Do children need regular chiropractic care? While the question may seem unusual, chiropractic care for children is more common than you’d think. Pediatric chiropractic care has been performed safely for over a hundred years with excellent results.
The birthing process can be traumatic for the baby, as well as the mother. Depending on the nature of the birth, slight spinal imbalances or microtraumas can be created. If not treated, these can lead to issues, such as the baby favoring holding its head to one side to breathing difficulties.
A child’s body encounters a variety of physical stresses as it grows, which can create imbalances with joint alignment or muscular function. These can also affect development, possibly leading to the development of serious issues later.
Until the age of six, a child’s spine is mostly cartilaginous. In the presence of abnormal function, cartilage can deform. For this reason, it’s crucial to ensure that function is restored to normal.
Adjustment techniques for children are different than for adults
The adjustment techniques used on children, while rooted in the same fundamental practice, are appropriately unique. Some parents express concern, for example, about how much pressure will be used. The amount of pressure applied is minimal and could be compared to the slight squeeze used to test a tomato’s ripeness.
The amount of rotation and traction used is minimized, due to the delicate state of a child’s musculoskeletal and ligament structures. As such, the process resembles finding an appropriate supine position and holding it while the spine corrects itself. The process is painless in virtually all instances, with the exception of the presence of an injury.
Spinal subluxation can occur without symptoms, however, there are patterns that parents can watch for. Sleeping difficulties, restricted range of motion of the head and neck, one shoulder higher than another, and breastfeeding difficulties can all point to spinal health issues.
Here’s a list of some common childhood conditions that can be linked to subluxation. While chiropractors do not treat these conditions directly, adjustments can relieve nerve pressure, which goes a long way towards better health.
- ADHD
- Asthma
- Bedwetting
- Birthing trauma
- Breastfeeding difficulties
- Colic/reflux
- Constipation
- Ear infections
- Growing pains
- Headaches
- Plagiocephaly
- Respiratory issues
- Scoliosis
- Sore throats and colds
- Sports injuries
When to start chiropractic care for children
Many parents bring their newborns in for screening as early as possible to give their child opportunity to recover from the stress of the birthing process. Early adjustments can help the newborn to develop properly, free from imbalances.
Children respond more quickly to adjustments than adults. So, they generally only need a couple sessions initially, followed by periodic maintenance. It’s advised to bring children in for visits as one would for “well child“ visits, as well as at development milestones – holding head up, sitting, walking, etc.
Regular chiropractic care for children has many benefits and is safe and gentle. Partnered with regular visits to the pediatrician, chiropractic care for your children helps set the stage for a healthy life.
At Pangea Chiropractic, Dr. Ashley regularly completes continuing education on obstetrics and pediatrics to complement her chiropractic education and provide the optimal pediatric chiropractic care for families. Come in and experience the benefits for your family.
Resources:
http://icpa4kids.org/About-the-ICPA/why-chiropractic-for-children.html
