Developmental delay
Most babies develop along predictable pathways and reach milestones at similar times. Osteopaths are trained to know when milestones should be reached and in many cases can assist the baby’s development if these milestones are delayed. Examples of this may be a baby unable to hold its head up, not putting its feet down when being held upright or crawling with one leg straight and the other bent.
Often these delays are simple mechanical strains in the baby’s body e.g. not being able to lift its head due to a strain in its neck causing a muscle imbalance. Once these strains are removed the baby’s development will continue normally.
In the situation where there is some damage to the child’s nervous system e.g. cerebral palsy, osteopathy can still play a role by helping contracted muscles to relax.