New Study Highlights Positive Outcomes of Chiropractic Care in Infant Following Traumatic Birth
Originally published: 2025-05-27
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chiropractic May Play Important Role for Suffering Children
ATLANTA, Georgia – 2025
A new study has been published in the Journal of Pediatric Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic documents the successful chiropractic care of a 16-day-old infant suffering from complications related to birth trauma, including a fractured clavicle, breastfeeding difficulties, and spinal and cranial subluxations. The literature included supports the role of chiropractic in those suffering from the related health challenges and calls for more research in this area.
CLICK HERE to read the research
The peer-reviewed study, authored by Dr. Andrew Dorough and Dr. Joel Alcantara, describes how gentle chiropractic adjustments combined with supportive home care led to significant improvements in the infant’s comfort, mobility, feeding ability, and sleep quality over a series of ten visits. The infant, who had experienced prolonged labor and delivery, initially presented with a lateral head tilt, jaw restriction, and distress when positioned for feeding or placed in a car seat.
Using Diversified Technique and a novel visual assessment method known as the “Triangle of Dorough,” the chiropractic team identified multiple areas of vertebral and craniofacial subluxation. Over the course of care, the infant's range of motion normalized, breastfeeding pain resolved, bowel movements improved, and the mother’s episodes of mastitis ceased.
Chiropractors aim to remove these subluxations, restoring optimal nerve supply and function. By addressing these subluxations, chiropractors help enhance communication within the nervous system.
A 16-day-old female infant was brought in by her mother for chiropractic evaluation following a birth-related right clavicle fracture. The mother reported increasing breastfeeding difficulties, including a shallow latch to the left breast that caused significant nipple pain and recurrent mastitis. The infant also exhibited excessive crying, disturbed sleep, and signs of discomfort when positioned on her right side or placed in a car seat.
On examination, the infant demonstrated a right head-turning preference, right lateral cervical flexion, restricted cervical spine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) motion, and physical signs consistent with vertebral subluxation. Gentle chiropractic care using the “touch and hold” Diversified Technique was initiated alongside home care instructions for cool compresses to reduce inflammation.
Over ten visits spanning 1.5 months, the infant showed marked improvements: increased cervical range of motion, normalized jaw function, improved feeding and digestion, and better sleep quality. Maternal mastitis resolved, and the infant’s overall comfort and function significantly improved. Continued chiropractic care was recommended to support spinal development and optimize nervous system function. No adverse effects were reported during care.
The study’s author called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population.
Contact Information:
Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic
http://www.chiropracticpediatricresearch.net
drmatthewmccoy@gmail.com
954.281.2638
