CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Pediatrics

Over the last fifty years, there has been an increased awareness in the benefits of chiropractic care for children. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association's (ICPA) groundbreaking study, The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey if Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-Based Research Network, was published in October 2009 in the biomedical journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. The Objective of this study was to describe the practice of pediatric chiropractic, including its safety and effectiveness.

The results of the study determined that the indicated primary reason for chiropractic care for children was "wellness care". The most common reasons for parents seeking symptom relief care were muscle conditions, ear, nose and throat, respiratory and digestive disorders. Out of 577 children, with 5438 visits, doctors reported only 3 adverse events. Out of 239 children, with 1735 visits, parents reported only two adverse events. These vents were minor discomfort after the adjustment and were readily resolved with continued adjustments. All children remained under chiropractic care. Both parents and doctors indicated a high rate of improvements, respondents reported better sleeping patterns, improvements in behavior and improved immune system function while under chiropractic care.

Listed below are a few conditions parents may seek out chiropractic care for their children:

Recurring middle ear infections
Chronic colds
Allergies
Asthma
Enuresis
Headaches
Developmental Delays
Torticollis
Breastfeeding Issues
Growing Pains

Special Needs

Children with special needs often have multiple symptoms that may include challenges with mobility, balance, speech, fine motor skills, sleep, feeding, digestion, sensory processing, etc... Vital to childhood development and growth, the brain controls all biological functions occurring in the human body. The brain and all of its pathways are continually growing and makin new connections. These connections that the nervous system creates each with learning and growing can be altered when spinal nerve interference or subluxation is present. The child may not be able to perceive his/her environment the way he/she should. The senses can be overloaded and the child is unable to filter "noise" from the environment.

Subluxations are not always present just because a joint is not functioning properly. It can be the result of any insult to the body, like stress, poor nutrition, infections, etc... Any of these things can contribute to a less than functional nervous system. When the body is able to function to its full potential without spinal nerve interference, it can perceive and react to the environment in a more desirable way.

Listed below are a few special conditions that parents have sought out chiropractic care for their children:

Autism Spectrum Disorders
ADD/ADHD
Sensory Processing Disorder
Cystic Fibrosis
Prader Willi Syndrome
Down Syndrome
Batten's Syndrome
Scoliosis
Seizures

Expectant Mothers

Chiropractic care is safe and effective to use during pregnancy. Many physiologic and endocrine changes occur during pregnancy that can affect the health of the mother and baby. The growing abdomen can place increased stresses on the lumbar spine and the changes in hormones can affect the joint mobility.

Chiropractic can be used to maintain spinal alignment and balance, which in turn will help alleviate pain and postural distortions. Sacral misalignments can create tension and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments in the pelvis. These tightened muscles and ligaments can have constraining effects on the uterus and therefore prevent the baby from assuming the best possible position for labor and delivery.

The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces the interference to the nervous system and facilitates biomedical balance in pelvic structures, muscles, and ligaments. Chiropractic care during pregnancy has also shown to reduce the pains and length of labor.

Family

Chiropractic care is safe and effective in treating the entire family. Traditionally, chiropractic care has been used to treat pain caused by either acute or repetitive injuries. However, there is a growing awareness that chiropractic care should be included as part of a wellness program for the whole family.

Chiropractic is an art, philosophy and science that relies on the body's own potential to maintain health through conservative, non-invasive, natural methods first rather than through surgery or pharmacology. Chiropractic takes the whole person into account. The structural, chemical and psychological components of the body each play a role in maintaining health. The science of chiropractic and the chiropractic adjustment not only address spinal subluxations, but also consider all aspects of the family's lifestyle.

Nutrition, exercise, the amount of water we drink, the air we breathe, our stress levels, and our relationships with family all contribute to the puzzle when a person's health is compromised. One of the chiropractor's key roles may be to help unravel that puzzle and either address the important components or network the individual with others in cradle of support.

Nutrition

Using a diet and supplementation is essential when working with pediatrics, special needs, and especially expectant mothers. Children with Autism often have sensitivities to certain foods that can benefit from specific diets. Diets such as Gluten/Casein free, Fiengold, Brewer's Diet, or yeast free diet can be used based on historical information specific to each patient to improve digestion and eliminate some allergy symptoms.

Nutrition is very important to chiropractic and health of the body. The adjustment is used to eliminate spinal nerve interference, but if the body does not receive the proper nutrition to support the body, the adjustment will not be as effective.

The same can be said for those who eat well and supplement as they should, but do not receive chiropractic. If a subluxation is present, the body may not be able to use all of the nutrients properly. Nutrition and chiropractic adjustments are equally vital in contributing to the body's full potential.