1. INFANT ASSESSMENT & ADJUSTING METHODS
Andrew DeSaro, EMT-B, BS, DC, DICCP, PhC(hon)

2. Where It All Begins
Office Setup
Procedures
Vision

3. Neonatal Examination – 4 steps
Observation

4. Observation and Assessment
Muscle Tone
Overall Posture & Movement
Palpation
Reflexes & Milestones

5. Normal Posture

6. Neonatal Examination
Observation
Infant Automatisms

7. Neonatal Examination Moro Reflex Birth to 4 months
Head suddenly shifts position or startled
legs and head extend, arms jerk up and out with the palms up and thumbs flexed
Afterward the arms are brought inward, hands clench into fists, & the infant cries loudly

8. Neonatal Examination Galant Reflex Birth to 4-6 months
Infant prone, stroke along spine
Infant hip laterally flexes to stimulation

9. Palmar Grasp & Plantar Reflex

10. Neonatal Examination Stepping/Walking Reflex
Birth to 2-3 months, then reappears
Soles of feet touch flat surface
Place one foot in front of the other

11. Neonatal Examination Placing Reflex Birth to 12 months
Hold infant erect
Dorsum of foot touches table top
Hip flexion followed by leg extension

12. Rooting, Latching, & Suckling

13. Tonic Neck Reflex / Fencer Test

14. Neonatal Examination
Observation
Infant Automatisms
Inversion

15. Neonatal Examination Inverted Fencer Reflex Birth to 12 months
Infant supine, grasp both ankles in each hand & slowly stand until infant is in full vertical position
Next, gently place the weight onto 1 leg by relaxing off of the other; do both sides
Infant turns toward bent leg

16. Neonatal Examination Barlow Test Not a Reflex
Hip flexed, thigh Adducted & pressed posteriorly
Palpable Femoral Head dislocation
Confirm Diagnosis w/ Ortolani Test

17. Neonatal Examination Ortolani Test Not a Reflex
Provocative test – Hip Disloaction
Developmental Hip Dysplasia
Thigh Abduction w/ Anterior pressure of the Greater Trochanter
‘Clunk’ heard or felt is a positive

18. Dysfunction Left Right Comments
Reflex
Age
Neutral
Dysfunction Left Right
Comments
Ortolani/Barlow
Newborn 1st exam
Moro/Startle
Birth to 4mos
Plantar/Grasp
Birth to 5-6mos
Galant
Birth to 4-6mos
Stepping/Walking
Birth to 2-3mos
Placing
Birth to 12mos
Fencer
Birth to 4-5mos
Inverted Fencer
Rooting, Latching, & Suckling

19. Neonatal Examination Observation Infant Automatisms Inversion
Sacral Deviation

20. Neonatal Examination Sacral/Gluteal Cleft
Infant prone w/ gluteal cleft observed
Equally squeeze medially the buttock soft tissue together
Observe the superior portion of the cleft
Deviation points to side of Sacral Subluxation

23. DECISION MAKING
RISK
HR LF
HR HF
LR LF
LR HF
Frequency

24. Adjusting Techniques Infant Toggle Recoil Diverisifed – modified
Contact & Hold
Sacral Adjusting

26. Birth Trauma

31. Follow-Up Care
Pre- & Post-Evaluation
Re-Examinations
Schedule of Care

33. Chiropractor’s Role
Loving support & Service
Sharing what we know
Empower Parents
Get people to think for themselves
Touch, Move & Inspire
Our Goal: Families living healthy, happy, successful lives

34. Get the Priorities Straight!
Medical treatment
First Responder Care
Chiropractic First Aid
In office Chiropractic Care

35. “The Bigness of the Fellow Within” 1949 Chapter 11, page 33
“This Inner Power Speaks
We Chiropractors work with the subtle substance of the soul.
We release the prisoned impulse, the tiny rivulet of force that emanates from the mind and flows over the nerves to the cells and stirs them into life.
And yet you ask, “Can Chiropractic cure appendicitis or the ‘flu’?”
Have you more faith in a knife or a spoonful of medicine than in the Innate power that animates the internal living world?”

36. Toddler Cole
Otitis Media

37. Soccer Brian
Asthma

38. Rolled off Bed Sara
Trauma

39. Clavicle Greenstick Fracture

40. Infant Eva
Fever