The path from infancy to adulthood involves several physical transformations and difficulties which require adequate pediatric attention. Chiropractic therapy during childhood can aid in a child’s healthy growth and development. Even slight misalignment during birth has the potential to disrupt the smooth functioning of the body’s vital systems.
Colic, allergies, ear infections, and asthma are just some conditions that can affect children with nerve dysfunction. Patients under 18 make up 17% of all chiropractic patients. Eight percent haven’t reached the age of five. Effective, non-invasive, and all-natural treatment for various pediatric health and development difficulties. Youth allows the body to heal more quickly. Dysfunction and deterioration result from chronic diseases that persist into maturity.
How We Treat Kids at Each Stage in Their Development
Newborn Chiropractic (Birth to First Month)
Chiropractic care is a type of treatment that uses manipulation of the spine and other joints to correct misalignments. Chiropractors believe that when a child is born, they are naturally aligned optimally, but by birthday three, this natural alignment has been disrupted by common childhood diseases and environmental factors.
Chiropractors claim that by correcting these misalignments, they can help treat a variety of childhood diseases. While this is a logical assumption, no scientific evidence supports the claim that chiropractic treatment can prevent or cure childhood diseases.
Infant Chiropractic (First Month to 1 Year)
Chiropractors believe that misalignments of the spine and other joints can cause spectrum disorders such as ear infections, headaches, asthma, learning disorders, allergies and asthma. Because these ailments are so common in infants, chiropractors claim that chiropractic care for infants can prevent these disorders and possibly decrease the risk of death.
Toddler Chiropractic (1 to 3 Years)
Chiropractors believe that misalignment of the spine can cause spectrum disorders such as ear infections, asthma and allergies. There is no proof that these injuries are a common problem in children aged 1-3.
Preschool Chiropractic (3 to 5 Years)
As before, chiropractors claim that misalignment of the spine can cause spectrum disorders in children aged 3-5.
School-Age Chiropractic (5 to 12 Years)
As before, chiropractors claim that misalignment of the spine can cause spectrum disorders in children aged 5-12.
Teen Chiropractic (12 to 18 Years)
Chiropractors believe that misalignment of the spine can cause spectrum disorders in adolescents.
Common Childhood Conditions That We Have Helped
Breastfeeding Problems
When babies start to breastfeed, they are usually very eager and try to latch on to the breast at every opportunity. This can lead to nipple soreness and the inability of the baby to latch properly. The mom may feel it’s the baby’s fault, but this is false. The milk enters the nipple automatically when breastfeeding. Still, it is often blocked by air in the milk veins due to incorrect latching or hematomas in the areolae (brown areas surrounding nipples).
Reflux
Most babies with reflux will show symptoms by spitting up milk, milk curd in their diapers and crying when they are burped after eating. Babies are generally started on medication because they spit up regularly, but this is not necessarily the best solution. Reflux can be corrected by adjusting the spine and rib cage. Once there is no misalignment in the upper back, milk will flow out of the stomach more easily into the intestines rather than back up into the esophagus.
Colic
Colic is described as excessive, inconsolable weeping in infants aged 0-3 months over three days per week for at least three weeks or beyond, most frequently in the late afternoon and early evening. Somewhere between 20% and 40% of infants experience this syndrome.
Both children and parents experience stress as a result of colic. Parents are increasingly turning to many conservative forms of therapy, such as chiropractors, as they become dissatisfied with the success of pharmaceutical therapies in managing infantile colic and become worried about the bad consequences of these drugs.
Wiberg and coworkers published research on the short-term effects of chiropractic in pediatric treatment for children with colic. Two categories of children were randomly assigned to different chiropractic care plans in controlled clinical research.
Fourteen days of chiropractic therapy for kids and two weeks of the commonly recommended medication dimethicone were compared. A colic notebook was used to track the baby’s sobbing and note any patterns.
An hour of weeping time was decreased in the dimethicone category after the initial week of therapy, but 2.7 hrs of crying time were decreased in the chiropractic category.
When treating a fussy infant in pediatric, the chiropractors at Family First Chiropractic often combine chiropractic manipulation with other modalities. Dietary adjustments, herbal medicines, and behavior modification may be used, although the specifics rely on every child’s medical history and physical test results.
Issues With Crawling, Standing or Other Movements
The later a child begins to move. The more their vertebrae will separate. Misalignment of the vertebrae can cause weakness in one or more limbs and poor balance. If a child is treated early enough, they can improve greatly in these areas.
Asthma
Normal breathing relies on a steady supply of nerve impulses because it is a finely tuned mechanism. These potentially fatal attacks are commonly triggered by improper nerve and spinal function and environmental or food allergies.
Many people with asthma feel hopeless because of the potential for serious adverse effects from the long-term usage of bronchodilators and steroid-based medicines. We look for and treat the root of the problem regarding breathing difficulties.
Their position could dramatically impact the shape and performance of a patient’s lungs. Researchers found that subjects who stood taller had a 30% increase in their lung capacity during inspiration.
Asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis all have no known medical treatment. Patients have typically been prescribed only short-term solutions like inhalers or expectorants and urged to avoid any potential triggers (physical or mental).
Correcting subluxations, or areas of neural obstruction, is the primary focus of chiropractic in pediatric treatment. Aligning these regions improves function and health because of their close relationship to the nerve supply associated with lung function.
Positive developments in the lungs, the associated blood vessels, and the diaphragm result from stimulating the tiny neurons in the joints, muscles, discs, and ligaments in the upper neck. This study demonstrates the need to check out the spine and nerve system for anyone with breathing problems, whether an adult or a youngster.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a disease where the spine curves to one side (right or left, depending on which side of the spine is affected) and can be very painful. This disease usually starts during adolescence and becomes more severe as time goes on. Chiropractors believe that misalignments of the spine can cause scoliosis, but no scientific evidence supports this claim.
Constipation
Constipation is a problem that most babies experience. When the muscles in the colon are not working properly (due to scoliosis or misalignment of the spine), the waste can build up in the colon and lead to pain and discomfort.
Bed-wetting
Bed-wetting is a symptom that occurs in preschool and school-age children. It is caused by increased pressure on the bladder and rectum, which causes them to hold more urine than they should. Chiropractors believe that misalignments of the spine can cause this problem by distorting the pelvis, which also causes problems with posture.
Ear Infections and Other Infections
Otitis Media is the most common cause of pediatric consultations in the United States among patients younger than 15 years old. That’s why pediatricians reach for prescriptions most frequently.
By the time a child reaches three, half of all children have had at least three ear infections. About 10% of infants will get an ear infection by that time. Children who endure antibiotic cycles have a 72 percent higher risk of developing asthma. This is true even if the kid is only given one course of antibiotics.
Research has shown that chiropractic care, specifically adjustments, can assist youngsters in recovering from ear infections. Seventy-five percent of patients with ear infections who receive chiropractic pediatric care see progress or full resolution following ten days.
About 43 percent of children suffering ear infections would see improvement after only one or two modifications, leading to fewer cycles of antibiotics and surgical procedures to install ear tubes.
Sports Injuries
The origin of the issue for many individuals in pediatric care with chronic back problems could be traced to years of poor posture or traumas sustained as children. Children are at increased risk for spinal injuries due to their developing bodies and increased physical activity.
Injuries affect over a third of athletes in high school every year. Spinal and nerve malfunction is a common result of childhood traumas and pressures. Backpacks have been linked to an increase in the prevalence of postural issues and localized spinal dysfunction among youngsters.
Youngsters who receive regular chiropractic in pediatric care for their spines have been proven to see a reduction in health complications by a factor of five compared to children of the same age who do not receive chiropractic treatment. Ear infections, scoliosis, and developing pains are reduced in children who receive frequent chiropractic treatment.
Reduced mobility, impaired organ function, and altered mental and emotional states are only some of the costs associated with slouching. Spinal misalignments throughout development frequently serve as the genesis of the postural abnormalities observed in adults. If spinal problems in children and adolescents can be treated early on, it will prevent future discomfort and medical expenses.
FAQs
Is Chiropractic Safe for a Child?
Chiropractic is among the safest forms of healthcare for a child. Many children are born with misalignment of the spine, which can harm their health. Still, chiropractic adjustments can improve their health and immune systems by removing any blockage in the body. As in all cases, it is important to consult a pediatrician before bringing your child to a chiropractor.
When Should You Take Children to a Chiropractor?
According to chiropractors, children should be taken to a chiropractor early on. If a child is treated early enough, misalignments in the spine can be prevented. It is also beneficial for children to become aware of their bodies and how everything works so that they can take care of their health as adults.
How Do I Know if My Baby Needs a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors in pediatric typically find misalignments in the spine during the first two weeks of life. If your baby has a lot of coughing, spitting up, excessive crying, sleeping and fussing for no reason, it is best to contact a chiropractor immediately.
Experts pinpoint misalignments of the spine (cervical spines, thoracic spines, or ribcages) by using a high-tech machine called a “verter.” By using the more vert, chiropractors can determine if a baby has cervical vertebrae in an incorrect position. In some cases, chiropractors will tell parents if they need to see their child’s pediatrician or seek other care.
How Does Chiropractic Help With Colic?
Most babies experience colic when they are unable to digest their food. Once the spine’s alignment has been corrected. Therefore, with a better flow of digestive fluids, babies can digest their food more easily and will not experience colic.
Can Chiropractic Help With Bed-wetting?
Chiropractic is frequently used to treat bed-wetting in children. Chiropractors believe that misalignments in the spine can cause the bladder and rectum to move into a position where it is difficult to empty the bladder of urine. Chiropractic can help decrease this pressure and improve sleep patterns.
What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic for Kids?
Children who have been adjusted for this condition in pediatric care will have a better immune system, better response to antibiotics and better allergy resistance. In addition, chiropractic is used to treat scoliosis, affecting many children as they age. Chiropractors also claim that their methods can measure the effects of scoliosis and help prevent the worsening of the condition.
Is Pediatric Chiropractic the Same as Chiropractic for Adults?
Yes and No. While there are many similarities between the two, pediatric chiropractic is different because children’s bones are stronger than adults, so the pressure applied during an adjustment is much less.
Also, more importance is placed on educating children during the pediatric treatment about their bodies and how they work. In addition to corrections made to misalignments of the spine, a child may receive nutritional counseling from a pediatric chiropractor.
Conclusion
The idea that the spine is shaped like a key has been around for many years. A misaligned spinal column may prevent your child from developing their full potential. Chiropractors in pediatric treatment believe that children would benefit from chiropractic care because it can help improve their overall health and well-being, regardless of age.
