Chiropractic For Children

So often I am asked why would you need to treat a child or a baby. Surely they don’t have bad backs!

To a certain extent that statement may be true but I feel that it shows a limited knowledge of the scope of the chiropractic adjustment and treatment but also and probably more importantly, the scope of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) at creating fundemental changes to health, from the outset. Understanding the subluxation complex is the key.

As discussed earlier in this site, the VSC has knock on effects throughout the system (see previous model) therefore consider the effects of a VSC on a growing and developing skeleton, a developing and maturing nervous system and the effect upon the organ systems that a compensatory change has to create. The integrity of the young central nervous system is paramount along with the development of the skeleton, which houses and protects it.

From conception the child, like the adult, can be affected by internal and external trauma which could set up a VSC. Like the adult, Physical, Chemical and Emotional trauma can set a VSC into being but unlike the adult, it is very often not shown simply as pain. (Although, I feel that the effects of the VSC in adults are simplified and is proving much more complex and far reaching as we research it ) What we see in children are complex changes in function and development.

The child as a patient provides the chiropractor with
many more challenges. This developing human being,
whose ranges of normal are constantly changing, if seen young enough cannot communicate in very much more than cries and babbles. They change daily, they grow by the minute and they alter their way of appreciating the world by the second. Within all this change, we have to find the normal from the abnormal and treat the malfunctioning that is caused by the VSC. It is important to state however, that good chiropractic child care must recognise which child can be managed solely with this form of treatment and which child should be referred for orthodox medical intervention.

The procedure for examining a child is different from the adult in that it is age variable but the outcome will be the same. Find the VSC and adjust it. Monitor the progress, growth and development of the child and remain vigilant for any signs of recurring or new VSC.