Chiropractic care has long been used to treat musculoskeletal pain and aid in injury recovery, however, its use has increased dramatically as a means of injury prevention, and a way to maintain general overall wellness. As a result, many people find themselves wondering if the practice has a place in pediatric health. It absolutely does. Pediatric chiropractic care is not only safe for children, but it is also an excellent way to consistently assess overall body function and treat issues that may be leading to a wide range of everyday health concerns from chronic colds and ear infections to sleeping difficulties and digestive issues.
The purpose of chiropractic care in children and adults is not to treat disease and illness, but to determine and remove interferences to the body’s natural healing powers. When the body is functioning at optimal levels, the body has a greater ability to fight off infection and protect itself from movement injury. When immunity, muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems are weakened, we are more susceptible to both.
While it is customary to take your child to see a chiropractor for issues such as scoliosis, improper gait, and injuries resulting from sports, falls, or accidents, many don’t realize the positive results that can be seen in some common childhood troubles like headaches, ear infections, asthma, and allergies. Even certain behavioral and neurological issues (concentration, autism, ADD,) sleep problems (including bedwetting), and digestive difficulties (stomachaches, reflux, constipation) can have a positive impact through chiropractic care. The immune system depends on a properly functioning nervous system to operate well. Infants with colic and/or nursing issues may also benefit from gentle adjustments, often as light as a finger touch.
Kids who suffer from repeat ear infections and recurring cases of strep throat not only deal with regular pain and absences from school and regular activities, they are, by necessity, exposed to frequent antibiotics, the cumulative side effects of which have some parents seeking other options. Instead of masking symptoms once they appear, it makes sense to try preventative measures that support the child’s own ability to get and stay healthy.
As you can imagine the body systems of children, particularly infants, and adults are quite differently developed, so it’s important to find a chiropractor trained in pediatric adjusting, as well as prenatal and postnatal specialties. Next time you visit the chiropractor, bring the little ones to discuss way chiropractic care might fit into their wellness routine.