Objective: The chiropractic management of an infant with of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), constipation and deformational plagiocephaly is described.
Clinical Features: A 5-month-old female presented for care with complaints of GERD since birth and constipation since she was 4-6 weeks old. At the time of initial presentation medication was not affecting frequency or amount of reflux symptoms. Bilateral flattening of the occiput was noted indicating deformational plagiocephaly.
Intervention and Outcomes: The patient was seen 19 times over approximately 6 months for chiropractic evaluation and management. Chiropractic adjustments included atlas, T2, L4, sacrum and the cranial vault. At the time of a 6-month care reassessment, the patient had ceased taking anti-reflux medication and was regularly having 1 to 2 bowel movements per day. The patient’s plagiocephaly was improved with only slight leveling of the occiput noted.
Conclusions: In this case, restoring proper kinesiological and neurological function by reducing vertebral subluxation restored proper afferent stimulation of the autonomic nervous system resulting in a concomitant reduction in subluxation findings, deformational plagiocephaly and visceral dysfunction.
Author Keywords: chiropractic, subluxation, GERD, GER, reflux, gastroesophageal, constipation, plagiocephaly, infant
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