health issues, children, childbirth, safe chiropractic, subluxations

Childbirth is at least as traumatic for the newborn as it is for the mother. If the birth is assisted (doctor pulls on head with suction or forceps), unnatural forces are applied to the infant's neck. This is often the cause of the first subluxation. Current research suggests that over 80% of all children may be subluxated at birth.

With the falls, accidents and generally active lives most kids experience, regular check-ups are vital. Sleeping with their head twisted in a car seat, falling while learning to walk, and a myriad of other small incidents lead to subluxations. The "sack" of a young quarterback could twist a young spine. A softball pitcher could throw a vertebra out of alignment. It has been reported that before the age of three years of age your child will fall over 3,000 times. Sometimes the body can correct the damage - sometimes it cannot.

Children have nerve systems that control and coordinate all of their body functions, just as you do. And, just like you, they can get subluxations that will interfere with the full expression of their health. Children have an entire lifetime ahead of them to manifest the results of what they do today. That is why it is important to have children checked and adjusted throughout their growing years.

Childbirth and other trauma are far rougher on an infant's spine than the gentle, one finger adjustments we use. Dr. Shaw's children and grandchildren were all adjusted as soon after birth as possible. A child is much easier to adjust than an adult. They have not had the long-standing subluxations, their muscles are usually not as tense and they are usually more relaxed in general than adults. Not only are kids easier to adjust, but also in most cases, their corrective adjustment plans are almost always significantly shorter than the average adult.

Children may, on the first visit or two, be somewhat reluctant. However, in a very short period of time, most kids really look forward to their regular chiropractic visits, especially when they see Mom, Dad and their brothers and sisters getting adjusted.

Doctors of Chiropractic have been providing safe and effective care or children for nearly 100 years. There are several published studies conducted by researchers in Germany, Australia, Denmark and the United States which confirm the effectiveness of chiropractic for a variety of childhood illnesses. The scientific evidence is growing every day.