Osteopathy and children: what does the evidence say?

Many claims about osteopathy for children circulate on the internet. The scientific evidence, however, presents a more cautious picture.

The overall picture

According to a systematic review of osteopathic treatment in children, its effectiveness has not been proven. A review of manipulative treatment for infantile colic noted a reduction in crying, but in the studies in which the parents did not know which group they were in, this difference was not statistically significant.

Preterm infants

One meta-analysis reported that the length of hospital stay of infants receiving osteopathic treatment was shortened by an average of 2.7 days. In a subsequently updated review, however, no effect was detected or it was very small, and the quality of the evidence was rated as very low.

Safety

Serious events, including deaths, have been described in children after treatment by various manual therapy practitioners. Most of these cases were associated with previously undiagnosed diseases. This shows that in children, too, a doctor’s diagnosis is a prerequisite.

Advertising ethics

The UK’s advertising standards body does not accept osteopaths’ claims about treating conditions such as colic, crying, feeding problems and ear infections in infants.

Conclusion

Working with children requires separate specialisation, paediatric knowledge and close collaboration with a doctor. Claims about the osteopathic treatment of developmental, speech, behavioural or chronic disorders in children have not been confirmed by scientific evidence.

Sources

1. Posadzki P. et al. (2013). Osteopathic treatment in children: a systematic review. Pediatrics. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-3959 (opens in a new window)
2. Dobson D. et al. (2012). Manipulative therapies for infantile colic. Cochrane review. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004796.pub2 (opens in a new window)
3. Lanaro D. et al. (2017). Osteopathic treatment in preterm infants: a meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006408 (opens in a new window)
4. Posadzki P. et al. (2022). Osteopathic treatment in preterm infants: an updated review. J Clin Med. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154455 (opens in a new window)
5. Todd A. J. et al. (2015). Serious adverse events after manual therapy in children: a systematic review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.09.008 (opens in a new window)
6. UK Advertising Standards Authority: guidance on advertising osteopathy (2022). asa.org.uk (opens in a new window)

This article is for educational purposes and does not replace a physician's advice.