FACTS: Infant Health and New Research on Birth-Related Stress
The nervous system controls and coordinates all functions of the body. Structural shifts in the spine can occur that obstruct the nerves and interfere with their function. These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves, and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct. By removing the structural shifts, chiropractic improves nerve supply and function.
A recent study by Dr. Andrew Dorough and Dr. Joel Alcantara examined 145 infants who presented for chiropractic care during their first year of life. Researchers reviewed pregnancy histories, labor and delivery experiences, physical examination findings, and the reasons parents sought care. They discovered consistent patterns among many of the infants. Common concerns included breastfeeding difficulties, torticollis (head tilt), plagiocephaly (head asymmetry), colic, reflux, and tummy-time challenges. Many of these infants also shared histories of prolonged labor, difficult deliveries, fetal malposition, or other birth-related stressors.
The study found that examination findings frequently involved the cervico-cranio-mandibular complex, the neck, skull, jaw, and related muscles and joints. These structures play important roles in feeding, movement, posture, comfort, and communication between the body and nervous system. When stress or strain occurs during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, vertebral subluxations may develop and affect how the nervous system coordinates normal function.
Chiropractors who care for infants evaluate the spine and related structures for vertebral subluxations and other areas of restriction. Gentle chiropractic adjustments are designed to help restore normal movement and reduce interference to the nervous system. This study identified important relationships between birth histories, physical findings, and common infant challenges that deserve further investigation.
This research matters because it helps us better understand the experiences of infants seeking chiropractic care and highlights the importance of examining the whole child, not just the symptoms. By studying vertebral subluxation and its potential relationship to infant development, researchers are helping build a stronger scientific foundation for chiropractic and advancing our understanding of how nervous system function influences health from the very beginning of life.
Common Threads Among Infants Presenting for Chiropractic Care
What happens when 145 infant stories are viewed together instead of one at a time? Researchers found that many infants presenting for chiropractic care shared remarkably similar experiences. A large number arrived with breastfeeding difficulties, torticollis, plagiocephaly, reflux, or colic. Many also shared histories of prolonged labor, extended pushing, fetal malposition, or other birth-related challenges. On examination, common findings involving the neck, jaw, cranium, and surrounding tissues appeared repeatedly. Although no two infants were exactly alike, the consistency of these patterns raises important questions about the potential impact of birth-related stress on infant development and highlights the need for continued research into the factors that may influence health during the earliest months of life.
The birth process places significant physical forces on an infant’s developing body. The neck, jaw, and cranial structures play important roles in feeding, movement, comfort, and early neurological development. This study matters because it identified consistent patterns linking birth histories, physical examination findings, and common infant challenges such as breastfeeding difficulties, torticollis, and plagiocephaly. By documenting these relationships, researchers are helping to advance our understanding of how birth-related stress may affect the developing neuromusculoskeletal system and why a thorough evaluation of infants may be important during the earliest months of life.
Reference: Birth Trauma, Vertebral Subluxation, Feeding Dysfunction & Early Infant Health Challenges: A Retrospective Analysis of 145 Infants Under Chiropractic Care. Andrew Dorough, DC, DACCP & Joel, DC, PhD. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ Volume, 2026.
https://vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2026/06/03/1886-a-retrospective-file-review-of-infants-presenting-for-chiropractic-care-in-a-single-practitioner-practice/