Infantile Colic and Chiropractic This section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to: Frankp@chiro.org
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Hold your horses! Before you wade into the Colic Section, please read Dr. Nansel & Szlazak's fascinating JMPT article (see below), as it clarifies WHY chiropractic gets such dramatic results with a spectrum of purported diseases and disorders. You'll be glad you did!
Somatic Dysfunction and the Phenomenon of Visceral Disease Simulation: A Probable Explanation for the Apparent Effectiveness of Somatic Therapy in Patients Presumed to be Suffering from True Visceral Disease
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995 (Jul); 18 (6): 379–397
The proper differential diagnosis of somatic vs. visceral dysfunction represents a challenge for both the medical and chiropractic physician. The afferent convergence mechanisms, which can create signs and symptoms that are virtually indistinguishable with respect to their somatic vs. visceral etiologies, need to be appreciated by all portal-of-entry health care providers, to insure timely referral of patients to the health specialist appropriate to their condition. Furthermore, it is not unreasonable that this somatic visceral-disease mimicry could very well account for the “cures” of presumed organ disease that have been observed over the years in response to various somatic therapies (e.g., spinal manipulation, acupuncture, Rolfing, Qi Gong, etc.) and may represent a common phenomenon that has led to “holistic” health care claims on the part of such clinical disciplines.
A Retrospective Study of Chiropractic Treatment of 276 Danish Infants With Infantile Colic
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010 (Sep); 33 (7): 536–541
Data matched the clinical experience of good treatment effect independent of the infant's age. Slightly older age and longer duration of treatment were found to explain covariables linked to crying infants with improvement. No apparent link between the natural development of crying pattern and a positive outcome of chiropractic treatment was found. The findings of this study do not support the assumption that possible effect of chiropractic treatment of infantile colic is simply a reflection of the normal cessation of this disorder.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2009 (Oct); 32 (8): 635–638
Toddlers who were treated with chiropractic care for colic were twice as likely to not experience long-term sequelae of infant colic, such as temper tantrums (relative risk, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.0) and frequent nocturnal waking (relative risk, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.8) than those who were not treated with chiropractic care as colicky infants.
J Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health - Chiropractic May 2009: 1–7
The objective of this article is to explore the diagnosis and treatment of trauma-induced injury to the upper cervical spine through the use of protocol developed by the International Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (IUCCA) and to investigate the potential for improving and eliminating colic and acid reflux through the correction of upper cervical injury. Two diagnostic tests, paraspinal digital infrared imaging and laser-aligned cervical radiography, were performed according to IUCCA protocol. These tests objectively identify trauma-induced upper cervical subluxations (misalignments of the upper cervical spine from the neural canal) and resulting neuropathophysiology. Upper cervical subluxations were found in all 16 infants and all 16 cases were resolved with IUCCA upper cervical care.
Clinical Chiropractic 2008 (Sep); 11 (3): 122–129
Both treatments appear to offer significant benefits to infants with colic. Infants treated by SMT or OSD cried less and slept more after 2 weeks of treatment. There were no differences in outcomes between the two treatment approaches. Although the participants completed the trial of therapy prior to the usual age of remission for infant colic, the natural course cannot be ruled out.
Clinical Chiropractic 2004 (Dec); 7 (4): 180–186
These cases suggest a possible association between birth trauma; the development of cranial and spinal segmental dysfunction and consequential manifestation of symptoms of infantile colic. Secondly, they demonstrate chiropractic treatment successfully restoring correct spinal and cranial motion, with an associated resolution of symptoms.
Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research 2004 (Oct 18): 1–23
The process of neurological learning or programming of the central nervous system with respect to locomotion, posture, proprioception, and body kinetics begins within a few short months after birth. Our study revealed a pattern of pelvic dysfunction correlated with numerous somatic, visceral and immune complaints. These dysfunctions should be discovered as early as possible in a child’s development to effect a correction and the relationship between these dysfunctions and ill health should be further studied.
A Report of Two Cases
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2002 (Jan); 25 (1): 58–62
A PulStar Function Recording and Analysis System (PulStar FRAS, Sense Technology, Inc, Pittsburgh, Penn) device was used to administer light impulses (approximately 1.7 joules, which produced a 3 to 4 lb force) at each segmental level throughout the dorsal spine, with probe tips spaced 2 cm apart straddling the spinous processes. Crying was reduced by 50% after a single session of instrumental adjusting in a 6-week old girl and after 4 sessions in a 9-week old boy, according to colic diaries kept by the mothers. Average hours of uninterrupted daily sleep increased from 3.5 to 6.5 hours after a single session.
J Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 2000; 4 (1): 245-247
Immediate improvement of infant's symptoms following the first adjustment with complete resolution within five days. A recurrence, with exacerbated presentation, (as reported by the mother) was noted within three hours of the infant receiving his second Hepatitis B vaccine. Immediate remission was not observed nor was the infant able to remain subluxation free during the stress-reaction phase described by Scheibner. However, complete remission of symptoms and the ability of the infant to remain subluxation free occurred once the infant was past that acute reaction phase.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999 (Oct); 22 (8): 517–522
By trial days 4 to 7, hours of crying were reduced by 1 hour in the dimethicone group compared with 2.4 hours in the manipulation group (P = .04). On days 8 through 11, crying was reduced by 1 hour for the dimethicone group, whereas crying in the manipulation group was reduced by 2.7 hours (P = .004). From trial day 5 onward the manipulation group did significantly better that the dimethicone group. The authors then conclude: Spinal manipulation is effective in relieving infantile colic. You may also enjoy FCER's review of this article.
J Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics 1999; 3 (1): 203-206
This study outlines the chiropractic care of an eleven-month-old male with severe, complicated, late onset infantile colic. The infant had been unable to consume solid foods for a period of four months, and suffered from severe constipation. In addition, this subject demonstrated extreme muscular weakness and lack of coordination The baby was unable to crawl, stand, or walk, and was greatly unresponsive to his surroundings.
J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1989 (Aug); 12 (4): 281–288
A prospective, uncontrolled study of 316 infants suffering from infantile colic and selected according to well-defined criteria shows a satisfactory result of spinal manipulative therapy in 94% of the cases.
The first controlled randomized clinical trial involving the chiropractic management of infantile colic has just been published by a research group in Denmark at Odense University and in private practice. Although previous studies dating back over the last 10 years have been encouraging, this is the first demonstration of the clear clinical advantage conferred upon infants by spinal manipulation as compared to a control group given dimethicone, commonly used in medical treatment of colic.
The following day Sally took her baby to the chiropractor to have his spine evaluated. The doctor evaluated Brendan's spine and found two areas which needed to be corrected. A couple of light, finger-tip adjustments and the job was done. "How could my baby have spinal problems at his young age," Sally asked. "Well," said the chiropractor, "it can often be the trauma from a difficult birth, a long labor or perhaps even the way we burp the baby or pick the baby up from the crib, that produces spinal problems at such a young age." The next day, Brendan was somewhat better. Sally took him to the chiropractor again for a further adjustment, similar to the ones performed the previous day. Three days after Brendan's first spinal adjustment, Sally just couldn't believe how much her son had improved. He now slept like a baby, only cried when he was hungry or wet, and was once again the perfect baby that Sally knew he was. And Bob slept happily ever after.
Review abstracts about chiropractic and a variety of organic and visceral disorders at the wonderful International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) website.
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