The Efficacy of Early Osteopathic Therapy in Restoring Proper Sucking in Breastfed Infants: Preliminary Findings from a Pilot Study
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 May; 12(10): 961.
Arianna Parodi, Conceptualization, Methodology, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing,1,* Rosalba Ruffa, Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – original draft,1 Viola De Felice, Investigation, Data curation,1 Marina Sartini, Software, Validation, Data curation,2,3 Maria Luisa Cristina, Software, Validation, Data curation,2,3 Beatrice Martino, Investigation, Data curation,1 Francesca Bianco, Investigation,1 Roberta Di Stefano, Writing – review & editing,1 and Massimo Mazzella,
Abstract
Despite the care provided, some newborns, who are perfectly healthy, show functional alterations that impair a good breast attack in the first few days. This situation often leads to the early failure of lactation. We conducted a randomized single-blind controlled trial to evaluate whether four weeks of osteopathic treatment can normalize the sucking score in a group of neonates with impaired lactation ability. Forty-two healthy full-term neonates were enrolled in this study. On the basis of the sucking score and the assessment of the infant’s breastfeeding skills, infants who had intrinsic breastfeeding difficulties were selected. The inclusion criteria were healthy infants born > 37 weeks, a suction score ≤ 6, and any breast milk at enrolment. At the end of the study, the sucking score was significantly greater in the osteopathic group than in the untreated group; the median sucking score in the treated group was in the normal range, while it remained lower in the untreated group. At the end of the follow-up, the percentage of exclusively breastfeeding infants in the treatment group increased by +25%. This pilot study demonstrates the efficacy of early osteopathic intervention to relieve breastfeeding difficulties in newborns in the first few weeks of life.
....At the end of this pilot study, the treated group showed an improvement in the sucking score and a greater reduction in the osteopathic score than the untreated group (p < 0.001). ...
Conclusions
This study is different from previous ones, especially due to the precocity of the intervention and the setting within a BFH hospital sucking score, as a marker of sucking impairment is also a novelty. In conclusion, this pilot study explores the impact of an early functional osteopathic therapy, started in the first week of life, on sucking problems related to breastfeeding in healthy infants.
Valid and Invalid Indications for Osteopathic Interventions: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Practices and French Healthcare Society Recommendations
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10756711/
Cureus. 2023 Nov; 15(11): e49674.
1
The main aim of this study was to determine the level of evidence in the literature for the main indications of osteopathy as recommended by the French osteopathy societies...
A total of 51 articles and nine recommendations from the HAS and its affiliates met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Analysis of the studies revealed 41 osteopathic indications from French osteopathy societies for musculoskeletal, neurosensory, psychological, pediatric, gynecological, digestive, and pulmonary disorders...
Table 1
GER - gastroesophageal reflux, ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
| Musculoskeletal | Neurosensory | Pediatric | Gynecological | Digestive | Pulmonary |
| Low back pain, neck pain, disc herniation and sciatica, cervical radiculopathy, occipital radiculopathy, intercostal neuralgia, ankle sprains, knee sprains, wrist sprain, carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, temporomandibular joint disorders | Headaches, migraines, vertigo, adult ADHD, sleep disorders – insomnia, professional burnout | Plagiocephaly, torticollis, GER in children, infant colic, low back pain, childhood ADHD, functional abdominal pain, premature infants, breastfeeding facilitation | Fertility disorders, endometriosis, low back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy, breech presentation, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy | Gastroesophageal reflux, transit disorders, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome | Asthma |
In conclusion, this systematic review shows that osteopathy has evidence-based benefits for numerous conditions, in particular for musculoskeletal and neurosensory indications. However, more high-quality studies are needed to evaluate and validate the effectiveness of this technique for other indications.
Osteopathic Treatment of Infants in Their First Year of Life: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study (OSTINF Study)
Observational Study
- PMID: 33601373
- DOI: 10.1159/000514413
Introduction: In Germany in recent years, a growing number of parents are seeking help from osteopaths for the perceived health complaints of their infants and children. However, reliable evidence for the effectiveness of osteopathic interventions for this group of patients is largely lacking.
Objective: To observe and document changes in the symptoms of certain health disturbances, as perceived by parents, during the course of an osteopathic treatment of their baby, and associated side effects.
Methods: A single-arm, prospective, multicenter, observational study was chosen as the study design. Parents who contacted an osteopathic practice with any of the following 5 health disturbances were invited to include their baby into the study: idiopathic infant asymmetry (IA), deformational plagiocephaly (DP), feeding disorders (FD), excessive crying (EC), and sleep disorders (SD). Osteopaths performed osteopathic treatment as usual for these conditions, and the parents were asked to rate the perceived severity of symptoms on standardized forms including numerical rating scales (NRS 0-10). In DP, the head circumference of the child's skull was measured with a craniometer, and the cranial vault index (CVAI) was calculated....
Conclusions: This is one of the largest studies worldwide to date on the osteopathic treatment of infants. Osteopathic treatment was associated with major positive changes in the severity of perceived health complaints as assessed by parents, which in most cases were resolved as a matter of concern, and was proved to be a safe treatment modality among a large number of therapists....
Efficacy of an Osteopathic Treatment Coupled With Lactation Consultations for Infants' Biomechanical Sucking Difficulties
Randomized Controlled Trial
- PMID: 28027445
- DOI: 10.1177/0890334416679620
...Research aim: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an osteopathic treatment coupled with usual lactation consultations on infants' ability to latch....
Results: There were consistent statistical and clinical differences in the mean LATCH scores between the treatment and the control groups ( p < .001). However, no significant differences in the VAS scores were reported over time ( p = .713). Mothers reported no serious or unexpected side effects during the follow-up period.
Conclusion: This study is one of the first to bring together lactation consultants and osteopaths to address infants with biomechanical sucking difficulties. Findings support the hypothesis that the addition of osteopathy to regular lactation consultations is beneficial and safe.