Introduction
So when should a child see a chiropractor? This is a question that you may have asked yourself before or you may have not, even with yourself seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis. I don’t blame you for not thinking about it at all. It is my duty to bring to light the magic and power chiropractic can have from the very start. It is even a tougher to question to answer due to some of the misconceptions of care. Whatever the case, this article will hopefully shed some light into the importance of how chiropractic care can be a pivotal factor in a child's development from the beginning into adult years in a proactive way. And then maybe we can start questioning the perspective of healthcare in today's society. There doesn't always have to be something wrong to seek guidance from a professional. Instead, we can take control of our own outcomes from the very beginning, not just from an adult's perspective but from a child's too.
The Beginning
From the very beginning of the young ones life from conception and on, their bodies are growing to become their own personal portrayal to the world while simultaneously learning how to adapt, explore, move, and grow. Their brain is learning just as much as their body is while growing through the world and has to send the right signals through the nervous system to adapt and change. Most of the time everything adapts beautifully, coordinating function with movement, posture, balance, strength, and awareness of the environment. However, can you count how many times your child has fallen or cried this week alone? Ate something they weren't supposed to? Or anything else that could cause stress on their bodies? These obstacles are great for gaining resistance for future experience but not everything is always defended against and can create dysfunctions or negative patterns. These dysfunctions or patterns lead to nerve interference and can look as simple as tension, lack of mobility or it can even look like reflex delays, growth abnormalities, and weakened immunity. No one wants preventable situations to occur in their little ones life. Also, no one will be perfect and completely invincible but wouldn’t you rather let their body (the innate intelligence given from god) decide how to attack, instead of not being aware of the situation even occurring due to a blockage of communication.
Common Instances
With us talking about how dysfunction can show itself in a child's life when communication is being halted. Lets go over some of the common instances that parents have commonly noticed that are strong indicators in bringing in your child to the chiropractor.
Birth Stress and Early development Assistance
The birthing process is not always a smooth one, and for the little one. It is the first major physical experience for them in their lives. During birth, they experience significant mechanical stress, especially around the neck area. Research in obstetrics also shows that the cervical spine and surrounding soft tissue take on a considerable amount of pressure during this process. Most infants can adapt well through this process but there are times when this can lead to discomfort that can’t be resolved on their own new recovery capabilities, yet. And, when this isn’t resolved, it creates restrictions and limitations in their bodies like stiffness during feeding, preferring to lay on one side, and difficulty rotating their head. We do not want these small warning signs from the amazing gift your baby has been given to go unnoticed. Supporting and maintaining healthy movement early on allows a comfortable and thriving environment for the little one.
Musculoskeletal pain
Did you know that at least 10%-30% of all children report having some type of spinal pain in adolescents, and the number increases with them growing into their teen years. There are a multitude of factors that can cause this from technology, poor posture, lack of movements or physical activity, spending roughly 7-9 hours a day sitting, and even back packs. I know right, back packs? But that is a major factor that contributes on a regular basis in a child's life. With these things occurring while they are growing into their adult self, if the negative patterns that were created, never get addressed. The body can only build off what blueprint it is given and can cause complications in their life later on.
Colic, Digestive issues, and Immune function
As a child is being born growing through life, so is their physiology. When that physiology adapts, it can experience complications that lead to other warning signs. Roughly 10-20% of infants worldwide experience colic. While there has not been any definitive reason behind why this period of prolonged crying occurs, some instances have been linked to digestive issues These could be coming from an altered gut microbiome, sensitivity to the environmental stimuli, irregulated nervous system, or simply digestive discomfort. And, these issues can show up as other warning signs besides colic like constipation, however the case. There is dysfunction and it's asking for help. Parents have seeked chiropractic care for these instances due to the fact of assisting the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a major cranial nerve that controls all of our digestive function from the brain and when stimulated through adjustments, it can help the process regulate itself.
Immune function is also a major one. The vagus nerve also plays a major role in influencing the immune system but the autonomic system as a whole has a close relationship with the nervous system. The autonomic system receives information from the nervous system that allows responses necessary for regulation and function of the body. When there is an accumulation of stress that overpowers the autonomic system it creates stress that can develop chronically leading to resistance in fighting off infection, recovery from sleep, and coherent digestive enzymes. Chiropractic care is not a treatment for immune function but it is helpful in keeping a strong nervous system that supports a strong immune system.
Primitive Reflexes
When a baby is born, it has reflexes that are innately designed within them and these reflexes are used to assess healthy neurological development and show how they interact with the world. Examples of some reflexes are Moro, Palmar, Tonic neck, and rooting reflexes. Initially these help assess development but ultimately become integrated with the brain through the first year of life. When there is an initial delay or a retainment of a reflex, that means there is not a clear integration and that could indicate delayed motor development, coordination challenges, and sensory processing challenges. Sensory and movement experiences help integrate reflexes, when there is lack of movement it can inhibit the integration process. Chiropractic care supports complete sensory and movement quality through keeping joints unrestricted and the nervous system optimal.
Physical Activity
Kids are playful and for good reason. Children thrive on movement just like adults. Physical activity can be beneficial, the act of climbing, exploring, running, jumping help influence the nervous system building in proprioception, durability, and even emotional stability. With that being said, moving often can cause restrictions because it can lead to falls or negative movement patterns. This is not to say monitor all movements but this is to say that we want limitless freedom with occasional checking in to keep the body thriving interference free while also building its own reliable resilience.
Conclusion
After going through all of these situations, chiropractic care is not meant to replace the necessary medical care that occurs with the prenatal and postnatal process completely. It is meant to be used to complement healthy and natural development for you little one so you and them can have peace of mind in knowing that their bodies are starting off on the right path towards a healthy and functional life with all the demands they have as they grow up. Here specifically at Primal Chiropractic and Fitness, we believe in collaboration in ensuring everyone is on the same page and give your little one the best support system around while keeping the nervous system interference free and surpass milestones through child development. The goal is not to chase symptoms but create adaptability that will further magnify a resilient body and express true health. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed or learned something! Live your best life, Live Primal 💪