With the recent upswing of debates on topics like vaccines, antibiotics, influenza shots, and overall pediatric health, more and more parents have turned to alternative medicine for their children. Chiropractic remains one of the safest and effective forms of treatment for children and adults. Chiropractic promotes healthy nervous and immune system function which results in the optimization of body function and defense mechanisms.

Chiropractic has always been beneficial for people of all ages, but recently chiropractic for children has become present in popular media. Below is a clip from the hit CBS television program, “The Doctors.” The pediatrician in this clip evaluates the child for scoliosis and the chiropractor provides treatment by manually adjusting the child.

Clip from CBS television program, The Doctors

Treatment of scoliosis by chiropractors can reduce the pressure of muscle tension caused by the curving of the spine in scoliosis and can promote straightening of the spine. It is important to screen children for scoliosis as early as 11-13 years old for girls and 13-15 years old for boys. Early detection and treatment is key to prevent pain and possible dysfunction.

Aside from scoliosis, other reasons for children to see a chiropractor:

1. Proper Posture- A child’s spine is subject to a number of stress and strains while growing and puts it at risk of future problems like scoliosis (curved spine). To prevent this from taking place and causing future changes, regular spinal screens for posture are important. Prevention is the key at an early age to deal with problems that could affect your child’s health into the future.
2. Prevention-A healthy spine and nervous system can balance the body’s nervous system function which can help to prevent common health problems experienced in children. These include bed-wetting, asthma, ear infections, colic, headaches, and other health problems.
3. Newborns/Birthing Process- When a child exits the birth canal, trauma to the neck and hips are often seen in children. Gentle chiropractic adjustments can correct torticollis (tilting of neck) and hip dysfunction. In addition, pregnant and post-partum mothers can also get relief from pain caused by the labor process.
4. Flexibility, Balance, and Growth- Visiting the chiropractor regularly as a child and into adulthood allows the body to remain flexible and strong. This allows the body to be free of nerve interference which leads to good health, proper alignment, and overall muscular balance. Plus, learning about the spine and seeing first hand how the body works will leave a lasting impression upon children allowing them to eventually be responsible for their own bodies.

The chiropractors at Green Health Acupuncture invite you to bring in your child for a scoliosis screening today.