Clinical Evidence of Vestibular Dysregulation in Colicky Babies Before and After Chiropractic Treatment Versus Non-Colicky Babies.

Abstract

BackgroundAfter 65 years of research that has been primarily directed at differentiating between normal and colicky crying, the cause of infantile colic remains elusive and no definitive cure has been found. Given the general absence of pathology, colicky crying is widely considered the extreme end of a spectrum of normal crying behavior. In the literature scattered evidence can be found suggesting that infantile colic may be the behavioral expression of physiological brainstem dysregulation, particularly of the vestibular and autonomic nuclei. The purpose of this study is to present a five-point clinical index of vestibular (hyper)activity and its application to investigate vestibular dysregulation in colicky and non-colicky babies.Methods120 consecutive colicky babies were evaluated using this index, before and after a very gentle vibratory treatment, and compared to 117 non-colicky babies.ResultsBefore treatment, of 120 colicky babies only 2 (1.7%) scored 0, whereas 118 (98.3%) scored scored 1-5. Of 117 non-colicky babies 89 (76,1%) scored 0 and 28 (23.9%) scored 1-3, none scored 4-5. The odds ratio is OR (CI 95%) 187.54 (43.52-808.09). After treatment 111 (92.5%) scored 0 and 9 (7.5%) scored 1-3, none scored 4-5. A McNemar test showed the difference before and after to be significant (χ² = 109.00, p < .001). For colicky babies the mean vestibular score is 2.88(SD 1.22), compared to 0.37(SD 0.73) for non-colicky babies, a difference of 87.2%. After treatment the score decreased from 2.88 (SD 1.12) to 0.10 (SD 0.40), or 96.5%. ConclusionColicky babies are not just infants who cry a lot. They also show clinical evidence of vestibular dysregulation. Gentle treatment aimed at relaxing tight sub-occipital musculature by means of a vibrational technique may be effective in decreasing vestibular hyperactivity, signifying an improvement in brainstem regulation. The vestibular index opens the prospect for development into a tool towards an objective and practical clinical diagnosis of infantile colic.