Chiropractors often hear their patients ask, “Is chiropractic care safe for children?” and “Do children need chiropractic care?” These are great questions, which will be discussed in today’s article. Like anything online, misinformation does exist and can influence parents and legal guardians’ views on pediatric chiropractic care. This misinformation can make it difficult to determine what is true and what isn’t. We hope this article can dispel some common myths about chiropractic care for kids and help you determine if this type of holistic care is right for your child’s health and wellness needs.
Myth: Chiropractic Care Is Not Safe for Children
This myth is typically due to people’s fear from not understanding what chiropractic care is and what it can do for the human body. A 2015 study found that there were no adverse effects linked to pediatric chiropractic adjustments. When performed by a licensed chiropractor, chiropractic adjustments for children are a safe, gentle, and effective procedure.
As children continue to grow, their bodies will change. Chiropractors understand this and will adjust their treatment plan based on their health needs and changes in their physiology and anatomy.
When children receive a chiropractic adjustment, it’s important to remember that these adjustments do not hurt. However, some children may be scared of the noise or quick movements that the chiropractor makes during the procedure. Some children may cry due to a fear of strangers or negative experiences with doctors in the past. Luckily, chiropractors are aware of this possibility, which is why they will sit down, meet your child, and discuss the child’s treatment plan before the first adjustment. When parents and legal guardians are more relaxed, this will help their child calm down as well.
For parents and legal guardians that are still unsure of chiropractic care, chiropractors will encourage them to contact their child’s primary health care provider. This provider will most likely tell them that chiropractic is safe and beneficial for children. If a chiropractor determines that a child needs to see a different specialist for their health and wellness needs, they can easily refer the child to the appropriate doctors.
Myth: Chiropractors Use the Same Techniques for Children and Adults
Despite the common belief that chiropractors use the same technique for all ages, chiropractors continue to provide personalized chiropractic treatment plans for patients based on their age and health needs. The type of adjustment needed for a child is based on their size and age, which will help ensure that the chiropractor performs a safe and effective spinal adjustment. In turn, this will help realign a child’s spine.
Before the age of six, a child’s spine is not fully hardened. With this knowledge, chiropractors only need to use light pressure to restore a child’s spine or joints into alignment. Since only light pressure is needed, this means chiropractors place no more than around 2 pounds of pressure on the child’s spine or joints, which are still undeveloped. This will address and treat any health concerns, as well as improve their spine or joint functionality.
Myth: Children Don’t Need Chiropractic Care
Like the other myths, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Before the age of three, young children do not have the language skills to convey their feelings of pain and discomfort. This makes it hard to tell if an infant or toddler has health concerns that could benefit from holistic care.
As kids get older, they will continue to test boundaries as they play, jump, fall, and explore the world. This can lead to injuries. Chiropractic care can help restore the child’s spine back to proper alignment, which improves the child’s range of motion, helps them heal faster, and prevents future injuries.
Aside from common injuries, chiropractors are trained to notice other issues, such as a toddler who is slow to stand up or an infant that prefers to turn their head to a particular side. Since misalignments can happen at any age, it makes sense that children benefit from chiropractic care too. Parents and legal guardians should remember that taking their child to a chiropractor doesn’t mean that there is something necessarily “wrong” with them. Instead, taking their child to a chiropractor is an investment in their health because the spine and central nervous system will be working properly. In turn, this will make it easier to maintain a healthy spine and nervous system that improves the body’s functions, helps the body heal faster, and prevents future injuries. Most importantly, it will set children up for lasting health and wellness into adulthood.
Myth: Children Have to Be a Certain Age for Chiropractic Care
This is another common myth, in which parents and legal guardians think their children need to reach a certain age before chiropractic care becomes an option. However, there are no age restrictions when it comes to chiropractic. Indeed, chiropractic care is safe for all ages, from infants and toddlers to school-aged children and teenagers, along with adults. Parents and legal guardians can take their child to a chiropractor, who will discuss treatment options and customize a plan based on the child’s age, size, and health needs. By receiving a chiropractic adjustment, children will have an early start towards achieving optimal health. After all, when the spine is properly aligned and the central nervous system is working at its best, this offers countless benefits to the child regarding their mental and physical health, growth, development, and happiness.
Pediatric Chiropractors treat these common issues:
- Allergies
- Breastfeeding issues
- Colic
- Digestive issues
- Irritability
- Pain
- Sleep issues and much more
We hope you enjoyed this week’s latest article discussing common myths about chiropractic care for children and the facts to dispel them. It’s always important to find factual information about chiropractic care, which can be found on chiropractic websites, journals, and organizations, such as the ACA (American Chiropractic Association). If you are looking for chiropractic care for your child, contact West Michigan Chiropractic today. We would love to become your new Portage, MI pediatric chiropractor!