An integrative review of the literature on the chiropractic care of infants with constipation

Abstract

Introduction: Constipation compromises the health-related quality of life of children. Chiropractic is a popular alternative therapy for children with constipation. We performed this integrative review of the literature to inform clinical practice.

Methods: Our integrative review of the literature began with an examination of the databases Pubmed [1966-2013], MANTIS [1964-2013] and Index to Chiropractic Literature [1984-2013]. The search terms used were "constipation", "chronic constipation", and "bowel dysfunction" in the context of chiropractic. Inclusion criteria involved the care of children 0-18 years old published in the English language.

Results: We found 14 case reports, one case series, and one review of the literature. A number of chiropractic techniques were described with treatment varying according to the diagnosis, chief complaint and age of the patient.

Conclusion: Our integrative review revealed the need for more research and theoretical development on the care of children with constipation.

Keywords: Chiropractic; Constipation; Pediatrics.