Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession that focuses on diagnosing and treating various conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system and other spine components. While chiropractic care primarily treats adults, 14% of chiropractic patients are children under 18. Chiropractic care is often safe, particularly after a sports injury or accident.
Studies show that chiropractic care and osteopathic manipulation are the most common forms of provider-based complementary and alternative therapy used by children. As these forms of treatment gain popularity for their noninvasive techniques and applications, researchers are seeing an increase in the use of chiropractic care for young children and families. Here, we will explore the benefits and safety of chiropractic care in children and how they can benefit from it.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Children
While children’s bodies are often resilient and flexible against schoolyard injuries, trips, and falls, many frequently experience injuries that can impact their daily activities and lead to poor recovery as they age. Whether a child was involved in a car crash as a passenger, experienced joint or spine injury during sports, or is experiencing imbalances or pain due to another condition, chiropractic care offers numerous benefits for children and parents seeking relief without the use of medications or surgery. A few benefits of chiropractic care for children are:
Improved Posture: If a child does not fully recover from a previous injury or has spinal deformities, chiropractic care can help realign the spine for optimal posture. Poor posture in children can lead to various problems, such as back pain, headaches, and fatigue. Chiropractic adjustments can help realign the spine, address posture issues, and reduce the risk of future problems.
Reduced Pain: Children can experience pain due to injuries, developmental issues, or other conditions. Chiropractic care can help alleviate pain and discomfort, allowing children to participate in daily activities or sports.
Improved Sleep: In children with muscular disorders or injuries, chiropractic care can help to address underlying issues that may interfere with sleep, such as misalignment or increased muscle tension.
Enhanced Athletic Performance: As many children begin their athletic careers in contact sports such as soccer, football, basketball, or wrestling, they become prone to a wide range of potential injuries that can impact their overall performance. Chiropractic care can help to improve flexibility, range of motion, and overall athletic performance to prevent and reduce the amount of future injuries as they age.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Children?
Chiropractic care is generally safe when performed by a qualified chiropractor. Using gentle, hands-on techniques and thorough evaluation of your child’s age, size, developmental stage, and injury, qualified chiropractors tailor their care plans to ensure safe and productive care.
Choosing a chiropractor with experience in treating children and teens is essential. Chiropractors with the necessary training and expertise address the unique needs of young patients, offering gentler approaches to realignment and focusing more on long-term results. Chiropractic care for children can often focus more on the physical therapy aspects of musculoskeletal care, focusing more on relieving muscular tension and slight alignments to treat problem areas gently.
Why Might Children Need Chiropractic Care?
While children are generally adaptable to injuries, many find chiropractic care to be a helpful alternative to traditional medical interventions for more severe cases. In other cases, chiropractic care can help address spine and joint issues early on to minimize the effects of misalignment or injury as children age. Chiropractic care can be effective in treating a variety of conditions in children, including:
Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways. As children rapidly grow, particularly during puberty, spinal deformities such as scoliosis can develop and cause pain. Chiropractic care can help manage the early stages of scoliosis and prevent it from worsening over time.
Sports Injuries: Children participating in sports are at risk of injuries. Chiropractic care can help with pain management, rehabilitation, and prevention of future injuries. Addressing sports injuries in children is essential, as unresolved injuries can lead to muscular imbalances and poor form as they age, causing further injury and irreversible damage.
Developmental Delays: Chiropractic care may be beneficial in addressing underlying issues affecting development in children with developmental delays. In children with delays in movement or walking, chiropractic care alongside physical therapy can help address the musculoskeletal systems that assist with these functions and promote healthy rehabilitation efforts.
Bedwetting: Chiropractic adjustments can help address underlying spinal misalignments that may contribute to neurological issues such as bedwetting.
When Should You See a Chiropractor for Your Child?
If your child sustains a broken bone or spinal injury, it is advised that you take them to see an emergency medical provider. Once urgent injuries and risks are assessed, you may consult with your child’s pediatrician or medical provider to determine which forms of treatment are available for your child. In many cases, chiropractic care is a valuable and noninvasive option for addressing pain and injury in children and can provide long-term benefits for their musculoskeletal health.
In instances where your child is experiencing the following symptoms, it may be time to consider a visit and consultation from a qualified and experienced chiropractor:
- Chronic pain
- Discomfort or stiffness after an auto accident
- Frequent headaches
- Poor posture
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sports injuries
- Developmental delays
Denver Integrated Spine Center: Treating Patients of All Ages for an Improved Quality of Life
Chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment option for children. By addressing underlying musculoskeletal issues, chiropractic care can improve a child’s overall health and well-being and prevent further damage to their bodies as they age. If you are considering chiropractic care for your child or if your child was involved in an accident or sports injury, choosing a qualified chiropractor with experience in treating young patients is essential.
At Denver Integrated Spine Center, we believe everyone deserves to live an active and healthy life. Our chiropractors are committed to optimizing the recovery process by using advanced techniques to treat car accident injuries, sports injuries, and pain symptoms. If you believe your child is a good candidate for chiropractic treatment, schedule an appointment with us or call us at (303) 758-9000 to learn more about our chiropractic offerings today.