Families across America rely on chiropractic care to enhance the health and wellness of their children. A growing amount of evidence supports the use of chiropractic care in children. A study published in 2010 revealed that approximately 18% of chiropractic patients are under age 18.
Today, we’re highlighting some of the safety concerns, benefits, and treatments for chiropractic care in children.
Chiropractic Care is Generally Very Safe for Children
Certain individuals have a misconception that chiropractic care is unsafe for children. In reality, the vast majority of studies indicate otherwise.
Instead of individually referencing every study on chiropractic care and kids, it’s helpful to read this review that was published in the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association in 2015. The review analyzes a number of studies involving kids and chiropractic care over the years.
“After perusing this very recent systematic review, it certainly seems to indicate that the number of adverse events occurring in children in response to chiropractic treatments is extremely low,” begins the review.
“Equipped with this knowledge, doctors of chiropractic can now educate, inform and assure parents with a new level of confidence that chiropractic care is very likely to be safe for children.”
Overall, the researchers found there were few reports of injuries involving children undergoing chiropractic care. It was also determined that the few cases of injuries were often linked with either:
- Chiropractors who performed “high-velocity, extension and rotational thrusts”
- Chiropractors who failed to analyze the underlying pathologies in children
When the chiropractor performed a “thorough history and examination” of the child prior to beginning chiropractic care, the risk of injury was all but eliminated. Today, chiropractic care is seen as very safe for children. Nearly 1 in 5 chiropractic patients in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom are under age 18.
How Do Chiropractors Treat Children?
Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments are safe for patients of all ages, including newborns.
The goal of chiropractic care in children is to solve problems related to misalignments. These problems, also called subluxations, can prevent proper communication within the child’s nervous system. The brain and body struggle to communicate with one another, leading to a decrease in function in the affected area.
Infants and children can experience subluxations in the spine just like adults. In some cases, the infant or child’s spine has become misaligned from birth trauma. In other cases, misalignments are caused by minor or major traumas or developmental stress.
After assessing your child’s spine, the chiropractor will perform gentle adjustments or manipulations. Sometimes, these adjustments are performed using the chiropractor’s hands. In other cases, the chiropractor uses state-of-the-art medical equipment or small tools. These adjustments can remove the subluxation, helping relieve various problems within children.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care in Children
During the first five years of a child’s life, the body produces more neural pathways than at any other time. That’s why it’s crucial for the production of neural pathways to be optimized through chiropractic care.
A good chiropractor can identify subluxations within the child’s body, then treat those subluxations through careful, gentle, and targeted manipulations.
For some children, the benefits of chiropractic care are physical. Children may have better posture and physical performance, for example, or reduced neck and back pain.
In other cases, the benefits of chiropractic care in children are more than just physical. Children may be able to relieve sleep problems, for example, behavior and attitude problems, immune system issues, and more.
Overall, benefits of chiropractic care for children vary between patients. Some of the common benefits of chiropractic care include:
- Reduced physical discomfort and pain
- Improved posture and physical performance
- Better sleep, behavior, and attitude
- Improved immune system functionality
- Reduced symptoms of ADD/ADHD and other cognitive issues
- Reduced symptoms of other conditions, including colic, torticollis, ear infections, bed-wetting, digestive problems, asthma, seizures, allergies, and more
Schedule Chiropractic Care for Children in Denver, CO Today
Renew Chiropractic is the leading chiropractic clinic serving Lakewood, Colorado and all other communities in the greater Denver metro area. Since 1997, Dr. Jason Jumper and his team have built a reputation for providing quality chiropractic care to patients across the city of Denver.
Call 720-493-5885 to schedule a free consultation for chiropractic care today. Renew Chiropractic is conveniently located near the Belmar Shopping Center at Wadsworth and Alameda in Lakewood.