Five Reasons Your Child Needs a Chiropractic Checkup
1. Subluxation Stopper
Spinal problems can start earlier than you might think – much earlier. In fact, the birthing process itself has been shown to wreak havoc on a baby’s spine. And if you’ve ever watched a toddler struggling to master the art of walking, you know that learning to walk is marked by constant stumbles. Older children are also at risk of spinal trauma. Sports activities, poor posture and working at an improperly sized desk all exact a toll.
It’s no wonder that many youngsters develop a spinal condition called vertebral subluxation. This condition occurs when spinal movement is restricted or bones (vertebrae) are out of alignment. Vertebral subluxation is linked with a myriad of childhood ailments, such as colic, asthma, ear infection and attention disorders. As children age, untreated vertebral subluxations may also spark headache, back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.
2. Ergonomic Answers
Ergonomics is the study of work activities, equipment and posture to minimize the risk of occupational injuries and illness. Discussions about ergonomics are typically reserved for adult work environments – a practice that doctors of chiropractors are striving to change.
Chiropractors encourage youths and their parents to re-evaluate their ergonomic circumstances. Slouching over a too-big or too-small desk, using a computer without consideration for postural integrity and schlepping a crammed backpack for hours each day are ergonomic nightmares that incite long-term damage in many children – predisposing them to vertebral subluxation, headache, back pain and neck pain for years to come. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that nearly 5,000 emergency room visits each year result from injuries related to book bags and back carriers.
3. Sports Injury Solution
Is your little one an aspiring ballerina, a little-league star or a soccer buff? If you child`s an athlete, chiropractic care can help avert potential sports-related strains and sprains. Doctors of chiropractic offer sounds advice aimed at preventing common sports ailments. When injuries do occur, chiropractic care may hasten healing.
4. Posture & Scoliosis Screening
Scoliosis – a lateral curvature of the spine – is clinically significant in 5% of youngsters. Early detection is key to keeping scoliosis under control and preventing the conditions associated with it, such as back pain, headache and, in severe cases, heart and lung disorders. Most parents count on in-school screenings to catch scoliosis in their little ones. However, recent scientific studies reveal that school-based screenings are not adequate. (JAMA 1999; 282:1427-32). Experts caution that school-based screenings are often performed by nonspecialists, are cursory, and rely on tests that don’t effectively identify the disorder. What’s more, in-school evaluations only look for scoliosis and do not detect other types of postural maladies.
On the other hand, doctors of chiropractic are spinal specialists. Posture screenings conducted by chiropractors are extensive, including various orthopedic tests and assessments. The result is a comprehensive evaluation that provides a thorough assessment of a youngsters current spinal health and risk of future postural disorders.
5. Promote a Wellness-Oriented Lifestyle
What kind of wellness role model are you? Teaching your child to turn to medication only when absolutely necessary will help him or her avoid potentially hazardous side effects and discover the body’s innate healing power.
By emphasizing prevention, rather than the indiscriminate use of over-the-counter medication, you an significantly impact your child’s concept of wellness – and his or her future health-related choices.
Chiropractic is an ideal introduction to the prevention-oriented approach to wellness. Schedule a chiropractic checkup for your youngsters today!