One of the most common questions or concerns among parents (who are made aware of paediatric chiropractic care) is whether or not the treatment is safe for children and infants alike. This raises many other questions pertaining to spinal adjustments for kids, and the benefits that come with it.
Today, we are addressing some common queries we receive from parents who are seeking non-invasive treatments with various short-term and long-term goals in mind for their child. These may include pain relief, improved mobility, posture correction, and just about any disorder or potential problem related to the nervous system. Further, we will share the many different ways in which paediatric chiropractic care benefits kids.
Let’s begin!
Why Do Kids Need Chiropractic Care?
Like adults, young children and adolescents are no strangers to spinal dysfunction. Even worse, some disorders can impede a child’s learning abilities and overall physical growth. Kids are also often subject to long sitting hours at a desk during classes, while doing homework, and studying. This leads to poor posture, headaches, and spinal problems in the lower back and neck region, among other ill effects. Paediatric chiropractic care can be used to treat a host of medical conditions while regular adjustments as part of a child’s health and wellness regime will help prevent many spinal disorders and promote an overall healthier body and life.
Can Babies Get Paediatric Chiropractic Care?
Yes, even infants can benefit from chiropractic care by ensuring that any misalignment in the spine is addressed early on. This, in turn, helps babies to sleep better, allows for better latching when breastfeeding and, in some cases, can also eliminate colic and reflux. Pediatric chiropractic for infants is performed by using nothing more than gentle, fingertip pressure to adjust spinal joints safely. During these corrections, the baby will not feel any pain or discomfort even though a soft popping sound may be heard with the adjustment.
How Do You Know When Your Child Needs an Adjustment?
While children’s bodies are extremely flexible and often subject to mild trauma from falling down or bumping into something, they recover fairly quickly. Of course, for overly active kids who play sports, run a lot, and do many other physical activities, their bodies can definitely benefit from chiropractic adjustments (also known as spinal manipulation) to alleviate pain/discomfort and encourage healthier growth spurts.
Apart from this, there may be some clear indications that your child needs chiropractic care, either through observations you make on your own, or complaints directly from your child. These may include the following:
- Consecutive days of neck/back pain
- Lopsided shoulders
- Visible compensation while standing or walking
- Restricted mobility of the neck and head
- Poor sleep
- Hunched back or poor posture
What Happens During My Child’s First Visit to a Chiropractor?
It’s natural for parents and kids to feel nervous when visiting a chiropractor for the first time. However, it should be noted that a child needn’t receive treatment during their first appointment at a chiropractor’s clinic. In fact, most first-time patients are asked to come in for a consultation where the licenced practitioner will assess the child’s medical history before conducting a physical examination to identify any abnormalities in the spine, as well as other medical problems. Upon a thorough assessment, the chiropractor will put together a patient-specific treatment plan which can also include other therapies along with chiropractic.
Is Chiropractic Risky for Children?
The biggest concern parents have regarding paediatric chiropractic is whether or not it is safe for kids. To date, there is no evidence that associates any type of risk for children receiving this non-invasive treatment. While both spinal manipulation and mobilisation can be performed on children, the chiropractor will choose methods that are most comfortable for the child. In some cases, a patient of paediatric chiropractic may experience mild discomfort during an adjustment, however, this subsides fairly quickly.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help Kids?
The great thing about receiving chiropractic treatment is that it is beneficial for kids regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with a spinal condition or related problems. Along with treating underlying health issues which is generally the primary reason why parents seek chiropractic care for their children, the therapies used in the treatment promote better overall growth and development of the body.
Here are some of the many benefits of chiropractic care for kids:
- Relief from back/neck pain
- Fewer headaches
- Realignment of the spine
- Improved posture
- Optimal functioning of the nervous system
- Quicker and more effective recovery after an injury or surgery
- Improved immune system
- Increased mobility in the spinal joints
- Improved athletic performance
- Better sleep quality
- Increased focus
What Conditions/Disorders Can Be Treated By a Chiropractor?
Sadly, children and infants can face many different health problems which affect normal growth and development. While some of these may require modern medicine and treatment by other specialists, many underlying medical conditions in children can be treated with chiropractic care.
For kids and adolescents, here are some of the health problems that chiropractors treat:
- Spinal misalignment
- Urinary incontinence
- Constipation
- Scoliosis
- Headaches
- Digestive disorders
- Body pain
Many young patients can also get relief from symptoms and chronic conditions which include respiratory problems, sore throats, ear infections, and immune system dysfunction. Additionally, chiropractic and related therapies are being used to treat children with ADHD, autism, delayed speech, and injuries or trauma caused by accidents or playing sports.
As mentioned earlier, chiropractic care is also safe for infants and can benefit them in many different ways. Some of the issues that can be addressed and treated with paediatric chiropractic include:
- Delay in motor skill development
- Breastfeeding and latching problems
- Colic
- Reflux
Conclusion
Chiropractic care is not harmful for children and babies and is quickly becoming a preferred course of treatment for kids due to its non-invasive nature. Parents can rest assured that their children will see an improvement in their overall health regardless of whether they are being treated for an underlying health problem. With chiropractic adjustments, kids are introduced to a host of benefits that help their bodies grow and develop stronger, feel better, and function well. This is added to multiple positive effects that include better sleep, improved nervous system function, fewer headaches, and relief from pain and stiffness in the back and neck.
If you would like your child to avail of the best chiropractic care by experienced and trained professionals, schedule a consultation with one of our specialists at MSK Therapy today!