Why would a child have a spine and nerve system problem? The list is endless. Traumatic births, learning to walk, slips, falls, sports injuries, and more can be the cause of such problems. Yet, because children have such an amazing capacity to adapt, these problems are often explained as growing pains or phases they will outgrow.

Many spinal problems seen in adults began as early as birth. The birth process can be traumatic and cause spinal and cranial misalignments. As the infant grows, learning to hold up the head, sit, crawl and walk are activities that affect spinal alignment and nerve function. Colic, breathing problems, nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, and chronic infections can often be traced to nerve system stress.

One of the most common reasons parents seek care for their child is trauma from an injury. Major or subtle traumas throughout childhood will affect the future development of the spine, leading to impaired nervous system function. Any interference to the vital nerve system will adversely affect the body's ability to function at its best. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify potential spinal injury from these traumas, make the correction early in life, and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.

The concern that many parents have is that chiropractic adjustments are too forceful. They mistakenly think that their child will receive the same kind of adjustments that adults receive. Not only are adjusting techniques modified for each person's size and unique spinal problem, an infant's spine rarely has the long-standing muscle tightness seen in adults. This makes a child's chiropractic adjustments very gentle. Very specific adjustments are used, with no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato.

Many parents comment that they see almost instant improvements in the well being of their child, but it is important to understand that chiropractors do not treat conditions or diseases. Chiropractors correct misalignments in the spine that impair the nervous system function, therefore affecting overall body function. Any aspect of health may be impaired by nerve interference. The chiropractic adjustment restores nerve system function allowing the body the ability to express a greater state of health and well-being.

For more information contact Dr. Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.