Our Children's Spine's

Thanks for reading along! Please feel free to forward this to folks you think it may help. Today I’ll provide you an introduction to chiropractic for kids, from newborns to teens.

Here is a list of the more common things our children may suffer that chiropractic can often help.

• neonatal torticollis (infant’s head and neck stuck in a sideways position.)

• pediatric ear infection

• colic

• nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting)

• scoliosis and postural problems

For now we will look at the first two on the list and cover the others in future newsletters.

Neonatal Torticollis

I have helped quite a few infants get over this condition, but not nearly as many as I and my profession might do if more parents were aware of this alternative.

This condition affects people of all ages, and most commonly occurs with newborns due to the stresses on their necks during delivery. In this sense it is the first injury that a person may every experience. It is caused when the neck vertebrae become slightly misaligned and locked (called subluxations), just as it occurs with adults. If this is left unattended it can result in cranial deformities and scoliosis as the infant grows.

Extremely gentle chiropractic adjustments and gentle mobilization of the neck can release the blockages that keep the child’s head rotated and tilted to one side.

Ear Infections (otitis media)

As with neonatal torticollis, I believe far more wee ones with this condition would benefit from chiropractic if more parents were aware and willing to forego rounds of often useless antibiotic, and ear tube surgeries in favor of this gentle and natural alternative.

The same kind of birth trauma that causes neonatal torticollis can produce subluxations that affect the way the middle ear functions, making the child susceptible to infections. Gentle adjustments and mobilizations of the upper neck can be an effective tool in managing this condition.

Recurrent ear infections can of course have other causes in infants, and diet can have a role in this. Breastfeeding is best for the first months of life, and some would suggest it is best to keep this up longer - a year or more. Mom’s - keep in mind that what you eat becomes incorporated into your breast milk. Your diet is in this sense your child’s diet a well. Paleo is best (see my earlier newsletters).

For toddlers - Warm baths, blow drying the hair afterwards, with a focus of the warm air on the affected ear, chicken broth with a bit of steeped fresh garlic. Avoidance of sugar in the diet. In a handful of European countries, pediatricians have stopped prescribing antibiotics for ear infection as a first-line approach in non-severe cases due to the relative ineffectiveness and the risk of creating bacterial resistance, and recurrent infections. In such cases, children’s pain relievers are often recommended instead.

On The Level

Understanding how chiropractic can help our children simply requires considering the the bigger picture in what we do. Our goal is to keep spines functioning normally. Spinal dysfunction can affect people of any age, and produce health problems that go far beyond simple back pain. Let us know if we can help one of your wee ones!!!

Until next time, blessing to you, and your wee ones!!!