Baby Hip Dysplasia Physiotherapy treatment London

Paediatric physiotherapist at home or at the practice in London

At Excellence Physiotherapy London, our specialised and experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist in London can develop an individually tailored programme for your baby with hip dysplasia, in order to strengthen the hip and thigh, improve range of motion and help with standing and walking for older babies. Our London physiotherapist uses a variety of techniques that are proven to work effectively and we carry out the treatment during home visits in London, so you don’t have to worry about transporting your baby.  However, if you prefer for your child to be seen at the practice, we offer hip dysplasia treatment at:

• Our clinic in Monument near Bank, Moorgate and London Bridge
• Our clinic in Belgravia Westminster near Victoria, Knightsbridge and Sloane Square
• Our clinics in Clapham near Battersea and Balham

Our physiotherapy and osteopathy treatments are covered by most health insurances and are Bupa registered & recognised (BUPA Global and BUPA UK), Axa registered & recognised (AXA International, AXA ppp), Cigna registered & recognised and WPA registered & recognised

For appointment with our London physiotherapist or London osteopath call : 0207 125 0262 – 07824 553765

What is baby hip dysplasia?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) refers to deformities or dislocations of the hip in babies, due to the way the hip joint develops. It is usually present at birth, but it can also occur in the first few weeks after birth. It affects only 1 in 1,000 children but girls are more likely to develop dislocations than boys. It usually appears on just one hip, more often the left.

The earlier DDH is diagnosed and treated, the best the results of the treatment will be. At birth and at the periodic check-ups after that, the doctor will check your baby’s hips to ensure they function correctly. In mild cases of baby hip dysplasia, the femoral head of the thighbone, moves slightly out of socket, making the hip unstable. In more serious cases, the femoral head becomes dislocated, but dislocations are less common.

DDH isn’t painful for the baby, but the doctor will look for any of the below symptoms:

• The thigh doesn’t move outward at the hip as much as it should
• The hipbone makes a noise or the doctor can feel a “clunk” when moving the hip
• The skin folds between the legs and the body are not symmetric on both legs
• One leg seems longer than the other

If you think that your baby has one of the above symptoms, but your doctor hasn’t noticed, you can ask us for a complete baby health assessment by our Paediatric Physiotherapist. Please contact us for more information.

It is important that DDH is diagnosed and treated as early as possible, as treatment is more complex and less effective once the child’s bones have developed fully.

How to treat baby hip dysplasia?

The most usual treatment for babies is to keep the hip in position, using a Pavlik harness, which consists of a series of straps that hold the legs in the correct position and allow the femoral ball to settle in the hip socket. This treatment last between six and twelve weeks.

For children over six months of age, and for whom the Pavlik harness hasn’t worked, reduction and spica cast might be necessary. In very severe cases, or if the child isn’t diagnosed early enough, surgery options are also available.

Once the above treatments have been completed, physiotherapy can be used to increase strength and flexibility around the joint.