Which pattern has been associated with nonsynostotic plagiocephaly?

Which pattern has been associated with nonsynostotic plagiocephaly?

• A. Lateral strain
• B. Flexion-extension
• C. Torsional strain
• D. Compression

Answer: (A)

NSP results from external, uneven pressure on the infant’s skull—often from lying on one side or back for extended periods—leading to unilateral flattening rather than a global change. In cranial osteopathy, this unilateral deformation is described as a lateral strain, where one side of the skull shifts laterally relative to the other. This pattern directly accounts for the asymmetry seen in deformational plagiocephaly: the skull becomes flatter on one side while the opposite side may appear relatively broader or more expanded. It’s distinct from patterns that produce a twisting (torsion), a global flexion-extension change, or a uniform compression of the skull. So the lateral strain pattern best explains the association with nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.

NSP results from external, uneven pressure on the infant’s skull—often from lying on one side or back for extended periods—leading to unilateral flattening rather than a global change. In cranial osteopathy, this unilateral deformation is described as a lateral strain, where one side of the skull shifts laterally relative to the other. This pattern directly accounts for the asymmetry seen in deformational plagiocephaly: the skull becomes flatter on one side while the opposite side may appear relatively broader or more expanded. It’s distinct from patterns that produce a twisting (torsion), a global flexion-extension change, or a uniform compression of the skull. So the lateral strain pattern best explains the association with nonsynostotic plagiocephaly.