Chiropractic and Children
Our early childhood years are crucial times in our mental physical and emotional development. If not resolved and treated, problems are often carried through into adulthood.
From the very beginning, birth itself can cause spinal dysfunction and injury, especially if instrumental (forceps, vontouse and suction) assistance is required. Falls from change tables, chairs or beds, bumps to the head and bottom when learning to walk, falls out of trees and trampoline and sports injuries, heavy back packs, and car accidents, all cause stress on the developing musculoskeletal system. This can lead to abnormal mechanics in a child’s body, contributing to damage and imbalance of joints, muscles and other tissues. There are many possible signs that your child may be experiencing such problems and may benefit from Chiropractic care; including favouring one side of the head (leading to flat spots), poor co-ordination, abnormal gait, headaches, neck pain, dizziness,
Chiropractors employ gentle effective techniques adapted specifically for children of all ages to help reduce pain, restore better movement and relieve stress from the nervous system. They are also able to assist with early detection and treatment of scoliosis.
It is important to remember that the postural habits we establish as children can stay with us throughout our lives with lasting effects on our long-term health and wellbeing. By seeking treatment for a child after an injury and by teaching our children good postural habits and how to care for their spine and nervous system we are making a valuable investment in their future health.
The habits that we establish as children can stay with us throughout our lives. In the case of our spines, the way we use and treat them when we are young can have a lasting impact on our backs and necks. With this in mind, it’s important to teach your children good posture and how to look after their backs from a young age, so that they can avoid back pain later on in life.
Adult back pain and spinal disorders may stem from childhood activities including carrying a heavily loaded backpack for twelve years or more of schooling. Many of the current bags children are using may be fashionable, but unless they allow for even distribution across the back, they can cause pain.
School can be a challenging time for children, so ensuring they are as comfortable as possible is important to their physical and mental development. According to an international study, daily backpack carrying is a frequent cause of discomfort for school children. School backpacks were felt to be heavy by 79.1% of children, to cause fatigue by 65.7%, and to cause back pain by 46.1%1.
- 1. Negrini, S., & Carabalona, R (2002). Backpacks on! Schoolchildren’s Perceptions of Load, Associations with Back Pain and Factors Determining the Load. Spine, 27(2), 187-195.