Kids can benefit from chiropractic care too. Just like adults and seniors, children and teenagers have their own fair share of aches and pains, headaches, and back problems as they grow up.
Studies have shown that when children develop neck and back pain when they are young, it very often becomes chronic or more intense, spreading to different locations in the body and becoming much more frequent as they get older. Below are some reasons why it is so important to learn about these major benefits of chiropractic for children and teens.
1. Healing Growing Pains
We’ve all heard of “growing pains”. But what we call “growing pains” aren’t associated with growing at all. This has led doctors to start calling these pains names like “benign nocturnal limb pains of childhood” which really means that your child has sore arms or legs at night, they don’t know why, but they don’t think it’s a major problem.
We actually know very little about “growing pains” apart from that some children get sore arms or legs at the end of the day, and they usually wake up feeling better in the morning. There are no easy tests that tell a doctor whether these pains are something that will go away by themselves or whether they are due to a very real problem with which your child needs help. We do know that if your child suffers from pain, do not assume that they will grow out of it.
Kids have stress too. Falls off playground equipment, sitting at school desks, or just playing and being kids can lead to problems in a child’s spine, which chiropractors call vertebral subluxations. This means that the little muscles that surround the spine and skull stop working properly which affects how the joints of our spine move. This then causes interference with the flow of information from the brain to the body and back again, which can lead to pain and other symptoms.
2. Healing Sports Injuries
As much as we’d like to keep our kids in a bubble to keep them safe, kids are going to get hurt and experience injuries as they grow up. Sports injuries come in several forms from bruises and sprains to more severe fractures, breaks, and concussions that require immediate medical attention. Even minor injuries can build up and create more problems over time and, if left uncorrected, create problems in adulthood.
Some of the most common sports injuries are caused by the rapid growth of the body during puberty. Repetitive or excessive training can also lead to injury.
As a part of your health team, a chiropractor can help prevent the long-term effects a sports injury can have on your child or teen. Once recovered, we can provide your child or teen with guidance to help prevent further injuries. For example, a tailored stretching plan before and after each game or weight-training session can be very helpful.
3. Healing Misalignments from Falls
Younger children experience lots of falls as they learn to sit, crawl, stand, and walk. They take knocks and bumps on the sports field and fall from playground equipment. Even the most minor of bumps can cause the spine to misalign and stop working properly.
Using gentle, specific adjustments, a chiropractor helps restore optimal movement in your child’s spine allowing them to have improved function and prevent future problems. Our team has years of combined education and experience in helping babies, children, and teenagers feel more comfortable in their bodies.
4. Posture Improvement and Healing “Text Neck”
It’s probably not surprising that children are experiencing more back pain, neck pain, and headaches than ever before. This can be associated with low levels of physical activity. For example, many children are now spending between 5 and 7 hours a day on their smartphones and handheld devices! This is causing a 21st-century epidemic called “text neck”, which comes from hours of bending forward to look at devices. “Text neck” results in changes in the bones, ligaments, and muscles that support the head and causes postural changes and pain in the neck and other related areas. It can even cause eye problems and issues with breathing and circulation.
Our kids are taking part in a worldwide experiment to see just how much their health will suffer because of our modern lifestyles. Parents need to be aware of this major public health problem and be proactive about the choices they make on behalf of their children.
The best place for parents to start is by limiting screen time and encouraging physical activity. Parents should also not assume that if their child is in pain, it will go away by itself. Also, consider taking children to see a chiropractor to make sure that their spine and nervous system is working well and isn’t under too much stress because of their device use.
Let’s help your kids and teens stay healthy
Remember that chiropractic care isn’t just about treating pain. Chiropractic care is all about improving the communication between your brain and body so you can function at your optimal potential. It’s also good to know that chiropractic is known to be safe for kids and babies. So, make sure your child’s spine and nervous system are in great shape by taking them to see your family chiropractor and giving them the best possible start in life.
