Throughout our 12 years in practice, we have taken care of hundreds of children in our clinic. Parents bring in their children for varied reasons. We have seen ear infections cease, sleepless babies sleep, constipation disappear, and fevers break shortly after a chiropractic adjustment, among numerous other changes.But make no mistake, a change in symptoms isn’t what our office strives to provide in the long run. A change in symptoms is just the tip of the iceberg. Regular chiropractic care is started for many children as part of a healthy lifestyle, and after a series of adjustments, parents begin to notice their children seem healthier. They attend school and Scouts, participate in sports and play dates. While their friends and classmates get sick and have colds, they never seem to get sick, or if they do, it is mild or short-lived. Many people are surprised when they find out that our children have never taken an antibiotic or had an ear infection.Chiropractic is not about treating a condition – it is about improving the overall function of the human body by removing spinal-nerve stress. Decreasing spinal-nerve stress improves the function of the immune system and allows the body to be healthy. This occurs in children as well as adults. In fact, we have seen that children tend to respond to care faster than adults do.So why is it that more people do not utilize chiropractic care for the health of their children? It has to do with three primary reasons: fear, lack of understanding and finances.Some people, after having their own chiropractic experience, are concerned the same chiropractic techniques will be used on the child. This is not true. A chiropractic adjustment is a small, gentle, specific thrust applied to an area of the spine that is compressing or choking a spinal nerve, thereby interfering with the nerve’s ability to communicate a message from the brain to a body part and back again to the brain. When working with children, many times we use a small, hand-held adjusting instrument that allows us to specifically control the amount of thrust during an adjustment. When utilizing our hands for the adjustment, the amount of pressure exerted might not exceed the force used to test the ripeness of a tomato. Everything we do is based upon the individual in front of us.Fear leads to a lack of understanding. We love to talk about chiropractic and believe that if you understand what chiropractic is and does, you will also see the benefit to having your child adjusted. Chiropractic is an extremely safe and effective health-care system. After all, we do not put drugs in your system, and we leave you with all your pieces and parts (no surgery). Science tells us that the nervous system controls the function of every system in the body. If there is nerve interference, the body will not function properly. Chiropractic care removes nerve interference, allowing the body to work the way it is supposed to.Skeptics may think chiropractic care for their children is too expensive. It’s not. We have very reasonable rates, even if your insurance does not cover chiropractic care. Studies have shown you can actually save money by having your children under chiropractic care. Possible benefits, aside from improved health, include less money spent on prescription drugs and cold medicines, as well as fewer missed days of work for parents because their children are not sick.As parents, it is our responsibility to guide our children and prepare them for adulthood. Make a healthy lifestyle part of that preparation. For more information, visit the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s Web site at www.icpa4kids.com.Palmer Chiropractic494-1395
