Plagiocephaly - Flat Head Syndrome Treatment for Children in Houston

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Plagiocephaly in Adults

Scientifically PROVEN, gentle, SAFE techniques by a Board-certified physician, and typically cheaper than cranial helmets for infants.

As a dually board-certified physician who has spoken on the Whole Mother radio show multiple times, taking care of and helping enhance the quality of life of a new person is my passion!

Osteopathy for Flat Head Syndrome in Houston

Are you worried that your baby’s head is not shaped correctly? Concerned about your newborn’s misshapen head? Have you been looking up baby helmets for flatheads? Worried about the cost of a helmet? At Osteopathic Healing Hands, we offer a natural alternative to traditional plagiocephaly treatments.

If you’re searching for another option beyond a Doc Band helmet, Hanger Cranial Band, or STARband, we specialize in non-invasive therapies. Our experienced osteopath provides personalized care to help reshape your baby’s head naturally. Meet our specialist today or book your appointment online.

Let me tell you a story. On a beautiful spring morning, five months ago, two women had their first child in neighboring rooms at the same hospital. The two babies were very much alike.

Both had no complications after a vaginal delivery, both had healthy 7.5-pound boys who were born minutes apart. Both were discharged within 48 hours – as most deliveries are – and the parents were filled with awe, hope, and dreams about how to give their child a better future.

Six months later, these two women bumped into each other at a nearby coffee shop. The two kids were still very much alike—happily developing children who were loved deeply by their parents. But both also had flat head syndrome.

Both parents felt like failures despite following pediatrician recommendations, adjusting crib positions, increasing tummy time, and exploring various methods to correct their baby’s head shape. They feared judgment from family, friends, and even strangers:
“What’s wrong with your baby?”
“What did you do wrong?”
“What happened to him?”

But there was one key difference.

One child’s parent was picking out stickers to decorate her baby’s helmet. The other had found a rare and exclusive specialist who reshaped her child’s head naturally, without the need for a helmet or its associated cost.

You may not have heard of our approach, and that’s okay. There are fewer than 1,200 plagiocephaly specialists across the country trained in this field, and even fewer focus specifically on infant plagiocephaly therapies.

No, we are not chiropractors, physical therapists, or simply providing infant massage. Our methods are backed by science and have helped countless families correct abnormal head shapes without a helmet.

If you’re ready to put an end to the worry and uncertainty about your baby’s flat head, we’re here to help.

YES, I’M READY TO END THIS FEAR AND TAKE THE NEXT STEP!

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What Does a Plagiocephaly Treatment Look Like?

Maybe you can relate to Ashley’s eloquent explanation of her journey to understand the D.O. difference (used with her permission – read the full article on her blog at http://naptimetales.com).

“We had a nice long talk with our pediatrician about helmets and doctors to see because that’s just the “typical” thing to do when your kid has a flat head. I was just wrapping my head around the fact that my son was going to wear a space helmet when the doctor was silent.

I could tell he was thinking and after a bit, he said he knew a “magician” who, if we were open to the method, would be able to fix his head with no gear.

Our baby’s doctor told us in so many words (and as gently as he possibly could) that my sweet son’s head would be squeezed back into shape with the “magician’s” bare hands.

Total. Voodoo. I didn’t think it would work and I thought it sounded insane. But I wanted to avoid a helmet. We agreed to see this head-squeezing doctor so we could ask lots of questions and then go from there.

I was feeling good about things after I did some at-home research on osteopathic manipulative therapy for babies (aka- head squeezing). It looked promising but I couldn’t find any REAL parents that had opinions about it.

I was fascinated that after just ONE session of manipulation, I could see improvement in Jack’s head. ONE SESSION. It was magic.”

A newborn baby has a very soft and delicate skull made up of many bones that eventually join to form the adult skull. The flexible skull helps the baby to squeeze out head-first through the birth canal.

As a result, it is normal for a newborn baby to have a pointy or long head, which eventually changes to the correct shape. Postural is a condition where the baby has a lasting flat spot, on the back of the head or one side.

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Is Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy For Babies Safe?

Yes! In May 2006, The American Journal of Pediatrics said:

“Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), particularly Osteopathy in the Cranial Field, is safe, effective, and well-tolerated in treating postural plagiocephaly, torticollis, and many other clinical conditions in children… Those of us who use the osteopathic approach to medicine rarely need to refer our patients for physical therapy or orthotics.”

Watch the testimonial below to hear why my patients are elated, understand the additional benefits of this type of therapy, and how affordable it can be.

Don’t just take my word for it.

“Words can’t express the wonderful care Dr. Banik gave my family. After the birth of our first daughter, we struggled with feeding and spit-up problems as well as an abnormally shaped head from birth trauma.

We took our infant to see Dr. Banik monthly for osteopathic treatments and soon noticed dramatic changes in the prior feeding and reflux problems.

We also have seen a dramatic difference in the shape of her head – there is no longer a flat spot on the back of her deformed heads head. We are so thankful for her wonderful treatment.” – L.G.

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Additional Benefits of Plagiocephaly Helmet Therapy Houston

Aside from the aesthetic benefits, studies have shown infants treated with osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) also experienced:

Improved ability to breastfeed
Improved quality of sleep
Improved bowel movements
Improved eye tracking
Improved ability to look to both sides when they previously favored one side
Avoid the cost of a cranial helmet

The specialist in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment offers babies a highly successful, hands-on, and non-invasive approach to diagnosing and treating the body. Call our office today to book a FREE discovery session to answer questions you might have, and ensure we all feel comfortable moving forward. If you don’t like what we have to say, you can always decide to go down the helmet route instead.

Some babies still use helmets during treatment, but many parents see that with our gentle care, they don’t need the helmet for as long. Helmets can be expensive and uncomfortable for babies. That’s why many families in Houston are now choosing natural, hands-on treatments that are safe, simple, and help their baby feel better.

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Causes of Postural Plagiocephaly

Postural or moderate are generally occurs when a baby sleeps in one position most of the time or as a result of a traumatic birth. It may sometimes occur before birth, when the mother’s womb is crowded because of twins, fibroids, not having enough amniotic fluid, etc. it can also occur in premature babies or due to Torticollis.

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Symptoms include a flat area on the back or side of the head and scanty hair in that region. This condition may also affect other parts of the head, such as when one ear is positioned forward compared to the other ear. The opposite side of the head may be bulged and the neck, jaw, and face may be uneven.

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It is diagnosed based on a careful physical examination of your child’s head. X-rays or a CT scan may be ordered to rule out other conditions.

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Infant Flat Head (Plagiocephaly) Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause but generally includes a conservative approach.

If your child’s sleeping position is the cause of postural plagiocephaly, you will be advised to regularly change the position of your baby’s head, reduce the time your child lies on their back, and place the baby on their stomach when awake.

In most cases, the condition does not require surgery and responds very well to osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a natural baby head shape treatment that corrects misshapen heads in newborns without the use of a helmet.

Osteopathic manipulative treatment for babies is also an effective cranial helmet alternative, helping to avoid the additional costs and stresses associated with placing a helmet on your baby’s head. For a list of articles supporting osteopathic manipulative treatment for babies, please click here.

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Plagiocephaly in Adults – Can It Still Be Treated?

Plagiocephaly doesn’t just affect babies — many adults with plagiocephaly are now seeking solutions for long-standing head shape asymmetry. Whether it’s from untreated flat head syndrome in infancy or trauma, the concern is real.

While bone remodeling is limited after childhood, osteopathic techniques may still help adults by:

Improving soft tissue balance
Relieving tension and discomfort
Enhancing posture and head alignment
Supporting cosmetic or surgical goals

If you’re an adult with plagiocephaly and wondering, “Can plagiocephaly be treated in adults?” — the answer is yes, to an extent.

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Osteopath treatment for Plagiocephaly

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Neighborhoods

Montrose, River Oaks, Houston Heights, Midtown, Galleria-Uptown, Museum District, Upper Kirby, West University (West U), Bellaire, Memorial Village, EaDo (East Downtown), Heights, Tanglewood, Downtown Houston, Clear Lake, Kingwood, Spring Branch, Sharpstown, Alief, Cypresswood, Timber Grove, Oak Forest, Sunnyside, Gulfton, Braeswood Place, Woodlands, Lindale Park, Midtown, Greenway/Upper Kirby

Driving direction

Houston, TX, is centrally located in southeast Texas, easily accessible from multiple highways. If you’re driving to Houston from the north, take Interstate 45 South, which will bring you directly into the heart of the city. From the east, Interstate 10 West will take you toward downtown Houston, passing through key neighborhoods along the way. For those coming from the west, Interstate 10 East is the main route, leading straight into the city. If you’re approaching from the south, you can take Interstate 45 North, which also connects to the city’s central areas. Houston’s robust freeway system, including the 610 Loop and Beltway 8, offers convenient access to different parts of the city, with easy connections to surrounding suburbs like Bellaire, Kingwood, and Clear Lake. Make sure to account for possible traffic when navigating through peak hours, as Houston is known for its busy roads.

Frequently asked questions

Infants & Children

If my child has both plagiocephaly and torticollis, do we need a helmet and PT?

You can choose to do both. You can also choose to do neither. The helmet can reshape the head (not treat torticollis), and PT can stretch the neck muscles. However, neither the helmet nor PT addresses the root causes of plagiocephaly and torticollis. Osteopathic treatment aims to get to the bottom of why plagiocephaly and torticollis happened in the first place, without making you feel guilty or judged, and you can spend less time juggling appointments.

Infants & Children

What other benefits has osteopathy shown for infants?

Osteopathic treatment can help with latching difficulties/pain, colic/fussiness/gassiness, reflux/arching back, torticollis and laying in a c-shape, blocked tear ducts/goopy eyes, constipation, and sleep. Oftentimes, these challenges are related and coming from the compressive forces of delivery. Osteopathic treatment aims to free up the root causes.

Infants & Children

At what age do the bones fuse and it’s “too late” for treatment?

The soft spots of the head come together around 12 months old, but the bones of the head never fuse, even as an adult. A fused bone has a straight line. The sutures of the skull are jagged because there is always tiny motion, which can be seen as motion artifact on an MRI. Treatment for reshaping the head should be done during the window of time that the soft spots are open because of the degree of motion available. After 12 months, very small, incremental changes can happen up to 15-18 months old.

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