Is Chiropractic Care Really Safe (or Effective) for Children?
Brookfield Pediatric Chiropractic Care
It’s a common misconception that chiropractic care is only for adults with bad backs, but as many Brookfield parents who bring their kids to Ascent Chiropractic know, pediatric chiropractic care can provide plenty of benefits for children as well.
And it’s not just for major health problems! Parents bring their children in for a host of reasons including earaches, ear infections, back and neck pain, digestive disorders, tension headaches, upper respiratory infections, infantile colic, asthma, enuresis (bed wetting), constipation, allergies and general overall wellness.
Chiropractic care for children is becoming increasingly common as evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of pediatric care grows. In fact, chiropractors will see more than 68 million pediatric visits this year alone.
Why Chiropractic?
Chiropractors aim to identify and eliminate stress on nerves caused by misalignments in the spine known as subluxations. Subluxations are the result of physical, chemical and emotional stresses on the body and though they are often painless, they can result in serious health disorders.
Physical stress may begin in the womb if the baby is positioned poorly or may be caused by a traumatic birth experience. The twisting and torsion to a baby’s skull, spine and pelvis during birth, for example, can lead to a condition known as Blocked Atlantal Nerve Syndrome, a common cause of upper respiratory infections, ear infections and tonsillitis. In addition, the inevitable tumbles and falls of early childhood while learning to walk, play sports, and ride a bike increase the risk of injury to the spine. While the initial pain of these accidents usually resolves in time, if dysfunction in the spine is left uncorrected it can continue to affect nervous system function and cause major problems as the child grows into adulthood.
Additionally, emotional stressors, such as anxiety and depression, and chemical stressors, such as processed foods and other toxins, are indirect causes of subluxations. These stressors cause irritation to joints and other soft tissues, causing dysfunction in the spine and negatively affecting the function of the nervous system.
Is Chiropractic Safe For Children?
One of the most common concerns we hear from parents is regarding the safety of having their children getting adjusted. Chiropractic is not only one of the safest and most effective forms of pediatric health care, it’s also extremely gentle. As a pediatric chiropractor, the adjusting technique we use on an adult is not the same as the technique used on a child or infant. Children’s spines are extremely mobile compared to an adult’s, so only slight, non-thrusting pressure is needed to make an adjustment.
The journal Explore recently published a revealing study investigating both the health benefits and risk of side effects in children who were treated by a pediatric chiropractor. Of the 812 pediatric cases reviewed, 717 reported improvement or resolution of their primary complaint following chiropractic care while only 9 reported aggravations related to treatment. These were described as “soreness” or “fussiness”. In addition, 74 of the cases reported improvement in areas unrelated to their primary complaints such as quality of sleep, mood, immune function, and range of motion.
Will Chiropractic Care Work For My Children?
It’s important to understand that the purpose of chiropractic care is not simply treating sickness or disease; the goal is to help the body function at its optimum level naturally by identifying and removing subluxations that interfere with the body’s nervous system. When the nervous system is allowed to operate without interference, the immune system functions more efficiently, the body has improved resistance to infection and disease, and your child’s body functions better overall.
At Ascent Chiropractic in Brookfield, we believe in taking a proactive approach to health by maintaining an optimal nervous system with chiropractic care instead of waiting for illness or disease to happen. Through regular gentle, non-thrusting chiropractic adjustments in combination with counseling on proper nutrition, exercise and postural habits, we can help your children reach their optimum health potential. To make an appointment today, call us at 262-345-4166 or use our online scheduling app.
Sources:
Alcantara J, Ohm J, Kunz D. The safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic. Explore (NY). 2009 Sep-Oct;5(5):290-5.
Gutman G. Blocked Atlantal Nerve Syndrome in Infants and Small Children. ICA Review, 1990; July:37-42.
About the Author
Good post. My parents took me to see a chiropractor when I was younger and it not only felt good, but I was assured that it would help prevent various problems other than back problems. And today I’d say I’m almost 100 percent!
I never had any chiropractic treatment as a kid. However, a new colleague of mine used to be a chiropractor and offered me a free treatment to help me out with a small neck problem I have.
I was pretty skeptical at first. Hesitant, even. I made him promise me not to hurt me.
After only a single treatment, I must confess my neck feels a bit more relaxed.
I always assumed it was only about loosening up them bones. But now I see this is also about relieving tension on nerves.
Thanks for an informational post!
I recently met a medical doctor that refers her peds patients who are suffering with recurrent otitis media for chiropractic adjustments. I think it is so important that parents are educated on the far reaching benefits of chiropractic care as a whole health approach rather than for pain.
It’s always a joy to see children get adjusted. The great thing is that rarely do they see a chiropractor for “pain.” There parents have almost always heard about an experience from a friend where their child had an ear infection, colic, constipation, asthma, bet wedding and they decided to try chiropractic. The Chiropractor only works on subluxation, yet its amazing that the above conditions seem to always report positive improvements. That just makes sense if there is a disturbance in vital nerve tissue. Children don’t only look like adults on the outside but on the inside (spine).
As a natural healthcare approach, regular chiropractic adjustments can restore and maintain balance within your body, leaving you better prepared to live life to its fullest.
Chiropractic care! Really i heard it for the first time.It sounds to have so many benefits to cope up life under stress. Thanks for letting me know it.
Anyone can benefit from a chiropractic care, even babies, kids, teenagers and adults. 🙂
I think its interesting how many people don’t see the benefits of chiropractic care especially for children with the backpacks and heavy objects they try to lift they can really compress the spine and cause long lasting injury.
I received chiropractic when I was younger around my teens, football caused me to have stress in my neck and lower back, after a few treatments my neck felt pain free and I think it prevents worser back pain
Chiropractic care is beneficial for all children. Every child should be seeing a chiropractic even if they are not showing symptoms.
With my own children I did try with the knowledge that I had at the time but we didn’t have the education that we have today !!
Good article ! Very much useful I think it is so important that parents are educated on the far reaching benefits of chiropractic care as a whole health approach rather than for pain.