There are few things more difficult in life than watching a child suffer, especially if it is your own. No one wants to see a child in pain or falling ill to any form of sickness or disease. It is simply a heartbreaking thing to observe.

Children are constantly on the go. As an adult, their spills and accidents cause us to cringe in horror. If we took a spill like a child, we may be down for the count!

What you may not realize is that, although children appear to recover quickly after a slight accident, much greater damage could have taken place than what is visible on the outside.

It is important to remember that a child's spine is vulnerable to the same misalignments and issues as an adult spine. These misalignments put pressure on the nerves that exit between the small bones that make up the spine. This pressure creates interference within the nervous system, and the body is not able to function at an optimal level due to the fact it is not receiving all the electrical messages from the brain.

Recently I came across the following information about pediatric health care:

In the September 1996 issue of Chiropractic Pediatrics, noted pediatric chiropractor Jennifer Peet, D.C. reports that research indicates that as many as 80 percent of children's autonomic nervous systems are out of balance and that many of those are related to a subluxation (spinal misalignment).

In one of the landmark studies reviewed, Dr. G. Gutmann, a German medical doctor, reported in the journal Manuel Medizun in 1987 that many physical problems in more than 1,000 infants he studied were caused by blocked nerve impulses at the level of the atlas, or first vertebra in the neck. The physical problems he noted were central motor impairment, lowered resistance to infections, particularly those of the ear, nose and throat. Gutmann states "Chiropractic and radiological examinations are of decisive importance for diagnosis of the syndrome."

Gutmann reached two important conclusions:

1. "Observations of motor development and manual control of the [atlas-skull] joint complex should be obligatory after every difficult birth."

2. "With any developmental impairment this joint complex should be examined and, if required, specifically adjusted."

Gutmann reports that he has been "constantly amazed how, even with the lightest adjustment with the index finger, the clinical picture normalizes, sometimes gradually, but often immediately." He goes on to say "The success of adjustment overshadows every other type of treatment."

This information should be carefully considered whenever your child experiences a physical trauma or illness. It is important to understand the underlying causes of a problem before attempting to mask it with medications or perform unnecessary medical procedures. A reduction in nerve function associated with a misaligned spinal bone can create a host of problems in children and can often be treated quickly and effectively with chiropractic care.

For more information or to attend a wellness class on chiropractic care, contact Spoelstra Family Chiropractic at (208) 667-7434 or go to www.CDAHealth.com.