10 Reasons Why Parents Are Choosing Chiropractic As A Safe Alternative for their Children

Since its conception in 1895, chiropractic has been the focus of a lot of negative media, especially from the medical association. In America, and to a similar degree here in

Australia, chiropractors where ridiculed by (and even at times jailed) the medical profession and negative propaganda went on for more than 40+ years. It stopped only after a Supreme Court win in the USA when chiropractors (Wilk et al. v. AMA et al.) successfully sued the American Medical Association in 1987 (after a 12 year process) and forced them to cease the misleading propaganda. Even here in western Australia, it wasn’t until the year 2000 that the Australian Medical Association changed their legislation and “allowed” medical doctors to refer to chiropractors without fear of losing their medical license.

When it comes to safety, chiropractic is exceptionally safe. We need only look at the insurance companies’ premiums to find this out. Premiums rise when claims are made. At the time of writing a typical, a chiropractor’s insurance premium was about $3000, Dentists were at about $6000, GP’s were about $15000 and obstetricians were at about $100000. Given that chiropractors’ premiums haven’t gone up in the past 7 years when everyone else’s has, implies that yes, chiropractors are very safe especially when you compare the alternatives.

In fact, many parents are now seeing that chiropractic is far safer than drugs or surgery for their children, and are choosing to get their children professionally assessed by a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr Jen Barham-Floreani, who is a chiropractor and author, highlights the top ten reasons why parents choose natural chiropractic care over drugs and surgery for their children.

 

1. Boosts plasticity (brain and nerve development)

Plasticity or neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to continually change and make room for processing and storing new information over the person’s lifetime.   Spinal manipulations promote overall health of the nervous system, which includes the brain, and thus promote plasticity.  This is especially true in childhood when the brain is younger and more adaptive.

2. Enhances overall well-being

Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments result in increased blood levels of B-endorphins or the so-called “feel-good hormones”, which are known to counteract fatigue, depression and tension.  Children who undergo regular chiropractic adjustments then tend to have a sunnier disposition than those who don’t.

3. Strengthens immune system

Published in the August 1989 issue of The Chiropractic Journal were results of a study performed by Ronald Pero, Ph.D., New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute cancer prevention research chief and New York University professor, who was amazed by the results of his own study.  He found that patients undergoing chiropractic care for at least five years were found to have immune systems 200% stronger than those of non-patients, and 400% stronger than those of people with cancer.  Dr. Pero said this positive effect of chiropractic on the immune system was unaffected by age, proving that regular chiropractic treatments can boost the immunity of children who commonly get colds, earaches and other general illnesses due to their underdeveloped immune systems. 

4. Promotes colic relief

People are born into this world stretched and compressed while passing through the birth canal.  Vertebral misalignment or subluxation can result, which in turn can cause problems with body processes, including digestion. However, with chiropractic care, a child’s digestive system can be improved and colic and irritability can be avoided.

5.  Manages asthma and breathing problems/allergies

The spine and ribs are important for proper breathing because they affect how much the lungs can expand.  When there is a problem with vertebral joints, lung capacity can be limited or restricted.  However, with regular chiropractic care, the spine and ribs can expand normally, and asthmatic kids can experience less difficulty when dealing with an attack.

6. Improves posture

The curve of the spine is one of the most important determinants of a person’s posture.  Sometimes, this curve can be less than good due to subluxation or misalignment of vertebral discs. However, with regular chiropractic care, this subluxation can be corrected. The spine can develop a better curve and the child, a better posture, throughout the growth process.

7. Boosts concentration

The spine and the brain are two major components of the nervous system.  They are also dependent on each other, such that problems with spinal alignment can significantly affect brain functions.  With regular spinal adjustments, such problems can be avoided and brain functions such as memory, attention span and concentration can be boosted. New research in this area is ongoing but early studies do shows that the chiropractic adjustment does indeed directly affect brain function.

8.Improves behaviour and emotional well-being

A study shows emotional factors such as tension, stress and anxiety affect soft tissues, leading to joint problems that reinforce the individual’s negative emotional state.  Chiropractic care breaks this cycle by keeping joints (including those found on the spine) healthy and improving emotional well-being through an improvement in physical health.

9.Prevents bed wetting and issues with digestion

Bed wetting can be a sign that a child has not mastered his brain functions such that he is unable to control his urge to urinate while asleep. As the spine and brain together form the core of the nervous system, spinal adjustments can automatically improve brain functions, including that which directly affects bladder control. Because chiropractic adjustments also improve how the brain commands the body as it performs biological processes, colic and other digestive problems can be avoided.

10.Promotes proper sleep patterns

Because chiropractic adjustments are found to cause the release of “feel-good” hormones, regular visits to a chiropractor can help relax a child and get him used to a more consistent and predictable sleeping cycle. Market research by Nervana some years ago showed that better quality was one of the most common surprising results of being under chiropractic care.  This included both adults and children

There can be more reasons for a parent to bring his child to a chiropractor, but these are the ones that have been established today.  Regardless of how many they can get, one thing is for sure.  Chiropractic care helps provide for children’s growing up needs and parents should not hesitate to explore this avenue in ensuring the best life for their loved ones.