Have you ever thought about taking your child to see a chiropractor? Here are a few good reasons to consider it!
By Dr. Tanya Tucker
I practice chiropractic care with my husband Dr. Anthony Tucker in Oakville at Upper Oakville Chiropractic Centre. We both regularly see pregnant moms, babies and young families for regular chiropractic adjustments as we know firsthand with our own children the difference regular chiropractic care can make on one’s health.
Many adult problems and ailments can start as an infant or a child, early in life. So why not give your child the best start? Chiropractors encourage you to have your child’s spine and nervous system checked so that they may grow and thrive to be the best they can be!
1. To foster the best possible development of your child or infant. The delicate nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord (located within the spine) which forms the main information highway in the body; if that has interference dysfunction will be the result.
2. To strengthen your child’s immunity. Proper nerve communication in the body will result in fewer ear infections, digestive upsets and a quicker immune response if one does get sick. Therefore less reliance on medications such as antibiotics. (1)
3. To undo the effects of any birth trauma. This can be due to any assistance in the birth process such as; the use of medication to increase the intensity of contractions, forceps or vacuum delivery, even constraints within the uterus before birth, the journey through the birth canal, caesarean section delivery, very long or very short labours. A study by Viola Frymann of 1500 babies examined within the first 5 days of birth concluded that 90% of the babies involved had suffered birth trauma in the neck and cranial region. (2)
4. Enhance the ability of you and your baby to breastfeed. Many breastfeeding issues can be due to birth trauma as previously discussed. Gentle chiropractic adjustments can help with latching difficulties, poor milk supply, feeding well only on one side and poor digestion. Not to mention it’s good for mom to get checked too due the postures with breastfeeding which can result in neck and back discomfort.
5. Improve digestive health in your child. Did you know that all the organs in the body are controlled by the nervous system and hence the spine? Misalignments in the spine (subluxations) may cause nerve interference affecting a specific organ or an organ can refer pain or discomfort to a specific region of the spine. Chiropractic care often help parents deal with digestive upsets such as colic, reflux, and constipation and later on bed wetting.
6. Improving the capacity of your child to learn and concentrate. Nerve interference may impact your child in various ways. Poor communication can inhibit neural plasticity within the brain. Neural plasticity is the ability of the brain to alter its structure due to physical or environmental stimulations.
7. Improve balance and coordination of your child. Did you know that on average a child will fall 2500 times before the age of 7 and before the age of 3 will have had 3 major falls off change tables, out of cribs or down the stairs. (3) All of these knocks and bumps can take a toll on your child and then be expressed through poor balance, irritability ,poor behaviour and concentration, the list goes on!
8. To assist your child with any behavioural or emotional problems; this may be due to nerve interference which can affect the brain and the chemical messengers relating to emotions. (1)
9. To improve spinal posture. These little spines have so much stress unknowingly put on them at such a young vulnerable age. Think school bags, sport bags, phones, ipads, computers, T.V’s and prolonged times of inactivity. All of these can take a toll on your child’s developing spine and set them up for spinal dysfunction.
10. To improve the general overall health and well being of your child so that they may experience life to fullest and live to their maximum potential. Who would not want that for their child?
For more information and to make an appointment call 905-849-1400, visit Upper Oakville Chiropractic's website or check out their Facebook page.
References
1. Barham-Floreani, Dr. Jennifer Well Adjusted Babies : Vitality Productions; 2006
2. Frymann, VM. Springall P. Effect of Osteopathic Medical Management on Neurologic Development in Children. JAOA. 1992; 92:729.
3. Del Rosso J. (2004). Boosting Immunity through Chiropractic. (Online). Available: http:www.bizmonthly.com/61998focus/delrosso.html. (2005)
