By Ozark Family Chiropractic
Children are one of the greatest blessings in this world and as parents, we just want what's best for them, including their health. From a newborn to teenager, children's bodies are going through so many changes. Bones are fully forming, joints are closing, connections are being made and things are constant growing. This can put a lot of stress on the body: physically, mentally and emotionally. All these stressors can build up and begin to present themselves in many different ways: from aches and pains to compensations to fussiness. Now, in steps a Chiropractor. As a mother first and chiropractor second, I can give some insight into both motherhood and chiropractic care. There are so many incredible benefits to having regular chiropractic care and I am going to tell you 8 reasons why your child should see a chiropractor.
here we go!
#1 Improve Movement & Mobility
Children are inherently daredevils and adventurers. Walking, running, jumping and always on the go, exploring the world and engaging in physical activity that contributes to their growth and development. With that comes things like minor injuries, falls, or even muscle strain, especially as they push their limits and test their physical boundaries. Chiropractic care can benefits a child’s mobility by
Improved Spinal Alignment Chiropractic adjustments correct spinal misalignments, reducing nerve interference and enhancing the body’s ability to move freely.
Enhanced Joint Mobility By addressing joint restrictions, chiropractic care promotes smoother movement and improved flexibility in key areas such as the neck, shoulders, hips, and more.
Relief from Muscle Tension Chiropractic treatments can release muscle tension that may be limiting a child’s range of motion, improving comfort and mobility.
Better Posture Proper spinal alignment supports good posture, which is essential for optimal movement and helps prevent future musculoskeletal issues.
Benefits of Early Intervention Addressing musculoskeletal concerns early in a child’s development can lead to improved mobility, better posture, and enhanced overall well-being.
Chiropractic care is also valuable for preventing future health issues. By encouraging proper spinal alignment and posture, it can reduce the risk of injuries and enhance overall health and well-being. Additionally, chiropractic care supports the development of lifelong healthy habits, such as maintaining good posture and staying active.
#2 Improved Sleep
Discussing the importance of sleep for you and your child’s health and well-being is vital. Sleep plays a critical role in supporting the immune system, digestive health, and cognitive function in children. It also significantly influences their social-emotional growth and overall development. Alarmingly, nearly 50% of children experience difficulty falling or staying asleep, and over 30% of adults face similar struggles. Yet, this issue doesn’t get enough attention!
Sleep deprivation leads to irritability, poor focus, and reduced energy. For children, the impact is even more profound since their brains are still developing and learning to regulate emotions, attention, and behavior.
Did you know that during the first few years of life, the brain forms more neurons and connections during sleep than at any other time?
Sleep is when the brain repairs, recharges, and prepares for the next day—making it essential for both learning and brain development. Unfortunately, many parents and children grapple with exhaustion, which can lead to unhealthy habits and long-term challenges. Several factors can contribute to sleep issues, and chiropractic care can address many of these—particularly in children. Sleep problems can sometimes even lead to behavioral challenges.
A misaligned spine can interfere with the nervous system, disrupting healthy sleep patterns. Chiropractic adjustments can improve the function of the central nervous system, addressing more than just pain relief. Proper alignment can help reduce tension and discomfort that often cause restlessness, promoting better sleep quality.
In children, chiropractic care involves gentle adjustments designed to optimize nervous system function. This helps improve circulation and supports a more restful and restorative sleep.
Tension in the spine can build over time, making it harder to relax and fall asleep. By relieving this tension, chiropractic care not only enhances relaxation but also helps the body function more efficiently, creating better conditions for sleep.
If a child struggles to fall asleep or stay asleep due to pain, improved blood flow from an adjustment can ease discomfort and support relaxation, making it easier to drift off.
Pediatric chiropractic care can also address frequent nighttime waking. While it may seem normal, frequent waking can be a sign that something isn’t functioning optimally within the body. Chiropractic adjustments can help address underlying issues, promoting consistent and restorative sleep.
#3 Improved Digestion & Bowel Movements
Now you may be thinking how can chiropractic help with things like your stomach and gut? Maintaining good digestive health is essential for children as it plays a key role in their overall well-being and development. Unfortunately, many children today experience digestive issues that not only disrupt their daily lives but also impact their parents. Research shows that a significant number of children deal with conditions such as constipation, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and food allergies.
Digestive issues in children can lead to a variety of challenges, including discomfort, pain, and nutrient deficiencies that may impact their growth and development. Chiropractic care offers a unique approach to addressing these issues by focusing on the nervous system, which plays a key role in regulating digestive functions. The encouraging news is that chiropractic care has proven to be a valuable approach to supporting and improving children’s digestive health.
Key Objectives of Pediatric Chiropractic Care for Digestive Disorders
Balancing the Nervous System Chiropractic adjustments help regulate the autonomic nervous system, which governs digestive processes. By improving communication between the brain and digestive organs, these adjustments can help alleviate issues like irregular bowel movements and excessive gas.
Addressing Spinal Misalignments Spinal misalignments can disrupt nerve signals to the digestive tract, leading to dysfunction. Gentle chiropractic adjustments correct these misalignments, allowing the nervous system to function optimally, often resulting in improved digestion.
Enhancing Immune Function A strong immune system is vital for addressing infections and inflammation in the digestive tract. Chiropractic care reduces stress on the body, supporting the immune system and enabling it to better combat digestive issues.
Evidence Supporting Chiropractic Care for Digestive Health
Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic care in improving digestive health:
Constipation Relief: A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics revealed that children receiving chiropractic adjustments for functional constipation experienced significant improvements. By addressing spinal misalignments and nervous system imbalances, the care restored proper communication between the brain and digestive organs. This resulted in decreased constipation episodes and improved bowel habits.
Reduction of Infant Reflux: Research published in the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association highlighted the benefits of chiropractic care for infants with reflux. Chiropractors used gentle techniques, such as the Webster Technique, to reduce spinal and diaphragmatic tension. The study found a notable decrease in the frequency and severity of reflux episodes in infants receiving chiropractic care.
Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive, and effective method for addressing common digestive issues in children, offering them and their families a path toward better health and improved quality of life. By addressing nervous system imbalances and spinal misalignments, chiropractors can help children experience better digestion, reduced discomfort, and enhanced overall well-being.
#4 Help Prevent & Treat Ear Infections
Children are more prone to ear infections and drainage issues for several reasons. First, their immune systems are not as developed as those of adults, making them less equipped to fight off the viruses and bacteria that commonly cause middle ear infections. Another factor is the structure and function of the auditory tube in young children. In infants and toddlers, the auditory tubes are shorter, more horizontal, and narrower than in adults, making proper drainage more difficult. Additionally, these tubes are more flexible in babies, which means they can easily become compressed or twisted by tight tissues or misalignments in the cranium, palate, and spinal column.
Frequent ear infections are also more likely to occur after sinus infections, colds, or respiratory illnesses. To support ear health and reduce the risk of infections, it’s essential to strengthen your child’s immune system and practice ear drainage techniques regularly.
How can chiropractic help with ear infections?
A chiropractor can help treat ear infections using gentle adjustments and soft tissue techniques, with a specific focus on the upper neck. This area is crucial because several nerves that influence the function of the ear and auditory tube exit the skull near the first and second cervical vertebrae. Adjustments in this region can help restore proper nerve function, improve auditory tube drainage, and relieve ear pain.
Additionally, chiropractors can perform specific adjustments on the ear itself. These adjustments aim to mobilize the small bones within the ear and stimulate drainage through the auditory tube, further supporting ear health and reducing discomfort.
Regular chiropractic adjustments aid in the bodies ability to reduce inflammation, improve nerve function, enhance immune system and reduce the use of antibiotics for ear infections.
#5 Boosted Immunity
Children are more vulnerable to illnesses due to their developing immune systems. Frequent colds, allergies, and infections can disrupt their routines and cause stress for both kids and parents. Prioritizing strategies to strengthen their immune function is essential for promoting overall health and well-being.
The Link Between Chiropractic Care and Immune Health
Chiropractic care focuses on aligning the spine to ensure proper nervous system function. Since the nervous system plays a key role in supporting the immune system, maintaining its health is vital. Research indicates that spinal misalignments, known as subluxations, can disrupt the communication between the nervous and immune systems. Chiropractic adjustments help correct these misalignments, optimizing nervous system function and enhancing the immune response in children.
Supporting a Stronger Immune System
Chiropractic adjustments aim to eliminate spinal interference, enabling the nervous system to function at its best. By addressing these misalignments, chiropractors help children’s bodies adapt better to stressors and strengthen their immune function. A properly functioning nervous system allows for effective immune coordination, leading to fewer illnesses and faster recovery times.
#6 Improves Mood & Mental Focus & Behavior
Managing behavioral challenges in children can be one of the most difficult and stressful experiences for families. These issues can be overwhelming for the child and create challenges for everyone involved in their daily life. While chiropractic care is not a cure-all for behavioral problems, it can play a significant role in supporting a child’s ability to better manage these challenges.
Lets talk ADHD
Chiropractic can have a positive impact on children diagnosed with ADHD by providing a safe and natural approach to managing symptoms. Regular adjustments support more efficient nerve flow, which can be disrupted by spinal misalignments. These misalignments may contribute to behavioral challenges and changes in brain function.
chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to wellness. Your chiropractor may also suggest dietary changes, specific exercises, or lifestyle adjustments. Research has shown that eliminating certain foods, incorporating regular exercise, and establishing healthy sleep patterns can help alleviate ADHD and other behavioral symptoms.
These changes not only benefit ADHD management but can also improve sleep quality, boost immune function, relieve headaches, and support overall nervous system balance.
Lets talk headaches
Headaches can stem from a wide range of causes. In today’s environment, filled with loud noises, bright lights, processed ingredients, radiation, and toxins, it’s important to reduce factors that may irritate the body. One common cause of recurring headaches and migraines is tension in the upper cervical and neck area. But how does this tension develop? Misalignment in the neck is a frequent issue for both children and adults. Many children today develop slouched postures, and the natural cervical curve in their spine diminishes due to prolonged device use, texting while walking, and extended periods of inactivity.
When it comes to spine health, movement truly is medicine. While it’s challenging to constantly monitor your child’s posture, habits, and activity levels, regular visits to a pediatric chiropractor can ensure they receive the care they need in a busy world. Chiropractic adjustments help relieve tension in the neck and support a healthy cervical curve, providing effective relief for headaches and migraines.
Regular chiropractic adjustments aim to restore proper spinal alignment which helps balance the brain, body, and nervous system, leading to improved focus, impulse control, concentration, and mood.
#7 Supports Post-Birth Recovery
birth is intense if you think about it. Your baby has to make its way through the birth canal and into a big new world. With that can come some difficulties. Birth trauma occurs when a difficult delivery causes physical or emotional stress to a baby. Various factors during the birthing process can contribute to birth trauma, including vacuum extraction, forceps delivery, or an unusually large head size. These conditions can place significant strain on the baby’s delicate spine, potentially leading to misalignments or other injuries.
When a newborn experiences birth trauma, it can have various impacts. Depending on the severity, it may result in musculoskeletal issues such as spinal or neck misalignments, scoliosis, or even nerve damage. Beyond physical effects, birth trauma can also cause emotional challenges like irritability and difficulty sleeping.
Why Is Chiropractic Care Important After Birth Trauma?
Chiropractic care is vital for newborns who have experienced birth trauma. Chiropractors are trained to assess the spine and other areas of the body, providing gentle treatments to restore proper alignment. This is especially critical for newborns, as spinal misalignments, if left unaddressed, could lead to significant health problems in the future. Regular chiropractic care supports healthy spinal development and helps prevent potential long-term effects, ensuring newborns grow and thrive.
Identifying birth trauma in newborns can be challenging, as many of the symptoms are subtle. However, signs like excessive crying or difficulty nursing may indicate that your baby has experienced physical stress during the birthing process or from being confined in the womb for 8–9 months. This stress can lead to spinal misalignments, which may compromise the function of the nervous system.
When babies experience tension or stress in their bodies, they may show symptoms such as:
Reflux
Colic
Gas pains
Breastfeeding difficulties
Constipation
Trouble sleeping
Torticollis
Ear infections
Since the majority of neurological development occurs during the first year of life, it’s important to have your baby checked by a chiropractor as early as possible to address potential issues and support healthy development.
#8 It's Natural & Drug-Free
Our “healthcare” system today should really be called “sickcare.” The focus is always on what prescription can cover this symptom and how can we prescribe as many medications as possible? Our world is considered "overly medicated" because people frequently take prescription and over-the-counter medications unnecessarily, often due to factors like aggressive pharmaceutical marketing, easy access to medication, a culture of quick fixes, and sometimes misdiagnosis, leading to potential side effects and harmful interactions from taking too many drugs; this is particularly prevalent in the United States where statistics show a high rate of prescription drug usage. Every year in the US more than 4 billion prescriptions are dispensed and suggests the average number of medications one person takes by age groups is
0-11 years: 1.3
12-19 years: 2.0
20-39 years: 3.2
40-59 years: 5.0
60-79 years: 7.3
80+ years: 9.2
It’s important to note this doesn’t include over the counter medications.
Why Chiropractic can help
Chiropractic care is a natural, drug-free approach to healthcare that relies on non-invasive treatments to support the body’s ability to heal itself. By focusing on the spine and nervous system, chiropractors enhance communication between the brain and body, promoting overall health and well-being.
Why Chiropractic Care Is Natural and Drug-Free
Holistic Approach: Chiropractors utilize a variety of non-invasive techniques to encourage the body’s natural healing process.
Focus on Natural Healing: Chiropractic care works with the body’s innate ability to heal, improving function and alleviating pain without the need for medications.
No Medication Prescriptions: Chiropractors avoid prescribing medications, which can mask the root cause of pain and may lead to dependency, instead addressing the underlying issues directly.
In summary, chiropractic care is a safe and effective method for supporting children’s health and well-being. As skilled professionals, chiropractors specialize in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions. Using gentle, non-invasive techniques, we aim to help children achieve and maintain optimal health.
If you're interested in chiropractic care for your child, don't hesitate to contact us for more information or to schedule your first visit.
About Ozark Family Chiropractic
At Ozark Family Chiropractic, Our philosophy is that the body has the ability to heal itself. By removing interference in the nervous system, our bodies will be able to function at their best. Our mission is to empower, educate and adjust families to help achieve long-term health. Our purpose is to provide personalized, outstanding chiropractic care to every patient. Our vision is to build a community of healthy families that pick natural chiropractic care as their first choice in their quest for the best health and wellness.
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