KIDS AND CHIROPRACTIC

Chiropractic care is an essential part of your child’s overall wellness. In the United States, more than 17 percent of all chiropractic patients are under the age of 18, according to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Of that 17 percent, nearly 8 percent are five years or younger. While it may seem that children do not need chiropractic at a young age, starting them with a spinal check and preventative care early on in life will set them up for a lifetime of health and well-being.

YOUR CHILD'S NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system, which consists of your brain, spinal cord, and nerve tracts, controls everything in the body, including growth and development. Subluxations, also known as misalignments, in the spine can prevent proper communication from the brain to the body. These subluxations cause stress to the nervous system, which can lead to a decrease in the function of the affected area.

Infants, children, and adults can all experience subluxations in the spine. Infants and children can become subluxated from birth trauma, other minor or major traumas, or common stressors from developmental stages, chemical (diet), emotional, or physical. During the first five years of life, the body produces more neural pathways than at any other time. It is vital to optimize your child’s potential, as the first few years are crucial. Utilizing chiropractic care will only enhance your child’s opportunity to reach, and stay at their optimum level of health.

Even if your child is in excellent health, minor traumas from bumps, bruises, falls and spills accumulate over time and can result in pain, discomfort and/or health issues in their teen and adult years.

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Children will often express pain/discomfort differently than how an adult might express pain. Seeing as children are in their developing years they haven’t quite obtained enough terminology or learned expressions to allow them to properly communicate what exactly is happening to them.

SIGNS THAT MAY INDICATE YOUR CHILD COULD BE EXPERIENCING PAIN/DISCOMFORT

Change in behavior such as:

• increase fussiness

• becoming short-tempered or having frequent mood swings

• pulling away when touched in certain areas along the spine

• change in sleep pattern, or having less energy than normal

• trouble focusing or decrease in attention span

• decrease appetite, or digestive issues

THE ADJUSTMENT

The chiropractic adjustment is safe for patients of all ages, including newborns. After an assessment of your child’s spine, Dr.Capes will perform a gentle adjustment using either her hands or a small chiropractic tool. This adjustment, alongside the use of chiropractic therapies, serves to remove the subluxation.

COMMONLY SEEN IMPROVEMENTS

Over the years, chiropractic doctors have received feedback about the benefits of kids and chiropractic from parents and young patients reporting significant or unexpected improvements in: (hyperlink: http://icpa4kids.org/About-the-ICPA/why-chiropractic-for-children.html

• Sleep

• Behavior and attitude

• Immune system function

Additional symptoms and conditions patients have reported improvement with chiropractic care include ADD/ADHD, colic, torticollis, ear infections, bed-wetting, digestive problems, allergies, asthma, seizures and more.

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Resources:

Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic, 

Why Should Children Have Chiropractic Care