Tag Archives: chiropractor for children

Should Children Visit a Chiropractor?

Childhood is marked by dramatic change. From infancy to adolescence, your children will experience behavioral changes, growth spurts, and more! Unfortunately, these changes may reveal underlying health problems or developmental delays. While you should always consult your child’s general practitioner (or GP) if they are experiencing pain or discomfort, chiropractors can provide a holistic, natural way to relieve your child’s pain. 

 

Do Chiropractors Treat Children? 

 

Yes, many chiropractors treat children. While 35 million adults visit the chiropractor’s office annually, over 11% of patients are under 18. If you’re looking for a chiropractor that treats children, look for practices with “family” in the name – Family Chiropractors treat all ages.

 

How Early Can a Child Visit a Chiropractor? 

 

That depends on the parents! Typically, children can visit the chiropractor once they’re a few months old. Birth can be a traumatic event for both mother and child, which can result in damage to a newborn’s nervous system and spine. Chiropractic care can alleviate a newborn’s pain and strengthen their nervous system. If you’re nervous about letting a chiropractor see your child, be sure to schedule a consultation first!

 

What Does a Pediatric Chiropractic Appointment Look Like? 

 

Treatment is always tailored to the patient’s unique needs. First, a chiropractor will schedule a consultation to determine your child’s individual needs. This includes obtaining a medical history from the child’s guardians or parents. Then, the chiropractor will schedule a physical examination to identify spinal issues and any other health problems. 

 

It’s important to note that chiropractors will apply less pressure to younger patients. Many chiropractors will use fingertip pressure to gently correct spinal issues and bolster the nervous system. While adjusting spinal joints, you may hear some soft popping noises. This is normal and will not harm your child.

 

When Should a Child Visit a Chiropractor? 

 

Generally, children should see a chiropractor if they suffer from debilitating or chronic pain. If your child’s primary doctor cannot alleviate their pain, a chiropractor may be a useful addition to their treatment schedule. If your child suffers from limited head/neck mobility, back pain, neck pain, hunched shoulders, or irregular sleep patterns, a visit to your local chiropractor may reduce their pain while improving their quality of life. 

 

What Ailments Can a Pediatric Chiropractor Treat? 

 

Chiropractors can treat a wide variety of ailments, no matter the patient’s age. However, children seeking chiropractic care will see improvements if they suffer from several chronic conditions. Chiropractors can alleviate infants’ breastfeeding problems, reflux, colic, and movement issues. Older patients often seek out chiropractic to help with headaches, scoliosis, spinal misalignment, asthma, growing pains, constipation, urinary incontinence, and other chronic issues.

 

Does Chiropractic Treatment Hurt?

 

No. Unless your practitioner is treating a severe injury, chiropractic treatment is painless. Any sensitivity your child experiences during treatment is short-lived and should fade shortly after the adjustment. 

 

Fun for the Whole Family 

The Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic is proud to serve clients of all ages! If you or your child needs chiropractic services, schedule an appointment with us today. Dr. Hartle and his team can usually see you the same day you call.

Chronic vs Acute Pain: How Chiropractors Help

Chiropractors are well-versed in treating pain. Whether it’s back, neck, or spinal complications, chiropractors correct ailments throughout the body. However, not all pain is temporary. Chronic pain, which the NHS defines as “persistent pain that carries on for twelve weeks” and resists medication, is a serious condition that causes unnecessary suffering. On the other hand, acute pain lasts less than three months and is typically the result of an injury. While chronic and acute pain can be debilitating, both conditions can be treated.

Chronic vs Acute Pain: What’s the Difference?

Before discussing how chiropractors treat different types of pain, we must understand the difference between chronic and acute pain. Chronic pain is constant: it can last for weeks, months, and even years. Caused by several factors, including, but not limited to poor posture, traumatic injury, spinal issues, and more, chronic pain lasts long after injuries have healed. Examples of chronic pain include:

•       Headaches
•       Lower back pain
•       Cancer pain
•       Arthritis pain
•       Nerve damage

Acute pain, according to WebMD, “starts suddenly and usually feels sharp.” Unlike chronic pain, acute pain can last moments or even months. While acute pain normally signals an injury, it disappears after the injury has healed. Acute injuries include, but are not limited to:

•       Broken bones
•       Burns
•       Cuts

If left untreated, acute pain can become chronic pain.

How Chiropractors Treat Acute and Chronic Pain

For those who suffer from prolonged pain, there is hope. There is a wide variety of medical and holistic treatments available to help treat pain. If you’ve exhausted all your medical options, chiropractic treatment may be right for you.

Chiropractors are well-versed in treating different types of chronic pain. First, your chiropractor will perform a physical assessment to local the pain. Next, they’ll develop a treatment plan. The most popular remedy for chronic pain is a spinal adjustment – a series of firm movements that apply pressure to vertebrae. For other issues, chiropractors may use the flexion-distraction technique (most commonly used for whiplash injuries) or instrument-assisted manipulation. As the name suggests, your chiropractor will use a small, hand-held instrument to apply gentle pressure to stretch soft tissue. This, in turn, will relieve pain.

Chiropractors treat chronic pain and acute pain similarly. To treat acute pain, a chiropractor will first perform a physical assessment. Next, they’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan. Your treatment will depend on your symptoms: for example, those suffering from subluxation or joint restriction as a result of a fracture should undergo a Gonstead chiropractic evaluation. Patients with burn scars may benefit from massage therapy, which controls the development of scar tissue and helps burn victims heal more quickly.

Allen County Family & Sports Chiropractic treats both acute and chronic pain using proven, natural methods. To help manage your pain, schedule an appointment with us today. Dr. Michael Hartle and his team of experts can usually see you the same day you call.

Too Young for a Chiropractor?

Parents want to protect their children—and when it comes to medical care, they want what’s best for them. Many adults who use chiropractors assume that their children are too young for chiropractic care. This belief couldn’t be further from the truth. Family chiropractic clinics offer beneficial services to all clients, regardless of age. 

Because the spine and nerves of children are still growing and moving, family chiropractors use special, gentle techniques to adjust the spine as needed. The goals are similar to the treatment in adults—adjustments to take the pressure off the body and alleviate pain for optimal movement—but the method prioritizes the vulnerable frame of your child. 

Chiropractor for Children

If you’re searching for a chiropractor for children, you’ll find one at nearly any family chiropractic clinic in Indiana. These types of clinics tend to focus on care for the entire family. And family chiropractic care isn’t just reserved for adults—children are one of the biggest benefactors of the treatment. Let’s look at why.

Family Chiropractic Care Prevents Injury

When you’re an adult, and you see a chiropractor, your body has suffered injury—big or small—from stress, strain, and repeated movement. Pain may only occur after many months, years, or even decades of buildup. With children, their bodies are newer and haven’t yet endured years of stress. 

Chiropractors for children use their clients’ youth to their advantage and work to prevent injury and pain from occurring in the first place. If children receive treatment early on, their bodies will perform better and won’t suffer as much in the future. With adjustments, stretching, positioning, and other chiropractic care methods, your child’s youthful bounce can last even longer.

Builds Strength & Flexibility

Along with preventing injury, by receiving family chiropractic care, children can also build their strength in a healthy way that’s appropriate for their age. Regular adjustments and specific exercises that align the back, spine, and pelvis can develop your child’s strength and improve flexibility. These methods work to prevent injury as well, but they can also help your child perform better in daily activities without you worrying about damage or pain. 

Educates

Children’s brains are like sponges, and they crave learning. By seeking family chiropractic care for your child, you are allowing them to learn about their health and body. Because of their cognitive abilities at such a young age, children can absorb knowledge in a way that will stick with them for years to come. Learning about their bodies now can set your child up for a healthy lifestyle, even as an adult. 

Manages Common Conditions and Diseases 

Just because a child is young doesn’t mean that they don’t struggle from certain conditions or diseases. Chiropractors for children specialize in gentle movements and treatments that can go further than pain relief and alignments—they can help kids to cope with life. Chiropractic care is known to help manage common issues such as bedwetting, earaches, digestive issues, allergies, ADHD, crying, and more. Your chiropractor can discover the root of your child’s problem and use gentle movements, adjustments, and exercises to relieve their discomfort.