Why Your Kids Should See A Chiropractor

While the most common reason for adults to seek chiropractic services is in response to pain or injury, children can benefit from spinal adjustments throughout their formative years for myriad reasons. Not only does chiropractic care create a foundation of wellness, it can heal the spine from the innumerable traumas we undergo as children.

Physical Trauma

Before we are even born, our spines are subjected to a multitude of stresses. The same fetal positions that cause problems with labor can adversely affect a baby’s spine. Segments of vertebra can be pushed out of place or jammed by the fetus’ arrangement in the womb. Even a normal (vaginal) birth can subject a baby to trauma, as the doctor twists and manipulates the child to facilitate entry into the world. If the trip through the birth canal is difficult, however, or if interventions are used during labor—such as forceps or cesarean section—the spine of the newborn can be forced out of proper alignment to a degree that it cannot self-heal without the intervention of a chiropractor.Nervous system irritation as a result of these subluxated, or misaligned, segments of the spine can cause health complaints in newborns such as colic, reflux, sleep disturbances, allergic reactions, and chronic illnesses like ear infections. Unchecked, these same subluxations can create trouble with focus, behavior, mood, hyperactivity, digestion, asthma, allergies, headaches and sensory integration later in life. It is for this reason that I recommend parents bring their children in for an evaluation as soon as possible after arriving home from the hospital.Of course as your child grows, he will invariably suffer falls, playground and sports-related injuries, as well as carry heavy school bags and sit for hours in a classroom. Not to mention all the technological gadgets—cell phones, video games, and computer tablets—that encourage our kids to hunch their shoulders and bend their necks into unhealthy positions for hours at a time.All of these events can cause subluxation; however, the spinal misalignments that may occur will not necessarily result in immediate pain or symptoms. Nonetheless, it’s important to stay proactive about getting your child adjusted, because physical stresses are just the tip of the iceberg.

The Stresses We Can’t See

A child encounters chemical stress through toxins in her environment. Vaccinations, antibiotics, and medications can adversely affect the nervous system. Even over-supplementing with multivitamins—something a well-meaning parent might quite innocently do—can raise mineral levels to unsafe amounts and put undue stress on a child’s system.The most significant way to reduce chemical stress is through diet. Nutrient-deficient, processed foods can wreak havoc on the body and can significantly contribute to your child’s risk of disease or injury. Furthermore, limiting your purchases to locally grown, organic, non-GMO staples will greatly reduce the environmental toxins your family comes into contact with.Emotional stresses like anxiety, tension, fear, and anger will also cause a series of reactions in the body that involve the sympathetic nervous system. This protective fight-or-flight response can cause tension within the musculature that supports the spine. These overly tense muscles can misalign the spine and cause subluxation.Trauma to the nervous system is not the only reason to seek chiropractic care for your child, however. Preventative maintenance is just as crucial to your child’s overall health and wellbeing.

Growth, Development and Immune Support

Allowing a child’s nervous system and spine to grow optimally and without interference is one of the most significant reasons to find a pediatric chiropractor. Think about a tree growing in your yard. You want that tree to grow straight so that it’s strong enough to bear the weight of maturity and therefore be as healthy as possible. Helping the tree to grow correctly from its early stages is much easier than trying to correct one that has grown crooked for decades.Furthermore, chiropractic treatment can help to improve a child’s immune system. A 1992 study found that chiropractic adjustments caused the white blood cell count in the body to rise significantly, giving a body greater resistance to toxic invaders and infection (1).The bottom line is that from a very early age that children can benefit enormously from starting a health regimen that includes chiropractic care. Not all doctors of Chiropractic are created equal when it comes to working with children, however. I am certified in pediatric adjustments as well as being a mother of three who has seen first hand the benefits my kids receive after an office visit. Helping your children develop a foundation of wellness in their early years is truly one of my favorite parts of my job.(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1373431