baby

A Melbourne chiropractor is under investigation for his controversial spinal treatment on a two-week-old baby.

 

A Melbourne chiropractor is facing an investigation after posting a video online of himself performing controversial treatments on a two-week-old baby.

The video, uploaded to Cranbourne Family Chiropractic ­clinic’s Facebook page last August, shows Dr Andrew Arnold performing spinal treatments on the baby boy, manipulating his neck, hips and collarbone, using a spring-loaded device on his neck and spine, tapping his head and at one point lifting him upside down by his legs.

cranbourne family chiropractic baby video
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The newborn cried throughout the treatments.

Infant chiropractic treatments are not illegal but are highly divisive. The video has reignited calls for treatments on infants to be outlawed.

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Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed to the Herald Sun she had written to the Chiropractic Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency demanding they take action.

The Herald Sun reported both regulators have launched a confidential investigation into Dr Arnold's actions.

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The Today Show's medical expert Dr Penny Adams said there was no evidence that infant chiropractic treatments work.

She referenced the Cochrane Collaboration, which publishes analyses of all studies in a particular area and summarises the best evidence from the research.

She said she was less concerned about treatments causing babies harm, although that could happen, and more concerned that by relying on chiropractic treatments parents may miss an underlying health issue in their child.

"Some of the claims that [Dr Arnold] makes in that video,... He talked about 'releasing valves' on either side of the lower abdomen and there are no such valves. He talks about pumping cerebrospinal fluid from the bottom of the baby, you don't need to do that," she said.

"I actually don't think in that video he's hurting that baby in any way but my greatest concern is that it's sham treatment and that if the baby does have something wrong with it that's unsettling it, then by going off to these regular manipulations you might actually miss something that's an underlying problem."

Mamamia has reached out to Cranbourne Family Chiropractic clinic for comment.