A Prospective Randomized Trial on Preventative Methods for Positional Head Deformity: Physiotherapy versus a Positioning Pillow

作者：Wilbrand Jan Falco^*; Seidl Maximilian; Wilbrand Martina; Streckbein Philipp; Boettger Sebastian; Pons Kuehnemann Joern; Hahn Andreas; Howaldt Hans Peter

来源：Journal of Pediatrics, 2013, 162(6): 1216-U183.

DOI：10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.11.076

Objective To evaluate the impact of stretching exercises versus available bedding pillows on positional head deformities.
Study design Fifty children aged 5 months or younger with positional head deformity were included in this prospective clinical trial (n = 20 plagiocephaly, n = 10 brachycephaly, n = 20 combination). A random distribution was performed for treatment with the bedding pillow alone (n = 25) or with stretching exercises (n = 25) for 6 weeks. Anthropometric caliper measurements were done before and after that interval. Cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and cranial index (CI) were calculated and analyzed using a descriptive statistical general linear model.
Results Delta CVAI in the stretching group was 2.09% for plagiocephaly and 2.34% for combined head deformities. Using the bedding pillow, Delta CVAI was 3.01% in plagiocephal children and 2.86% for combined head deformity. The Delta CI in the stretching group was 0.94% for isolated brachycephal children and 2.24% for combined head deformity. Delta CI in the pillow group was 3.63% for brachycephaly and 3.23% in children with combined head deformities, respectively.
Conclusions Bedding pillows and stretching exercises both resulted in improvements in positional cranial deformation. For children with combined plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, improvement in cranial asymmetry was slightly greater when using bedding pillows versus stretching.

• 出版日期2013-6