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Pediatric Osteopathy: Myths, Ethics, and Scientific Reality
Osteopathy applied to infants is experiencing a meteoric rise, driven by marketing that targets parental anxiety. Yet, behind the promises of "releasing tension" lies a major paradox: a lack of scientific foundation and ethical issues that are often ignored.
A Lack of Evidence and the Legacy of Viola Fryman
The effectiveness of pediatric osteopathy has not been demonstrated by empirical research. Meta-analyses suggest that improvements observed for colic or reflux are often linked to natural progression (the baby gets better on their own over time) or the placebo effect.
This practice relies heavily on the legacy of Viola Fryman, who popularized pseudoscientific concepts:
The Myth of Cranial Mobility : The theory claims that skull bones can become "blocked" and require "realignment." However, modern imaging shows that while the skull is malleable for childbirth (overlapping sutures), it returns to its place naturally. There is no rhythmic bone movement that can be manipulated.
Erroneous Postulates: The concept of cranial "mobility restriction" remains purely subjective and has never been corroborated by objective data.
Pediatric osteopathy frequently relies on unvalidated diagnoses:
"KISS Syndrome": Presented as a cervical blockage responsible for all ailments, this syndrome is not recognized by the medical community. The associated symptoms are actually common and transient manifestations in infants.
The Myth of Visceral Detox : The idea that manipulating the belly "drains" toxins or "restarts" organs to treat colic is physiologically unfounded. Colic is a normal digestive maturation process, not an accumulation of toxins.
Ethical Issues: Protecting a Vulnerable Population
The systematic application of osteopathy in infants poses three major ethical problems:
Risk of Delayed Diagnosis : By attributing crying or torticollis (wry neck) to a simple "blockage" or "birth trauma" (somato-emotional myth), there is a risk of missing a real medical pathology (infection, malformation) requiring conventional care.
Financial Cost Without Medical Service Rendered : Billing for sessions for disorders that resolve spontaneously (such as colic by the 4th month) or for "systematic" follow-ups on healthy babies represents an unjustified financial burden for families, with no proof of benefit.
Impact on the Parent-Child Bond : Making parents believe their baby is "blocked" or "traumatized" from birth can alter their confidence and pathologize a relationship that should be based on reassurance and normality.
Toward a Regulated Practice
In response to these issues, the National Academy of Medicine and the French Society of Pediatrics recommend:
Banning the promotion of osteopathy in maternity wards.
Prioritizing validated approaches for torticollis or pediatric advice for functional disorders.
Pediatric osteopathy is more of a sociocultural phenomenon than a medical approach. The precautionary principle must prevail: parental education and access to qualified healthcare professionals are the only guarantees for the safety of newborns.
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