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Colic is a condition in young infants characterised by an unusual amount of crying.When they cry, they may draw their arms and legs toward their bodies as though they are in pain and may even turn bright red. Colic usually appears between the 3rd and 6th week after birth and is typically resolved by the time they are 3 months old. Although no one is certain what causes colic, there are a number of things that likely contribute, such as an immature and irritated nervous system, food sensitivites and gastrointestinal upset.
The most widely accepted definition of colic today is “unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies from 0 to 3 months old, more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week for 3 weeks or more, usually in the afternoon and evening hours.”
Because the birthing process can be very stressful on the neck of a newborn, it is very common for there to be several subluxations in the neck and back that can irritate the tiny and delicate nervous system. It has also been observed that babies with colic seem to need more attention and are more sensitive to the things around them than other babies - again indicating that there are some neurological differences.
A 93% Success Rate In a South African study by Mercer and Cook, thirty infants diagnosed with colic were randomly divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic care while the other group did not. Within a two-week period, the chiropractic care group saw a complete resolution of symptoms in 93% of the infants.
A 94% Success Rate
A Danish study (Klougart et al., 1989) looked at the effects of chiropractic care with colicky infants. Their published report indicated that 94% of parents saw improvement in their baby's behavior within two weeks of beginning care.
Colic & Chiropractic Remember chiropractic isn’t a treatment for colic! If a V.S.C. (chiropractic vertebral subluxation complex) is present, interfering with the proper function of any part of the body, restoring proper nervous system control allows the body to heal. This can happen regardless of age and regardless of what the symptoms are called.