Staff Writer
Haven’t thought about a child’s need for chiropractic care? Remember this: The body’s nervous system – brain, spinal cord, and nerves are the communication system for the entire body, including growth and development. The bones of the spine protect the spinal cord. Nerves exit the spinal cord between bones and connect to every cell, organ, and body tissue.
Countering the Effects of Misalignments
Your Doctor of Chiropractic, through a comprehensive physical assessment, can detect subluxations (misalignments of the spine), which can put pressure on one of these nerves and interfere with the communication between the brain and the body.
In an infant or a child, this can mean developmental or growth delays. Chiropractors are highly trained to remove the pressure and interference caused by these misalignments. Even if it may seem as though a child does not need chiropractic, keeping the spine aligned regularly can offer wellness and preventive care benefits. Chiropractic care early on in a child’s life can optimize each child’s growth and development potential.
Many adults know when they need chiropractic care because most will feel pain, but babies and toddlers cannot tell us when something is wrong or if they are in pain.
In one study analysis, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) found that 17% of chiropractic patients were under age 18. The chronic pain a child is experiencing during childhood or adolescence has also shown to be an important predictor for pain in adulthood.
Adjusting Chiropractic Techniques for Children
Chiropractors are skilled in modifying their non-invasive techniques for children and infants. Chiropractic care is gentle and safe, as noted in reports such as Benefits of Infant Chiropractic Care and Signs that your Baby Needs It, and the Pubmed.gov article The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic.
A chiropractor is skilled in using much less force and a reduced physical contact for a child than they would with an adult. During the visit, a chiropractor may adjust a doll or stuffed animal to comfort the child and show the child what they can expect.
A chiropractic adjustment is safe enough for a newborn only a few minutes old. Although many parents are not aware of it, many infants have misalignments in the spine after birth. Even a natural birthing process can cause trauma to a newborn spine while traveling through the birthing canal.
As children grow and explore, they will take numerous falls and tumbles learning how to walk, climbing a tree, riding a bike, or playing sports. Although many of these tumbles may seem minor and the child does not express any pain symptoms, it may still have caused a change in your child’s musculoskeletal system. A series of these micro traumas left untreated can lead to pain, discomfort, or health issues in their later years.
Chiropractic Care During the Developmental Years
Chiropractic care can help with a large number of conditions, including:
Here’s the bottom line: It’s difficult to tell when a baby or child isn’t feeling well. Chiropractic care for your child can benefit their growth, help them stay well, and play pain-free.
CUKC Chiropractic Health Center
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC), founded in 1922, is a private, nonprofit, chiropractic and health science-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas. The CUKC on-campus Chiropractic Health Center is open to the public and treats patients from Kansas City’s 15-county metro area. Our goal is to provide care and solutions for a better, more productive life for our patients.
