Exploring Manual Interventions for Infantile Colic: A Scoping Review of the Evidence
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language
Background: Infantile colic affects up to 40% of otherwise healthy infants and can severely distress caregivers. Manual therapies are increasingly employed as non-pharmacological options, yet their effectiveness and safety remain uncertain. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following PRISMA-ScR. Five databases (MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Scopus, PEDro, Web of Science) were searched from December 2024 to May 2025 without restrictions at the search stage; however, only English-language randomised controlled trials published from 2012 onwards were included at the eligibility stage to ensure consistency and focus on the most recent body of evidence. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating hands-on interventions for infants ≤ 6 months with colic were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened records, charted data, and grouped outcomes narratively. Results: Seven RCTs investigated abdominal massage, paediatric Tuina, craniosacral therapy, chiropractic manipulation, osteopathic light touch, reflexology, and acupressure. Five trials reported statistically or clinically significant reductions in daily crying (0.6-6.6 h) compared with usual care or sham. Three studies also documented meaningful gains in sleep duration (1.1-2.8 h). Parent-reported satisfaction improved in most interventions. No serious adverse events were recorded, although safety monitoring was inconsistently reported. Substantial heterogeneity in diagnostic criteria, outcome measures, and intervention dose precluded meta-analysis. Conclusions: Low-force manual therapies may offer modest short-term relief for colicky infants and improve parental experience, with an apparently favourable safety profile. However, methodological variability and small sample sizes limit certainty. Standardised protocols, objective outcome measures, and robust adverse-event surveillance are priorities for future research.
Key Findings: what this systematic review found
- ✓Infantile colic affects up to 40% of otherwise healthy infants and creates significant distress for caregivers.
- ✓Manual therapies are increasingly used as non-pharmacological treatments for infantile colic, though their effectiveness and safety remain uncertain.
- ✓A scoping review identified seven randomized controlled trials investigating manual interventions such as abdominal massage for infants six months or younger with colic.
What This Means for You
While several manual therapies including reflexology show promise for reducing colic symptoms, the evidence is still developing and varies in quality, so discuss with your pediatrician which options might suit your infant.
What This Means for Practitioners
This scoping review identifies reflexology as one of several manual interventions studied for infantile colic with generally positive safety profiles, but highlights the need for more rigorous research to establish clear efficacy and standardized protocols.
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
While several manual therapies including reflexology show promise for reducing colic symptoms, the evidence is still developing and varies in quality, so discuss with your pediatrician which options might suit your infant.
What did this study find?
Infantile colic affects up to 40% of otherwise healthy infants and creates significant distress for caregivers. Manual therapies are increasingly used as non-pharmacological treatments for infantile colic, though their effectiveness and safety remain uncertain. A scoping review identified seven randomized controlled trials investigating manual interventions such as abdominal massage for infants six months or younger with colic.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence moderate. It was published in Children (Basel, Switzerland). This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
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