Understanding Infant Developmental 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 Infant Orthopaedic Conditions
The following are some of the most common orthopaedic conditions found in infants, along with typical treatment options to help babies achieve a healthy foundation for movement and physical activity as they grow.
- PLAGIOCEPHALY
- TORTICOLLIS
- POSITIONAL TALIPES
- HIP DYSPLASIA
- BRACHIAL PLEXUS PALSY
A closer look at Infant 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.
Frequently asked questions
How often will my baby need therapy sessions?
The frequency of sessions depends on your baby’s unique needs and the specific condition. For some conditions, regular weekly sessions are ideal, while others may require check-ins every few weeks. During your first visit, our therapists will develop a personalized treatment plan that outlines the recommended frequency to ensure your baby makes steady progress.
Can I do anything at home to support my baby’s progress?
Absolutely! Our therapists will provide you with a set of safe, easy exercises and positioning techniques that you can practice with your baby at home. These activities are designed to fit naturally into daily routines like feeding, changing, and playtime, so your baby receives consistent support in their development. We’ll work closely with you to answer questions and adjust home exercises as your baby progresses.
Can therapy prevent long-term issues for my baby?
Early intervention with therapy can significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term issues for many orthopedic conditions. By addressing these issues early, therapy can help promote proper alignment, strengthen muscles, and support balanced development, which all contribute to your baby’s overall growth and physical milestones. Our goal is to set a strong foundation for your baby’s health and movement.
How do therapists measure progress for my baby’s condition?
Our therapists regularly assess your baby’s movement, strength, and flexibility to gauge progress. We’ll monitor improvements in range of motion, alignment, and muscle tone during each session and adjust the treatment plan as needed. We also discuss milestones and developmental goals with parents to ensure that treatment is aligning with your baby’s needs and growth.
