Dr. Jeffrey Roistacher

Chiropractic care has been successful treating both adults and children. It is possible for children to receive chiropractic adjustments when they suffer from any dysfunction on the neck, back, or spine. Since young children or toddlers' bodies are different from that of an adult, it is important to take on a specialized approach for them.

Chiropractic in Infants or Toddlers

Many infants or babies suffer trauma during their birth process. Therefore, parents must pay close attention to any misalignment on their neck or spine. Since they are unable to speak about how they feel or any pain they're suffering from, study them when they are seated.

If they are constantly looking in the same direction, then this could ultimately lead to an irritation hence adjustments need to be done to provide relief for the baby. Aside from reducing the amount of discomfort that the baby suffers from, it also allow a wider range of motion in their neck area. Since the stability of a baby's spine is crucial in their development, chiropractic adjustments are therefore necessary in establishing a normal pattern of motion.

Also I have observed that children who receive chiropractic treatment seem to be sick less often, have less ear infections and other long term health benefits.

Chiropractic in Kids/Children

In cases of older children, their engagement in sports or active routine could expose them to problems in their spine, neck, or back pain. Hence, it is no longer uncommon these days to find children being treated with chiropractic care. In other cases, those who suffer from migraine can be treated by conducting adjustments on the vertebrae to eliminate the frequency or reduce the amount of discomfort caused by the migraine.

Symptoms: Knowing When Your Child Needs Chiropractic Care

Unless it has reached a crucial stage or has become quite obvious, spinal problems in children are often difficult to identify. And yet, early detection from parents is crucial in order to ensure that your child is provided the medical care it needs to normalize bodily functions and free them of any discomfort associated with the condition. Below are common symptoms that could indicate a spinal dysfunction in your child:

• abnormal sleeping patterns
• misaligned shoulders
• limited mobility of the head or neck
• recurrence of ear infection
• scoliosis
• constant headaches
• bedwetting
• persistent colds
• for infants, difficulties in breastfeeding

A common cause for parents to seek chiropractic care for their young children is due to trauma suffered from an injury. When a child suffers from any physical injury, it could cause a misalignment on the spine. In some cases, no pain or injury are suffered right away but the problem is internal and it does not often manifest itself right away.

Is It Safe?

A gentle approach is used on children. As with adults too, children can undergo a painless procedure of chiropractic treatment.

A children chiropractor would begin with an assessment of a child's health condition by asking the parent a series of questions. Or if the child is old enough, the doctor asks them for any specific complaints.

Following chiropractic treatment, children respond to the treatment much faster than most adults do. In fact, most only require a few sessions until the normal functions of the affected part are restored.