That’s a good question and the answer is simple: whether we have a large spine or a tiny little spine, if that spine is creating nerve distress then our magnificent bodies may not operate smoothly…
The nervous system is the ‘Master Controller’
The nervous system is the master controller of our body and if its communication channels become fuzzy, distorted or damaged then we experience all sorts of communication errors. For babies and children, this ineffective communication may play out as irritability, an inability to suckle and breastfeed, poor sleep, developmental delays, digestion issues, low energy, inability to concentrate, headaches, etc – the list is endless. In fact, regardless of what the end result or symptom may be, all roads to ‘optiminal health’ lead back to the body’s ability to self-regulate and function at a peak level.
While chiropractic may be able to help with a number of health issues, our focus is not treating or curing ailments; our focus is ensuring the nervous system has every opportunity to work efficiently and effectively.
Can you cook at night with the lights out?
For example, imagine your nervous system is like the lighting system in your home. If the lights start to dim, you might not be able to cook dinner very well, you may start banging into furniture, you may trip and hurt yourself, you may feel frightened. How the dim lights influence you precisely will vary but the issue is still the same – there is a communication problem between the wiring and the light globe which needs detecting and fixing.
In the same way, chiropractors spend years studying the nervous system to be able to detect and correct these ‘communication errors’ in the body.
Another question you may ask is…
“How do little kids get nerve irritation?”
Nerve irritations (or vertebral subluxations) occur as a part of normal daily life. They may result from physical, chemical and emotional stressors or ‘insults’ to our health, such as bad posture, prolonged postures, sleeping on our stomachs, knocks and falls, poor food choices, dehydration, exposure to chemicals and toxins, and stress and anxiety. Some research suggests that even before these lifestyle stressors have an impact, nerve irritation may occur in the uterus from awkward positioning, restriction of movement, and exposure to toxins. Subluxations or nerve irritation may also occur from birth complications such as long labours, very fast labours, or forceps or caesarean delivery.
While research to support how effective chiropractic for children is not yet extensive, parental satisfaction with results achieved is compelling in its own right.
Chiropractic for children has been shown to be gentle, safe and effective. Babies can, and should be checked by chiropractors very soon after birth and special techniques have been developed to carefully correct any areas of nerve interference. When we appreciate how the nervous system may be hindered and impaired it makes sense why more parents are having their child’s spine and nervous system assessed.
Article By: Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani DC June 24, 2011
Your child’s health is their greatest asset! We are here to help your child grow up in their fullest health potential.
To learn more about how chiropractic care benefits children, please visit:
www.icpa4kids.org