• Lavigne V
• Gleberzon BJ

• Adult
• Breast
• Breast Feeding
• Lactation Disorders / therapy
• Mammary Glands, Human
• Ultrasonic Therapy

Objective: The purpose of this case series is to report the outcomes of 25 postpartum women who were experiencing difficulties with breastfeeding and were treated using therapeutic ultrasound.

Methods: Case files of postpartum women who presented to a chiropractic clinic between 2005 and 2011 with difficulties with breastfeeding due to blocked ducts were identified.
 
Results: Twenty-five cases were retrospectively identified of women who presented with a breast lump that was consistent with a blocked duct. Eight women experienced recurrent blocked ducts (5 had multiple episodes while nursing the same child; 3 women experienced episodes with more than 1 child). Patients had been treated with therapeutic ultrasound, receiving between 1 and 7 treatments (average, 3.3) to experience improvement in their presenting symptoms. A majority of the patients reported improvements in breastfeeding and symptoms after treatment. No adverse reactions were identified in the patient records.

Conclusion: For women reported in this case series, chiropractic management including ultrasound therapy was a beneficial treatment for women presenting with blocked ducts and difficulties breastfeeding.

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