Kids and Chiropractic

More now than ever, parents are seeking natural methods of healthcare for their family.  Chiropractic is a natural method of health care that is safe, gentle and effective.  Many parents choose chiropractic care for their children because they are starting to realize that many common spinal problems seen in adults may begin as early as birth.  Locating and correcting these problems can improve the child’s overall health.

Even if the child was born “naturally”,  birth can stress an infant’s spine and developing nervous system.  The resulting irritation to the nerve system caused by spinal and cranial misalignment can cause several common health complaints. Colic, developmental delay, nursing or latching issues, sleep disturbances and chronic infections can often be traced to nervous system stress resulting from a misalignment.  As the infant grows and meets developmental milestones, learning to roll over, sit, crawl and walk are all activities that affect spinal alignment.  Even if your child seems healthy, these milestones are an ideal time to have your child checked by a chiropractor.

As a child begins to participate in regular childhood activities, such as riding a bike or playing a sport, small spinal misalignments may occur.  Childhood injury is one of the most common reasons a parent seeks care for their child.  Because childhood is a period of significant and rapid growth, if traumas are neglected during childhood, they may lead to more serious problems later in life.  These misalignments may or may not result in immediate pain or symptoms.  Subtle trauma throughout childhood can affect future development of the spine, leading to impaired nerve system function.

Any interference to the nervous system will adversely affect the body’s ability to function and grow optimally.  Regular chiropractic checkups throughout childhood can identify potential spinal injury from these traumas, allowing corrections to be made early in life, to help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.

Another reason that parents seek out the care of a chiropractor is to resolve a particular symptom or condition.  Sometimes parents seek care for their child because of colic, ear infections, or headaches.  Although chiropractic can and does help with these issues, it is important to understand that a doctor of chiropractic does not diagnose or treat these conditions or diseases specifically.

The expertise of the chiropractor is in checking the child’s spine for misalignments that impair nerve system function, thereby affecting overall body function. These misalignments interfere with the body’s ability to send and receive messages to and from the brain. Because the nervous system controls and coordinates the function of all the systems in the body, nerve interference can impair any aspect of health.  A chiropractic adjustment restores proper alignment which in turn reduces nervous system irritation, allowing the body to be as healthy as possible.

Every chiropractic adjustment is tailored to fit a child’s size, weight, and development. Chiropractic care is a safe and  gentle way to keep your child healthy.

Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is one of the most important things an expectant mother can do to to prepare for childbirth.  Many mothers are nervous about getting chiropractic care during pregnancy but it is safe and gentle for both mother and baby at every stage of pregnancy.

Getting chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy help to prepare the pelvis for an easier pregnancy and birth by balancing the bony structures, muscles and ligaments.  Removing torsion from the pelvis and the ligaments that support the uterus can potentially reduce aberrant tension on the woman’s uterus.

Chiropractic adjustments can reduce interference in the mother’s nervous system and allow her body to optimize the co-ordination of every system and function.  By improving maternal function, we decrease the potential for unnecessary intervention.

Chiropractic care before and during pregnancy can help make your pregnancy and delivery successful and healthy, but it can also help ease some of the discomforts of pregnancy like low back pain, sciatica, round ligament pain and pubic symphysis discomfort.