Chiropractic Care and Children

By: Dr. Xavier A. Ortiz Ramírez DC, MD, NRCME

We all experience pain and discomfort at one time or another.  This pain and discomfort can be caused by many factors, including injury, arthritis, and poor joint use.  Pain is not a walk in the park.  When children suffer pain, it can be unbearable, for both them and their parents.  If your child complains of pain or difficulty moving, your first thought may be to take them to their primary care physician.  Yes, you can, but why not opt for natural relief?  You can get it with chiropractic care.

If you didn’t already know, chiropractic care is a natural form of medicine.  Patients can opt to take over-the-counter pain relievers, but they are rarely needed when proper treatment is sought.  Chiropractic care involves manual therapy, also known as hand therapy.  A child suffering from neck pain may need neck realignment or regular therapeutic massages.  A child suffering from constant and severe headaches may need a vertebrae alignment.  These treatments sound complicated, but they are all done with precision force and with the hands.

One of the first questions parents ask is about safety.  Many wonders if chiropractic care is safe for children.  Yes.  It is safer than most forms of traditional medicine.  Your child’s primary care physician may prescribe a pain reliever.  Both prescribed and over-the-counter pain relievers are risky for children.  There are many risks and typically some side effects.  Chiropractors cannot prescribe medication.  Most wouldn’t want to anyway.  Instead, natural treatment is sought and through the hands.  The treatment will depend on the diagnosis made but remember it is usually a joint adjustment or a therapeutic massage.  These are 100% all-natural and not risky.

Another important point parents, like yourself, are urged to consider is long-term relief.  Many mistakenly believe that chiropractic care is long-term.  It can be, but not always.  Parents and chiropractors develop long-term treatment plans together.  If your child’s lower back problems were caused by improper posture, therapeutic massages or readjustment may be necessary, but continued treatment is usually rare.  Your child’s chiropractor will however discuss the importance of proper posture with you and your child and share helpful tips.

If your child needs long-term care, the cost may be a concern.  Although some classify chiropractic care as alternative medicine, many insurance companies extend coverage.  Talk to your insurance provider and find a chiropractor that accepts it.  If uninsured, inquire about payment plans.

As previously stated, a primary care physician may prescribe over-the-counter pain pills for the pain and offer a brace for support.  These are only temporary solutions to the problem.  Many physicians only treat the symptoms, not the problem at hand.  As previously stated, a child suffering from neck pain may need an adjustment or realignment.  With chiropractic care, this is done with precise hand manipulation.  A primary care physician is likely to prescribe pain pills, slap a brace on your child, and send them on their way.
 
As shown above, chiropractic care is safe for individuals of all ages, including children.  Still, there are many ways that you can eliminate the need for chiropractic care.  It might be a lot easier than you think.  For starters, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) claims that poor quality backpacks and improper use can lead to lower back pain in children.  So, if you are the parent of a school-aged child, make sure your child’s bag is less than 10% of their weight, do not let it hang too far below the waistline, keep pointy objects away from your child’s back, and choose a backpack with wide and adjustable straps.

Another easy way to reduce pain and discomfort in children is to encourage proper posture as a parent.  This is particularly important today, as children spend many hours watching television, playing video games, and using a computer.  Encourage your child to sit up straight.  This simple step can later reduce the likelihood of back and neck pain.

Contact the Author:

Dr. Xavier A. Ortiz Ramirez, DC, MD, NRCME
CEO / Chiropractic Physician @ Back 2 Work Clinic
 

Web: https://back2work.clinic 
Office Phone: (208) 965-2262
Mobile Phone: (208) 576-4696
Email: drxavierortiz@back2work.clinic  
Mail to: PO Box 382 Meridian ID, 83680 
Practice: 950 E Riverside Dr. Eagle Idaho, 83616