CRANIAL POSTURAL ASYMMETRIES: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47820/recima21.v6i5.6440Keywords:
Plagiocephaly, Cranial Deformities, Infant, Cranial Orthosis, Child DevelopmentAbstract
Cranial postural asymmetries (CPA) in infants have become an increasingly common condition in pediatric clinical practice, especially as a result of positional and environmental factors in the first months of life. The aim of this study was to carry out an integrative review of the literature on PCA, covering its causes, classifications, impact on child development and therapeutic strategies, with an emphasis on the effectiveness of cranial orthoses. The research was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases, considering publications between 2020 and 2025, in Portuguese and English. The selected studies showed that positional plagiocephaly is the most prevalent form of PCA and is often associated with the supine position maintained for long periods. The repercussions of the deformities go beyond the aesthetic aspect and can compromise neuromotor, visual and mandibular development. Therapeutic strategies include postural guidance, physiotherapy and, in indicated cases, the use of cranial orthoses, which have proved to be effective, especially when started early. It is concluded that early identification and a multidisciplinary approach are essential to minimize the impacts of PCA and promote the healthy development of infants.
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