Repercussions of plagiocephaly on posture, muscle flexibility and balance in children aged 3-5 years old

Aim: The objective of the study was to assess posture, muscle flexibility and balance in children aged 3-5 years old with a history of nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.

Methods: Fifty-two children with previous history of plagiocephaly were evaluated, along with 52 control subjects matched for age, sex, height, weight and physical activity. The outcome measures included static posture, assessed through the measurement of angles and distances between anatomical landmarks; muscle flexibility, evaluated with the Stibor, Shober and finger-to-floor distance tests and balance, assessed by the Pediatric Balance Scale.

Results: One-way analysis of variance afforded statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in head position, muscle flexibility (thoracic mobility and trunk and lower limbs muscle shortening) and balance.

Conclusion: Children with previous history of non-synostotic plagiocephaly present changes in head position, muscle shortening and a poor balance when compared to control children at 3-5 years old.