I am asked this question constantly by patients, friends, and family. My answer is simple: Children have spines and a nervous system just like adults. It is important it is taken care of especially during the developmental years. Certified pediatric chiropractic can make sure they are on the right track.
The Nervous System Controls Everything We Do
The nervous system is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. Nerves branch out from the spinal cord and travel to every muscle, organ, gland and cell in the body. The nervous system is set-up like a fuse box. If the lights in your home go out, you do not run around changing every light bulb. You go to the source, the home’s fuse box, to check for the root cause. Our bodies work in the same fashion. Our nervous system is our body’s fuse box. Our children can have a “blown fuse” and present with constipation, ear infections, bed wetting, colic, torticollis, sleeping difficulties, reflux, and behavior issues. Pediatric chiropractors can help with these many childhood issues by not focusing on the presenting problem, but by going to the source and turning the “lights” back on by removing nervous system irritation.
How Do “Blown Fuses” Happen?
Our children are more overstimulated and over stress than ever before. Trauma can begin in-utero, with the birthing process – forceps/vacuum suction, c-section, malpositioning (breech) and daily falls can create tension and irritation that can build-up and stress the nervous system. Outside of the physical traumas, we don’t want to forget about the chemical and emotional stresses our kids experience. Their diet, medications, antibiotics, vaccines, and anxiety with new situations also can play a role in over stressing our kids. Tense muscles can cause misalignments of the spine and cause movement restrictions. These restrictions in the spine need to be corrected with chiropractic adjustments. Subluxations, spinal misalignments, if left untouched will continue to cause health challenges such as constipation, colic, bed wetting, ear infections, and irritability. In the adolescence and the teenage years kids may present with decreased focus, hyperactivity, asthma, headaches, and sensory challenges.
The Bottom Line
The integrity and function of the nervous system is important for proper growth and development. The spine protects the nervous system and if it is not moving properly problems may arise. The idea is to be proactive with children and allow their spine and nervous system the optimal chance to mature to its fullest potential. If you plant a fruit tree in your backyard, it is important to nurture that tree from the very beginning so as an adult tree it is tall, strong and able to bear fruit. If we help the tree grow correctly from the beginning, it is easier for it to be healthy and strong as an adult, versus trying to correct a “crooked” tree that has grown for that way for 10 years.
The health and well-being of our children is the most important thing. Chiropractic care along with healthy lifestyle choices are the foundation of health, happiness, and proper growth and development.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to have your child checked please check out Venture Chiropractic.
by Melanie Dockter DC, CACCP
