11.3% Earaches 10.6% Neck Pain 10.3% Spinal Checkup 8.8% Headache 7.1% Upper Respiratory Infection 6.3% Low Back Pain 4.5% Allergies 3.3% Asthma 3.3% Bed-Wetting 3.2% Thoracic Spine Pain
These top 10 conditions account for 70% of the reasons kids seek chiropractic care. (excerpt taken from "Kids Need Chiropractic Too!" by Peter Fysh, D.C.)
The spinal column consists of 24 freely movable bones, which are supported by the tailbone. There are several major functions of the spine. Foremost, it houses and protects the spinal cord and nerves, allowing messages to travel from the brain to target tissues throughout the body. Second, the spine is an integral part of the axial skeleton from which the skull, ribs, arms and legs extend. The spine houses the protections mechanism for the heart, lungs, and other vital organs. The cervical spine is made up of seven segments which comprise the neck. The thoracic spine houses the rib cage and consists of twelve segments. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae, which are supported by the sacral base.
At birth, the spine consists of two primary curvatures, the thoracic spine and sacrum. This is the reason infants have c-shaped posture for several months. Throughout the many developmental stages of the first two years of life, the secondary curves of the spine develop forming the neck and low back. The four curves allow for upright posture and locomotion.
Five Crucial Milestones in Postural Development Spinal evaluation and gentle chiropractic care during these stages can help to ensure proper spinal development.
Holding the head erect Sitting Crawling Standing Walking
The First Subluxation
The process of birth is very demanding and quite traumatic for an infant. The brain and spinal cord communicate with the entire body through a series of delicate nerves. The skull protects the brain. The 24 bones of the spinal column house and protect the spinal cord and nerves.
During the process of labor and delivery, a tremendous amount of stress is placed on the spine of a newborn. Consequently, the bones of the spine have great potential to misalign, resulting in subluxation. Some common manifestations of subluxation are localized pain, recurrent infections, and difficulty nursing or digesting food. Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments may help to prevent these problems and allow the nervous system to function at optimal potential. .
*Research indicates that 11.9% of infants have upper cervical subluxations as a result of in-utero constraint; prolonged labor; difficult delivery; and inadequate head support. (Biederman, 1992) Other studies suggest that 89% of infants with sleeping, feeding, or digestive disturbances are experiencing subluxations of the spine. (Siefert, 1975)