Case-series · July 28, 2026

Resolution of Infant Reflux Following Pediatric Chiropractic Care: A Retrospective Case-Series

Abstract

Background: Infant reflux is a common condition that causes significant parental concern. While often self-limiting, families frequently seek complementary approaches. This report examines outcomes for infants with reflux undergoing chiropractic care. Methods: A retrospective case-series was conducted by reviewing clinical files from TruCentered Chiropractic Care in Annapolis, MD. Five infants presenting with a chief complaint of infant reflux were included. Data on chief complaint, symptom duration, and parent-reported outcomes were extracted. Interventions were provided by a board-certified pediatric chiropractor. Results: All five cases reported positive outcomes. Key reported outcomes included complete resolution of reflux, significant improvement in symptoms, and behavioral changes such as a calmer, more comfortable baby. For one infant, parent-reported discomfort was quantified, showing an 88% reduction over four weeks. The mean pain reduction across the case series was reported as 88%. Two cases noted complete symptom resolution after a course of pediatric care. Another case with severe reflux that was not responding to medication was reported as significantly improved, with the child now thriving. Conclusions: This retrospective case-series suggests a potential association between pediatric chiropractic care and the improvement or resolution of infant reflux symptoms. The findings, while positive, are limited and cannot establish causality. Further prospective research with control groups is warranted.

Methods

This study was conducted as a retrospective case-series, reviewing patient files from a single private practice, TruCentered Chiropractic Care in Annapolis, MD. Inclusion criteria required that patients were infants presenting with a chief complaint or documented symptoms of reflux, and for whom post-care outcome data had been recorded. A convenience sample of five cases meeting these criteria was selected for analysis. The clinical care for all included patients was administered by Dr. Bryant Harris, a Doctor of Chiropractic with a board certification in pediatrics (CACCP) and over 15 years of experience. The therapeutic interventions included techniques appropriate for the pediatric population, such as NeuroStructural Correction and specific pediatric adjustments, designed to be gentle and safe for infants. Data were extracted directly from existing patient records. Information collected included the presenting complaint, qualitative descriptions of the infant's state at baseline, and post-treatment outcomes. Outcomes were primarily documented through parental reports and qualitative descriptions, such as 'reflux completely resolved' or 'child is now thriving'. In one of the five cases, a numeric scale (0-10) was used to quantify parent-reported discomfort levels before and after a course of treatment. The aggregate pain reduction statistic provided for the series is based on this subset of quantitatively tracked data. No control group was used for comparison.

Discussion

The findings from this retrospective case-series of five infants suggest that pediatric chiropractic care may be a beneficial component in the management of infant reflux. All cases reviewed demonstrated positive outcomes, ranging from significant improvement to complete resolution of symptoms as reported by parents. These results are clinically meaningful, particularly in cases where prior medical management was reportedly insufficient or where parents sought a non-pharmacological approach. The reported improvements align with chiropractic clinical theory, which posits that gentle adjustments can influence autonomic nervous system function by addressing biomechanical integrity of the spine. Restoration of nervous system regulation could theoretically improve coordination of the digestive tract, including esophageal sphincter control, potentially leading to a reduction in reflux events. While the natural history of infant reflux involves spontaneous resolution for many, the rapid improvements noted here—some within four weeks—and the resolution of severe, medication-resistant symptoms in one case, suggest the intervention may have contributed to the outcomes. However, this cannot be stated definitively without a controlled study. These cases underscore the potential role for chiropractors with specialized pediatric training in assessing and managing infants with functional complaints like reflux. The positive reports may encourage parents and healthcare providers to consider a trial of chiropractic care as part of a comprehensive management strategy.

Limitations

This study has several significant limitations inherent to its design. As a retrospective case-series, it lacks a control group, making it impossible to attribute the positive outcomes directly to the chiropractic intervention. The natural history of infant reflux includes a high rate of spontaneous resolution, which may account for some or all of the observed improvements. The data were collected from a single chiropractic practice, and the care was delivered by one highly experienced, board-certified pediatric chiropractor; therefore, the results may not be generalizable to other practitioners or clinical settings. The outcomes are based on subjective parental reports, which can be influenced by recall bias, placebo effects, and the observer-expectancy effect. Furthermore, quantitative data for pain reduction was only available for one of the five cases, which limits the validity and generalizability of the aggregate 88% pain reduction statistic. Finally, the convenience sampling of cases with documented outcomes may have introduced selection bias, as cases with neutral or negative results may have been less likely to be fully documented or included.