Optimizing Children’s Health with Chiropractic
By Dr. David AJ Mattinen BSc, DC
|
Did you know that chiropractic can be very helpful for children of any age?
Many people are unaware of what chiropractors do. It is even more rare to find a parent who is aware that chiropractic can be helpful in keeping their children healthy. The aims of this article include: 1. Giving an overview of the scientific evidence supporting chiropractic care for children. 2.Explaining how chiropractors deal with children differently than adults in a session (called an adjustment and highlighting which children would likely need chiropr actic treatments. There has been rigorous research (i.e. randomized control trials) supporting the use of chiropractic for the care of adults with such ailments as low back pain, neck pain and headaches. This same level of research has not yet been done for the chiropractic care of children with these same conditions. It can be inferred, however, that children with similar painful problems would have equally positive results. Mechanical pain in an adult spine is similar to mechanical pain in the spine of a child. There have been other scientific investigations into chiropractic care for children. There is evidence, from controlled studies of chiropractic care, showing a benefit for patients with asthma, cervicogenic vertigo and infantile colic. There is also promising evidence for the potential benefit of manual procedures for children with otitis media (middle ear infection) (J Altern Complement Med, 2007 June; Vol. 13 (5), pp. 491-512). In addition to formal research papers, there are many case studies, as well as anecdotal evidence, showing the benefits of chiropractic care for children. I am a practicing chiropractor and have also been witness to the improved health experienced by children under chiropractic care. In order to understand why this occurs, we must spend a moment to consider what chiropractic does for the body. Chiropractors localize areas in the spine where misalignments exist. When the bones of the spine become subluxated (slightly out of alignment thus putting pressure on or irritating nerves), they alter the function of the joint of that bone with the bones above and below. This can cause localized pain. More importantly, these subluxations alter the quality and/or quantity of information that is transmitted along the nerves altering the efficiency with which organs and tissues co-ordinate their natural function. When stresses accumulate in the spine subluxations problems are more likely to occur. Chiropractic care can alleviate pain by relieving pressure from misaligned joints. It can also remove unnecessary stress from the spine and nerves so that that a growing child’s body can function more effectively. This lessens the frequency and severity of childhood ailments. Spinal misalignments are put back in place by the gentle use of specific force. This is usually done with the hand and it is called a spinal adjustment. The treatment of children differs from that of adults in one important way – adjusting children is exceedingly gentle and almost always painless. The amount of force used is always consistent with the size of the body. Children usually like getting adjusted because they are tremendously aware of their own bodies and can immediately feel the difference the adjustments make. It is also important to note that children typically need less care than adults. A child’s body is efficient at healing, as it hasn’t had the years of abuse that most adults have. Which children need chiropractic care? In short, all children should have their spines evaluated by a chiropractor. We all agree that children’s teeth need to be cleaned daily and examined by a dentist on a regular basis. Does it not make sense that a structure as important as the spine should be examined regularly too? There are some cardinal signals that parents can look out for that would indicate a spinal problem may exist in their baby/child. 1. Posture is a good indicator of spinal health - be watchful for uneven shoulders, uneven limb movement, or a tilted or rotated head. 2. Sustained low energy, poor or inappropriate appetite and erratic sleep patterns are all common symptoms of a spinal problem. 3. Frequent infections colic, bed-wetting, asthma, allergies and learning disabilities are also common childhood concerns that are common in chiropractic practice. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. ” Children grow and develop rapidly. They fall and have many bumps and bruises. In making sure that your children grow up well and strong, it makes sense to make use of all of your health care options.”
| ||||||
|
Dr. David AJ Mattinen BSc, DC
|
||||||
| For more information on any of the services or products featured on the website please contact us via email at info@thewellnessguide.com |
||||||