEDIATRICS, p.2105.

Every June, Spinal Health Month raises awareness about the importance of spinal health and preventing one of the most common health problems affecting Australians — back pain. Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and can affect anyone, from office workers sitting at a desk all day to tradesmen performing repetitive physical tasks.
 
This year’s campaign focuses on prevention and helping Australians build healthier habits before pain becomes a long-term issue.
 
For office workers, prolonged sitting, poor workstation setup, and constant phone or computer use can place ongoing stress on the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Over time, these habits may lead to stiffness, headaches, and persistent discomfort.
 
For tradesmen and physically demanding professions, repetitive lifting, bending, twisting, and carrying heavy loads can gradually overload the spine and surrounding muscles. Many people continue to work through discomfort until the problem becomes harder to ignore.
 
The good news is that many cases of back pain can be reduced or prevented with simple daily habits:

• Move regularly and avoid staying in one position for too long
• Warm up before and stretch after physical work
• Lift using your legs, not your back
• Set up your desk and screen at the correct height
• Stay active to maintain strength and flexibility

 
Early attention is important. Small aches and stiffness can sometimes develop into more persistent problems if ignored.
 
Research suggests chiropractic care may help improve spinal function and assist in managing low back pain, particularly when combined with movement and exercise-based approaches. A randomised controlled trial involving active-duty U.S. military personnel with low back pain found participants receiving chiropractic care showed statistically significant improvements in strength, trunk muscle endurance, balance, pain intensity, and disability compared with a control group.(1)
 
The study concluded that chiropractic care helped improve both physical performance and functional capacity in individuals affected by low back pain.
 
Whether your job involves sitting at a computer or working on your feet all day, looking after your spine is an investment in your long-term health, movement, and ability to keep doing the things you enjoy.
 
This Spinal Health Month, take a moment to check in with your posture, movement, and daily habits. Have a chat with our chiropractors and see how we could help support your spine.

 
Reference

1.         Vining R, Long CR, Minkalis A, Gudavalli MR, Xia T, Walter J, et al. Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty US Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2020;26(7):592-601.

​A reflex is an automatic, quick response your body makes to something — without you even thinking about it. For example, remember the knee-jerk reflex many of us experienced as kids? It’s a classic example of how our bodies respond instantly to a stimulus.
Neonatal reflexes are similar. These are built-in movements newborn babies perform without any conscious control. They help babies survive, feed, and interact with the world during their first few months. They also show that a baby’s brain and nervous system are developing properly.
One well-known example is the Startle Reflex, also called the Moro Reflex. If a baby hears a loud noise or feels like they’re falling, they’ll suddenly throw out their arms and legs — then quickly bring them back in. This reflex plays a key role in helping babies strengthen their extensor muscles (like those in the back and limbs), and it also helps balance out the flexor muscles, which were tightened during their curled-up position in the womb for nearly 40 weeks.
The startle reflex is just one of many that help newborns adapt to life outside the womb. As babies grow and begin to make purposeful, voluntary movements, these reflexes are no longer needed and should naturally fade. In fact, health professionals often check these reflexes to ensure children are meeting their age-appropriate developmental milestones.
But sometimes, these reflexes don’t go away when they should. When that happens, we call them Retained Neonatal Reflexes (RNRs).
What Causes Retained Reflexes?
Retained reflexes may occur when the brain has experienced some kind of trauma — either physical (like a difficult birth), chemical (such as exposure to certain drugs), or emotional (such as early stress or trauma). When these reflexes stick around, they can interfere with a child's development and behaviour.
Common Signs of Retained Reflexes in Children:
•           Anxiety, phobias, extreme shyness, or panic attacks
•           Discomfort with change or new experiences
•           Sensitivity to light, sound, or touch
•           Nail-biting, chewing on hair or shirt collars
•           Thumb sucking beyond toddler years
•           Difficulty using cutlery, holding a pencil, or playing instruments
•           Jaw or tongue movements while writing or concentrating
•           Poor balance and coordination
•           Struggles learning to ride a bike
•           Inability to sit still and poor concentration(often described as having “ants in the pants”)
 
…and many more


What to Do If You Suspect RNRs
If you recognise these signs in yourself or your child, you’re not alone — and there are ways to help. To learn more about retained reflexes and how they might be affecting your life, visit our website. You can also book a consultation with one of our Drs of Chirorpactic and Kinesiology at Sprouting Health to see how we can support you or your loved ones in managing these concerns.

Reflexes are defined as involuntary and arguably instantaneous movements in response to specific stimuli. Eg. take the patellae reflex, when the Dr taps your knee ligament your quad contracts automatically, and your knee shoots out - this is not under voluntary control.
Some of these reflexes are seen in particular age groups and disappear at identified times during one’s lifetime. These reflexes which are normally present in early life and disappear as one grows are the primitive reflexes.
 
Here at Little Sprouts we have a particular interest in the implication of their
impact on learning and development.
 
According to authorities in pediatric neurology, the reflexes are fashioned as part of the developmental process to develop specific brain circuits for important purposes. The development of what we have as the day-to-day movement activity is driven by the primitive reflexes (1). Primitive reflexes are thought to have a developmental role since they are supposed to help the young one to perform activities such as movement against gravity as they are incorporated within the first few months of life. That is especially true for walking and crawling.
 
Children who have retained primitive reflexes tend to exhibit some elements of social and even educational dysfunction. Their psychological development is modestly incapacitated hence they may show altered psycho-motor development (1) which is essentially the thought origin of movement from the brain controlling the actual moment.
          
Another study found that Inhibition of primitive reflexes, especially those involving the hands and the mouth has a significant role in the normal development of motor and expressional movements (2).
          
Some of these primitive reflexes can be related to other disorders (eg ADHD).
If you would like your or your children's primitive reflexes assessed call our practice (Sprouting Health Chiropractic and Kinesiology) now.


​ References

1. Ewa, Gieysztor, Choinska Anna and Malgorzata Borowicz. "Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated motor problems in healthy preschool children." Archives of Medical Science 14.1 (2018): 167-173
2. Chinello, Alice, Valentina Gangi and Eloisa Valenza. "Persistent primary reflexes affect motor acts: Potential implications for autism spectrum disorder." Research in Developmental Disabilities 83 (2018): 287-295.