Although children often bounce back quickly from most injuries, many parents don’t understand the long-term effects of misalignments that children develop in their spine. Unfortunately, young children are often unable to verbalize what they feel when they are sore, uncomfortable, or in pain. And just like adults, if the underlying cause is left untreated for too long, it can develop into a more severe problem.
Early spinal care protects your child’s nervous system. The brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves are responsible for digestion, elimination, respiratory, and immune system function. This system needs to develop properly to promote long-term health and wellness. Regular chiropractic care helps people of all ages, from infants to adults.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic focuses on addressing spine and nervous system problems. In the United States, chiropractors are licensed following a multi-year doctorate degree and hundreds of hours of intensive training. Traditional chiropractic treatment focuses on improving outcomes such as range of motion and pain reduction without the use of medications or invasive surgical procedures.
Is Chiropractic Care Different For Young Children?
Yes, chiropractic care for children is different from adults in some respects. Generally, children react much faster to chiropractic treatments compared to adults. Adjustments to children are modified based on their age and weight. Their adjustments are gentle and often require very little pressure. Even infants can benefit from chiropractic care.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care For Children
1. Early Detection
An infant’s spine will grow by 50% during the first year alone, doubling in size within their first two years. Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine that usually develops during childhood. Diagnosing scoliosis at the earlier stages increases the likelihood of correction before the condition becomes a permanent problem.
2. Treatment for Sports Injuries
Student-athletes have a high rate of sports-related injuries such as herniated discs and compression fractures. Team sports, dance, cheerleading, and gymnastics can all cause injuries to the spinal column. Even seemingly minor injuries can subluxate the spine’s vertebrae. Although symptoms may not show up for years, childhood injuries can lead to a lifetime of aches and pains.
3. Improved Sleep
Studies show that most Americans, including children, are not getting enough sleep. Sleep is an essential part of a child’s well-being. For children, getting enough sleep is linked with better health, including improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, and the ability to control emotions. The recommended amount of sleep for children varies depending on age and other factors. If your child is having trouble sleeping, chiropractic treatments may be beneficial.
4. Better Concentration and Mood
Proper communication between the brain and body is critical for the body to process and respond to incoming information. Concentration and focus improve when the brain receives adequate stimulation from the rest of the body. Chiropractic care helps children improve their mood and attitude by releasing tension. Improved sleep lessens stress and helps children function better at home and school.
5. Relieves Infantile Colic
In a study of 316 children with infantile colic, mothers kept track of their child’s symptoms, intensity, length of crying, and how comfortable the infant appeared. 94% of the children within 14 days of chiropractic care showed an improved response. After four weeks, those improvements were maintained.
6. Aids Digestion
Stress on some regions of the spine can affect how the body processes and eliminates food and toxins. A properly functioning nervous system improves digestion. Chiropractic care can help with many common digestive issues, including colic, acid reflux, constipation, and diarrhea.
7. Improves Posture
Heavy backpacks, extended amounts of time spent on computers and cell phones, contact sports, and a lack of physical exercise can imbalance a child’s developing spine leading to poor posture. Gentle and controlled spinal adjustments help improve posture by relieving pressure and muscle tension.
Chiropractic Care is Safe and Natural
The body has a natural ability to heal itself, given no nerve interference or stress on the nervous system. Children can enjoy the same benefits that adults experience with regular chiropractic care. Even if your child is too young to communicate or too shy, a chiropractor has the skills to work with them to find out exactly what is going on before determining if treatment is needed. If you are concerned about your child’s spinal health, contact The Bluffs Chiropractic & Family Wellness team to schedule a consultation.
Schedule An Appointment Today
The Bluffs Chiropractic & Family Wellness team treats children with the goal of seeing them grow into healthy adults. Our child patients include infants with colic, sleep troubles, and ear infections to high school and college student-athletes preparing for competitions and recovering from sports injuries.
If you’re ready to take the next step in achieving relief and overall wellness, contact The Bluffs Chiropractic & Family Wellness team today. Dr. Joshua Lippincott has been serving patients for over 12 years and is passionate about helping people achieve their best possible health. Contact us online or call (636) 326-2525 to schedule your initial consultation.