Chiropractic Care for Kids
As parents, we always want what is best for our children. We are careful about the things that they are exposed to since we want to give them the best possible childhood in order to set them up for a successful future. When our kids become sick or injured, it can be a worrying time, and it can be challenging to identify the best path for their care.
Effective medications to treat childhood ailments are tough to come by. Prescription medications have some scary side effects which can become even more severe when given to our little ones. And the possibility of surgery looms as an even more frightening prospect.
Several childhood ailments lend themselves well to chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractors have been practicing their craft with children for more than a century. With the long history of successful treatments in children, it may be an option that is worth considering for your kids.
What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is based on the relationship between the spine and the central nervous system. Our spinal cord houses the brain stem and all the nerves as they exit from the base of our skull and then pass through the spinal cord.
Nerves that control different parts of our body exit from the spinal column at specific vertebrae which means that if you are having an issue somewhere in your body, it may be linked to your spinal health. Chiropractors are specially trained to evaluate these possibilities.
Chiropractic Care and Children
Children and infants are subjected to a wide range of changes occurring rapidly to their bodies throughout their youth. This means that any injuries or issues should be addressed immediately in order to reduce the potential effects on your child’s future. Some of these problems may even occur to your child because of the growing process.
You may want to consider chiropractic care for your newborn too. While many women are aware of the baby’s positioning in utero, they aren’t told about the stresses that this may place on your child’s spine.
Many infant issues may be directly related to problems with the spine or the nervous system that may be corrected with chiropractic care. You should schedule an appointment with a chiropractor if your infant is experiencing issues with:
Colic
Reflux
Breastfeeding
Chronic infections
Sleep patterns
Allergies
Chiropractic care is non-invasive and doesn’t involve your child taking any medication and is, therefore, a safe option to gain more insight and weigh different treatment options.
What to Expect in Your First Appointment
Just like other medical professionals, a chiropractor will want to conduct a thorough review of your family history, your child’s medical history and the issues surrounding the reason for your visit.
After completing this review, your chiropractor will want to conduct a thorough physical exam to find any potential problems. They may request some additional testing such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to adequately diagnose your little one.
At the end of their examination, you can expect that your chiropractor will develop a diagnosis and treatment plan for your child. Feel free to ask questions and make sure that the treatment is specifically tailored to your child.
Treatment
Chiropractors have a wide range of treatment options that are available and safe for children. This may involve manual manipulation of the joints which helps to properly align and position the joints to allow passage for the nerves.
You may hear popping or cracking sounds during this process. That is a common and normal reaction during adjustments and is caused by gases escaping from the joints. The release of these gases also helps to reduce pressure on the nerves.
Your chiropractor may also use therapies that involve heating or cooling the joints or using ultrasound. Ultrasound produces sound waves that help stimulate the nerves to reduce inflammation and swelling.
Overview
If your infant or child is having any health-related issues, it may be worth scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor to review their case. Chiropractors have a long and safe history of working with children to alleviate their pain or sicknesses without using harmful medications or invasive and painful surgeries. Call to schedule your appointment today.
