The Academy of Medicine warns about osteopathy in babies, “without proven scientific basis”

The institution calls for no longer promoting osteopathy in maternity wards and for better monitoring of the adverse effects of these practices.

Osteopathy is too often recommended for babies despite the lack of evidence as to its benefits and its absence of risks, the Academy of Medicine regretted on Tuesday, December 3. “Osteopathy practices, described as 'visceral and cranial', are offered to parents for their newborn (…) for symptoms as banal as difficult feedings, nocturnal crying, constipation, colic, bloating, snoring, anxiety or ear infections”noted the Academy in a press release.

However, these practices are “without proven scientific basis”with efficiency and safety “not demonstrated”recalls this institution. Its opinions have no legal status but have medical reference value. Osteopathy is certainly not reimbursed by Social Security, but it is, in fact, integrated into the health system because, in maternity wards and Maternal and Child Protection (PMI) centers, it is common for parents to are recommended to consult an osteopath.

The Academy notably reports advertisements in maternity wards, a situation which it considers unacceptable given the lack of interest demonstrated in babies. The institution highlights both “the particularly fragile population of newborns” and the tendency of many parents to be seduced by “non-medical alternative practices”. She therefore calls for avoiding this type of announcement in maternity wards, for requiring the presence of doctors specializing in perinatal care in the training of osteopaths, and for better monitoring of the adverse effects of these practices on babies.