Osteopathic Evaluation and Positional Plagiocephaly: A Descriptive Study on a Population of Children with ASD

Abstract

The discipline of osteopathy is a whole person approach that incorporates medical and scientific knowledge using an array of manipulative techniques for diagnosis and treatment of several types of diseases (WHO). The ostheopathic examination allows to locate somatic dysfunctions which are the hallmarks of health imbalance caused by stressful events, external or internal to the body, such as trauma and / or other pathologies. The objective of osteopathic treatment is to improve posture and motor skills, which are the prerequisites for a balanced and harmonious development of the body. The osteopathic evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorder allows the identification of dysfunctional aspects at a somatic level that can enrich the understanding of the child's health and behavior, starting from the structure / function relationship, including craniofacial dimorphisms and plagiocephaly. The present exploratory research has made it possible to detect the presence of signs of plagiocephaly in about half of a sample of 250 preschool and school age children with autism spectrum disorder; the 44% of these, shows signs of craniofacial dysmorphism, which indicates a continuous morphostructural adaptation not yet sufficiently considered as an interferent element in the overall development of the child. The observed incidence is consistent with the incidence of plagiocephaly in the pediatric population and supports the hypothesis that in children with autism spectrum disorder it may be useful to integrate the osteopathic expertise with the other health professionals involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. The authors conclude that osteopathic observation can contribute to the definition of the functioning profile of the children with autism spectrum disorder and their needs, in a global perspective of taking charge and individualization of care.