Kids and Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is an essential part of your child’s overall wellness. In the United States, more than 17 percent of all chiropractic patients are under the age of 18, according to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Of that 17 percent, nearly 8 percent are five years or younger. While it may seem that children do not need chiropractic at a young age, starting them with preventative care early on in life will set them up for a lifetime of health and well-being.

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Your Child’s Nervous System

The nervous system, which consists of your brain, spinal cord and nerves, controls everything in the body, including growth and development. Subluxations, also known as misalignments, in the spine can prevent proper communication from the brain to the body. These subluxations cause stress to the nervous system, which can lead to a decrease in function of the affected area. 

Infants, children and adults can all experience subluxations in the spine. Infants and children can become subluxated from birth trauma, other minor or major traumas and developmental stress. During the first five years of life, the body produces more neural pathways than at any other time. It is vital this production is optimized through children’s chiropractic care, as the first few years are crucial to each child’s potential.

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Even if your child is in excellent health, minor traumas from bumps, bruises, falls and spills accumulate over time and can result in pain, discomfort and/or health issues in their teen and adult years.

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The Adjustment

The chiropractic adjustment is safe for patients of all ages, including newborns. After an assessment of your child’s spine, the chiropractor will perform a gentle adjustment using either his or her hands or a small tool. This adjustment, alongside the use of chiropractic therapies, serves to remove the subluxation.

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Commonly Seen Improvements

Over the years, chiropractic doctors have received feedback about the benefits of kids and chiropractic from parents and young patients reporting significant or unexpected improvements in:

• Sleep

• Behavior and attitude

• Immune system function

 

Additional symptoms and conditions patients have reported improvement on include ADD/ADHD, colic, torticollis, ear infections, bed-wetting, digestive problems, allergies, asthma, seizures and more.

Read more about newborns and chiropractic.

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Make an appointment to talk to a chiropractic doctor about the benefits of children's chiropractic care.

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Read on to learn more: 

Why Should Children Have Chiropractic Care? International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, accessed April 2017

Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic, American Chiropractic Association, April 2016

Chiropractic Care for Children [ABSTRACT], Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Journal, April 2000

The safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic [ABSTRACT], Explore (NY), Sep-Oct 2009

Efficacy of chiropractic manual therapy on infant colic [ABSTRACT], Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Oct 2012