Why do millions of parents bring their children to chiropractors every year? Is it only for highly dramatic health conditions?  Is it only for when my child is hurting?  Not at all!!

Understand that your child’s brain and nervous system control every function of the body.  This includes the immune system and how the body heals and regulates itself.  The primary goal of a chiropractor is to look for those things that cause the nervous system to function improperly, causing a whole host of health issues.

We find more parents bringing their children to chiropractors for health concerns we are all familiar with: ear infections, colic, colds, sore throats, fevers, asthma, bed-wetting, allergies, pains, falls, stomach-aches, and a whole host of other issues that happen to kids as they grow.

Chiropractors Do Not Treat Disease

Please understand that chiropractic is not a treatment for disease.  Its purpose is to remove spinal nerve stress, a serious and often painless condition many children (and adults) have in their bodies. Subluxations, or minor misalignments of the spinal vertebra, are the most common cause of spinal nerve stress.  Subluxations interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system, can therefore weaken internal organs and organ systems, lower immune resistance, and reduce health and healing potential.

When a chiropractor removes subluxations from the nervous system, the healing power of the body is returned to normal: allowing the immune system to function more efficiently and your child’s body functions more efficiently. Germs, changes in temperature, humidity, toxins, pollen and all the other stresses he/she comes in contact are dealt with more efficiently.

So, although children with diseases are often brought to the chiropractor, the chiropractor is not treating their diseases but is instead freeing them of subluxation, or spinal nerve stress, thus permitting their body’s natural healing potential to function at its best.  As you can understand, many of our patients bring their children in to prevent health issues from developing and give each child every opportunity to grow healthy and strong.

Kids – Common Symptoms

Recognize the warning signs.

Believe it or not most subluxations do not cause pain!  Infants may show difficulty sleeping, breastfeeding or have issues with digestion (colic and reflux) and elimination. They may show a tendency to hold their head to one side or prefer breast feeding from one side. Without the language to explain what’s wrong, some newborns exhibit unexplained crying or a lack of appetite.

Toddlers may experience repeated ear and respiratory infections or chronic sinus congestion. Subluxations are often found in children who suffer from chronic earaches. An impaired nerve supply can make their middle ear and Eustachian tubes susceptible to fluid buildup or even infection. Traditional treatment usually involves the antibiotic amoxicillin. However, a recent study showed that children taking amoxicillin can actually compromise their immune system making it twice as likely to have recurring ear infections.

Adolescents may experience asthma, headaches, bedwetting, stomach pain, hyperactivity, behavior problems (ADD) and frequent colds and infections. A common symptom during adolescence, especially in girls, is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine called a “scoliosis.” Alert parents may notice that a high shoulder or low hip make clothing fit poorly. Back and leg pain may be present. A thorough chiropractic examination can help detect scoliosis in its earliest stages. Safe and natural chiropractic care has helped many young women avoid braces, surgery and the psychological effects of this underlying deformity. Other posture abnormalities such as a tilted head, rounded shoulders or hunchback warrant a chiropractic evaluation.

How are subluxations caused?

Spinal nerve stress can be caused by physical, chemical and/or emotional stress.  Physical stress may start in the womb, with the baby lying in a distorted or twisted manner.  Spinal nerve stress in newborns is more common than previously realized. This may be caused by a traumatic or difficult birth which can introduce great stress to the infant’s skull, spinal column and pelvis. Today, the United States has the highest C-section rate in the world. Traumatic Birth Syndrome (TBS) caused by C-section often causes misalignment of the top bone called atlas. It is this atlas that protects vital nerves near the brain. These nerves near the brain control blood supply to the head, ears, nose, throat, glands of the neck, sensation in the fingers.  Other sources of nerve stress throughout childhood may include falls off a bike, roller skates, or sporting injuries.