Pregnancy causes a significant strain on the spine. Not only is there an increase in weight and hence a greater load on the discs of the spine but the influx of hormones softens the body’s ligaments and causes the spine and pelvis to be more flexible and sometimes unstable. For many women, this can lead to symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, sciatica, shoulder pain, headaches and rib pain.
Chiropractic is a safe and gentle form of healthcare that can provide many benefits for pregnant women.
Is Chiropractic safe during pregnancy?
Chiropractic techniques are very safe at all stages of pregnancy. Chiropractors are highly skilled healthcare professionals and undergo a minimum of five years’ tertiary training, including studies in paediatrics and obstetrics. Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy poses no risk to the unborn child.
What about after the birth?
The mother’s pelvis and lower back are particularly vulnerable to strains from the forces involved in childbirth. After giving birth, the body not only has to recover from the changes made during the pregnancy but also from the effects of the delivery. On top of this, there is the demanding job of caring for a new baby! Activities such as breast-feeding, moving car seats, reaching over cots or bassinets, and carrying a child on one hip can all lead to spinal and pelvic pain.
How do I know if my baby needs to be checked by a Chiropractor?
Since significant trauma can occur at birth, some parents choose to have their newborns checked for spinal problems.
The most common indication that a baby may have been injured during the birthing process is poor neck movement. This may manifest as your baby having a preference to turn the head to the same side (especially when sleeping), being unable to hold the head up whilst lying on their stomach (most infants have some limited head control by 1-2 months), and in some cases your baby may feed more easily from one side. Whilst some of these birth injuries may settle without any intervention it is not uncommon especially following more severe traumas for functional problems to persist.
Other symptoms that may indicate a neck or spinal problem are general irritability or consistently disrupted sleep. Of course there are many causes for these more generalised symptoms in a baby and therefore in some cases concomitant care with a GP or paediatrician will often be recommended by your chiropractor
Who Provides Manual Therapy Care For Infants & Why?
In Australia and overseas, chiropractors, medical practitioners, osteopaths and physical therapists have used manual therapy as part of their care for unsettled, distressed, and excessively crying infants. Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. neck pain and stiffness), diet, feeding and digestive problems are some issues that may underlie unsettled infant behaviour. Chiropractors most commonly use manual therapy and have conducted much of the research that inform society’s understanding of safety and efficacy of manual therapy in infants. Outcome measures are challenging in infants as they are unable to express pain in the same way adults do, so instead, measures of unsettledness such as crying time, and sleep time have been utilized rather than facial grimace scores (commonly used in Paracetamol trials in infants(1). Evidence in this field remains sparse at this time.
Is Manual Therapy Safe For Infants?
In a recent analysis of data from 103 infants exposed to manual therapy, zero serious adverse events and 7 non-serious adverse events were reported(2). Infants not exposed to manual therapy also experienced minor adverse events. The rate of reported non-serious adverse events was 110 per thousand for infants not exposed to manual therapy, and only 7 per 1000 in infants having manual therapy. A recent review of the health literature identified a total of fifteen reported cases of serious adverse events in infants since the 1960’s. Of the 15 cases, 7 were associated with chiropractic care, and in 8 cases, pre-existing pathology was identified (3).
Is Manual Therapy For Infants Effective?
A recent study assessed the effectiveness of manual therapy for healthy but unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants(2). Infants in the manual therapy’s interventions group had a greater reduction of crying time when compared to control groups (a difference 1.27 hours of less crying per day). The authors considered this to be only a small effect, however its meaningfulness to parents remains unclear.
How Much Force is used in Maual Therapy Techniques for Infants & Children?
Chiropractors have studied the forces associated with manual therapy techniques in infants(4). A recent review found chiropractors treating infants typically modify techniques so that force and speed is suited to the age and development of the child (5). When modified and applied by chiropractors or other manual therapists, spinal manipulation techniques (SMT) such as ‘touch and hold’ and ‘spinal mobilisation’ techniques (i.e. those applied by hand) are reported to fall within recommended force limits for infant and child safety. Typical forces can be compared to the pressure one might apply when testing the ripeness of a tomato.
How Are Infants & Children Treated At Our Practice?
We adhere to evidence-based guidelines including adaptation and modification of force and technique. Cameron and Shree do not use spinal manipulation in their treatment of infants (spinal manipulation is when joints are 'cracked' or moved beyond their 'physiological range of movement'). In over 25 years of private practice Cameron's experience in treating infants is consistent with the current evidence….that is, manual therapy delivered with appropriate force is safe and appropriate for infants with spinal related pain.
Child Care
As children grow they have numerous knocks and falls, most of which are harmless but occasionally significant injuries occur that require care. Unfortunately many treatable childhood problems go unrecognised or are brushed off as “growing pains”. Following significant trauma it is recommended that children have a check-up even if their initial pain passes quickly.Other reasons to have your child checked
- Family history of severe scoliosis (or of a sibling)
- Unusual posture, uneven shoulder levels
- Back ache, Neck ache, Aching Legs, Headaches
- Unusual clumsiness (e.g. Walking or Running)
- Pain at night
Chiropractic Manipulation for infants and children
Chiropractic manipulation for a child is a very gentle procedure. With no more pressure applied than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato, the manipulation is very safe.
1. Ohlsson A, Shah PS: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for prevention or treatment of pain in newborns. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2016, 10:Cd011219.
2. Carnes D, Plunkett A, Ellwood J, Miles C: Manual therapy for unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants: a systematic review and meta-analyses. BMJ open 2018, 8(1):e019040.
3. Todd AJ, Carroll MT, Robinson A, Mitchell EK: Adverse Events Due to Chiropractic and Other Manual Therapies for Infants and Children: A Review of the Literature. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2015, 38(9):699-712.
4. Marchand AM: A Proposed Model With Possible Implications for Safety and Technique Adaptations for Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Infants and Children. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2015, 38(9):713726.
5. Todd AJ, Carroll MT, Mitchell EK: Forces of Commonly Used Chiropractic Techniques for Children: A Review of the Literature. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2016, 39(6):401-410.
