Kids & Chiropractic

Did you know that chiropractic is the second most commonly used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for children under 18 in the United States?  (In case you were wondering, "nutritional and mineral supplements" was number one.)  But we don't see many 10 year olds limping from a bad back or toddlers complaining about chronic neck pain.  So why are parents taking their kids to the chiropractor, and what are the results?

In one of the largest studies of its kind, pediatric chiropractors reported that the top three reasons parents seek chiropractic care for their children are: ear, nose, and throat/respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal complaints, and stomach/digestive issues.  Amazingly, 88% of those children showed improvement of their initial complaints!

Many people are curious about how adjustments to the spine might help with common childhood illnesses.  Chiropractic care really centers on the nervous system, which consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that run to every organ, gland, and tissue in the body.  Chiropractors focus on removing interference from the nervous system (called subluxation) which can happen when the bones of the spine misalign and disrupt the communication link between the brain and body.  When the nervous system, which literally controls every function of the body, is working properly, the body can start healing and performing as it was meant to.

But before any parent gets ready to pick up the phone and make an appointment, I'm sure she/he is wondering just how safe chiropractic is for children.  The answer is sweet and simple and backed by multiple studies.  Chiropractic is extremely safe for children of all ages.  Pediatric chiropractors use special tables, special tools, and special gentle techniques all designed for the child in mind, allowing them to treat babies as young as a few hours old.

For anyone interested in learning more about pediatric chiropractic, I would highly recommend the website of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (www.icpa4kids.org) as an abundant source of articles, research, testimonials, or to find a pediatric chiropractor near you. 

References:

Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States, 2007. Natl Health Stat Report. 2008 Dec;(12):1-23.

Alcantara J, Ohm J, Kunz D. Treatment-related aggravations, complications and improvements attributed to chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy of pediatric patients: a practice-based survey of practitioners. Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 2010 (Jun).

Miller JE. Safety of chiropractic manual therapy for children: how are we doing? [review]. J Clin Chiropr Pediatr. 2009 (Dec);10(2): 655-660.