Childhood is a time of growth and development. It’s an inundation of new experiences and new sensations. It’s a period of discovery, adventure, and
There will never be anything quite like it.
As a chiropractor for kids, I understand that childhood sets the foundation for which a kid grows into a full-blown human being. But there are also childhood illnesses that can complicate this time. Building the right foundation means that a child can grow up into this:
Instead of this:
There are various health challenges that kids and parents deal with as their bodies acclimate to existence. Traditional medical care plays a substantial role in fortifying a strong body to tackle life’s physical and emotional challenges. That approach, however, is filled with
and
Chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems to optimize the body for physical and emotional growth. It doesn’t rely on invasive interventions or filling the coffers of big pharma; it relies on the innate fact that our bodies are incredible healing machines…when they’re working correctly.
The holistic, natural approach of chiropractic care effectively deals with some of the most common childhood illnesses. While going through ear infections and colic might be a right of passage, they don’t have to plague the early days of life. Chiropractic care offers solutions to these issues, which is good news for kids…and parents.
Colic
There is perhaps no childhood condition more emotionally distressing for parents than colic. The excessive, unexplained crying and fussiness send many parents searching for the receipt to see if they still have time to return the kid.
Colic is believed to result from gastrointestinal discomfort, an immature digestive system, increased sensitivity to stimuli, and difficulties self-regulating. I know some grown adults who have trouble self-regulating, so I feel for these kids.
Chiropractic care is a great tool to alleviate colic symptoms. Chiropractors focus on spinal adjustments to optimize the nervous system’s function and overall health. By addressing any misalignments or tension in the spine, chiropractic care aims to improve nervous system communication and reduce discomfort in infants with colic. Studies have shown promising results in reducing crying time and improving digestion in babies receiving chiropractic treatments for colic.
Constipation
A healthy digestive tract is crucial for infants as they hoard the nutrients they need to power their growth. Sometimes, they just don’t want to let any of it go. Nerve interference in the lumbar spine can interfere with proper nerve flow to the bowels resulting in gastrointestinal dysfunction. Adjustments to correct spinal misalignments normalize nerve supply to improve function naturally. The relief can sometimes be instant.
80% of kids will have an ear infection before their third birthday. Happy birthday! Every time we turn around, there’s another kid with another ear infection.
Subluxation in the upper cervical spine affects the nerve supply to the muscles that operate the inner ear. When these muscles don’t work like they’re supposed to, fluid builds up in the Eustachian tubes leading to an ear infection. Correcting the subluxation restores proper nerve supply, allowing the ears to drain properly.
I hate to recommend anything that helps prevent ear tube surgery or frequent trips to the pediatrician. I know some people love to fork over a co-pay just so a doctor will prescribe amoxicillin.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis loves kids, but not in the same way their grandmother does. Usually developing in the teenage years, scoliosis is the development of lateral curves in the spine. It’s critical to identify scoliosis early so we can stop its progression. Chiropractic isn’t a cure, but it can restore normal flexibility and movement to the spine by working with the joints and surrounding musculature. Through exercises, adjustments, and soft tissue work, our goal is to optimize nerve supply and muscle function to reduce dramatic changes to the spine’s natural curvature.
Sports Injuries
We’re all trying to raise the next Michael Jordan, Dustin Johnson, or Serena Williams.
For the love of the game, no? Whether it’s hockey, football, soccer, dance, gymnastics, or, my favorite sport as a child, recreational tree climbing, sports are stressful on a body that won’t stop growing until it’s 25 years old.
Professional athletes love chiropractic care because it optimizes the nervous system, which improves balance, coordination, and reaction time and speeds up recovery. Plus, the focus on musculoskeletal health ensures proper form to prevent injuries.
Our kids might not be on the same level as a Jeter or a Brady, but chiropractic care is the best way to ensure they get there.
Asthma
Most doctors would say that breathing is important.
I am one of those doctors. While other doctors might recommend bronchodilators or steroid-based drugs, I’m not interested in condemning my patients to a life of side effects.
Identifying the cause of lung dysfunction is the only way to stop it at its source. Posture can impact lung function, with studies showing that good posture leads to a 30% increase in lung capacity, but decreased energy supply to the nerves that innervate the lungs can also cause dysfunction. Restoring nerve flow through chiropractic adjustments can improve nerve function at the source, making improvements throughout the respiratory system.
ADHD
Believe it or not, chiropractic care significantly impacts mental and emotional well-being and is a powerful tool to help with ADHD and other emotional disorders. Every mother of a teenager:
Chiropractors are known as musculoskeletal experts, which we are, but our adjustments improve the overall function of our body’s computer – the central nervous system. Adjustments are a sort of reset to that computer resulting in improvements in attention, cognition, and behavior.
It’s basically the same thing as unplugging the body’s electrical cord, blowing on it, and plugging it back in. Work’s every time.
Posture
Any mother, or nun, out there who has told their child to “sit up straight!”, girl, keep it up. Turns out, this could be some of the best advice we give our kids.
Mothers, and nuns, across America may have been giving that command because people with good posture come across as more confident, which they do, but poor posture limits mobility, organ function, and our mental and emotional state. Surprise!
Not tending to postural disturbances in children can cement bad habits and make correction as a mother, or nun, much more difficult.
Growing Pains
It takes a lot of work to go from 20 inches to 6’1” in less than two decades. Growing pains often accompany periods of rapid growth. Chiropractic care can alleviate growing pains by addressing imbalances in the spine and joints. Adjustments help restore proper alignment, reduce tension in muscles and ligaments, and improve overall biomechanics. By enhancing musculoskeletal function, chiropractic care can significantly reduce growing pains, allowing children to engage in daily mischief with ease.
Parents often ask why a child must go to a chiropractor. Their bodies are growing so quickly, and many moving parts are involved. The nervous system choreographs that beautiful dance. When the nervous system is working at full strength, so is a child’s emotional and physical development.
Give us a call or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing doctors. It’s easier to grow healthy children than repair damaged adults.
