People often ask why kids might need to see a chiropractor - they can’t possibly have back pain, right? Well, back pain is not the only issue chiropractic care can help with. In fact, our main goal in chiropractic practice is to reduce stress on the musculoskeletal system and allow the nervous system to function at its best.
Kids have different needs than adults do, and parents often bring their kids to see a chiropractor to check their overall posture and alignment, which is a great idea as kids grow and develop. In the experience of our resident chiropractor, Dr Jessica Mangala, there are also specific circumstances where chiropractic care can help them to live their lives to the fullest.
Physical stresses
Kids may not have stress on their spines and bodies as adults do, but there are a few key physical factors that affect them:
Kids are more likely to have frequent bumps and falls. Impacts like this can cause misalignments or injury to joints, even if only minor.
Between the ages of 14-16, their bodies also go through many changes as they develop and reach skeletal maturity.
The increased use of technology and devices such as smartphones has led to poor postural habits including slouching or forward head carriage in kids. Muscle tone and motor control is also lacking in kids who spend more time in front of screens than moving and being active (1).
Parents may bring their kids in to see how chiropractic care can help address the ill affects of these stresses and help the musculoskeletal system develop properly throughout teen years.
Autonomic Nervous system
Your autonomic nervous system controls all those involuntary functions your body does without you thinking about it. It also balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which help your body adapt to its surroundings.
Chiropractic adjustments can address abnormal stress along your spine, which can slow down your nervous system and make it harder for your body to adjust to outside stresses (2). It’s the same for your kids, who can then be more effected by things like:
Overstimulation and sensitivity to lights and sound
Digestion issues
Poor and disturbed sleep patterns
Stress and anxiety
Of course, chiropractic care isn’t a magic fix for these issues and should be considered as one part of a wider lifestyle of good habits and health management for your kids. If your child is struggling with any of the above problems, a consultation with a trained chiropractor can help you determine how effective spinal manipulations might be as part of their care plan.
Kids’ growing bodies need a lot of care and attention and chiropractic can be a valuable part of that. Get in touch with our team today to talk about the options for your children.
Sources
1 R Mustafaoglu, E Zirek, Z Yasacı, A Ozdincler., The Negative Effects of Digital Technology Usage on Children’s Development and Health, The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 2018
2 Chiropractic Care effect on the Autonomic Nervous System, Clark Road Chiropractic Centre, 2016