Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe For Children? Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive form of spinal manipulation that focuses on diagnosing and treating back neck or joint pain. Chiropractors have licensed health care professionals who specialize in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system as it relates to the spine.
The most common cause of childhood back pain is an injury or sports-related strain. Less commonly, there can be injuries from falls and deformities that affect vertebrae alignment resulting in lower back and leg pain. These can be effectively treated using chiropractic techniques.
Chiropractic treatment is one of the safest forms of health care available for children.
Before chiropractic treatment is provided to a child, a thorough examination is conducted to determine if there are any underlying conditions. Conditions such as scoliosis or spinal abnormalities would be treated accordingly.
The primary method used for evaluating the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments is an objective means of assessing the spine’s range of motion.
Research has shown that performing chiropractic treatment on children results in an increased range of motion and reduced pain. Improvements are reported in both internal and external examinations especially on physical tests when a chiropractor performs the exam
A chiropractor with specific training in pediatric chiropractic will work with newborns, babies, and children. Although it’s not common for infants to see a chiropractor, it has proven very beneficial nonetheless. The average age of a child receiving their first adjustment from a trained professional is 5 years old.
All spinal conditions cause pain, discomfort, and difficulty with activities they used to do before they became ill or injured.
Spinal injuries can be caused by accidents as well as birth defects. When children are younger and muscles are stronger than bones, spinal injuries are more likely to occur.
The spinal deformity occurs when there is some change in vertebrae that results in compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. For example, scoliosis occurs when the spine is curved one way but has its original shape in another direction.
Children also see a pediatric chiropractor for joint and neck pain, headaches and migraines, and torticollis (wry neck).
For infants, chiropractic treatment can be used to relieve colic and other infantile reflux issues.
A child’s treatment depends on the type of injury(s) and what type of care is most appropriate for their age. What is considered minimally invasive treatments for adults, such as the use of instrument-assisted spinal adjustments are used. This involves using an activator or drop table.
Soft tissue techniques (mobilization/manipulation/applied kinesiology), are also commonly used for children.
A pediatric chiropractor will evaluate a child’s injury and develop a treatment plan based on their age, size, and weight, as well as their medical history.
It is recommended for patients to have updated x-rays taken; especially, if they are suffering from chronic back pain. Over time, the spine naturally shows changes that need to be documented on x-rays.
Chiropractic treatment offers so many benefits for children including:
This treatment provides relief for different types of back problems that are not associated with the spinal problem. The procedure is performed by a trained chiropractor who has been familiarized with the growth patterns of children and teenagers. This treatment offers immediate relief from pain and helps to improve the condition of a child’s back over time.
Chiropractic treatment uses specific techniques that target the damaged nerve roots or vertebrae for quick healing and strengthening of the spine. It also aided in improving the body’s function as per your need.
Chiropractic treatment helps children and youth to overcome pain, discomfort, and limitation due to chronic conditions caused by spinal problems.
Chiropractic treatment is an effective treatment option for children, providing freedom from the body’s limitations as they grow up. The chiropractic treatment also helps to improve the body’s elasticity in the spine region improving posture and movement.
The chiropractic treatment is safe for children with proper safety precautions followed by an expert chiropractor. The chiropractic treatment has minimal risks and can be performed by an expert chiropractor who uses soft hands during the procedure. There are no reported cases of death due to spine manipulations performed by a physician.
Chiropractic treatment is a noninvolved process that uses physical adjustments to correct the alignment of the spine. The doctor applies gentle force to minimize pressure on the spinal cord. He may also adjust the joints of the lower back, neck, and upper extremities to improve motion and restore posture.
Children with scoliosis can be helped by chiropractic treatment. Scoliosis is when your spine has a curve or curves forward too much. Regular chiropractic care is administered to correct their vertebrae and keep the curve in the spine at a proper level.
A child’s spinal curvature might also be improved if it is getting worse due to normal development, such as growth spurts.
Chiropractic treatment can help children to relieve pain, improve mobility and assist in the improvement of general health. The effectiveness of these treatments is proven by many clinical studies and therefore has gained popularity over time.
For a non-invasive, drug-free solution to help your child with chronic pain, chiropractic treatments can be your best option. However, these treatments should still be monitored by a primary care physician, such as an M.D. or D.O.