Dr. Kirby Perrault has great news for parents of infants with colic: A new major review study reveals that chiropractic care alleviates colic. What’s more, it is a safer and more effective than medical interventions.
New Major Review Study
Chiropractic care is beneficial for babies with colic, according to a just published systematic literature review published in Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing.
To collect studies on chiropractic care for infantile colic, researchers searched eight major medical research databases.
The studies authors write: “Our systematic review of the literature revealed 26 articles meeting our inclusion criteria. These consisted of three clinical trials, two survey studies, six case reports, two case studies, four cohort studies, five commentaries, and four reviews of the literature. Our findings reveal that chiropractic care is a viable alternative to the care of infantile colic and congruent with evidence-based practice, particularly when one considers that medical care options are no better than placebo or have associated averse events. (Explore 2011:7:168-74)
Chiropractic Evaluation of Infants
Colic is characterized by irritability, excessive crying, gas and difficulty sleeping. Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion that should only be made after a thorough evaluation to rule out other ailments.
Dr. Kirby Perrault explains that this evaluation should include checking the infant for misalignment of spinal bones (vertebrae) – a condition that has been linked to colic.
Spinal misalignments in infants are sparked by the twists, turns, and pressure placed on the head, neck, and spine during the delivery process. In fact, an average of 40-70 lbs of force is exerted on a newborns head and neck during birth. This strains the spinal joints, in the upper neck, called upper cervical joints, especially in the joint between the baby’s head and neck. Caesarean sections and assisted deliveries may produce additional torque to the infants head and neck, possibly setting these babies up for even greater risk.
When spinal movement is restricted, or vertebrae become misaligned, the result is a common condition called vertebral subluxation. In addition to colic, vertebral subluxations are linked to ear infections, headaches, and a number of other disorders. Dr. Kirby Perrault uses safe and gentle maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments to restore alignment and movement to the spine.
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(Ask Dr. Kirby for a copy of this full article)