5800 Monroe St. A11 Sylvania, OH

Myth: Chiropractic care is only for adults

by | March 23, 2017

Chiropractic physicians adjust children all the time for various reasons. Kids can get headaches, neck pain and back pain just like adults. Kids can also get injured in sports and have tennis elbow or knee pain. Kids fall down and go boom.

Pick the type of pain and joint or muscle and a kid can be treated for it. Many migraines start in late childhood or adolescence. Even babies that are minutes or hours old can be adjusted.

There are other things that can be treated by chiropractic physicians that are considered more controversial by the general medical community. Chiropractors have treated kids who have asthma, ear infections and colic and have had amazing results, however, there is not good research to support this.

It is basically thousands of chiropractors and chiropractic patients who have watched children get better after getting treated. The problem with these stories is that they are not research. The stories can be very compelling but it is not hard data. That being said there is value in the stories.

While the underlying cause of the problems will not be directly affected by the treatment, it makes sense anatomically and physiologically that chiropractic care can help. Often times, kids that have ear infections also have associated neck symptoms. Those neck symptoms can cause spasms in the neck that can cause associated spasms in the back of the throat around the tube that connects to the middle ear.

The reason why your ears pop when you yawn is because these tubes open up. The kids typically respond quickly when they have an ear infection because the adjustment causes these other muscles to relax and allows the tubes to open up. I’ve seen kids that have had the surgical treatment that were not helped at all who responded with one adjustment.

A chiropractic physician is not going to directly affect the inflammation or constriction of the bronchi and a child that has asthma but what we can affect is the thoracic spine and the rib joints in the front and back. Often, kids with asthma have major restrictions in these areas in freeing the restrictions can help to reduce the symptoms significantly. Symptoms from colic can be helped because adjustments to the lumbar spine can affect the infant’s autonomic nervous system.

These are obviously very simple explanations for the sake of space, but there is a biomechanical or neurological basis behind these treatments. I will not preach that there is “nerve interference” that causes these issues because there are legitimate arguments as to how they affect the body’s physiology.

Other Posts

Hallux Rigidus and Hallux Limitus: A Comprehensive Guide

Hallux Rigidus and Hallux Limitus are two common foot conditions that can cause significant pain and discomfort. They both involve the big toe joint but have distinct differences in terms of their causes, symptoms, and treatments. In this article, we will explore...

The Weather and Joint Pain: Uncovering the Connection

Have you ever noticed that your joint pain seems to worsen when the weather changes? You're not alone. Nearly 2/3 of people with chronic joint conditions experience an increase in symptoms when it is damp/rainy and/or during cold weather. In this article, we'll...

Knee Osteoarthritis: What You Need to Know

Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disorder that occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions and lubricates the bones of the knee joint becomes worn down. It is one of the most common forms of arthritis, estimated to affect up to 10% of men and 13% of...

Understanding Hip Osteoarthritis: A Guide

Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects the hip joints, causing pain and disability. It is one of the most common forms of arthritis and has been estimated to affect around 10 million people in the United States alone. Hip osteoarthritis can...

Calcaneal Bursitis: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Calcaneal bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones and soft tissues in the heel. It can cause pain and swelling in the back of the heel and make it difficult to walk or stand for long periods of time. Calcaneal...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This