Your child is the center of your life, so you do everything in your power to make sure they are healthy. If they experience aches and pains, have trouble sleeping, or have problems in school, you will take them to the doctor.
If the doctor cannot figure out what was wrong with them or if you feel that the recommendations for treatment or medication are too radical, you may want to consider chiropractic care. You know that a chiropractor manipulates a person’s spine and you may have wondered if this is safe for someone who is not fully grown.
Chiropractic care is safe for people of all ages, and some infants have had spinal adjustments. However, you must go to a chiropractor who specializes in pediatric care.
Why Would An Infant Need A Chiropractor?
Babies don’t really do much but eat, sleep and occasionally crawl from place to place. However, an infant can experience some problems with their spine and their general mobility. In some cases, a baby may not be able to move its head from side to side, and a spinal misalignment may cause this. If a child cannot turn over by the time they are six months old, it may be a good idea to have them examined.
Isn’t Spinal Manipulation Too Harsh For A Baby?
If you have ever been to a chiropractor, you probably know that treatment often involves a sharp thrust to the spine. You may be leery of letting a doctor do this to your baby. When a chiropractor treats a baby, they will use much less pressure than they would in treating an adult. If you press your thumb hard against your wrist you will get an idea of the amount of pressure used on an infant during a chiropractic adjustment.
There are some scary noises that you will hear when you have chiropractic treatment. You may hear a loud pop and think that a bone is being cracked. That noise is simply air being released from an air bubble and is harmless.
Why Would A Child Need A Chiropractor?
There are several reasons why you may take your child to a chiropractor. Children run and play, and they can easily injure their backs. They may also need chiropractic adjustment if they are having problems sleeping. It is possible that the misalignment of a person’s spine can cause them discomfort when they are lying down. This can cause insomnia.
Can Chiropractic Care Really Help With ADHD?
There is some evidence that a chiropractor’s adjustment can help a child who has a learning disability or ADHD. Although there is no concrete scientific evidence to prove this, the spine is connected to the cerebral cortex, and some people have stated that their child’s ability to learn has improved after treatment. However, chiropractors are not allowed to tell you that their treatments can specifically help with mental health or learning issues. They are required to refer you to a doctor in that situation.
As with infants, chiropractic care for a child is much gentler than it would be for an adult. It often involves massaging and gentle spinal manipulation. A pediatric chiropractor will have apparatus that is specifically designed for children.
Your spine is the conduit from the brain to the rest of the body. Beginning good spinal care in childhood can make a person stand tall and walk straight when they reach adulthood. You can find more here.
