What is Paediatric Chiropractic Care?

A child’s body undergoes a lot of trauma. They’re starting to learn how to move about in the world. Children are constantly in a state of play and discovery. Children experience not only physical but emotional stress early on in their lives. Chiropractic care works well for children because their bodies are still growing. The alignment of the spine is very important for proper development. Chiropractors can alleviate tense muscles that lead to a misaligned spine or subluxation. This condition leads to other health conditions and physical issues. These include ear infections, headaches, asthma, and much more. Paediatric care requires a different set of techniques.

Here are five important benefits of taking your child to the chiropractor.

1. Improved Sleep

Since chiropractic care works to release stress in the body, it can improve sleep. Certain tensions can cause sleeping troubles such as insomnia. Sleep is an essential part of a child’s life. It doesn’t just help them function during the day. It’s important for their development and emotional wellbeing. Chiropractic care can also help address the issue of bed wetting.

2. Immune System Support

Chiropractic care has many benefits for a child’s immune system. It can help a child who’s suffering from a cold or infection. This support can also improve their immunity functions. Going to a chiropractor can improve a child’s digestive system and target related issues. Adjustments end stomach problems such as constipation or reflux.

3. Better Behaviour

Less stress leads to better behaviour. Chiropractic care helps children improve their mood and attitude by releasing tension. Improved sleep will also lessen stress for your child and help them function during the day.

4. Nervous System Support

The benefits of child chiropractic adjustments extend into the nervous system. Chiropractors make sure the spine is growing in the correct way. This prevents and treats certain nervous system issues like ear infections. This care can also treat asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. It does this by targeting misaligned nerves that affect a child’s respiratory system.

5. Brain Development

Chiropractic care can have a great effect on your child’s neural brain development. It does this by releasing pressure on bones and joints, as well as the spine. Increased brain development promotes better concentration. It can improve focus and reduce hyperactivity. This includes targeting conditions such as ADHD. Paediatric chiropractic care has serious health benefits for your child. It can affect their wellbeing and development as a person in so many positive ways.

REFLUX and Chiropractic care

GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) or more commonly known as reflux is the passage of gastric contents into the esophagus with or without vomiting and regurgitation. Regurgitation is passive and effortless while vomiting is forceful. The classic presentation of GERD is excessive crying, back arching, feed refusal, failure to thrive and sleep disturbances however, it is accepted that none of these signs are consistently related to GERD under 3-4 months of age. Many infants experience multiple episodes of regurgitation without any adverse effects over the first months. Reflux approaches a peak around 4 months of age and from 6 months drops off sharply (LES tone development). Signs that can be associated with GERD include apnea, weight loss or inadequate weight gain, crying or irritation, anemia, bad breath, gagging, choking, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, dystonic neck posture, respiratory signs, aspiration, recurrent pneumonia, chronic stridor, wheezing, otitis. Severe GERD is higher in premature infants, neurologically injured and chronic respiratory conditions.

What is Infant Reflux?

Acid reflux occurs when milk or food mixes with stomach acid and is regurgitated backwards through the alimentary canal. Babies with reflux often vomit frequently, and many experience pain and discomfort. Infants that arch their backs, refuse to eat, cough or cry excessively are likely to be suffering from some degree of reflux.

What are the Causes of Infant Reflux?

Reflux is common in infants for many reasons. First, sphincter muscles are not fully developed until they are about 10 months old. Because these muscles hold food down in the stomach, any amount of eating can result in vomiting.

Second, certain foods are allergenic for babies. The only way to uncover these allergies is through trial and error – by eliminating a food group through a nursing mother’s diet or seeking an alternative formula – and that can take time. Cow’s milk is a common culprit.

Third, a misalignment of the vertebrae can cause acid reflux to occur or worsen. This misalignment often occurs during a difficult delivery, in which the mother pushed for an extended time, or when forceps or a vacuum was necessary to extract the baby. Sleeping positions during early infanthood can also contribute.

How can Chiropractic Care Help with Infant Reflux?

If reflux is caused by vertebral misalignment, a chiropractor will gently and gradually correct the alignment. This can help the upper valve of the baby’s stomach to gain more control, and can also improve nerve function.

Even if an infant doesn’t suffer specifically from acid reflux, chiropractic care can help with a variety of common issues, including gas, sleep difficulties and more. Targeted chiropractic techniques are used to treat pregnant women and babies for conditions common in pregnancy, delivery and the first weeks of a new-born’s life. We are committed to making this intense transitional period healthier and happier!

Discomfort from reflux has traditionally been attributed to acid irritation of the esophagus however, most infants with reflux do not have esophagitis. Studies show that weight adjusted acid production is significantly less in infants than in adults.

The role of chiropractors in the treatment of reflux is widespread and includes multiple aspects. Chiropractors treat GERD by helping you manage a healthy weight. They can also help take stress off your spine and joints as well as take pressure off the nerves, which can contribute to acid reflux. GERD is comely associated with CMT, hip dysplasia, breech, oligohydramnios and multiparity. Although the mechanism is still unknown, cranial works also has an effect in GERD. Twist strains and compressions of the thorax may affect the integrity and function of the diaphragm. Lower extremity, pelvic and sacral strain may act through QL and psoas, iliac fascia and spinal structures to affect the diaphragm. Spinal joints affects the diaphragm directly biomechanically or autonomically. Assisted autogenic drainage is shown to significantly decrease reflux in children with pathological GERD.

COLIC and Chiropractic care

Colic is defined as comfortless crying in a young child or a baby and the child exhibits periodic fussiness that can last over hours or days. Colic is characterized by problems of loud piercing cry, tensed abdominal muscles, flexed legs, and clenched fingers. It generally starts around three weeks of age and lasts until around three months but sometimes lasts for as long as six months.

Approximately 10-20% of babies are affected by colic. Despite the research done on colic there is no known cause, which can make colic treatment difficult. Chiropractic care has given some of the best results, with 94% of colicky babies showing improvement with chiropractic adjustments.

Chiropractic care is a gentle, conservative, and highly successful option for treating infants with colic. Chiropractic adjustments for infants are gentle, specific, and safe.

Research on chiropractic treatment and colic has shown remarkable benefits over other treatments such as dietary changes, medication, and infant positioning. A clinical trial published in 1999 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that “Spinal manipulation is effective in relieving infantile colic”. For this study the researchers randomly put infants diagnosed with colic into two groups.

One group was given the anti-gas medication dimethicone for two weeks and the other group received chiropractic care for two weeks. The babies in the chiropractic group showed a 67% decrease in crying while the babies on medication showed a 38% decrease in crying. Another study with 316 children also showed great improvement in colic as a result to chiropractic care. This study used diaries from mothers of colicky babies to track the amount of crying. These better results showed up after an average of only three chiropractic adjustments within two weeks. The International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association has a data bank of chiropractors who work with infants.

Chiropractic is a natural science, in which it neither stimulates nor inhibits body function, rather gradually allows normal body function to take place properly once again. Parents of infants with colic are also reported to have significantly higher stress levels than parents whose babies don’t have colic. The frustration and stress of trying to soothe a colicky baby may interfere with mother-baby bonding and can increase the risk of postpartum depression. In addition, colicky babies are more likely to be victims of shaken baby syndrome and child abuse. Many parents are cautious of taking their small, young babies to see a chiropractic doctor. The main reason being the “Snap, Crackle and Pop” sociology that chiropractic invokes. But in reality, Chiropractic care can be very valuable in helping to calm the colic tendencies.

Any vertebral subluxation causing disturbance to the nerves in stomach, intestines, and other abdominal organs could adversely affect gastric function and result in discomfort, gas and other colic symptoms. The Chiropractic doctor specializes in the detection and correction of subluxations. As chiropractic helps to restore normal function in a child’s nervous system, the infant’s digestive tract and other related organs have a better opportunity to receive nerve supply from the brain, bringing it back to full normal potential. The result is a happy and content baby.

PREGNANCY and Chiropractic care

For many pregnant women, aches and pains in the lower back and hips are part of the experience. Approximately 50% of pregnant women will experience back pain at some point before they deliver. Luckily, relief may be just a chiropractor visit away. Here’s what you should know about the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Is seeing a chiropractor safe during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, chiropractic care is believed to be safe. To adjust pregnant women, chiropractors will use adjusting tables to accommodate their growing bellies. All chiropractors should use techniques that won’t put pressure on the abdomen. Chiropractors can also show you effective stretches for relieving tension and easing discomfort.

How can chiropractic care help during pregnancy?

There are many hormonal and physical changes you’ll experience during your pregnancy. Some of these will have an impact on your posture and comfort. As your baby becomes heavier, your centre of gravity shifts, and your posture adjusts accordingly. These physical changes during your pregnancy can lead to a misaligned spine or joints.

Other uncomfortable changes during pregnancy might include:

• a protruding abdomen resulting in an increased curve of your back
• changes to your pelvis as your body begins to prepare for labor
• adaptations to your posture 

Regular visits to a chiropractor during your pregnancy can address these issues. One collaborative chiropractic and medical study revealed that 75 percent of pregnant chiropractic care patients reported pain relief. Plus, adjustments designed to re-establish balance and alignment to your pelvis and spine will do more than just make you feel better. Chiropractic care can be beneficial for your baby, too.

Is chiropractic care beneficial for your baby-to-be? 

A pelvis that’s out of alignment can restrict the amount of space available to your developing baby. When an external force obstructs your growing baby’s normal movements, it’s known as intrauterine constraint. This can lead to birth defects. Another complication that a misaligned pelvis may pose relates to delivery. When the pelvis is out of alignment, it can make it hard for your baby to move into the best position to be born, which is rear-facing, head down. In some cases, this could affect a woman’s ability to have a natural and non-invasive birth. A balanced pelvis also means your baby has a lower chance of moving into a breech or posterior position. When your baby is in a nonoptimal birthing position, it can lead to a longer, more complicated delivery.

In addition, regular chiropractic care while you’re pregnant can offer the following benefits:

• help you maintain a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy
• relieving pain in the back, neck, hips, and joints