Understanding Infant Orthopaedic Conditions
Infant orthopaedic conditions are a set of physical issues that can affect a baby’s bones, muscles, and joints. These conditions can impact how a baby moves, grows, and develops strength and coordination over time. Most of these issues are present at birth or become noticeable in the early months, often due to factors such as the baby’s position in the womb, genetic factors, or minor developmental differences as the baby grows.
Many orthopaedic conditions in infants are treatable and may resolve with early intervention, such as physiotherapy. Early detection is important, as addressing these issues while a baby’s bones and joints are still developing leads to more effective outcomes.
Our team of Physiotherapists is dedicated to supporting infants with a variety of orthopaedic and developmental needs. We provide gentle, hands-on treatment to address movement restrictions, muscle imbalances, and positional concerns that can affect an infant’s physical development. By offering personalised care, we help improve your baby’s range of motion, strength, and overall motor skills. Through early intervention and guided exercises, we aim to support optimal growth and function, helping your little one thrive while providing families with the knowledge and confidence to assist in their child’s development at home.
Types of Orthopaedic Conditions
PLAGIOCEPHALY
Plagiocephaly happens when a baby’s head develops a flat spot, causing asymmetry or an uneven head shape. Flat spots can also occur on the side or back of a baby’s head. This is quite common and usually doesn’t affect brain development, but early treatment can help improve head shape. At our clinic, we assess your baby’s head and neck movement, identify any contributing factors, and create a gentle, tailored plan to encourage natural head shape correction. We’ll also provide guidance on positioning, exercises, and play techniques to help support your baby’s development at home.
TORTICOLLIS
Torticollis is when a baby has a tight neck muscle, causing their head to tilt to one side and making it harder for them to turn their head fully. This can lead to difficulty with movement and may even affect feeding and play. Our therapist will assess your baby’s neck range of motion and overall development to understand the severity of the issue. Our treatment includes gentle stretching exercises, positioning advice, and activities to help strengthen the neck muscles and improve movement. We work closely with families to guide you on supporting your baby’s progress at home.
POSITIONAL TALIPES
Positional talipes is a common foot condition where a baby’s foot (or both feet) rests in a position of pointing down and inwards, or up and outwards. It’s usually flexible and can improve with the right care. Our team assess your baby’s foot movement and overall leg strength, then create a personalised treatment plan. This typically includes gentle stretches, exercises, and positioning techniques to help correct the foot’s alignment. Our goal is to ensure your baby develops strong, flexible feet, and we guide parents on how to support this progress at home.
HIP DYSPLASIA
Hip dysplasia occurs when a baby’s hip joint doesn’t develop properly and the hip socket doesn’t fully cover the ball portion of the upper thigh bone. Early treatment is important to ensure the hips grow correctly. At our clinic, we work together with your doctor in managing hip dysplasia and provide fitting of the Pavlik harness – a soft brace that gently holds the hips in the right position for development. We also offer regular adjustments to ensure the harness is fitting correctly as your baby grows. Our therapist will also guide you on how to continue to support your baby’s gross motor development with the harness and be there through every step of the process, ensuring comfort and successful treatment.
BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY
Brachial plexus palsy, also known as Erb’s palsy, happens when the nerves in a baby’s shoulder are injured during birth, affecting arm movement and strength. This can make it difficult for the baby to move their arm or hand. Our therapists assess the baby’s arm function and create a personalised treatment plan focused on gentle exercises, splinting and activities to improve movement, strength, and coordination. Our physiotherapists work closely with families to guide them in supporting their baby’s recovery and maximising their arm function through regular care and exercises at home.
Causes & Risk Factors
Infant orthopaedic conditions can be caused by:
- In-utero positioning (especially in late pregnancy or multiple births)
- Tight neck or body muscles (e.g., torticollis)
- Prolonged time in one position (e.g., in car seats or bassinets)
- Low muscle tone or joint laxity
- Birth trauma or nerve injury during delivery
- Family history of orthopaedic or musculoskeletal issues
Personalised Therapy Solutions We Can Implement
Physiotherapy for Infant Orthopaedic Conditions
Our paediatric physiotherapists assess your baby’s posture, movement, and muscle tone. We work gently to support optimal joint alignment, strength, and early milestones like tummy time, head control, and rolling.
We provide:
- Hands-on assessment and early diagnosis
- Positioning advice and home-based stretches
- Guided tummy time support and progression
- Therapy for torticollis, talipes, and DDH
- Gentle stretching and strengthening for muscle imbalances
- Developmental milestone tracking
- Education for parents on how to support movement at home
Occupational Therapy for Infant Orthopaedic Conditions
Occupational therapists support babies’ fine motor development, self-regulation, and sensory responses. For infants with joint laxity, asymmetry, or tone concerns, OT helps build early play and interaction skills in a nurturing, responsive way.
We offer:
- Developmental assessments
- Support with early play and grasping
- Strategies to support feeding and holding positions
- Sensory base intervention and calming techniques
- Parent coaching and confidence building
Speech Pathology for Infant Orthopaedic Conditions
For babies with torticollis or muscle imbalances affecting the jaw or mouth, speech pathologists may support oral motor development, sucking and swallowing, and early bonding cues.
Our speech team offers:
- Oral motor assessments
- Early feeding support
- Parent coaching to support face-to-face bonding and communication
- Monitoring for early communication milestones
Why choose South West Kids Clinic to help your child with Infant Conditions?
- Gentle, baby-led care grounded in best practice
- Specialised paediatric therapists experienced with early motor delays and positioning issues
- Education and support for parents - you're not alone
- Early intervention that reduces the need for invasive treatment later
- Collaborative team approach tailored to your baby’s needs
We love working with babies – and we’re here to help yours thrive.
Frequently asked questions
When should I be concerned about how my baby is moving?
If your baby has a strong preference for one side, flat areas on the head, is not lifting their head well, or struggles with tummy time – it’s worth booking an assessment. Early therapy can prevent further issues and build better movement patterns from the start.
What can I do at home to help my baby?
We’ll show you gentle stretches, positions, and activities to support your baby’s development during playtime, feeding, and daily routines. Your input is powerful in your baby’s progress
Do I need a referral?
You don’t need a referral to see us. However, we welcome referrals from GPs, paediatricians, child and family nurses, and maternal health services if you already have one.
How quickly can I get in for an assessment?
We prioritise babies under 12 months and aim to see you promptly. Early support makes a huge difference, so don’t wait – get in touch today.
Will therapy hurt my baby?
Not at all. Our approach is gentle, safe, and guided by your baby’s cues. Most babies enjoy the interaction, and parents often tell us they feel more confident after seeing how easy it is to help their baby move and grow.
