Osteopathic Treatment Shows Promise for Infant Head Shape

A small clinical trial found gentle manual therapy safely improved head shape in infants with plagiocephaly.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Children’s Health

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a smooth rounded pebble on a soft pale cushion, its surface gently indented, evoking infant head shaping. — Researchers found that gentle osteopathic manipulative treatment safely improved head shape in all 67 infants in a small clinical trial with plagiocephaly. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you consider gentle hands-on therapy before a helmet for your baby's flat head?

Researchers presented findings showing osteopathic manipulative treatment is safe and feasible for infants with plagiocephaly, a condition caused by sustained pressure on the back of a developing skull. All 67 infants in the trial showed improved head shape following treatment, with no significant adverse events reported.

Why it matters

Plagiocephaly occurs in nearly half of babies and has become seven times more prevalent since federal guidelines encouraged parents to lay infants on their backs to sleep. Families seeking options less invasive than cranial molding helmets may find the results relevant across the United States.

In a randomized crossover trial of 67 infants, all completed 8 weeks of osteopathic manipulative treatment and 8 weeks of standard care with 100% compliance. Common concurrent symptoms were fussiness or irritability (57%), poor sleep (21%), and pain or discomfort (5%), and the longer-term durability of these results has not been reported.

The players

Touro University California

A private university in California where the lead researcher serves as a professor and which is associated with the study.

The details

The trial used a two-arm design in which half the infants received osteopathic manipulative treatment first and the other half received standard care first, with each period lasting eight weeks. OMT involves gentle, hands-on manipulation intended to help the body move and function better, and 44 parents completed a survey on the sessions.

Eight weeks for each treatment period in the crossover trial.
One year after the clinical trial, four families reported their baby had a helmet.

Roadmap

Plagiocephaly's rise followed federal guidance urging back-sleeping for infants, which has been linked to a sevenfold increase in the condition. This trial positions osteopathic treatment as a potential alternative to cranial molding helmets for families managing that trend.

Parents concerned about flat spots on an infant's head may consider discussing osteopathic treatment with a pediatrician as a less invasive option than helmet therapy. Repositioning babies and offering more tummy time remain the typical first steps for plagiocephaly.

The takeaway

Simple daily habits like varied head positioning and supervised tummy time can help reduce pressure on an infant's skull. Parents should consult their pediatrician before pursuing any new treatment for plagiocephaly.