One of our most important tasks is ensuring that children today can grow up to be healthy, functional adults – adults who are not dependent on medications, adults who don’t need surgery, adults who enjoy their quality of life. The first few years of our life can set us up for a lifetime of vitality and wellness or a lifetime of illness and disease. At Vital Family Chiropractic, we believe health care starts on Day One. Unfortunately, epidemiological studies show that in the United States alone, as many as 15-18 million (1 in 4) children 17 and below suffer from a chronic illness. This is just one reason why we adjust kids every day at Vital Family.
Most people would never think to associate children and infants with chiropractic care unless there was some form of spinal trauma. While chiropractic care is essential for children who HAVE been through physical trauma, there are many, many reasons why parents in Lakewood, WA bring their children to a chiropractor every single day.
In 2019, Victoria, Australia’s government sought to understand pediatric chiropractic care better. They sent out thousands of surveys nationwide and received over 21,000 responses! Parents all over explained why their kids get adjusted – ranging from postural concerns to colic and digestive issues to problems breastfeeding, frequent bedwetting, etc. The best part about this national survey was that it showed everyone that children do not have to be in pain to need chiropractic care.
At Vital Family Chiropractic, we see kids every day for those same reasons. Have you ever watched your child? They play hard. They fall, they hit their heads, they roll around, and although their skeletal system is better suited for that than adults, their nervous system is not, which is why kids of all ages respond so well to gentle, specific, subluxation-based chiropractic care. If your kiddo is already showing signs of neurological stress like the ones we just mentioned, or they’re perfectly healthy and you want to help them stay that way, chiropractic care is right for them.
Common Reasons Why Kids Get Adjusted
Subluxation
Vertebra, or multiple vertebrae, lose their natural motion becoming fixated or “stuck,” causing inflammation and a build-up of pressure on the nerves exiting the spine, regardless of age.
Birth Trauma
Medical doctors define birth trauma as gross fractures, tearing of nerves, etc. Chiropractors define birth trauma as ANY KIND OF TRAUMA that causes stress and dysfunction to the infant’s body and nervous system. Head tilts, issues breastfeeding, severe colic, and constipation are all signs of birth trauma.
Text Neck
Some injuries are not as significant as car accidents or sports accidents; however, minor, repetitive injuries, “micro-injuries,” can have a massive impact over time. Consistent use of technology such as iPads, phones, and tablets, can cause significant injury to a child’s developing spine and brain.
Trauma
Acute fractures or dislocations of the spine can lead to pain. Spinal pain that develops after a trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident or a fall, should be properly addressed as soon as possible.
Poor Posture
Whether sitting at a school desk all day, lugging backpacks around, or staring at screens non-stop, poor posture places so much stress on the body’s bones, muscles, and ligaments, leading to abnormal physical and neurological development. 90% of what the pediatric brain requires for growth, stimulation, and nutrition comes from healthy spinal movement!
How We Take Care of Kids Lakewood, WA
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Understanding the specific cause of your child’s concerns is critical for resolving the issue and allowing for normal, healthy development, so we always start with an in-depth analysis of their body and health concerns. Our doctors will take the time to sit with you and your child, listen to your concerns, ask specific questions, and thoroughly examine them. Functional range of motion, postural analysis, functional weight-bearing stance, hands-on palpation of their spine, and only if needed, X-rays will help determine the specific cause of their health challenges.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Lakewood, WA
As chiropractors in Lakewood, WA, we analyze the spine for “subluxation.” This term refers to the vertebra or multiple vertebrae that lose their natural motion becoming fixated or “stuck.” This loss of healthy movement can cause inflammation of the soft tissue as well as pressure and irritation to the nerves leaving the spinal cord. Subluxation can cause any kind of pain. It can also cause a whole host of other health concerns such as digestive disorders, allergies, bathroom problems, tingling, and or numbness.
The only way to remove subluxation present in the spine is through gentle, specific chiropractic care. The chiropractic adjustment restores normal motion into the spine, thus removing that built-up pressure on your nervous system. The most significant factor when it comes to helping resolve your headaches is time. The amount of time your body has been injured and subluxated will help us determine when we should expect to see significant improvements. If subluxation is the cause of your recurring headaches, you must address it; otherwise, you may be stuck chasing pain without any resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chiropractic Care “too rough” for my kids?
That is an important question! Picture this, the amount of pressure it takes to correct subluxation in a newborn baby is around the same force it takes for you to test the ripeness of an avocado. Gently! When it comes to adjusting children in Lakewood, WA, there is no “cracking,” no “popping,” and no forcing. Our doctors are certified and experienced in caring for children. We even use gentle hand-held instruments to make small gentle adjustments when needed.
When should I bring my kid in to get adjusted?
The best time for your child to get adjusted is now! The first five years of your child’s life are the most neurologically critical period of their life. Correcting vertebral subluxation allows for healthy spinal development and provides for healthy, normal brain development. Your child’s spine won’t finish growing until their mid 20’s, which is why when it comes to correcting problems, the earlier you help get them started, the better!
What if my child never complains about pain?
We LOVE helping healthy, vibrant kiddos stay that way! One reason why kids rarely “feel” pain is due to human growth hormone. This chemical is extremely abundant in the first two decades of life, after which growth hormone begins to disappear; thus, aches and pains become much more evident. This is why we don’t judge and measure one’s health by the amount of pain present or absent. We look at how the body functions – sleep, mood, attention span, bathroom habits, immune health, and more!
What’s the big deal about posture?
Posture is much more than aesthetics. There is a direct link between your child’s posture and their mental health, digestive health, and other vital functions. The most critical aspect of examining your child is looking past the symptom itself and assessing what’s happening on the inside. At Vital Family Chiropractic, we utilize posture to tell us what’s happening to the nervous system. You can do this analysis right now! You can look at your kid and tell right away whether or not they are normal. You might see things like a high shoulder, a head tilt, or them favoring one side of their body over the other. These are all indicators of stress and uneven pressure on your kiddo’s nervous system
