It’s a simple question designed to fill the large — but largely ignored — hole in all the numerous media articles about paediatric spinal manipulation performed by chiropractors.

What clinical conditions does this intervention treat? And what is the evidence for its safety and efficacy?

The source of the political frenzy – the Facebook video that surfaced last month of Melbourne chiropractor Andrew Arnold carrying out spinal manipulation on a new born with the Activator (the stick that goes click) – offered few clues beyond a 2016 blog post written by Mr Arnold.

In it Mr Arnold suggested the technique can treat colic, chronic infections (surely a “??” in your chess notation) and sleeping difficulties.