Most people are very surprised that chiropractors treat children and even babies.
We can all imagine the stresses and strains on a babies spine and neck whilst it is being born - especially if forceps are used. Add to this the stumbles, falls and knocks of growing up, and it is no great surprise that kids can get back problems too.
If your child regularly complains of pain in a certain area of the neck and spine it is very likely that they actually have a problem. This is often put down to "growing pains" and can become a lifetime problem if it is not dealt with early. We very often see patients who can remember having back pain is a child and found that it never actually went!
Children usually respond very well and very quickly to chiropractic treatment, which is always done at a level which suits the individual. The youngest patient seen in this clinic was 2 weeks old!
Apart from actual spinal pain, these are some of the common symptoms which can be caused by pressure from the spine on the nervous system which supply the organs and tissues of the body.
- Colic
is a very disturbing and frustrating problem for many
young babies (and their parents!). Is is often linked to
a neck and upper back problem and seems more common in
babies where delivery was long or difficult or involved
forceps. Colic babies often tend to turn their head to
one side whenever they lie or sit in the car seat, and
may only seem to feed well from one side.
Research suggest a better than 90% success rate with chiropractic treatment, which usually occurs within 3-4 treatments. The babies often enjoy being treated and having their neck massaged - and the parents enjoy getting a good nights sleep.
- Recurring
middle ear
infections are often
caused by a blockage of the Eustasian tube, which drains
the ears and sinuses. This will cause a build up of
fluid, which gets easily infected. The tube may be
blocked by pressure from the top of the neck and can
often be relieved with gentle manipulation of this
area.
- Hay fever, asthma,
eczema and similar
allergies often respond dramatically to chiropractic
treatment, especially in young children. We do not yet
know the exact mechanism of this, but one theory is that
pressure on the nervous system may affect the child's
immune system.
This is could be why children who seem to catch "all bugs going" and who always gets infections, often get much better and stay healthier after chiropractic treatment.
- Bedwetting
is usually the cause of much frustration, and may be
because of pressure on the nerve that supply the muscle
which controls the emptying of the bladder. These cases
usually respond very quickly to chiropractic treatment,
although there can obviously be many other causes for
this condition.
- Hyperactivity or other behavioral problems can be linked to an overload on the nervous system, possibly from the spinal joints. This will affect the input to the brain and therefore may alter the child's behavior. Many children seem more "settled" and calmer after chiropractic treatment and are often able to concentrate more.
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