What Causes a Flat Head in Babies?

Posted on by
Reply

Flat head syndrome is a condition that can appear at any time from birth, but it tends to take a few weeks or months to become apparent. Sometimes parents or health professionals notice that their baby’s head seems to have an altered shape with part of it appearing to be flat. If the flattening is severe enough, there can be asymmetry in the face and forehead with and one ear further forward than the other. There are a number of medical terms for this, including plagiocephaly, brachycephaly or scaphocephaly.

There are many different issues that can cause a flat head in babies, but they all stem from the fact that babies are born with soft skulls. Before a baby is born, the bone structure is not firm, but has to be soft and flexible to allow the head to descend through the birth canal. The bone plates in the head are not fused, but are held together with cranial sutures, which are essentially elastic tissues which need to be flexible to allow the brain to grow. Because the bones don’t fuse until the baby is a toddler, it means that the shape of the baby’s skull can be affected by a number of factors.

For example, the way that babies lay in the womb can affect their skull shape. This is especially the case with multiple births where there is less room for babies to move around. It is the same for babies when there is not much amniotic fluid in the womb. Because the skull strengthens considerably in the last few weeks of pregnancy as mineralisation occurs, premature babies tend to have much softer skulls which are more prone to becoming misshapen.

However, flat head syndrome most commonly occurs because of the baby’s sleeping position. This can be due to the very good advice to put babies to sleep on their backs or it can be due to a tight neck muscle on one side, called torticollis. The excellent ‘Back to Sleep’ advice has radically reduced instances of cot death. However, if the baby is positioned on their back for too long either in a cot, on the floor or on a firm baby carrier can result in the development of flat head syndrome. In mild cases, this will probably correct without clinical intervention and up to the age of four months it’s best to treat all babies simply through repositioning techniques. For example, babies can be encouraged to move their head by relocating mobiles and toys.

During the day when they are awake and parents are with them, it’s a good idea to place babies on their tummy which relieves pressure on the affected flattened part. Tummy time is a great form of exercise for your child and allows them to develop muscles in the hips and spinal extensors.

If you don’t see an improvement in your baby’s head shape after a month, it is best to seek advice from a medical professional who can suggest other possible interventions. These can include physiotherapy to increase the range of movement through to specialised bespoke helmets which will use normal growth to gently reshape the skull.

These helmets gently help the skull reform into the correct shape as the baby’s head continues to grow and fuse. The helmets are custom-made so that they fit each child perfectly and they are lined with soft foam to keep the babies comfortable. Babies are also reviewed regularly to ensure that they are responding properly to treatment.

In many cases, flat head syndrome can be corrected by repositioning, but more severe cases may need further intervention. It is important to realise that babies’ the growth needed to bring about correction is minimal when they reach about eighteen months, so it’s important not to delay seeking advice.

Inspirational Unloader 1

Posted on by
Reply

One of our Unloader 1 clients sent us this really inspirational email this week. He’s happy for us to share it anonymously and it’s great to know that we’re helping people of all ages to get the maximum out of their lives. This gentleman certainly goes to the max and is an inspiration to us all.

When you fitted me with my second Unloader 1 in October 2011, you said that you would like to review my progress, so here are a few observations on their use since then:

As I commented then, the effect of the first Unloader 1 seemed to be that it had straightened the knee to its proper position, removing the pain in the process. The second one seems to have had the same effect, so that after a few weeks I could walk comfortably without wearing either of them.

A major test was my wedding last November, when I spent most of the day on my feet without the Unloader 1’s and without pain, though I was a bit tired next morning. Put that down to my 73 years! However, on our honeymoon in Cyprus I found that walking on a rocky, uneven path to the Baths of Aphrodite without the Unloader 1’s jarred them and caused the pain to return. Lesson learned – I now wear them whenever I anticipate jarring of the knees. However, this still means that most day to day activities do not require me to use them.

In February, our trip to New Zealand was, as you predicted, amazing. The Unloader 1’s came into their own walking down steep slopes, trekking to the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers, touring the thermal village at Rotorua, and especially descending the steep cliff path to beautiful Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel. (By then I was accustomed to wearing the Unloader 1’s whilst wearing shorts). I did not need them for mountain biking since the knees were not load bearing then. I also wore the braces at the airports to ease the pain of long corridors and even longer spent queuing. Apart from these activities, I spent the vast majority of the month sightseeing without them.

Since the Cyprus experience, I have worn the Unloader 1’s when playing golf and found them a great help and my knees have been pain free. Pity my golfing skills were not so effective! This week, however, I tried my first round of golf without the Unloader 1’s and found it most liberating and still pain free. (The golf, however, was not much improved).

All in all, the Unloader 1 braces have enabled me to keep involved in outdoor activities using them to protect the knee joints from jarring out of position where the risks were apparent. But most days, I do not need to wear them at all and I am optimistic that I may be able to leave them behind on my next round of golf too (in the knowledge that the braces always go with me in the car boot, just in case).

So, many thanks for an excellent pair of Unloader 1 braces which have been most effective and undoubtedly worthwhile. Current plans include motorhome tours of Arran, Kintyre and Islay in June (walking, cycling and golf), the Edinburgh Tattoo and my step-daughter’s wedding in Glasgow in August. September is earmarked for a motorhome tour of Northern Spain, with a week in the Lake District in October. I can now confidently enjoy the great outdoors again, even if Munro bagging is off the agenda.

Plagiocephaly Infographic

Posted on by
Reply

Parents often ask us what can be done to minimise plagiocephaly. So to help and to use as an education tool, we have produced a Plagiocephaly Infographic to explain how plagiocephaly develops and what should be done to minimise and treat the condition. We are sure that parents and clinicians will find it useful.

The benefits of wearing a knee brace for skiing

Posted on by
Reply

Skiing is a great sport enjoyed by many people, however like any enjoyable experience, there are precautions worth considering. Safety measures that ensure you enjoy the slopes your whole life through.
Knee braces for skiing are fast becoming an essential piece of kit to take to the slopes. Every jump and twist on the snow impacts, pressurises and strains your knee joints which can lead to long-term injuries or discomforts. Knee braces for skiing relieve you of that worry and pain by offering support around the 4 crucial ligaments in use while skiing (Anterior Cruciate, Posterior Cruciate, Lateral Collateral and Medial Collateral Ligaments).
Is it really worth investing in knee braces for skiing? Surely not everybody is affected?
The truth is that a pair of knee braces will keep you on the slopes for longer, for a smoother experience and with a significantly reduced risk of injury. The reason why is simple: skiing involves abnormal knee joint and ligament movements. A skier’s feet are locked inside their boots leaving the knees to do all the work, something that they aren’t used to in everyday life.
This is nothing to worry about! However it might be worth considering the benefits of knee braces to ensure a care-free trip. Prevention is better than cure.
Of course as well as offering added stability for a smoother ski experience, knee braces can help those already nursing an injury. Whether you have undergone major Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgery or are nursing a sprain, a knee brace offers you the relief and support to continue skiing whilst protecting the injury.
It is not advised to hit the slopes on a weakened or damaged knee joint and therefore a supportive brace is an addition that both orthopaedic consultants and physiotherapists regularly recommend.
Another point to consider is the unpredictability of a day (or night) on the slopes. A recent survey listed a score of different ways to sustain a minor or major knee injury. These ranged from the frequent tumbles experienced by beginners to the hard-hitting landings of an Olympic professional. Whatever the case, the recurring theme was that the cause of injury was far too unpredictable to quantify. Causes included bad technique, repeated movement, uneven terrain, simple exhaustion or lack of care at the start or end of the day. The chances of avoiding every cause every time is too low to rely on.
The overwhelming assumption is that a knee brace is worth wearing on the slopes. Like wearing a seat belt when driving, or crash helmet on a motorbike, the day may never come when you need it but it is protection worth having, just in case.
So next time you’re planning your trip to the Alps or Aspen, consider investing in some knee braces for a smoother, more pleasurable skiing experience.

Knee Bracing for Different Types of Injury and Knee Wear

Posted on by
Reply

The knee is a joint that carries all of our weight at the stance phase of walking and is a joint that is vital to all mobility. The knee is a robust joint but, under extremes a certain fragility to some of the structures and there are common injuries that can happen to the knee. Thankfully, depending upon the injury, these problems can be overcome by bracing the knee. Alongside or instead of surgery, the options that people can take are dependent on the level and extent of injusry and resultant disability. For sports people or those whose work involves high levels of activity, surgery is a preferred option and they along with those whose career does not depend upon having a ‘perfect’ knee joint, a brace will help support the knee.
There are four ligaments that hold knee joint together by linking the thigh bone (femur) to the other two bones in the lower leg, the shin bone (tibia) and its smaller neighbour, the fibula. These ligaments are:
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
• Posterior Cruciate ligament (PCL)
• Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
Of these, the most common ligament to be injured is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Injury is more common in women than men, and it is estimated that 10,000 people in the U.K. suffer this injury every year. The CTi® Custom Knee Brace is the gold standard brace, endorsed by leading surgeons and experts in knee rehabilitation. It is designed to support damage sustained to all the ligaments above, plus rotation and instability issues. It is used by professional sports people, and is made to measure.
For Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), the CTi® OTS brace will support the knee under all activities. It is usual to provide the ProSport version of the CTI OTS to give the additional strength and control needed in high energy sports. With both of these braces, professional assessment and fitting is required to ensure the correct level of control is given.
The oter main condition that affects the knee is osteoarthritis. This is a wear and tear injury and usually occurs on one side of the knee initially. This is called uni-compartment knee osteoarthritis. Össur’s Unloader® One brace is designed to reduce the load on the affected area of the knee , reducing pain, extending endurance and reducing the continual wear on the knee as the person walks. It is designed for people who have mild to severe osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, tibial plateau fracture, articular cartilage and meniscal cartilage repair, and is available for people of all sizes. A new high load brace is available for those who are overweight and need to return to activity to improve their weight control. For an unusual leg shape, the Unloader® One Custom, a made to measure brace, is available. For both of these knee braces, professional assessment and fitting is necessary.
For less severe knee conditions, such as inflammation of the joint, mild osteoarthritis, meniscal tears, and mild sprains and instabilities of the MCL and LCL,and post surgery, the brace of choice is the Gladiator BioSkin® Front Closure or the BioSkin® Gladiator Sport. These are both adjustable by the wearer and once assessed and fitted will enable return to normal activity in a reduced time.
Ligaments and articular cartilage healing can take a long time, and it is so easy to do further damage it before it is fully restored. It is therefore, vital to consider using the correct knee brace to support the joint to aid healing and prevent further injury.

Technology in Motion’s team of Orthotists are expert in managing all types of knee problem and have the braces to control and support, whatever the injury.

Technology in Motion Teams with Ekso Bionics

Posted on by
2

FIRST UK EKSO CENTRE LAUNCHES

Technology in Motion is delighted to be the UK’s first Ekso Centre. Opening in Leeds on 22nd March, giving people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological weaknesses the opportunity to stand and walk in a bionic exoskeleton, under clinical supervision.
Ekso Bionics Ltd, to give people the opportunity to access the ready-to-wear, battery powered device for the first time.
More clinics are set to follow, creating a network of Ekso Centres across the UK.
Steve Mottram of Technology in Motion said: “For the first time, people with spinal cord injuries can have access to this technology and we are delighted to be involved.”
“At our Leeds consulting rooms we work with patients from across the UK to provide orthotic care. The Ekso Centres are a welcome addition to the range of services available here.”
The Centre will also be used by the first UK test pilots of the exoskeleton – David Follett, Suzanne Edwards and Andrew Glenie. They have all suffered a spinal cord injury and have already taken their first steps in Ekso.
Andy Hayes, MD of Ekso Bionics in Europe said: “This is very new and exciting technology and we are working with some of the leading spinal cord injury centres in Europe to research the long term physiological and psychological benefits of being upright and independently mobile.
“However we appreciate that some people with paralysis simply want to be able to walk now, and here we can offer a safe controlled environment to do so.
“The Ekso Centre will make this technology more accessible to people with spinal cord injuries who want the opportunity to use it. David, Andrew and Suzanne are the first of many, we hope, who will get to stand up and walk for the first time in years.
“So far over 150 people have walked in Ekso worldwide, seven of which are from the UK, but we want to give more people the opportunity.”
Each Ekso can be adjusted in just a few minutes to fit most people between 5’2” (1.5m) and 6’2” (1.9m), weighing 100kgs or less with at least partial upper body strength and good range of motion. Simple Velcro straps secure Ekso safely to the user, over their clothing and shoes. The wearable robot provides unprecedented knee flexion, which translates into the most natural human gait available in any exoskeleton today.
In order to use Ekso, patients will have to be cleared and screened by a physician to ensure they have a good range of motion in all leg joints, reasonable upper body strength and must be proficient with sitting balance and transfers from wheelchair to other surfaces.
The Ekso also requires the patient to provide balance and forward momentum. Once assessed, candidates will have the opportunity to walk and train at the Ekso Centre on a regular basis.

How to Recognise Signs and Symptoms of Plagiocephaly and/or Torticollis

Posted on by
Reply

When your baby was only a few weeks old, you first noticed how he seemed to cock his head whenever he looked at you. When you watched him in other situations, you realised this was his customary posture. When you tried gently to move his head away from his shoulder, he cried as though you were causing him pain.
Looking back at your photo’s you notice that his head is always in the same position and he doesn’t seem to turn to the other side much.

Does this sound familiar? Your baby may suffer from what doctors call muscular torticollis or wryneck, a condition caused by spasms in the sternocleidomastoid muscle of the neck that cause the muscle on one side to contract. An infant or child with this condition appears to be tilting her head to one side while rotating his or her chin in the opposite direction. If you have witnessed any of these symptoms or suspect that your child may be affected by torticollis, it is advisable to seek medical help to confirm the diagnosis. Paediatricians estimate that up to 2 per cent of all infants may suffer from some degree of torticollis.

Sternocleidomastoid contracture is often the result of intrauterine positioning or a traumatic birth. When a baby is crowded so tightly into the uterus that he or she can’t move, contractures may develop and range of motion may be affected. Babies who are delivered with forceps, breach babies and multiples are all at higher risk of developing this condition. Torticollis is also rarely associated with infections and cervical abnormalities which your paediatrician will need to rule out before treatment can begin.

Untreated, torticollis can give rise to a host of problems in later life including facial and muscular asymmetry, visual disturbances, a delay in acquiring gross motor skills, and plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome, a persistent flat spot on your baby’s head.

While not every infant who shows signs and symptoms of plagiocephaly has problems with neck muscles, most infants with problematic neck muscles do go on to develop plagiocephaly because of their inability to move their heads. When your baby has flat head syndrome, you will notice that either the back or one side of her skull has sparser hair than the rest of his or her head, and that the underlying area appears to be flattened.

Flat head syndrome occurs when an infant spends too much time in one position. Infants’ heads are soft to facilitate the remarkable brain growth that takes place during the first two years of life. When one side of an infant’s head spends too much time resting against a flat surface, the skull can actually be moulded. Other causes of flat head syndrome include intrauterine positioning and spending too much time lying supine. When the Foundation for Sudden Infant Deaths (FSIDS)publicised guidelines to recommend that infants younger than one year old always be put to sleep on their backs, paediatricians saw a striking rise in plagiocephaly incidence.

The treatment for torticollis often involves physiotherapy. The therapist will work on exercises that gently stretch the sternocleidomastoid muscle to increase range of motion. Parents will be given a program of exercises that they can do with their baby at home.

Flat head syndrome can often be corrected by simply repositioning a baby’s head so that he or she is never lying on the flat spot. In severe cases, a custom-moulded helmet will improve the head towards a more normal and acceptable shape.

How to Treat a Baby with a Flat Head (Plagiocephaly)

Posted on by
Reply

Plagiocephaly, commonly known as flat head syndrome, is the medical term for a condition that affects as many as two out of every ten babies. Flat head syndrome develops when a baby repeatedly lies in the same position. This can occur when parents aren’t aware that they need to change an infant’s position during the day or because of problems with neck muscles. An infant’s skull is so soft that flat surfaces can actually mould the shape of an infant’s head. Since 1992 when the American Paediatric Society began recommending that infants sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), paediatricians have seen a six-fold increase in flat head syndrome. This experience is reflected in the UK since this advice was adopted. Babies must always be placed on their backs to sleep and this has saved thousands of lives. During the day when they’re awake and Mum is with them, babies should be placed on their tummies and pressure relieved from the back of the head.

Plagiocephaly may be associated with brachycephaly, a type of flat head syndrome where the head shape is very wide and the flattening appears across the back of the head. With brachycephaly, the back of an infant’s head flattens uniformly, causing the crown to be wider and taller while the distance between temples and chin may be longer. Brachycephaly is also classified as flat head syndrome, and responds to many of the same interventions.

Parents are usually the first to be aware of flat head syndrome. They may notice a flat spot on the back or side of their infant’s head where hair growth is noticeably sparser. Their baby’s ears may not be symmetrically aligned or some other facial asymmetry may be present. When torticollis, a tight neck muscle is a factor, a baby’s head may appear to be tilted to one side the much of the time.

In the vast majority of cases, plagiocephaly caused by a restrictive sleeping position responds to simple therapies. Yet the diagnosis itself can be so intimidating that some parents may be frightened of interacting with their babies in a normal way that includes tummy time and playing to relieve pressure on the flat spot. A baby with a flat head is no more fragile than any other baby.

Repositioning techniques are the best intervention for simple flat head syndrome. You’ll want to position your baby in his or her crib so that the affected side is not lying flat. When your baby is lying down, encourage active turning of the head by hanging a mobile or some other bright object where the baby will want to look at it. Limit the time your child spends in car seats, carriers and pushchairs with flat backboards that press up against his or her head. When holding, feeding, or carrying your baby make sure to reposition so that the flat spot is not pressing against you. Slings and other baby carriers which position your baby’s face towards your body benefit a baby with a flat head by decreasing the amount of time spent with pressure to the back of the head.

Some parents misinterpret the Foundation for Sudden Infant Death (FSID) guidelines to mean a baby should never be placed on the tummy. This is simply not the case. Supervised tummy time is good for your baby. Tummy time helps babies develop control of their head and neck muscles and overall hip and spine development, it also encourages bonding, particularly if you are comfortable enough to get down and interact. Try putting your baby’s rattle and toys just out of reach so he or she is encouraged to reach for them.

More severe cases of flat head syndrome may require physiotherapy and/or a corrective helmet. If your interventions don’t seem to be working, research the alternatives which will be able to help.

TiMband Treatment for Plagiocephaly

Posted on by
Reply

TiMband

PlagioCare treatment will now be known in the UK and Ireland as the TiMband. PlagioCare has been in existence for three years and has successfuly treated thousands of infants in the UK and Europe.

We believe it is the best plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome treatment system available due to its rapid results, lightweight helmet style, brilliant child friendly photographic scanner and final verification of treatment for all parents with before and after scans with software to review at home. The treatment is exactly the same, it’s only the name that is changing.

The Benefits of Your Child Wearing a Plagiocephaly Helmet

Posted on by
Reply

Plagiocephaly remodelling bands or helmets are a safe, non-invasive treatment for an asymmetric or unusually wide head shape. They do not interfere with his or her emotional or social development and are similar in action to teeth bracing in older children and young adults. The helmets are lightweight and available with a range of patterns. They let babies continue to be babies, but ensure corrective alignment and a more normal head shape that will allow your little one to participate fully throughout schools years and into adulthood.

What Is Plagiocephaly?

Plagiocephaly is the medical term for a common condition in which the back or one side of an infant’s skull shows significant flattening. It is often noticed as the bald patch that infants develop appears to be on the flattened side of the head. Clinical reports estimate that plagiocephaly may affect as many as one out of every 30 infants. Babies are born with soft, mouldable skulls so that they can pass through the birth canal and continue to be flexible to accommodate the rapid brain growth that occurs in the first two years after birth. When infants spend a lot of time sleeping with their heads in one position, a positional or developmental plagiocephaly may result.

In most cases, the early signs of positional plagiocephaly are detected by parents or grandparents and the first thing to do is to simply by reposition the head away from the flattening while he or she sleeps. Babies must always be placed on their back to sleep. Some infants with a flattening will need more targeted intervention and this can be physiotherapy or osteopathy to help release a tight muscle allowing full range of motion in the neck. If this is unsuccessful, a helmet will return the head shape to a more normal shape gently and quickly. If you do decide that helmet therapy is the appropriate choice, there is plenty of help and advice available to you.

Helmet Therapy for Plagiocephaly

Helmet therapy works by applying a gentle, continuous pressure to your baby’s developing skull, rounding it out throughout the day. This pressure does not hurt, and once your baby gets used to wearing this new piece of clothing, it will not interfere with any of your baby’s normal developmental activities. The helmet is adjusted so that your baby’s head can keep growing normally. It is made to an accurate photographic scan of your baby’s head shape and is made of light foam with a semi flexible shell is moulded. Helmet therapy may be recommended between four and five months if repositioning therapy has proven ineffective. Treatment effectiveness varies with the age of the infant and the severity of the plagiocephaly, but in most cases, your infant will usually wear the helmet for about five months.

Advantages of Helmet Treatment

There are many advantages to plagiocephaly helmet therapy. It will lead to a more normal symmetric skull shape, which will allow children to participate more fully in sports activities for which they will need to wear protective headgear. A more symmetric skull means more symmetrical facial features! This can affect many aspects of your child’s subsequent life.
Helmet therapy will also reduce disorders that may occur in later life due to asymmetry. Many dentists now believe that TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) is due to a misalignment of the jaw. TMJ is often linked to severe pain and speech disorders in its adult sufferers.

Helmet treatment, when indicated, will help your baby with plagiocephaly grow into the happy, healthy child with all the potential for future life
Since 2003 Technology in Motion has been providing treatment for plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (flat head syndrome), conditions which involve the deformation of the head of an infant.