Health Library

A case study published in the July 2006 issue of the peer-reviewed scientific publication, the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP), documented the effects of chiropractic care on a nine-month-old infant girl with a history of disturbed sleep. The JCCP is the official publication of the Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics of the International Chiropractors Association.

The study article begins by noting that the average nine-month-old should sleep approximately 14 hours per day. In this case study, a nine-month-old infant girl was presented for chiropractic care with a history of severely disrupted sleep and fussiness. Additionally, the infant was refusing to breastfeed on one side and exhibited what was described as generally unsettled behavior. It was also noted that the child would not turn her head to the left. These issues had been occurring since birth.

Upon examination, it was found that the infant had a reduced range of neck motion to the left and significant muscle tension in the left and upper neck. When the neck was touched, the child exhibited signs of pain by crying and moving away. It was determined that subluxations were present, and an appropriate course of adjustments was initiated.

The results in this case were very impressive. The study noted that on the afternoon after the infant’s first adjustment, the baby girl fell asleep for 5 hours. This was followed by nighttime sleep consisting of two periods of 6 hours each. Over the next three weeks of care, daytime sleep got shorter, but nighttime sleep remained between 6 and 8 hours.

In addition to the dramatic improvement in sleep, the child also showed an improved range of neck motion and was able to turn her head to the left in response to sound on that side. The infant also began to feed freely and comfortably.

In conclusion, the authors of the case study noted that the dramatic improvements after just one adjustment indicated that the vertebral subluxation found in this case was at least partially responsible for the disrupted sleep pattern.