(Apr – May 2013 Vol. 34) Chiropractic and Bedwetting

Is your child a chronic bedwetter? Dr. William Choi, a local chiropractor has some insights to share based on his profession’s approach to healthcare.

Bed-wetting or enuresis (the involuntary passage of urine) is a poorly understood problem that continues after the child reaches five years of age. Some nocturnal bed-wetting is related to maturation, especially in boys.

Commonly, bedwetting is blamed on immature sleeping patterns or small urinary bladder capacity.

One of the common causative factors involved in nocturnal enuresis is categorised as bladder nerve innervation disorder. This is the area in which the Doctor of Chiropractic can be of help to the child. Chiropractic studies have indicated that bed-wetting has been resolved when vertebral subluxations (nerve interferences) are corrected.

The free flow of nerve communication from the brain, through the spinal column, to all parts of the human body governs itself and all its functions. When nerves become stretched or twisted (commonly referred to as a “Pinched nerve”), this vital communication system is disturbed.

These neurological disturbances are called subluxations. Chiropractic science has determined that subluxations can lead to serious health consequences.

Conversely, the removal of subluxations has been shown to have important health benefits.

When nerve supply or communication is disrupted, one or more parts of the body begin to fail. Health in general begins to fail and as your body weakens, sickness and disease are the result. Instead of treating the symptoms of disease, the Doctor of Chiropractic corrects the subluxations, so that normal body function may take place.

The Chiropractic approach

Chiropractic is a very specific science. By minimising nerve interference through chiropractic djustments, the natural strengths of the human body are maximised increasing the body’s capacity to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.

A controlled clinical trial of 46 primary enuretic children was once conducted over a period of 14 weeks to assist in evaluating the influence of chiropractic care. Subjects were between five and 13 years of age. There were 31 in the treatment group which received a spinal evaluation and/or adjustment at a minimum of every ten days. The remaining 15 subjects were the “control group” which came in with the same frequency but received a “sham” adjustment over an equal period of time.

Chiropractic care was rendered for ten weeks, preceded and followed by a 14-day non-treatment baseline. The mean post-treatment frequency of wet nights for the treatment group was significantly less than its pre-treatment frequency; while there was practically no difference between mean pre- and post-frequency for the control group. Subjects receiving chiropractic care averaged a 17.9% reduction in wet nights versus the control group over the same period of time.

Help for your bedwetting child

Throughout life, falls, injuries and stress, commonly cause subluxations. Young children fall down several times a day. Vertebrae can move out of their natural alignment from contact in sports activities. Auto accidents commonly cause postural problems in the neck, called whiplash, which can lead to serious problems with nerve interference. Subluxations may lead to problems with growth and internal function including bladder control. By having subluxations corrected throughout childhood, adolescence, and then as an adult, you will have a better opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

Here at the Academy of Chiropractic Clinic, we have been able to document by video and share the relevance of these corrections. Children who have been challenged with bed-wetting, have been able to benefit from chiropractic care. This is not psychosomatic for them. But a physical problem that is a result of a misalignment in the pelvis or spine.

The chiropractic correction is made in a gentle and quick manner. Once the nerve pathway to the bladder is corrected, the normal function to retain its contents is restored.

What you can do to help

Before initiating corrective care, the family must understand that enuresis is a problem that is out of the child’s conscious control. The child’s problem should not be viewed as bad behavior. Scolding, restricting fluids, and waking the child, generally do not help and may actually delay resolution; therefore these practices should be discouraged.

Your child should actively participate in both their chiropractic consultation and correction. Changing and washing the sheets is suggested as long as the child is not made to feel humiliated.

Livewell Baby, April – May 2013 Vol 34