by Oasis Wellness Partners on November 4, 2019
Due to the rise in alternative medicine use, more people are taking their health, and the health of their families, into their own hands. Along with yoga and massage, chiropractic manipulation is one of the most used non-traditional health practices for children to try.
Chiropractic care isn’t just for grown-ups. In fact, there are many reasons, like a drug-free approach, to take your child to a skilled and experienced chiropractor. Here, we feature 8 reasons why chiropractic helps your kids.
One of the most important qualities of healthy childhood habits is getting a full night’s sleep. But for the nearly 30 percent of children who experience sleep disorders like sleepwalking, sleep apnea, insomnia, and night terrors, it’s an ongoing challenge.
But with the help of a chiropractor, sleep issues can be vastly improved. Gentle massage and spinal adjustments are the ideal treatments to help your child feel more relaxed. In turn, this relaxed state helps them get a better night’s sleep.
A baby who cries several hours a day can make many new parents feel helpless. Infants who suffer from bouts of colic often cry for up to three hours a day. Symptoms emerge around six weeks of age, then disappear by four months.
But with nearly 15 percent of newborn babies being diagnosed with colic, the common condition is actually very treatable. Chiropractic is a safe and natural way to ease colic symptoms and reduce the amount of crying by 50 percent. The long-term benefits of chiropractic care to treat infant colic, such as fewer incidences of waking up at night and temper tantrums, were also documented.
Any parent of a child who plays baseball, basketball, gymnastics, or any other sport, knows how easy it is for sports injuries to happen. Something as simple as a tumble into home base can have major potential for long-term issues down the road. But with the help of a great chiropractor, your child’s injuries can be helped.
With regular treatment and the practice of a few simple stretching techniques, they’ll be on the mend in no time. And for kids who want to improve their game, chiropractic manipulation can help too! A study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation reported that in just 12 weeks, athletes who were under chiropractic care improved their agility, balance, kinesthetic perception, power, and reaction time by 30 percent.
Whether it’s a cold, a bump on the noggin, or an earache, when your child gets a headache, you want to help make it stop. But medication isn’t always the answer, especially if your little one has allergies.
Because 95 percent of headaches are caused by muscle tension in the back or neck, spinal manipulation and adjustments can help. They work by relieving the tension in the body and help calm muscles and joints.
Ask any parent if their child has ever had an earache and more often than not the answer is yes. In fact, five out of six children will experience an ear infection by the time they are three. For some, the cause might be due to a cold, virus, or sinus infection.
Although strong antibiotics are often prescribed, there are gentler ways to treat ear infections. And the good news is studies have proven chiropractic treatment of earaches is very effective. Adjustments to the spine and nervous system are able to help strengthen the immune system and help your child manage pain better.
Two out of five children and teenagers will experience growing pains in their lives. The throbbing aches and pains in the arms and legs are strong enough to wake them up from a deep sleep. Despite popular belief, growing pains are not actually related to growth spurts.
Instead, they are the result of the rigorous daily physical activities children participate in. This stress can manifest in the spine and affect the nervous system. A visit to the chiropractor can help calm the pain associated with growing pains and take the pressure off the spine.
Children experiencing all types of digestive problems such as constipation, acid reflux, and stomachaches can reap the rewards of chiropractic treatment. Because there are specific areas of the spine connected to digestion, if any areas are out of alignment, the body will loudly react.
These inflammatory qualities block the body’s ability to properly digest food while wreaking havoc on the stomach. Nerve function also affects how the body manages digestion. Chiropractic treatment can be very beneficial because once the spine is aligned with gentle manipulation, better digestion resumes.
When your child is in pain, you want to do everything you can to help them feel better. And when it comes to kids and chiropractic care, there is nothing that can’t be achieved.
When you’re ready to try a new approach, we’re here to help your family heal. We have 28 years of experience as chiropractors serving Southern Maine. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today at (207) 883-5549.