For over 100 years, chiropractors have been caring for children with this safe, natural form of health care. Chiropractic care, centers around the important relationship between the spine and the nervous system, and one of the most basic principles is that spinal dysfunction can have a wide range of effects on a child’s health. Even the most natural of childbirth experiences can place stress on an infant’s spine and their developing nervous system. Many common health ailments such as colic, respiratory problems, difficulties with nursing, sleep disturbances, behavioral issues, allergic responses and chronic infections can often be interlinked with stress on the nervous system, also known as a subluxation. Both children and adults can experience spinal subluxations. Infants and children can be subluxated from the birth processes itself, as well as accidents, falls and developmental stressors.
Subluxations, or spinal misalignments, interfere with proper communication of your child’s brain to their body. Even if your child is in excellent health, minor traumas that result from normal bumps, bruises, and spills will accumulate over time. This can lead to discomfort or pain in their teen and early adult years.
We teach our children to brush their teeth to prevent a build-up of stress that can possibly cause degeneration. Trends in spinal care show a similar phenomenon. During the first few years of a child’s life, they will experience rapid development and constant adaptation. When stress overwhelms the body’s ability to integrate or adapt to life, the nervous system stores that stress, which compromises the body’s structure and function. When the nervous system stress is released, the healing power of the body is unleashed. This means that the immune system functions more efficiently, there is an increased resistance to disease and your child’s body functions closer to optimal. Under chiropractic care, your child may respond better to environmental stresses such as germs, toxins, pollen and all the other stresses he/she experiences. Receiving gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis may also provide greater clarity of mind, making it easier for your child to stay focused, to pay attention in class and respond more appropriately.
Chiropractic care helps kids connect to their power within! Through this care, we can help support the growth of our kids through optimal body and brain connection. The ripple effects of this may include a increased self-confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness.
During the first five years of life, the human body produces more neural pathways than at any other time in life. Optimizing this neural pathway production early in life is crucial to each child’s potential.
IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE FOR MY CHILD?
Chiropractic care is safe for patients of all ages, including children. After an assessment of your child’s spine, we perform gentle chiropractic adjustments which serve to remove subluxations and nervous system stress. Our chiropractic adjustment techniques are modified to fit a child’s size, weight, and unique spine. Adjustments are both gentle and specific to the child’s developing spine and nerve system.
There are volumes of case studies demonstrating that children enjoy better sleep, improved behavior/attitudes, and better immune system function from their chiropractic adjustments. The research also indicates possibilities in improvements in conditions such as ADD/ADHD, colic, torticollis, ear infections, bed-wetting, allergies, asthma, digestive problems, seizures, as well.
HOW CAN I TELL IF MY CHILD NEEDS CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
Unless there is an obvious problem, it is not always easy to tell when a child’s spine is not functioning properly. Some of the indicators of spinal dysfunction are:
- Disturbed sleep
- Head remains turned to one side more than the other
- Trouble latching when nursing
- One shoulder is higher than the other
- Bald spot on the back of the head in infants
- Fussy babies
- Arching of the back when sitting in baby seats
- Clumsiness
- Frequent colds
A common reason for parents to seek chiropractic care for their children is physical trauma from an injury or sports. Often times these injuries do not necessarily result in immediate pain or other symptoms. In addition to trauma, injury, and physical stress, parents should be aware that emotional stress affects children’s nervous systems. New research in psychoneuroimmunology demonstrates the inter-functioning of nervous and immune systems.
Regular chiropractic care can help identify potential spinal subluxations resulting from physical, chemical and emotional stresses, and help to enhance your child’s function and well-being.
Call us today to get your child’s spine checked for spinal subluxations!
