We often think of chiropractic care as something we should seek when we’re older, and our necks are strained and backs begin to ache. But chiropractic care actually offers benefits to people of all ages – even kids! In fact, more than 17 percent of all chiropractic patients in the United States are kids*. Quite a few of those (about 8 percent) are under five years old*.

So, why would a parent elect chiropractic care for their child? In many cases it’s all about prevention of problems. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! In other cases, parents seek chiropractic care for kids due to certain health or behavioral conditions.

Protecting the health of the nervous system. Obviously, we all have a nervous system, regardless of age. Since it controls all bodily functions, including growth and development, promotion of a healthy nervous system can aid in the treatment of a variety of conditions or prevent them from occurring.

Subluxations in the spine (or misalignments) can place strain on nerves and prevent proper communication within the nervous system. Anyone can suffer from subluxations, from major or minor trauma, postural problems, and other types of stress. Newborns are actually subjected to significant amounts of strain, which can impact the alignment of the spine, during the birth process!

During the first five years of life, more neural pathways are growing than during any other time in our life spans. It makes sense to ensure that those pathways are healthy and functioning at their full capacity, to prevent problems due to compression.

Behavioral concerns. Parents often report significant improvements in certain behaviors after their children receive chiropractic care. Most commonly reported are improvements in sleep, immune system function, behavior, and attitude. Others say that chiropractic care for kids aids in their treatment of ADHD, colic, allergies, torticollis, ear infections, bed-wetting, digestive problems, and more.

Chiropractic care for kids is performed very gently. We have even done adjustments on newborn babies! For more information, please call our clinic to schedule an appointment. We will discuss your concerns and help you decide whether chiropractic care could benefit your child.

*according to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners