Kids & Chiropractic

Most parents still think of Chiropractors as practitioners who “crack bones”, and while they are often happy to experience Chiropractic care for themselves, they still hold concerns about the safety or necessity of Chiropractic care for their children. It is important to point out that there are hundreds of different techniques commonly used by Chiropractors to deal with particular situations. The manipulative techniques are those we are “famous” for. However there are many “low-force” techniques that don’t involve manipulation and that are ideally suited for children. These might consist of Cranial techniques, sacro-occipital technique, activator methods, myofascial techniques, and stretch and exercise techniques. Each age group has its peculiar needs and should to be approached in a different way.

Chiropractors have maintained for many years that Chiropractic is safe, appropriate and effective at treating many conditions commonly seen in children. So much so, that we commonly treat disabled children as well as functionally normal ones. The traumas of birthing; bumps and falls during toddlerhood; joint and muscle effects of growth spurts; lack of exercise; the effects of carrying schoolbags and many more are all circumstances that can lead to aches and pains in children and concern to parents. Added to this are the irritative effects on the body of processed and refined foods, additives, sugar, salt, hydrogenated fats and estrogenic chemicals, which can all alter normal processing of information and result in weakness, growth abnormalities, behavioural disorders and poor health.

It is necessary, therefore to look at a child’s condition holistically, and to approach any problem with the assistance and involvement of parents. Children tend to experience different issues at different stages. Let’s look at some of the common issues Chiropractors see within different age groups:

Newborns:

Difficult births are not just problematic for mums. The effects on a baby’s neck, shoulders, hips and pelvis can be such that they may experience contractures, inflammation and spasms. Forceps delivery, vacuum delivery, C section, breech positions and protracted labour can all lead to these conditions. How does a newborn baby tell you it has a headache, or neck pain? Are such things even possible in babies? Why not?

Every parent has experienced their child being restless and irritable, going off their food, not attaching to one or other breast properly, twisting itself into the same sleep position every time it goes to bed. We often imagine all sorts of explanations for these events.

Toddlers:

The changes in reflexes, coordination and spatial awareness that allow toddlers to explore their environment and interact with objects and other people is indeed incredible. So many pathways are being stimulated and the brain is developing so rapidly that changes occur from day to day. Not surprisingly, parents are encouraged to stimulate the development of these changes by playing games of coordination, balance and movement with their toddlers to reinforce the wonderful progress taking place in their children. This is even more important if there have been any developmental delays or if disabilities have been identified. During this time, the arches in their feet begin to develop (around 3 years old); children fall over frequently; they bump and bruise themselves, and start developing movement habits that may continue into later life. Chiropractors are ideally suited to monitor developmental milestones and assist parents in stimulating their child’s development. Autism and Cerebral Palsy are common conditions that parents often use Chiropractic care to assist with. Recurrent middle ear infections can also respond to Chiropractic care, and there is more evidence emerging of the benefit of Chiropractic in other respiratory ailments like Asthma as well. The Chiropractor can check whether the frequent bumps and falls at this age have affected normal movement and muscle function. Parents are given play activities to use, and are shown other simple home care strategies when necessary. Behavioural problems, digestive complaints and recurrent infections related to diet can also become more obvious during this time, so the Chiropractor can assist parents in formulating food diaries and trialling elimination diets.

Pre-teens:

Kids in primary school start being more frequently exposed to undesirable food products, they develop much more strongly in their personalities and go through significant growth spurts. Those that are highly competitive in sport often succumb to groin, thigh and knee injuries; while those who tend to be more lethargic and sedentary can begin to develop back aches and headaches. It should be stressed that playing video games or using a computer for extended periods can cause neck, shoulder and back problems that often become more prominent in their later teenage years. Carrying heavy and incorrectly fitted schoolbags can lead to muscle imbalances, shoulder and neck pain as well as postural distortions such as scoliosis. As the leg bones tend to grow unevenly during growth spurts, this can often result in stresses and strains on cartilage, particularly in the hip and knee. The mysterious “growing pains” that many children experience are usually due to the effects of this uneven growth and the stress it causes the muscles, ligaments and cartilage- particularly of the legs. Chiropractic can help alleviate some of the symptoms of joint stress, and parents are often additionally taught simple massage techniques and stretches that will give their child relief till the growth spurt stabilises. The manipulative techniques that Chiropractors are well known for generally start to be used during this age, though some Chiropractors (and parents) may prefer to continue with the non-manipulative styles used in younger children. It is always up to you which style of adjustments you prefer for your child. One approach is not necessarily better than another. Indeed, many adults prefer non-manipulative techniques for themselves as well, so there is no hard and fast rule as to which style best suits a given situation. Allan Kalamir the chief Chiropractor, has almost two decades of experience in treating children of all ages. Common problems he is well known for helping include ADD/ADHD, the effects of Cerebral Palsy, asthma and other immune disorders in kids. He often uses dietary modifications, herbal and other supplements as part of his treatment strategy, but more importantly he involves and empowers parents to participate and take an active role in treatment. He is well known and respected among local doctors and dentists as a Chiropractor they can work with, and one who maintains the highest ethical standards.

Teens and Young Adults:

The hormonal changes that transform kids into adults often causes more than the obvious outward changes of puberty. Changes in bone density, muscle power and body mass also affect the posture, circulation and walking habits. Teenagers often spend a lot of time sitting- in school, doing homework, on the computer, playing video games, watching T.V. etc. This can have a weakening effect on the spine and the core muscles. These are also the years that many teenagers see a dentist about getting braces to straighten their teeth or change their dental appearance. The effects of braces on headache and posture distortions are well known to Chiropractors. We frequently find ourselves manipulating facial, cranial and spinal joints to minimise the irritative effects of braces on postural mechanisms.

Obvious physical changes such as the development of the chest in girls can cause self conscious behaviour that results in their shoulders being hunched forward to make themselves look less conspicuous. The effect is often mid-back strain and increased curvature of the upper back, with symptoms such as aches in the shoulders, between the shoulder blades and up the neck into the head. Chiropractic can help to keep the back mobile and functional and to strengthen it against postural weakness that so easily takes hold during these important years. The emotional and psychological stresses of puberty can cause behavioural reactions that involve elevation of the shoulders and tightness in the neck muscles. Headaches are a frequent finding in this group. Chiropractic can provide great relief to these types of headaches and minimise the need for medication.

So no matter what age your kids are, whether they are disabled or not, Chiropractic can be of assistance. Chiropractic care can be adapted to be suitable for any age group and any state of of health. Research findings overwhelmingly show that chiropractic care is very SAFE. If you would like to discuss what Chiropractic can do for you or your children, please call the clinic on (02) 9822 0588 to find out more or to arrange an appointment.