Monday, March 21, 2016

Children and Chiropractic Care - Is It Safe?


The safety of chiropractic care has been a controversial subject throughout the years. People have questioned whether or not spinal manipulations are safe for adults, and it has certainly raised questions and cultivated fear when people talked about giving infants and children chiropractic treatment.

There has been a lot of positive changes in the chiropractic arena. Over the last 100 years, certain groups have been extensively trained and specialize in treating children and infants. The majority of the medical community now deems chiropractic care one of the safest and least evasive form of alternative health care. The question remains, how safe is it to have an infant and/or child treated by a chiropractor and why is it necessary?

Unlike treatment for adults, the techniques chiropractors use on children are modified due to the smaller and more fragile bone structure. Also taken into account is their weight and spinal issue(s). The chiropractor must use gentle pressure as to not damage any bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and/or tendons. This is especially true for infants, where only one finger us used (during an adjustment) to apply pressure.

Why is chiropractic care so important? For infants, the labor and delivery process is physically stressful. Most infants experience pressure on their neck and spine when they are born. This causes trauma, or subluxations, of the tiny vertebra. If they have an adjustment directly after birth, it can prevent them from having spinal and neck problems in the future. Stability of an infant's spine is a major factor in their physical development; therefore, regularly scheduled visits with a pediatric chiropractor is paramount for a child to maintain optimal health.

Chiropractic care for older children is just as important. School age children are extremely active in sports, playing and other physically demanding daily activities. This type of active lifestyle makes them more vulnerable to spinal/neck/back problems. Another major player is the amount of time they spend sitting in classrooms. That coupled with day to day physical activities puts a lot of pressure on the spine which can cause pain/inflammation/subluxations.

What are the most common signs/symptoms? The list of signs and symptoms is quite long, but here are a few that parents should look out for (note that all symptoms and/or signs do not definitively mean s/he has spinal or neck problems):

1. Limited range of motion in neck/spine and joints

2. ADD/ADHD

3. Chronic ear infections

4. Headaches/migraines

5. Digestive problems

6. Difficulty getting to or staying asleep

7. Autism and learning disabilities

8. Bed-Wetting

9. Frequent colds/illnesses

10. Difficulty breastfeeding

Parents are the first line of defense when it comes to their child's health. They see them every day and can pick up on what is "normal" for their child; therefore, if there is something seems off or out of balance they will be the first to notice. Physicians, including chiropractors, rely on parents to help solve medical issues their child is experiencing.

The key is, if you notice any signs/symptoms that are not "normal" for your child, notify your chiropractor as soon as possible. The earlier you detect any signs/symptoms, the better chance your child has to avoid/lessen any further/future or irreversible damage. If your child is in an accident and suffers any injury, you may not see the damage right away. Injuries can be left undetected for days, months, even years. It is imperative that, directly following any major or minor accident, you get your child into the chiropractors office as quickly as possible.

Children, just like adults, will get an initial consultation and full exam. This will let the chiropractor know what avenue of treatment will be most beneficial to him/her. The initial visit consists of filling out paperwork which includes his/her health history and the family medical history, X-rays and a complete physical exam. The chiropractor will then talk with you and your child about the results (either that day or on the second visit) and devise a treatment plan that is tailored to your child's specific needs.

The amount of sessions us usually less than what an adult would require. A child's body responds better/faster to chiropractic treatment than an adult. To prevent any long-lasting and irreversible medical issues, make an appointment with a chiropractor today. Be sure s/he is licensed in your state, extensively and specially trained in pediatric chiropractic techniques and is highly skilled/experienced in working with children. All parents want their children to have the best and healthiest life possible, so get them started out on the right foot by having a pediatric chiropractor "straighten them out".


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dwayne_Whiting

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