Paediatric osteopathy Berlin

Osteopathy explained – Children and babies

The position of the cranial bone during the first years is of great importance for the osteopathic treatment of children and babies. This is why unlike adults, children and babies are treated primarily via the cranium (skull). Children’s cranial bones are very soft and malleable. Individual cranial bones are also made up of a number of parts, which only become enjoined over the years. Therefore, cranial osteopathy (skull) is significantly more effective amongst children and babies than adults, particularly parietal osteopathy (musculoskeletal system) and visceral osteopathy (organ system). During birth, the cranial bones are subjected to extreme pressure, and the individual bones shift and partially overlap, although children’s self-healing abilities lead these kinds of deformities to normally recede after a few days.

Nursing plays a central role here. The basis of the skull is stimulated via the palate, through the coordinated sucking movement of the upper and lower jaws. Thus blockages, which the baby cannot deal with on its own, become noticeable in its feeding habits. If a blockage occurs after or during a baby’s birth, the rest of the body organises itself around this blockage, i.e. the body tries to compensate for it. Pre-natal blockages occur primarily because of a lack of space in the womb resulting from multiple pregnancies, anomalies of the womb, pelvic disorders and accidents. Numerous blockages occur during the birth, largely as a result of increased pressure, long pauses between contractions, a change in the baby’s position, or the use of aids such as forceps or vacuum pumps. Blockages in babies can occur during spontaneous births, vacuum extraction and caesareans. The more difficult and unusual a birth, i.e. very short or long, the more likely it is that this will result in cranial and pelvic disorders.

The baby-parent relationship also has a significant influence on the development of the baby. Bodily contact disorders can result in cumulative blockages, and physical complaints can equally lead to the development of bodily contact disorders. Of course, blockages and disorders can also occur in toddlers and schoolchildren. These are mainly caused by accidents and falls.

Should you have any further questions regarding paediatric osteopathy or clinical pictures for children and babies, please contact me!

Procedures for the osteopathic treatment of children and babies

Paediatric osteopathy takes 20-60 minutes per session. Children’s osteopathic treatment begins with a detailed diagnosis. Factors of central importance for the osteopath and further treatment are the child’s perspective and palpatory findings, and anamnesis of the family and school situation. The first osteopathic treatment session includes diagnosis, a proportional treatment and arranging an exercise programme, so that the child’s entire systems are examined and treated. Depending on the therapy required, the child undergoes comprehensive treatment in the subsequent sessions. Pediatric osteopathy sessions can vary in terms of length, how the child is treated, and how the parents and child are approached. All osteopathic treatments guarantee that the child is respected as an individual, and the therapy is adapted to the kind of attitude he or she brings to the treatment. The osteopath feels for blockages and then removes them, by gentling touching the area affected and moving individual body parts.

An example of paediatric osteopathy for babies

A baby is born spontaneously. The labour has an average length of ca. 10 hours. As the baby passes through the birth canal, it remains briefly stuck. The pressure on the baby increases, the mother and baby´s stress levels increase. The baby builds up a muscular defense in its cervical spine muscle in order to stabilize itself. Shortly afterwards, the birth continues and the baby is born without any further complications.

Following its birth, the baby soon displays symptoms of chronic exhaustion, and begins to cry more frequently and loudly. When it is nursed, it overextends itself, trying to feed on the breast, but repeatedly moving its head away and crying intermittently. The baby is normally easier to nurse on one side.
When the baby is put to bed, it doesn’t lie relaxed and straight, but resembles an arc, which is curved to one side. The baby prefers to turn its head to one side, its arms and legs continually move and it seems unable to find a comfortable position. The baby is only quiet and comfortable when it is picked up and carried around. After a few days, the mother ceases to breastfeed, because the baby can no longer feed at the breast. Feeding problems are also frequently accompanied by a digestive tract disorder. The baby suffers from flatulence and produces a large amount of spittle.

As the head is held on one side in the dorsal position, the skull becomes deformed and flattens at the back on one side, and develops a rhomboid shape, which means the whole skull is pushed into itself. Now it becomes clearly apparent that the baby’s development has not taken a regular path.

What has happened?

The baby was stuck in the birth canal as it turned during the birth, so it has developed an increased muscular tension. The increased pressure has caused a blockage to emerge in the atlantoaxial joint, the articular surfaces are wedged together. The increased stress levels meant that the baby was unable to subsequently activate its self-healing powers and remove this blockage by itself. The blockage prevents the head from turning in more than one direction. The resulting flattening of the back of the head dislocates the occipital bone (Os occipital). Dislocation of this bone frequently leads to irritation of the cranial nerves, which have emersion points next to this bone.

The X cranial nerve (N.vagus) is responsible for digestion, the XI. cranial nerve can produce a muscular torticollis if it is irritated, and irritating the XII. cranial nerve can result in feeding problems. The dislocation of the occipital bone results in a dislocation of the cervical spine, which also causes additional nerve irritation, which influence the digestive organs via the diaphragm. The occipital bone still exists in four parts and, left untreated, will grow together in this kind of malposition.A malposition of the occipital bone leads to a malposition of the base of the skull, which in turn affects the palate and feeding movement. A malposition in this area leads to difficulties in feeding, which means that the baby cannot regulate itself via the feeding.

Less nutrition means even less strength. This produces a negative cycle.