When Do Children Need Adjustments?
The best answer to this question is when we explore the cause of spinal problems. The most common problem is Vertebral Subluxation (a dangerous condition in which your spine interferes with the nerve system causing a state of reduced health) this often occurs for the first time at birth. Research suggests that 80% of newborns immediately following birth are subluxated due to stress placed on their spines during the birthing process.These stressors can lead to symptoms such as aches, pains, and headaches; but also lowered immune system function, digestive issues, ADD/ADHD, autism, colic, infantile reflux, and constipation.
So what effect does subluxation have at an early age? 90% of babies usually remain asymptomatic (no signs of problems). Even though babies may not be expressing symptoms, they may not be functioning to their optimal potential. Remember, the nerve system supplies and coordinates the whole bodies function, symptoms are usually only experienced much later in life. In fact, in many cases, by the time symptoms present themselves, the damage may be permanent.
If your child happened to go through birth without subluxations, research tells us that 98% of children will experience subluxations before the age of 5. Most of the subluxations we find in adults derive from the multiple falls and accidents that we experience as children; sports traumas, postural challenges, sitting in school all day, smartphones coupled with emotional and chemical stressors.
Chiropractic adjustments should begin as soon as subluxations are detected subluxations (misaligned vertebrae). Since most subluxations occur at birth or throughout the years when our bodies are developing and growing, it is crucial that check align our spines on a regular basis.
Investigators evaluated 46 children under the age of five with ear infections. A full 93% recovered within 10 days of chiropractic care ( J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1996; 19:169-77). Another study looked at 5 children with recurrent middle ear infections who had been receiving medical treatment for at least six months but had failed to recover. All the children improved with no more than five visits to their chiropractor (J Clin Chir Ped 1996; 1:66).
In one survey of 132 parents of infants with colic, 91% reported that their babies improved after an average of two to three adjustments (Eur J Chiropr 1985; 33:264-5). Another study of 316 babies with colic found that 94% benefited from chiropractic care (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1989; 12:281-8).
One experiment enrolled 81 children with asthma. After two months of chiropractic care, 90% of subjects showed a significantly improved quality of life (J Vertebral sublux Res 1997; 1:41-8). And 76.5% of asthma patients in another survey reported benefiting from chiropractic (Bull Eur Chir Union 1978; 26:17-34).