Chiropractic is considered a profession dealing with muscle and joint problems ( musculoskeletal problems). Problems can develop in any region of the body. Most common problems occur in the back , neck , head, jaw , shoulder , elbow, wrist , hip , knee and ankle.
In older children and adults, musculoskeletal problems may present as a loss of movement and or pain.
In our office we have noticed babies with musculoskeletal problems (from the birth process) may present as being irritable, favour looking to one side, become upset with dressing/ undressing, dislike travelling in the car seat, may be fussy with breastfeeding , may show discomfort with sleeping.
Since the Ancient times chiropractic techniques have been used as a natural method, that utilizes the body’s own abilities to promote internal healing and ongoing wellness.
Chiropractic was founded in1895 by Daniel David Palmer and is the largest natural primary health care profession in the world. It is practiced by over 50,000 Chiropractic doctors and utilized by over twenty-five million American’s each year.
The human spine is the framework that supports and protects the spinal cord. Most of the nerves pass from the spinal cord through small openings in the spine to various muscles, organs, cells and bones. In fact every living cell, tissue and organs are controlled by these nerves.
Falls, incorrect lifting, stress, repetitive movements, faulty posture, illness and the birth process may cause disruptions to the normal movement of the spine. These areas of abnormal movement that may cause nerve interference are called Chiropractic Subluxations.
For most of us the biggest trauma we will every suffer in our lives, will be during the birth process. Dr H Biedermann a Medical Doctor from Belgium has been advocating the importance of spinal examinations for the newborn for over 40 years. “Birth trauma remains an underpublicised and, therefore, an undertreated problem. Manual treatment of birth trauma injuries to the neuromusculoskeletal system could be beneficial to many patients not now receiving such treatment, and it is well within the means of current practice in chiropractic …” (1)
Subluxations usually involve a spinal bone (called a vertebrae) which has abnormal motion, nerve irritation and muscle spasm. Chiropractic subluxations are common and do not always produce pain or other obvious symptoms.
In babies, the trauma of birth may cause musculoskeletal injury and subluxations.
Chiropractors check the spine for subluxations and correct them using a special procedure called an adjustment. When the spine is free of subluxations and muscular tightness it is able to move more freely and allow optimal positioning and functioning of the underlying nervous system. The body is then able to function properly.
A study in 2009 showed parents viewed chiropractic for children to be beneficial. (2)
(1) Biedermann, H. “Manual therapy in the newborn and infants”.The Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine, no.1 17 1995 Pages: 2-9
(2) Joel Alcantara BSc, DC 1 2 *, Jeanne Ohm DC 1 3 and Derek Kunz BS., “The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey of Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-based Research Network”, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 2009.