When looking at all of the different forms of healthcare, chiropractic care rises above the rest as one of the safest. During the first few months of life, a baby’s spine is very supple and all chiropractic manipulation techniques are modified to only utilize a slight amount of pressure and force. Under typical circumstances, the adjustment performed by a Doctor of Chiropractic is completely painless and will not cause any harm to a child. There are no drugs used, making the risk of adverse side effects minimal. There are no invasive procedures, such as surgery, which can sometimes be traumatic for both the child and the parent.
In a literature research study conducted by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) the risk of injury as a result of chiropractic adjustments was shown to be extremely low for adults and even smaller for the pediatric patient. In reviewing 31 years of medical literature the ICPA found only one questionable report of injury to a child following chiropractic care of a child. This ICPA concluded “the potential risk to children is so low it cannot be accurately estimated”.
Newborn and Infants
- Today’s common birth process can be traumatic to the delicate spine and nervous system of a newborn
- Health consequences resulting from a “rough birth” can be immediate and severe or be hidden problems that take years to develop and manifest.
Newborn and Infants
The common birth processes used today have the potential to be fairly traumatic to a newborns delicate spine and nervous system. There are a number of articles and symposiums dedicated to showing the scientific research and documentation of the damage that can occur during the common birth process. The possible damages and effects of a “rough birth” range from mild spinal subluxations in the upper neck to more serious subluxations effecting the spinal cord and nervous system function.
The health consequences of a rough birth to a newborn can range from immediate and severe to hidden problems that may take years to manifest and develop. Some of the more immediate results that have been documented are spinal cord and brain stem injuries, brain bleeding and swelling, neurological deficits and breathing problems. The long term consequences can be quite varied. Some of the more commonly mentioned are learning disabilities, headaches, visual and hearing problems, certain palsies and a host of immune functions.
Children
- A chiropractic spinal checkup can ensure a healthier baby and child.
- A properly aligned, subluxation free spine offers children higher resistance to disease and a healthier nervous system.
- By correcting subluxations at an early age, the damage of functioning at levels below optimum can be prevented.
- It’s never too early to have a child checked by Chiropractic Physician.
- Chiropractic for children is safe, noninvasive and painless.
There are a number of questions that run through a parents mind when they consider beginning chiropractic care for their children.
- How early should children be adjusted?
- Is it safe?
- Are their bones strong enough to handle manual pressure?
- Why do they need an adjustment?
- Will it hurt them?
- How much is it going to cost?
All parents have these or similar questions. All parents are hesitant, unsure or question whether chiropractic care is right for their children, even if they might be under care already. As a parent, a person strives to give their children the best opportunities and choices in life. Future parents are determined to ensure the healthiest, most natural pregnancy and birth process for their children. While pregnant, eating right, getting enough sleep, avoiding drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, and taking part in childbirth classes are priorities for future parents who look to promote the most natural and healthiest lifestyle for their children. So, if a parent is taking all the necessary steps to promote a healthy child, how can they forget or even neglect to have their child’s spine checked? A chiropractic spinal checkup can ensure a healthier baby, one with a higher resistance to disease and a healthier nervous system.
Subluxations can occur at any time. The first one may very well have occurred at your baby’s birth. That is why parents who understand the importance of being subluxation-free have their newborns examined by their chiropractor as soon after birth as possible.
By correcting subluxations at an early age, the damage that inevitably comes from functioning at less than optimal levels can be prevented. The longer a subluxation is present, the greater the damage. In addition, the longer a subluxation is present, the longer your child’s body will continue to “reproduce itself” (i.e., grow) in the wrong way!
Many people who come into a chiropractor’s office for the first time as adults would have had far greater potential for regaining their health if they had received regular chiropractic care as children.
Kids are Great Patients
Adjusting a child is not a difficult procedure. In fact, in most cases, a child’s spine is much easier to adjust than an adult’s. They have not had the long-standing subluxations, their muscles are usually not as tense and they are usually more relaxed in general than adults.
Not only are kids easier to adjust, but also in most cases, they hold their adjustments for longer periods of time and their corrective adjustment plans are almost always significantly shorter than the average adult. However, with the falls, accidents and the generally active lives most kids experience, regular check-ups are vital.