Possibility of using manual therapy and osteopathic correction for delayed speech and motor development in children

Delay of speech and motor development in children is an urgent medical and social problem affecting various aspects of life of a child and his family. Early detection and correction of these disorders are important for further development of a child. In this regard, methods of manual therapy and osteopathy are considered as one of the promising approaches to solving this problem. The aim of the paper is to analyze the current scientific data, highlighting the possibilities of applying manual therapy and osteopathy in the correction of delayed speech and motor development in children. Within the framework of this review, we analyzed the results of studies, as well as descriptions of clinical cases published in refereed medical journals mainly for the last 5-10 years. It was found that the use of manual therapy and osteopathy methods in delayed speech and motor development in children contributes to normalization of muscle tone, improvement of blood circulation and lymph flow. The positive influence of these methods on the formation of movement coordination skills, fine motor skills, as well as the improvement of articulation and speech quality has been revealed. Their effectiveness in the complex rehabilitation of children with various nervous system disorders accompanied by delayed speech and motor development has been shown. Thus, the data testify to the prospective application of these therapeutic methods in the complex treatment of delayed speech and motor development in children.