Kids & Chiropractic
Why should a child get their spine checked by a chiropractor? Doctors of Chiropractic work with reducing spinal nerve stress by correcting spinal misalignments. Since the master control system of the body is the nervous system, its proper function is imperative for overall health and well-being. Children are just as susceptible as adults are to trauma in their spines from various activities and events. Birth is often a strenuous event for mom and baby and routine force applied to the baby’s head and neck may cause damage. These simple micro traumas may interfere with their bodies’ ability to function normally. Although symptoms, such as pain and malfunction may not show up for years, injury affecting their vital nervous system may be present immediately and have lifelong effects.
When should a child get their spine checked? Ideally, children should be checked right after they are born to assess the baby’s spine and skull. With specific chiropractic adjustments, these children experience a greater quality of life and health.
It is important to realize that the absence of symptoms does not indicate a healthy spine and nervous system. Only routine checks by a Doctor of Chiropractic can determine if the child’s spine needs care.
Children typically respond very well to chiropractic care and often require less care than adults. After the child’s first check-up it is often recommended to re-check them at certain life milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling, standing etc.
Will the adjustment hurt my child? Chiropractors use very specific and gentle techniques when working on children. In the very young, the adjustment is as light as a finger touch. Infants often sleep through their adjustment and older children willingly relax and enjoy the care.
How do I know where I should take my child? All Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed to care for children. In the family oriented chiropractic office you will find Doctors who have expanded their interest and abilities to work with children. All of our chiropractors at Willoughby Family Chiropractic are active members of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) and have taken post-graduate classes on specific techniques for pregnant mothers, infants and children to enhance her skills in this field.
The above information has been modified from www.makinmiracles.com written by Dr. Jeanne Ohm Executive Director for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA).