Diagnosis and Chiropractic Treatment of Infant Headache Based on Behavioral Presentation and Physical Findings: A Retrospective Series of 13 Cases

Manual therapy for the pediatric population: a systematic review

“…Minor adverse events occurred in both groups that included; hot skin in 15 patients (treatment group 6, placebo 9), dizziness in 11 patients (treatment group 7, placebo 4). There was reported transitory increase in headache intensity and frequency being reported for up to 4 days (treatment group 8, placebo 6).Marchand A, et al 2009 [32]To conduct a retrospective file search of infants presenting with probable benign infantile headache at a chiropractic teaching clinic.Before-After n = 13CMTChildren ages 2 days - 8.5 months, with benign infant headacheReduction in behavioral findings recorded verbatim by parents such as; grabbing holding face, ineffective latching, grimacing and positional discomfort, rapping head against floor, photophobia, and anorexia.All 13 consecutive cases had favorable results based on parent report of outcomes.There is no mention of adverse events made in this study.Low Back PainEvans R, et al 2018 [33]To compare 12 weeks of chiropractic manipulative therapy combined with exercise therapy to exercise therapy alone in the treatment of chronic lower back pain in children.RCT n = 185CMTChildren ages 12–18, with chronic lower back painPrimary outcome - self-reported level of low back pain (11 box numerical rating scale), Secondary outcomes - patient-rated disability (18 item Roland-Morris Disability questionnaire), quality of life (23 item PedsQL), improvement (9-point scale), frequency of medication use for low back pain (days/week), patient satisfaction with care (7-point scale)Chiropractic manipulative therapy plus exercise resulted in larger reduction in primary outcome of pain severity over the course of 1 year.Side effects were similar in both groups, mild and self-limiting and occurred at a frequency comparable to adult population.Walston Z & Yake D, 2016 [34]To illustrate the feasibility and safety of lumbar manipulation as an adjunct to exercise for treatment of adolescent population with mechanical low back pain.Interrupted Time Series (without comparison group) n = 3MTAdolescents ages 13–15, with mechanical low back painPain measured on numerical pain rating scale and disability (Oswestry) for each patientAll outcome showed improvements (0/10 on numeric scale and 0% in the Oswestry disability index) for each patient.No adverse reactions were reported or observed with any episode of manipulation.Selhorst M & Selhorst B, 2015 [35]To assess efficacy of lumbar manipulation in addition to a 4-week physical therapy exercise program.RCT n = 35MTAdolescents ages 13–17, with mechanical low back pain of < 90 daysPatient Specific Functional Scale, pain (11-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale), and Global Rating of Chance scalesNo difference between groups for Patient Specific Functional Scale, pain, or Global Rating of Chance scales. All patients improved.Two patients in both the sham and manipulation group had an adverse reaction at 1 week.…”

“…One of these investigated the use of manual therapy on clubfoot [ 28 ] and one on cuboid syndrome [ 29 ]. Three of these studies investigated the use of manual therapy for headaches [ 30 – 32 ], four for low back pain [ 33 – 36 ], two investigated pulled elbow [ 37 , 38 ], and one study for temporomandibular (TMD) dysfunction [ 39 ]. Clubfoot …”

“…There was reported transitory increase in headache intensity and frequency being reported for up to 4 days (treatment group 8, placebo 6). Marchand A, et al 2009 [ 32 ] To conduct a retrospective file search of infants presenting with probable benign infantile headache at a chiropractic teaching clinic. Before-After n = 13 CMT Children ages 2 days - 8.5 months, with benign infant headache Reduction in behavioral findings recorded verbatim by parents such as; grabbing holding face, ineffective latching, grimacing and positional discomfort, rapping head against floor, photophobia, and anorexia.…”

Manual therapy for unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants: a systematic review and meta-analyses

“… 37 45 The following conditions were represented in the studies: colic (11 studies), 32–34 36 37 39 40 43 45–47 gastro-oesophageal reflux (2 studies), 35 40 ; breastfeeding difficulties (5 studies) 38 42 44 48 49 and infant signs of distress (described as headache) (1 study). 41 With the exception of four studies, all used chiropractic intervention. The other four studies used massage therapy 35 and osteopathic intervention.…”

Manual Interventions for Musculoskeletal Factors in Infants With Suboptimal Breastfeeding: A Scoping Review

“…The cases included only chiropractic treatment of infants with nursing difficulties. Combined, the 5 case series had a total of 166 patients (sum of 2, 59 6, 60 19, 61 25, 39 114 62 ). Consequently, a total of 179 infants were treated with chiropractic care.…”