Following on from our blog ‘Why should I take my infant to a chiropractor’ I wanted to write about the benefits of children being seen by a chiropractor, so I started researching and writing and writing and writing. Only to realise that I cannot cover all the benefits children can experience when receiving chiropractic care in one blog! So instead I have decided to break it down and focus on a different benefit each blog;
Before we jump into it is important to understand the relationship between the spine and nerve system and Chiropractic’s role in this relationship.
Every message in your body travels via your nerve system (brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves) this important system is protected by your spine. This information highway coordinates ALL bodily functions including breathing, digestion, movement and immune response. This highway of messages can be interrupted when a vertebral subluxation is present (a dysfunctional area of spine interfering with the nerve system). Vertebral subluxations can be caused by either physical, chemical, and mental stress or a combination of these.
These vertebral subluxations interrupt the messages traveling from the brain, just like a broken-down car on the highway. When this highway is interrupted it results in altered spinal motion and impaired nerve function. Often a subluxation is painless and you may not even notice they are present. A chiropractor aims to detect and correct these subluxations, in order to restore the healthy function of the spine and nerve system, in turn enabling the body to function at its optimal potential.
Now that we understand the nerve system, spine and chiropractic’s role we can start to look at the possible benefits experienced by children who receive chiropractic care.
Improved health and wellbeing is a chiropractor’s aim for each patient. Those of us with children will know the array of illnesses that children can experience including asthma/breathing difficulties, ear infections, common colds, coughs, eczema, digestive issues, constipation the list goes on! Many of these issues can plague a child and long term can be very frustrating for parent and child alike.
Research has shown that chiropractic care can help reduce the frequency and severity of ear infections; In a study of 45 children with ear infections all who were receiving chiropractic care, 93% of the cases resolved while recieving chiropractic care and 75% within 10 days or less. When the spine is misaligned it affects the normal draining of the eustachian tubes. Chiropractic adjustments can help release the pressure on the tubes allowing normal drainage to occur reducing the frequency of ear infections.
Did you know a healthy spine can boost a child’s immunity? As discussed earlier, nerve dysfunction places stress on the communication systems of the body, in particular, the nerve and immune systems. Studies dating back more than 25 years have shown how the immune system benefits from chiropractic care, those under chiropractic care had 200% greater immune competence than those not receiving care. That’s a pretty impressive improvement!
As many parents will know when children start in some form of childcare or schooling more often than not the kids are hit hard with an onslaught of bugs that their immune system has yet to be exposed to, resulting in sick kids and sometimes sick parents and family too!
Chiropractic care is a great option to help build their immune system naturally, having been credited with having “a significant effect on maximising immunity via maintenance of a healthy nervous system.” By Dr. Candice Pert (a leader in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, the study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease). This is a great endorsement for chiropractic care and how it can impact on immunity.
Chiropractic care also has a positive impact on eczema, asthma, colds, digestive issues and constipation. It is important to remember that chiropractors do not treat symptoms but rather remove subluxations and subsequent nerve interference allowing the body to heal itself.
When your chiropractor frees the nerve system from spinal stress, the healing power of the body is improved: The immune system functions more efficiently, resistance to disease increases, and your child's body functions more efficiently. Your child can respond to internal and external environmental stresses such as germs, changes in temperature, humidity, toxins, pollen and all other stresses he/she comes into contact with more efficiently.
Dr. Anna has completed study in pediatric chiropractic care and her passion is working with infants, children and pregnant mothers. Many parents have brought their children to see Dr. Anna and have noticed significant results, more often than not a more settled, happier child. Chiropractic care has been proven to be a safe, gentle and effective practice during infancy and childhood. Here at EBC we have a special kids room, with awesome wall paper and a chiropractic table that looks just like DORY! Dr. Anna uses techniques appropriate for children of all ages, and is wonderful at helping children feel settled and comfortable during their adjustment.
Stay tuned for our next blog about the chiropractic can play a role in resolving bedwetting.
- Roseanna