Receiving chiropractic care has been shown to improve not only aches and pains but also your overall health and wellness. But this is not just for adults, children receive amazing results from chiropractic care too!
Some people may look at chiropractic care for children with a little bit of trepidation – is it safe? Does it actually work for children? The answer is yes to both – but read on to find out more about pediatric chiropractic treatment.
What is pediatric Chiropractic Care?
Kids are constantly receiving bumps and scrapes – it’s the nature of being a child. Falls or even the slightest of knocks can affect the alignment of the spine, causing pain or discomfort further down the road. It may not present as obvious pain or trauma immediately, but left undetected can create bigger problems later in life.
Pediatric chiropractic care is simply chiropractic care performed on children – but adapted to suit their unique needs.
So – what are the benefits?
It Helps With More Than Just Spinal Health
The spine is our nervous system’s superhighway – if your spine encounters problems, the rest of your body is likely to feel the impact too. In kids, this can present in a range of areas other than the expected spinal aches, pain, and headaches.
1. Improved sleep
A good night’s rest is incredibly important for your child’s overall health – physical, emotional, and mental. It also contributes to their overall development. pediatric chiropractic care helps with both tension as well as stress levels – meaning better sleep for your child.
2. Better digestion
Realigning the spine can do wonders for digestion. Our spines talk to our stomachs – essentially, areas of our spine regulate digestion. So, if your child is having issues with nerves around their spine, chances are they may be having tummy troubles, too.
Subluxation – a misalignment of the vertebrae – can also result in your child’s body struggling to absorb nutrients.
3. Healthier immune system
Chiropractic care for kids can do wonders in supporting your child’s immune system function. It can reduce the duration of your child’s sickness, and prevent it in future.
4. Reduced stress levels, better behavior
Pediatric chiropractic care helps reduce stress and anxiety, which in turn can improve your child’s behavior. It can also release tension in the body, which can improve your child’s mood and overall attitude.
5. Better learning
Less stress and better behavior leads to better learning – which sets your child up to thrive in school and beyond.
Childhood is the prime time for chiropractic care
Pediatric chiropractic care works exceptionally well for children because their bodies and nervous system are developing the fastest compared to any time in their life. This means that not only do their bodies respond incredibly well to chiropractic treatment, but it also sets them up for optimal development as they continue to grow. And for that development of the body and brain, the spine should be properly aligned.
Techniques are adapted for the child’s age, body size, and personal preference. A chiropractor does not adjust a baby or a child the same way as they adjust an adult and extensive training is required to properly treat an infant. Often an instrument called the Activator is used, which delivers a measured impulse to deliver the chiropractic adjustment.
Can babies receive chiropractic treatment?
Babies benefit greatly from chiropractic care following birth. Approximately 96% of babies receive some level of spinal trauma during the birth process, and this is with natural births – let alone traumatic or assisted births that affect the child’s spine and nervous system even more.
An experienced chiropractor will help align your child’s spine and skull to reduce any interference to their nervous system. Chiropractors are also neurological specialists, and will check your baby has the reflexes they should depending on their age and where their development should be at.
Conditions pediatric chiropractic care can treat
Preventative chiropractic care and wellness help to identify and treat issues quickly, which works to improve your child’s health overall. And the benefits don’t end there – chiropractic care for children helps treat a range of different conditions and health problems, including:
- Ear infections
- Digestive issues
- Allergies
- Colic
- Asthma
- Sleep issues
- Sports injuries
- Headaches
- Issues with focus and concentration
- Irritable baby syndrome
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Asperger’s syndrome, autism, and autism spectrum disorders
Set your child up for success
There are many incredible benefits of chiropractic care for both children and adults – this is really just the beginning. If you are looking for a pediatric chiropractor for your child, do the research and make sure you’re finding the best healthcare professionals out there.