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Chiropractic For Kids

Yes, Chiropractic and kids definitely go well together.  Adult patients often walk into my treating room, greeted by a big purple elephant treating table surrounded by teddy bears and stickers and wonder what use could that possibly serve. My answer – a pediatric chiropractic table, surprises some.  But when you think about it you take your kids to the medical doctor and the dentist, why not the chiropractor! In fact chiropractic is the most commonly used form of health care alternative to traditional medical doctors, even for children.
Before explaining this any further one must understand the basics of chiropractic and more importantly about the how the body functions.  When a joint in the spine is not moving properly it puts excess pressure on the spinal nerves that exit the spinal column.  These very important spinal nerves are the pathway of communication between our brain and the organs, glands and muscles that make our bodies work.  If there is pressure on these spinal nerves, the message from the brain doesn’t come down clearly and the result is that our bodies do not perform as they should.  Chiropractic helps these joints move properly allowing a clear and unobstructed path of communication between the brain and the rest of the body.

The next most obvious question may be whether chiropractic is safe for infants and small children, and the answer is a resounding yes!  A chiropractic treatment for children is quite different than that for adults, mostly in that it is much softer and gentler.  Children’s joints are looser and easier to move, mostly because they do not have years of poor posture, bad ergonomics, old injuries and tight muscles fighting against them.  It is also for these reasons that children respond at a much faster rate than adults, often only requiring a few treatments to achieve the desired result.

It is important to remember that Chiropractors do not just treat the back but are doctors whose scope of practice includes diagnosing and treating conditions related to the nervous system, muscles, bones and joints of the whole body. Many Chiropractors include manual therapies like adjustments and soft tissue, modalities like ultrasound and laser, exercises, postural advice as well as dietary and lifestyle counselling in their treatments.  Chiropractic may be the answer you are seeking for your family’s health care to achieve optimal functioning and tap into the inherent healing abilities of your body.

Dr. Megan Wambolt, BSc. DC