Resolution of Chronic Constipation In A Neonate Following Chiropractic Care

CHALFONT, Pa. - May 13, 2014 - PRLog -- An article in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health reported on a study that documented the positive effects of chiropractic adjustments on an 11- week-old male with chronic constipation.

         An 11-week-old male presented for chiropractic consultation with the primary complaints being constipation and excess crying. The patient’s difficulty with pushing and grunting to achieve a bowel movement were associated with his crying. The patient’s constipation affected his eating and sleeping habits. Medical care consisted of leg exercises, abdominal massage, gripe water and Mylicon.

         “Over 8 weeks the infant had only 5 bowel movements,” said Dr. Walker, Chalfont-based, D.C., who follows health and wellness issues closely in professional journals and other publications, “which his mother attributed to prune juice intake and suppositories twice a week.”

         Associated with the subjective complaints of abdominal pain and bloating, incomplete evacuation or the need for digital evacuation to enable defecation, constipation is commonly characterized as infrequent bowel movement. “In children, it is estimated that constipation has a prevalence ranging from 0.3% to 28% worldwide,” said Dr. Walker,“and this occurs at three common stages of childhood – at infancy during weaning, in toddlers learning toileting skills, and when the child is of school age.” In a long-term follow-up study of children less than 5 years of age presenting for medical care with complaints of constipation, some 30% of these children continue to suffer after 2 years.

        “Over a period of 10 weeks, the patient attended a total of 14 visits using Gonstead technique to reduce vertebral subluxation,” stated Dr. Walker. The result was an improvement in the child’s constipation by having several bowel movements per day, which was congruent with the bowel movement frequency of unaffected children.

         “This case report highlights the possible effectiveness of alleviating complaints of constipation in neonates with chiropractic adjustments,” explained Dr. Walker, “and it is encouraged that further research in this area be performed.”

         Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Walker, whose office is located at 166 East Butler Avenue; Chalfont, PA, USA (telephone 215-997-8786).