Most parents recognize the importance of regular medical and dental checkups for their children, but often shy away from having their child’s spine assessed by a chiropractor.
The spine plays an imperative role in protecting our brain and nervous system. Parents often do not recognize the stress that children experience. Physical, chemical, and emotional stressors can all bring our brain out of balance, slowing the body’s ability to heal and giving rise to fatigue, nausea, irritability, and headaches.
Here are some common causes of stress, along with symptoms of these stressors, that parents should watch for at different stages in a child’s life. Each of these everyday stressors can result in physical problems and can be treated through chiropractic care.
Common Childhood Stressors That Can Be Treated With Chiropractic
Birth
Children can undergo quite a bit of physical stress as they are born. The more intervention, the greater the possibility for trauma.
It is important for a chiropractor to understand your child’s birth. Some common questions we ask: Was the delivery a C-section? Did the doctor use forceps? Was your child was breech at the time of the delivery?
Take notice: Does your child prefer turning his or her head one way, or feeding on one side? Is your child colicky or not sleeping well? All children are born to be healthy and at a young age that means being calm, sleeping well, and having regular bowel movements.
Childhood Development
Children can be challenged regularly by normal development. From crawling to learning to walk your child can fall hundreds of times.
Your child should have normal developmental milestones. Participating in a yearly growth check-up with non-invasive CryoVizion technology will allow a chiropractor to detect early signs of scoliosis. Chiropractic doctors are trained to recognize these signs and will document any spinal neural stress.
Emotional Stress
Children today are emotionally and physically stressed by challenges such as peer pressure, schoolwork, social media, and difficulties at home. These types of stress can manifest into poor behavior, headaches, digestive problems, and an inability to focus.
It is important and imperative that a chiropractor take the time to explore your child’s home and school environment in order to make the biggest impact on your child’s health, naturally.
Athletics
If your child is engaged in physical activity or is a competitive athlete, it is important to have your child visit a chiropractor for an examination.
Many top athletes and sport teams have a chiropractor on their team and athletes are treated regularly. Having a balanced brain and nervous system throughout the year is ideal for sports performance and the addition of a chiropractor will help ensure each athlete is the best they can be.
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At Vita Health Clinic, we always recommend a baseline exam for babies soon after delivery and beginning when your child begins to crawl and walk, as these are periods when trauma occurs—even if your child is free of symptoms. This would be for similar reasons that you get your child into see the dentist before they have cavities.
7 Reasons to take a Healthy Child To See a Chiropractor
1. To encourage good neural plasticity (brain and nerve development).
2. To support “first-class” nerve communication throughout the body–promoting health and well-being.
3. To help strengthen a child’s immunity—encouraging fewer colds, earaches, and general illness.
4. To help resolve breastfeeding issues and colic.
5. Encourages children to thrive by supporting digestive strength.
6. To promote body balance—helping to resolve poor posture, asthma, allergies, and bed-wetting.
7. To help improve a child’s ability to learn and concentrate.
Be sure to see a chiropractor that uses completely non-invasive methods and one who has taken pediatric and prenatal courses. Ask whether a child will be exposed to x-rays and whether the practitioner has experience dealing with children.
At Vita Integrative Health Clinic, we encourage parents to make informed decisions for their family. Go to www.VitaHealthClinic.com and click on “Healthy Families” or “Conditions” for more information. For research regarding Chiropractic and Pediatrics.
For research regarding chiropractic and paediatrics consult the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.
Dr. Vince Pantano obtained his Doctor of Chiropractic after receiving his degree in Physical Education and Health. He also has a Masters in Education.
Vita Integrative Health Clinic in Toronto was established in 1996 and has won the 2014 Patient Choice Award, 2015 Top Choice Award, and Masters Circle Chiropractor of the Year award. Vita’s mission is to serve the community with love, education, and life enhancing care so that they may have the life and health of their dreams. Chiropractors at Vita have completed paediatric and prenatal courses and are parents themselves.
If you live in the Toronto area, contact Vita for a complimentary workshop!
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
- Tips for Your Child’s First Trip to the Dentist
- 8 Ways Yoga Benefits Kids (Beyond Physical Health)
- The Art of Simple Aromatherapy for Kids
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It helped when you mentioned how a chiropractor should consider the home environment when treating a kid. It is important to understand that doing some research can help you find the best treatment for your type of needs. My brother has been complaining about extreme headaches, so we want to try a chiropractor.