Exploring Manual Interventions for Infantile Colic: A Scoping Review of the Evidence

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Infantile colic affects up to 40% of infants, causing significant caregiver distress.
• Manual therapies are explored as non-pharmacological treatments, but efficacy and safety data are limited.
• This review focuses on recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for infants up to 6 months old.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of RCTs on manual therapies for infantile colic.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of various hands-on interventions.
• To identify gaps and priorities for future research in this area.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Searched five major databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Scopus, PEDro, Web of Science) for English-language RCTs published from 2012 onwards.
• Included RCTs evaluating hands-on interventions for infants ≤ 6 months with colic; data were charted and outcomes grouped narratively.

Main Results:

• Seven RCTs examined abdominal massage, Tuina, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, osteopathic light touch, reflexology, and acupressure.
• Five trials showed significant reductions in daily crying time (0.6-6.6 hours) compared to usual care or sham.
• Three studies reported increased sleep duration (1.1-2.8 hours), and most interventions improved parent-reported satisfaction; no serious adverse events were noted.

Conclusions:

• Low-force manual therapies may provide modest, short-term relief for colicky infants and enhance parental experience.
• The safety profile appears favorable, though adverse event reporting was inconsistent.
• Methodological heterogeneity and small sample sizes limit the certainty of findings, highlighting the need for standardized protocols and robust safety surveillance.