With alternative medicine practices on the rise, more and more people are taking their health into their own hands. Chiropractic care isn't just for adults. In fact, there are numerous reasons, like a drug-free approach, to take your child to a chiropractor. Along with yoga and tai-chi, chiropractic manipulation is one of the most popular non-traditional health practices for children to try.

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Chiropractic manipulation is especially beneficial for children with chronic health conditions like allergies and asthma. One of the main draws of kids and chiropractic manipulation is that it is a more natural approach that does not involve the use of medications.

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If you're interested in learning more about this safe and gentle treatment of the spine and nervous system, we've got some great information to share below.

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1. Improved Sleep Quality

One of the most important qualities of healthy childhood habits is getting a full night's sleep. But for the nearly 30 percent of children who experience sleep disorders like sleepwalking, sleep apnea, insomnia, and night terrors, it's an ongoing challenge. Gentle massage and spinal adjustments are the ideal treatments to help your child feel more relaxed. In turn, this relaxed state helps them get a better night's sleep.

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2. Calms Colic

A baby who cries several hours a day can make many new parents feel helpless. Infants who suffer from bouts of colic often cry for up to three hours a day. Symptoms emerge around six weeks of age, then disappear by four months. But with nearly 15 percent of newborn babies being diagnosed with colic, the common condition is actually very treatable. Chiropractic is a safe and natural way to ease colic symptoms and reduce the amount of crying by 50 percent. The long-term benefits of chiropractic care to treat infant colic, such as fewer incidences of waking up at night and temper tantrums, were also documented.

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3. Sports Injuries and Improved Performance

Any parent of a child who plays baseball, basketball, gymnastics, or any other sport, knows how easy it is for sports injuries to happen. Something as simple as a tumble into home base can have major potential for long-term issues down the road. But with the help of a great chiropractor, your child's injuries can be helped. With regular treatment and the practice of a few simple stretching techniques, they'll be on the mend in no time. And for kids who want to improve their game, chiropractic manipulation can help too! A study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation reported that in just 12 weeks, athletes who were under chiropractic care improved their agility, balance, kinesthetic perception, power, and reaction time by 30 percent.

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4. Headache Buster

Whether it's a cold, a bump on the noggin, or an earache, when your child gets a headache, you want to help make it stop. But medication isn't always the answer, especially if your little one has allergies. It is because 95 percent of headaches are caused by muscle tension in the back or neck, that spinal manipulation and adjustments can help. They work by relieving the tension in the body and help calm muscles and joints.

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5. Autism

Stomach problems, anxiety, phobias, motor skills, and sensory integration are all major health concerns for children on the spectrum. The connection between the spine and the nervous system go hand in hand and that's why children are able to benefit from the gentle manipulations a chiropractor can provide. Not only do these treatments help relax the muscles and joints, but they are also able to directly affect the nervous system. It is because the spine is connected with many of the body's sensory reception areas, that adjustments have been shown to improve many sensory conditions over time.

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6. Ear Infections

Ask any parent if their child's ever had an earache and more often than not the answer is yes. In fact, five out of six children will experience an ear infection by the time they are three. For some, the cause might be due to a cold, virus, or sinus infection. Although strong antibiotics can be prescribed, there are gentler ways to treat ear infections. And the good news is studies have proven chiropractic treatment of earaches is very effective. Adjustments to the spine, muscles and nervous system are able to help strengthen the immune system, encourage lymphatic drainage, open muscular impingement and help your child manage pain better.

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7. Growing Pains

Two out of five children and teenagers will experience growing pains in their lives. The throbbing aches and pains in the arms and legs are strong enough to wake them up from a deep sleep. Despite popular belief, growing pains are not actually related to growth spurts. Instead, they are the result of the rigorous daily physical activities children participate in. This stress can manifest in the spine and affect the nervous system. A visit to the chiropractor can help calm the pain associated with growing pains and take the pressure off the spine.

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8. Digestive Problems

Children experiencing all types of digestive problems such as constipation, acid reflux, and stomachaches can reap the rewards of chiropractic treatment. Because there are specific areas of the spine connected to digestion, if any areas are out of alignment, the body will loudly react. These inflammatory qualities block the body's ability to properly digest food while wreaking havoc on the stomach. Nerve function also affects how the body manages digestion. Chiropractic treatment can be very beneficial because once the spine is aligned with gentle manipulation, better digestion resumes.

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Help Get Your Child on the Road to Better Health

When your child is in pain, you want to do everything you can to help them feel better. And when it comes to kids and chiropractic care, there is nothing you can't achieve.

When you're ready to try a new approach, we're here to help your family heal. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today!