As parents and legal guardians, you may be aware of the benefits of chiropractic care for adults. However, did you know that chiropractic care is beneficial for people of all ages? Chiropractors may hear patients ask, “Is chiropractic care safe for my kids?” and “Does my child need chiropractic care too?” These are excellent questions, which this article will discuss. Unfortunately, misinformation exists that affects parents and legal guardians’ views on pediatric chiropractic care. These myths make it challenging to determine what is true and what is false. We hope this article can dispel some common myths about chiropractic care for children and help you decide if this holistic care is a good fit for your child’s health and wellness needs.
Myth: Chiropractic Care is Dangerous for Kids
This myth is usually a result of people’s fear from not understanding what chiropractic care is and what it can do for the human body. A 2015 study stated that there were no adverse side effects associated with pediatric chiropractic adjustments. When performed by a chiropractor, these adjustments for children are a safe and gentle procedure.
As children continue to grow, their bodies change. Chiropractors are aware of this and will adjust their treatment plan based on their health needs and changes in their physiology and anatomy.
When children receive a chiropractic treatment, keep in mind that these adjustments do not hurt. Some children may be afraid of the popping noise or quick movements that the chiropractor makes during the adjustment. Children may also 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 the 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 feel less worried too.
For those still unsure about pediatric chiropractic care, chiropractors will encourage parents and legal guardians to contact their child’s primary health care provider. Their provider will likely tell them chiropractic is safe and beneficial for children of all ages. If a chiropractor decides that a child needs to see another specialist for their health and wellness needs, they can easily refer the child to the appropriate doctor offices.
Myth: Chiropractors Use the Same Techniques for Adults and Children
Despite this common myth, chiropractors continue to provide custom 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 to ensure the chiropractor performs a safe and effective spinal adjustment. In turn, this helps realign a child’s spine.
Before age six, a child’s spine is not completely hardened. Thus, chiropractors only need to use light pressure to restore a child’s spine or joints into alignment. Since only light pressure is used, chiropractors place no more than 2 pounds of pressure on a child’s undeveloped spine or joints. This will address and treat their health issues, as well as restore their spine or joint functionality.
Myth: Children Don’t Need Chiropractic Care
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Before the age of three, young children don’t have the language skills needed to communicate their feelings, pain, or discomfort. This makes it challenging to tell if an infant or toddler has health concerns that could benefit from holistic care.
As kids grow, they will eventually get hurt from playing, jumping, falling, and being silly. This can lead to possible injuries. Chiropractic care can help ensure the child’s spine is in proper alignment, which will improve the child’s range of motion, help them heal faster, and prevent future injuries.
Aside from obvious injuries, chiropractors are trained to observe other issues, such as a toddler who is slow to stand up or an infant that favors turning their head to one side. Since misalignments can happen at any age, children can benefit from chiropractic care too. Parents and legal guardians should remember that taking their child to a chiropractor doesn’t mean there is something necessarily wrong with them. Instead, taking their child to a chiropractor is an investment in their health because the spine and nervous system will be working optimally. 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 the child up for sustainable health and wellness.
Myth: Children Have to Reach a Certain Age to Receive Chiropractic Care
There are no age restrictions when it comes to chiropractic. 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 chiropractic office, where the chiropractor will discuss treatment options and provide a personalized plan based on the child’s age, size, and health needs. Receiving a pediatric chiropractic adjustment will ensure that children have an early start towards obtaining optimal health. When the spine is properly aligned and the nervous system is working at its best, this offers several benefits for children regarding their mental and physical health, growth, development, and happiness.
Common Issues that Chiropractors Treat:
- Allergies
- Breastfeeding issues
- Colic
- Digestive issues
- Irritability
- Pain
- Sleep issues
As you can see, chiropractic care is safe for children of all ages. We hope this article debunked some of the common myths surrounding chiropractic care online. It’s always important to find factual information from reliable sources, including chiropractic websites, journals, and organizations like the ACA (American Chiropractic Association). If you are looking for chiropractic care for your child, contact Keystone Chiropractic today. We would love to become your new Plano, TX chiropractors!
