KISS Syndrome In Infants
/Is your baby having restless sleep, not drinking or drinking well?
Was there any complications during delivery, for example prolonged labour or caesarean section?
Is she/he showing signs of restricted motion in the neck?
If your answer was 'YES' to any of the questions above, it's possible that your baby is affected by KISS syndrome.
We love our children but were you aware of the "silent killer" that affects many since birth
What Is KISS Syndrome?
A study published in the Journal of Manual Medicine identified a specific upper cervical dysfunction in newborns that only chiropractors are fitted to examine and correct. Kinematic Imbalance due to Suboccipital Strain, otherwise known as KISS syndrome was found to be the cause of numerous signs and symptoms seen in newborns and infants.
In the study done by Biedermann (1992), the most common symptoms were:
- torticollis (head tilted to one side),
- asymmetric muscle tone,
- cervical scoliosis (sideway curvature of spine),
- retarded development of hip joints,
- opisthotonos,
- deformities of the feet,
- restless sleep, and not eating or drinking well.
Related: Chiropractic Care For Kids: Benefits vs Risks
What Causes It?
Research suggests that the most common factors causing suboccipital strain (read: upper cervical subluxation) includes:
- intrauterine malposition of the fetus
- use of forceps or vacuum extraction
- prolonged labour
- multiple fetuses (twins, triplets)
When first measured in the U.S, caesarean birth rate was 4.5% (1965) but in 2013 the rates of caesarean birth was 32.7%, well above the "medically necessary" target of 10 percent to 15 percent that WHO says is ideal.
This means that more than ever, our babies and children are likely to suffer from upper cervical subluxations since birth. However the authors of this study states that:
“the pathogenic importance of asymmetric posture in infants and young children is often disregarded, with the condition either being dismissed as unimportant or not recognised at all.”
This is a major concern as chronic, undetected problems may inflict more harm as the child matures.
Related: The 7 Hours of Highly Sick Teenagers
What Can Be Done?
Chiropractors use their hands to safely address spinal issues without the use of drugs or surgery. It's never too early or too late for chiropractic care.
Identification of suboccipital strains (upper cervical subluxations) requires the expertise of a doctor who is proficient in the palpation and analysis of the spine. Biedermann's research team suggests that chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical area to correct the underlying problem of KISS syndrome. Chiropractic care was found to relieve the signs and symptoms quickly without the need for extensive physiotherapy. A frequent comment by accompanying parents was that their child ate and slept better after each chiropractic adjustments.
Related: What Does A Chiropractor Really Do?
