(Feb – Mar 2014 Vol.39) Why Choose Childhood Chiropractic Care
Every adult has three natural curves on the spine. However, when your child is a newborn, they only have one C-shaped curve in their spine. The other two curves – cervical and lumbar, will develop only when the child starts to learn how to lift their head up, crawl and eventually, stand.
As young children learn to crawl and walk, the lumbar curve, in this case, the lower back curve, will be developed together with its muscles. This development happens usually at 12-18 months when the child has learnt how to walk in a upright manner.
This is also when there are increased chances of your child falling and that is when injuries to the spine can occur. But because children are usually more resilient to pain than adults, parents tend to ignore the possibility of spine injuries from falls.
However these falls may cause problems to the spine even at a tender age, and be further escalated later in life if more insults are received, aggravating the underlying condition. In most x-ray films that we analyze, it can be seen that old problems like scoliosis exist from the patient’s childhood. These are problems which were left unattended in childhood and only noticed much later in life.
Apart from injuries, abnormal development of the spine may also result in changes in the human nervous system, especially if the child is overactive. Such abnormal spine development can result in symptoms indicative of disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Bedwetting, Ear Nose and Throat Issues (ENT), Temper problems, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc.
Immediate chiropractic advantages
Paediatric chiropractic care, has, besides alleviating the potential long term problems above, led to positive results in treating colic, asthma, ear infection, headache, back pain, and learning and behavioral impairments.
Besides that, spinal adjustments do frequently result in immediate quieting, cessation of crying, muscular relaxation and sleepiness in young children who suffer from temperamental issues before the treatment. Ear infections and allergies, which are common in young children, may be reduced as well with the help of chiropractic treatments.
Hence, it is important for parents to know not just about the issues relating their child’s ears, teeth, eyes or throat, but also, the development of the spine and the presence of any vertebral subluxation. Frequent spinal check-ups starting from birth could thus prevent back or growth development problems experienced during childhood from surfacing during the child’s adulthood.
Livewell Baby, Feb – Mar 2014 Vol 39
