Chiropractic Care and Children

Most problems I see in adults start in childhood. Which is why I always share with parents how important it is to place special attention on getting young children checked by a chiropractor. Whenever a new patient comes to our office and sees an infant or young child getting treated, the initial comment is always the same. “I didn’t know you could treat children!” If you think about it, the spine is subject to stress and strain from the very moment we are born. Considering the amount of pressure on babies during labor, and the pull on the infant’s head and neck during a normal, uncomplicated delivery… it should come as no surprise that childbirth itself is the first shock the spine and nervous system will receive.

As parents, we are told to use caution when holding a baby. That’s because the child’s neck is very weak. After all, a newborn’s neck muscles at birth are not developed enough to support the weight of their own head. When it comes to chiropractic care for infants, this actually makes adjusting them easier. Since their muscles have not developed enough to resist the correction, not much pressure is needed to receive a spinal correction! Chiropractors can adjust a baby simply by applying gentle pressure to the child’s spine with their fingertips. Since this light pressure is all that is needed to correct the spine’s alignment in your baby, adjusting young children is extremely gentle.  

“Because most problems I see in adults start in childhood, special attention should be placed on children and infants when it comes to chiropractic care.”

  As your child grows, they progress from crawling to running. With this growth comes trips, slips and falls as they try new things. Over time, these incidents can create Vertebral Subluxations; which can only be felt 10% of the time. Because of the elasticity of youth, your child will often bounce back from these tumbles with no apparent symptoms. But there is always the question, “Was any harm done? Was a subluxation formed?” As a parent, it is difficult to know. Especially in cases like these where the issue is something you can’t always see. Chiropractor’s place a considerable emphasis on structural and neurological balance. When it comes to our children, it is important to prevent an imbalance that may result from seemingly harmless childhood incidents. Untreated childhood accidents can compound over time and lead to early spinal degradation. Along with preventing compound issues, clinical evidence shows that chiropractic care can help fight common disorders and illness in children. Colds, constipation, enuresis (bed wetting), growing pains, asthma, headaches, and other conditions can be relieved through chiropractic care. Remember, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” Some conditions that can be easily be corrected (or prevented) with chiropractic care are often neglected. These conditions, if not corrected, can grow with your child throughout their lifetime. Proper spinal care is essential to your child’s health. Don’t neglect to bring your child in for a spinal checkup. Proper spinal care is essential to your child’s health. Don’t neglect to bring your child in for a spinal checkup. Ready to get your children in for care? Check out our tips to find a Chiropractor that is right for your entire family. Save