Our society has become increasingly willing to explore alternative health treatments. Parents have become increasingly concerned about their children dealing with side effects from medication and invasive medical procedures.
This turn of events has led more parents to consider chiropractic as a means for treating their children’s ailments.
How Can Chiropractic Help Children?
Most children are always on the move. They get bumps, bruises, and scrapes. But they keep going. Just because children often don’t slow down for injuries doesn’t mean their body is working as it should. Despite their natural resiliency, kids simply being kids can create spinal alignment issues which can lead to a variety of ailments
- Earaches
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Asthma
Boosting the Immune System
Cold and flu season can be rough for both kids and parents alike. It seems like the colds and the runny noses never go away. And before you know it, everyone in the house has a cough or a cold. Chiropractors can help children boost their immune systems by using neurologically-based treatments. Research has shown patients who receive chiropractic treatment can increase their immune system’s capability by 200%.
Curing Colic
When babies are in mommy’s tummy, their tossing and turning, flipping, and twisting all over the place (if you’re a mom, you know what we’re talking about). Even though babies are flexible, it’s not uncommon for their experience in the womb or even the birthing process to lead to a misalignment in their spine.
Colic is often thought to be nothing more than a recurring tummy ache for infants. Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for infants to be crying from the discomfort of a misaligned spine. Because children can’t tell us where it hurts, their discomfort is often simply classified as colic.
Spinal misalignments can cause a variety of problems as children grow. If you have cause for concern it’s a good idea to have a chiropractor give your child a checkup to make sure everything is working as it should. Chiropractors can also help children who are dealing with any one of a number of tummy troubles.
Struggling to Sleep
A good night’s sleep goes a long way toward making us all healthier, more energetic versions of ourselves. Getting quality sleep is essential for children to stay healthy. Not sleeping properly can cause children to develop issues both physically and emotionally.
Many children deal with back pain as a result of tight muscles stemming from a misaligned spine. Believe it or not, wetting the bed can also be caused by vertebrae that are out of alignment. Sometimes all it takes is a few gentle adjustments to help your child realign their spine and begin to get the sleep they deserve.
Better Behavior and Brain Function
All too often, it seems being a child can be more stressful than being an adult. Many of us like to think of childhood as a carefree whimsical time of life. But, the truth is, childhood can potentially be very stressful. Chiropractic adjustments are one of the best ways for children to reduce stress and anxiety.
Also, spinal misalignments can often make conditions like ADD and ADHD worse. Chiropractic treatments can ease difficulty focusing, reducing stress during the school day and at home. A properly aligned spine can also foster improved brain development.
Chiropractic and Children – Is it Safe?
It’s natural for parents to wonder if visits to the chiropractor are a good idea for their children. And the answer is a resounding, yes! Most chiropractic care is drug-free and minimally invasive. These two attributes alone make it safer than the majority of modern healthcare procedures. Studies have shown chiropractic treatments are safer than many anti-inflammatory medications and 85% of children who were under the care of a chiropractor experienced improvements in their health.
Common Chiropractic Procedures for Children
For Ear Infections
Of the 585,000 yearly instances of children having an adverse reaction to medications, 28% were caused by antibiotics. It might seem strange to go to a chiropractor for an ear infection. Let’s take a moment and think about how ear infections come to be.
There is a buildup of fluid inside the ear. Bacteria begin to thrive in the water, and this is where problems begin. Traditionally antibiotics are used to fight the infection and get rid of the bacteria. However, this treatment doesn’t change the fact that there is fluid sitting inside the ear. Muscles in and around the ear can tighten and spasm. Tight muscles can prevent the water from draining naturally.
For Sports Injuries
Whether it’s baseball, soccer, football, or basketball injuries are part of the game. Just like the pros, kids get sports injuries as well. Unlike the pros, they don’t have a team of medical professionals looking after their well-being. Plus, their bodies are still developing. It’s a good idea to take your children to the chiropractor at least as often as you take them to the dentist. Routine checkups will catch problems early. Early detection helps to ensure little issues don’t become big problems.
For Growing Pains
Growing pains are a common problem for kids. Resting and keeping stress off of joints is the common prescription for dealing with the discomfort of growing pains. However, it can be tough for growing children to remain inactive. Chiropractors can provide children with massages to relieve the pain. A seal chiropractor will also be able to check the child’s nervous system to ensure that growing pains aren’t a sign of a bigger problem.