Colic is defined as inconsolable crying in an infant for as least three hours a day, at least three days a week, for at least three weeks.
Quite a definition huh?
A colicky baby typically presents with a loud piercing cry, flexed legs, tensed abdominal muscles, and clenched fingers. It typically starts around three weeks of age and lasts until around three months, but sometimes lasts for as long as six months.
Approximately 10-20% of babies are affected by colic. Medical doctors diagnose colic based on the previously mentioned “Rule of 3” and after ruling out diseases that may make a baby cry uncontrollably.
Parents of infants with colic report significantly higher stress levels than parents whose babies don’t have colic. The stress and frustration of trying to soothe a colicky baby may interfere with mother-baby bonding and can increase the risk of postpartum depression. Chiropractic care has shown some of the best results, with 94% of colicky babies demonstrating improvement with gentle, non-forceful, chiropractic adjustments.
Research on chiropractic care and colic has shown significant benefits over other treatments such as dietary changes, medication, and infant positioning. A randomized clinical trial published in 1999 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that “Spinal adjustments are effective in relieving infantile colic“. For this study the researchers randomly assigned infants diagnosed with colic into two groups. One group received chiropractic care for two weeks and the other group was given the anti-gas medication dimethicone for two weeks. The babies in the chiropractic group showed a 67% decrease in crying while the babies on medication showed a 38% decrease in crying.
Another study with 316 children also showed significant improvement in colic in response to chiropractic care. This prospective study used diaries from mothers of colicky babies to track the amount of crying. The three month long study showed a “satisfactory result of spinal manipulative therapy in 94% of the cases”. The improvements occurred after an average of only three adjustments within two weeks.
Chiropractic care is a conservative, gentle, and very successful option for treating infants with colic. Chiropractic adjustments for infants are specific, gentle, and safe. Babies are traumatized when they’re born by a twisting of their neck. They have no other way to tell you something is wrong, other than crying, so be aware of what your babies are telling you. If you have children, of any age, they should be adjusted.
Dr. Frank E. Kaden, D.C.
1927 Artesia Blvd., #7
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 251-0862
www.KadenChiropractic.com
