Manual Interventions for Musculoskeletal Factors in Infants With Suboptimal Breastfeeding: A Scoping Review

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and continuing for at least the first year of life, is strongly recommended. Suboptimal breastfeeding, which is breastfeeding that does not meet these recommendations, is a multifactorial issue. Some authorities, particularly in the nursing and lactation counseling professions, have identified musculoskeletal issues that may interfere with successful breastfeeding. The purpose of this project was to survey the literature on manual treatments to correct musculoskeletal dysfunctions in infants with suboptimal breastfeeding. Our research question was, “Have manual interventions been used to correct infants’ musculoskeletal dysfunctions thought to be linked to suboptimal breastfeeding?” We searched PubMed and Index to Chiropractic Literature, from inception through July 2018, as well as relevant gray literature. We assessed quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies using modified SIGN checklists, and the overall strength of evidence using GRADE. The search yielded 461 articles, with a final inclusion of 27 articles: 7 expert commentaries, 1 high-quality RCT, 1 low-quality cohort, 1 pilot study, 2 cross-sectional surveys, 5 narrative reviews, and 10 case series or case reports. Combining the 10 case series and reports in our search with 18 discussed in narrative reviews included in our review yielded 201 infants who received manual therapy for nursing dysfunction. No serious adverse events were reported and improvement in nursing ability was observed using various outcome measures, usually maternal report. Based on the GRADE criteria, there is moderate positive evidence for the effect of manual therapy on suboptimal breastfeeding.