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

IntroductionConstipation 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.MethodsOur 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.ResultsWe 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.ConclusionOur integrative review revealed the need for more research and theoretical development on the care of children with constipation.