Multizentrische RCT zur manualmedizinischen Einmalbehandlung von infantilen Haltungs- und Bewegungsasymmetrien (KISS) – Spreewaldstudie II

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single manual medicine treatment in infants with postural and motor asymmetries or kinematic imbalance due to suboccipital strain (KISS) and to assess the reproducibility of the treatment results..

Randomized controlled trial, intention-to-treat analysis.

A total of 171 infants (101 male) aged 14–24 weeks (median 17.5 weeks) were assessed in four study centers using the standardized four-item symmetry score (4–17 points) and randomized into the study. A score of > 9 points indicated a need for treatment. Of the children in the intervention group, 83 received a single manual medicine treatment; 88 infants in the control group did not undergo manual medicine treatment. All infants of both groups were trained with a home exercise program by their parents. The trials investigators and the parents were blinded. Repeated video scoring was performed after 4–6 weeks.

All 171 children could be followed up. The intervention group’s score improved from 13.3 points to 7.4 points, the control group improved from 13.0 points to 9.4 points. The average improvement of the intervention compared to the control group in the symmetry score was 2.3 points (p < 0.001). Following the score definition, 80% of the intervention and 49% of the control group fell below the treatment threshold of > 9 points.

The one-time manual medicine treatment significantly improves postural and motor asymmetries in infants aged 14–24 weeks. The achieved treatment results are reproducible.