I am often approached by patients and friends with questions regarding chiropractic care for infants and children… and wonder how safe it is.
In reality, chiropractic adjustments on infants and children are just as safe as those on an adult and may in fact be able to prevent some of the physical and health ailments that face many toddlers, teenagers and young adults.
The birthing process is a well orchestrated sequence of events that the body is capable of producing. Even under optimal circumstances the process can be traumatic. Complications often arise and medical intervention is required. The forces exerted on the head and neck of an infant, vacuum extractors, forceps, cesarean sections, drugs and variations of the process are actually much more significant than we may initially realize. Studies show as many as 80% of births experience significant trauma to the skull, spine and other bones. Correcting these subluxations (misalignments) at an early age ensures the child’s brain is able to communicate effectively with the rest of the rapidly growing body.
A major component for health is the communication between your child’s brain and body. This is a vital link that controls the growth, repair, and function of every tissue and organ in the body. The spinal cord sends messages from the brain throughout the body through billions of nerves and impulses. Interference of the messages from nerve pressure or irritation can lead to a decreased immune system and other health concerns. The initial damage from birthing can be compounded when a child is developing head support, learning to sit up, crawl and walk.
As children grow past the infant stage and become more active the likelihood of injury to the skull, spine and adjacent bones becomes more prevalent. Activities such as biking, roller-skating, horseback riding, and skate boarding are a few examples of sports that show an increased risk of trauma from accidents. These traumas can cause the spinal vertebrae to lose their normal motion and position. The delicate nerve tissue that these bones contain can be damaged and can impair the brain’s ability to control the associated tissues and organs.
Today we find more parents bringing their children in to chiropractors. Unlike medical doctors, the purpose of chiropractic care is not to treat disease, but to remove spinal nerve stress which is a serious and often painless condition most children have in their bodies. When a chiropractor frees a child’s nervous system from spinal stress, the healing power of the body is unleashed! The immune system functions more efficiently, resistance to disease increases and the child’s body functions more efficiently. This means your child can respond to internal and external environmental stresses such as germs, changes in temperature, humidity, toxins, pollen and all the other stresses that he or she comes in contact with more efficiently.The process of correcting spinal nerve stress in a child is not much different from that of an adult.
The doctor will analyze the spinal column and related structures for balance and proper function. Where it is found that the spinal column is functioning improperly the doctor will perform precise corrective procedures (known as spinal adjustments). When I adjust an infant or child I will use my hands or a specialized instrument to gently and specifically correct the abnormal areas. This allows the spine and cranium to regain their intended state of balance and the nervous system is freed from its stress. A nervous system freed of stress will be able to communicate with the body more efficiently and lead to a healthier (and happier) child.
Dr. Mike Schloemp has been in practice for almost a decade. We are an advanced Chiropractic and Physical Therapy office that helps people with neck pain, back pain, headaches, migraines and more. Contact us today to make an appointment.
