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Effectiveness of craniosacral therapy in the treatment of infantile colic. A randomized controlled trial
M Castejón-Castejón1, M A Murcia-González2, J L Martínez Gil3
1Health Science PhD Program, UCAM Catholic University of Murcia, Campus de los Jerónimos nº135, Guadalupe 30107, Murcia, Spain.
Insights
Craniosacral therapy (CST) significantly reduced crying and improved sleep in infants with colic. This safe treatment led to clinically relevant improvements in colic severity and infant well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Infant Health
Background:
- Infantile colic is a common condition characterized by excessive crying and distress in healthy infants.
- Current management strategies for infantile colic have varying degrees of effectiveness and potential side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) as a treatment for infantile colic.
- To assess the impact of CST on crying duration, sleep patterns, and colic severity in infants.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 58 infants diagnosed with infantile colic (aged 0-84 days).
- Infants received weekly 30-40 minute CST sessions or were assigned to a control group with no treatment.
- Outcomes including crying hours, sleep hours, and colic severity were measured over a 24-day period using diaries and validated questionnaires.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant difference was observed between the CST and control groups in crying hours (p < 0.0005), sleep hours (p < 0.0005), and colic severity (p < 0.0005).
- Infants receiving CST showed significant reductions in crying time and increases in sleep duration, with clinically relevant effects observed by day 7, 14, and 24.
- CST intervention led to a marked decrease in overall colic severity compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- Craniosacral therapy demonstrates effectiveness in managing infantile colic.
- CST is a safe therapeutic option that reduces crying, decreases colic severity, and enhances sleep duration in affected infants.
Objectives:
To determine the effectiveness of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) for the treatment of infantile colic.
Material And Methods:
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 58 infants, aged 0-84 days, diagnosed with infantile colic. The babies received a 30-40 minute CST session once a week (experimental group) or no treatment (control group). Babies in the CST group received either 1, 2 or 3 CST sessions over a 14-day period. Data were collected at 4 different times over the 24-day period, day 0 (baseline), day 7, day 14 and day 24. Crying (primary outcome) and sleep (secondary outcome) were evaluated using a crying and sleep diary, and colic severity was measured using the Infant Colic Severity Questionnaire (secondary outcome).
Results:
There was a statistically significant difference between groups (CST and control) in crying hours (F = 188.47; p < 0.0005; η2 = 0.78), sleep hours (F = 61.20; p < 0.0005, η2 = 0.54) and colic severity (F = 143.74; p < 0.0005, η2 = 0.73) across all the time points. In comparison with the control group, CST babies reported significant and clinically relevant effects in crying hours on day 7 (-2.47 h (95%CI, -2.95 to -1.99); p < 0.0005; d = 1.73), on day 14 (-3.29 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.8); p < 0.0005; d = 2.87) and on day 24 (-3.20 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.6); p < 0.0005; d = 2.54); in sleep hours on day 7 (-2.47 h (95%CI, -2.95 to -1.99); p < 0.0005; d = 1.73) on day 14 (-3.29 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.8); p < 0.0005; d = 2.87) and on day 24 (-3.20 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.6); p < 0.0005; d = 2.54).
Conclusions:
Craniosacral therapy appears to be effective and safe for infantile colic by reducing the number of crying hours, the colic severity and increasing the total hours of sleep.
