Ever wonder if you should take your child to a pediatric chiropractor?
If you were planting a tree, would you rather it grew straight, strong, and healthy the first time, or would you prefer to try to correct issues after it grew “crooked” for 20 years? The scenario is similar with children – during such impressionable times of rapid growth, children’s bodies benefit greatly from developing optimally along the way.
Reasons many parents seek out chiropractic care for their children: birth challenges, help with breastfeeding challenges, colic, digestive problems, allergies, sleep problems, developmental delays, falls/rough plays, sports injury recovery, posture, and sensory and reflex integration.
I have become interested in two challenges facing this generation of children, both of which are correctable and the sooner addressed, the better. Posture is one – modern day culture spends so much time on tablets and video games. If a tree grows toward the sun, is your child growing toward the light of their tablet, which is in their lap? When kids are in their teens, they are having neck and upper back pain from poor posture that normally would be seen in the typical adult office worker. A visit to a pediatric chiropractor could identify restrictions that are impeding good postural habits.
The other challenge: Reflexes – they appear and disappear at many different points in development and some (like your knee reflex) should stay for life. Many others are ideally meant to fade as we develop. These reflexes prompt our bodies into movement patterns before we have the necessary coordination and strength – for example, grasping the hand, righting the head, rolling, crawling, and then walking. What if a reflex wasn’t properly integrated and was still active in the body? What if you were a school-aged child and every time you looked down at your desk, your legs instinctively wanted to straighten and stand up? What if the feel of the back of your chair caused a reflexive wiggle away from the sensation? What if turning your head caused your opposite arm to want to move into the air? How impossible for a child to struggle to ‘just sit still’ when their body is still working through active reflexes! Kids who struggle with ADHD should be assessed for active reflexes and, if present, integrate them.
Signs you might want to consult a pediatric chiropractor:
– If you’ve already noticed your child’s poor posture
– Are your child’s ears, shoulders and hips level? Is their head jutting forward?
– Is their gait balanced and easy?
Heather Escobar, D.C. is a mom of three children and has been a chiropractor for 13 years. She is certified in pediatrics through Logan University and is Webster technique certified, which is a method of improving neuro-biomechanical function and balance for a smoother pregnancy and birth process. The doctors and staff at Southern Oregon Sports and Spine specialize in low force chiropractic, massage, and rehabilitation. You can learn more about the office at www.sosas.us
