PEDIATRIC chiropractic
Many research studies and publications over the years, including those by Abraham Towbin MD, Adams, Babyn, Logan, Reid, Gutman, Frymann and Biederman, all have shown that most newborns have some type of spinal misalignments and irritation as a result of the birth process, whether a vaginal birth or a C-section.
Our chiropractors in both Lawrenceburg and Lexington locations received additional postgraduate training in pediatric and prenatal chiropractic care and are able to locate these areas of misalignment and correct them with gentle adjustments tailored to your child’s needs. No popping/cracking, gentle, precise, and effective.
Common Pediatric Concerns We Can Help
Torticollis-Colic
Plagiocephaly
Torticollis occurs when your baby's neck muscles cause their head to turn and rotate to one side. It's also called wryneck. Head is tilted or turned to one side, Limited range of motion in the neck, Pain or discomfort in the neck, and Shoulder asymmetry. Over time, when left untreated / not corrected with pediatric chiropractic, baby continued to sleep putting pressure on the same spot on the back of head, causing a flat spot and forming plagiocephaly, which often needed helmet for months to help correct. Every baby should get a pediatric chiro checkup! Call us!
Sports Injuries, Scoliosis & Growing Pain
As the child begins to participate in regular childhood activities like climbing up the couch, skating or riding a bike and experiences traumas associated with these activities, small yet significant spinal misalignments (subluxations) may occur. We have treated thousands of student athletes, cheerleaders, gymnasts, soccer players, softball players, golfers, who have multiple spinal problems from high impact, fast-twisting, injury-prone sports. During this period their pain tolerance level is very high so many often felt zero pain. When these teenagers go through their growth spurt (3-12 inches in a year) but they start out with "crooked" spine and hips or feet that are structurally imbalanced, they will grow up with multiple health problems, from frequent and weak back pain, scoliosis, migraine headaches, gamer's posture (kyphosis) / upper back hump, and many more. Get your kids checked today!
Improper Latch
Difficulty Nursing
During birth process, the baby's head and jaw often got yanked or pulled or jammed as s/he passes through the birth canal or being pulled by forceps or vacuum, resulting in misalignment of the jaw bone, and neck vertebrae, leading to torticollis. When jaw bone is out of alignment, baby will have trouble latching properly or will bite more on one side than the other, and/or leaking milk on one side than the other. Mom will notice baby preferring one breast over the other, or in the case of bottle-fed babies, parents will notice baby preferring to be held on one side and not the other.
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Get your baby checked by our pediatric chiropractors!
Acid Reflux, Insomnia / Sleep Trouble, Digestive Issues
Since significant spinal and cranial trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked right after birth by doctors of chiropractic. Having a large head and tiny neck with underdeveloped neck muscles makes it very easy for newborns or toddlers to develop spinal misalignments especially when their heads flopped forward or to the side during car trips on car seat, when being held by others, or even during the sitting-crawling-and initial walking stages.
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Studies have shown that misalignment of upper neck vertebrae can affect the vagus nerve which runs from the brainstem to the stomach, intestines, liver, potentially causing acid reflux and digestive issues. We have helped many babies and kids who were diagnosed as "failure to thrive" and within a couple of weeks of care, started to gain weight, and suddenly improved significantly, because the misalignments in their neck and midback (thoracic nerves also control digestive organs) caused irritation to the nerves to the stomach and other organs.
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Babies and kids need chiropractic checkups and tuneups!
Headaches & Migraines
Some Behavioral Issues
Misalignment of upper neck vertebrae irritates upper neck nerves and create muscle spasms and tensions as the neck tries to keep the head balanced throughout the day. Most toddlers and children under 7 have head size that is much bigger than the neck. Some of them have had multiple neck injuries, whiplash from roughhousing, sports, poor sleeping posture, by the time they were seven or eight years old. Many parents who are not familiar with chiropractic tend to give their kids Tylenol every time, which only cover up the pain and headaches, but did not fix the structural misalignment. The root of the problem.
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These kids also typically have poor sleep quality, have trouble concentrating, often misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD or behavioral issue. Imagine trying to take a test with a migraine or headache. That's what some kids go through but since it has been their "normal" all their lives, they don' t know any better.
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Often times after a few weeks of pediatric chiropractic care, their teachers would comment to parents how the child is now a different child in school, better emotional regulation / behavior, and typically better academic performance as well.
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Gamer's Forward Head Posture (Kyphosis)
Many kids today spend an average of 2-4 hours a day playing video games. As their spines are still developing, many begin to develop Forward Head Posture that eventually will lead to Hunchback of Notre Dame in a few decades if uncorrected. Many often complain of headaches, neck pain, tingling numbness in their arms, shoulders, wrists, hands.
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We highly recommend gamers to be under regular chiropractic care to prevent further deterioration of their spine.
"I started taking my baby, Tristan, to Dr. Arthur when he was only four months old. He would not sleep on his back so I thought maybe something was wrong. His back was out of alignment. He was/is much happier over all after getting adjusted. We went twice a week for about a month. Now, we go monthly for routine adjustments. Since he is always falling, there is something always out of alignment!
I would highly recommend anyone with kids to go see Dr. Arthur and Dr. Rebecca so they won't have problems as they get older." ~ Melanie Johnson
Spinal Injuries Often Began At Birth
More and more parents are seeking chiropractic care for their children. Many spinal problems seen in adults began as early as birth. Even so called 'natural' birthing methods can stress an infant's spine and developing nerve system. It is very common for newborns to have their tiny fragile neck or head being twisted and yanked at birth, sometimes over and over again. ​ The resulting irritation to the nerve system caused by spinal and cranial misalignment can be the cause of many newborn health complaints. Colic, breathing problems, nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, allergic reactions and chronic infections can often be traced to nerve system stress. Since significant spinal and cranial trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked right after birth by doctors of chiropractic. Having a large head and tiny neck with underdeveloped neck muscles makes it very easy for newborns or toddlers to develop spinal misalignments especially when their heads flopped forward or to the side during car trips on car seat, when being held by others, or even during the sitting-crawling-and initial walking stages. These are the important times to have a child checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic.
9 Reasons to Bring Your Child to A Pediatric Chiropractor
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Better Sleep
Is your child a good sleeper? Chiropractic care can help a child sleep better through the night and feel more rested and calm. After regular pediatric chiropractic visits, parents have noted positive changes in their child’s sleep patterns such as earlier bedtimes, fewer late night wake-ups, more consistent sleep behavior or naps, decreased lethargy, and a more balanced flow of energy levels.
Better Nervous System
When our spine is out of alignment, this can affect so much more than just our posture, aches, and pains. It irritates and disturb the nerve flow between the brain, the spinal cord and the rest of the body. Just like when a circuit breaker trips. Our children’s spine and nervous system are very delicate as they are still growing and developing. Regular adjustments to a child’s back and neck will invite their system to feel more synchronized and settled. A balanced nervous system translates into many areas of their life, promoting wellbeing, greater immunity, and healthy spinal development.
Better Immunity
Our immune response becomes activated based on neurotransmitters which are dependent on the health and functionality of our spinal cord. Something as simple as a pinched nerve or as severe as a slipped disc can disrupt the ability of our immune system to respond to outside threats. This is especially important for toddlers and children who are still building their immune health and exposed to more germs than adults. It has been found that children who see a pediatric chiropractor regularly get fewer colds than those who have never seen one.
Reduces Allergies, Ear Infections
Have you ever noticed the need to blow your nose after an adjustment? Our lymphatic system is dependent on the spine and surrounding muscles for proper flow and functionality. Neck adjustments can often help with lymphatic drainage. Additionally, the biomechanics of the cervical vertebrae can determine when the musculoskeletal system is not functioning properly. If your child experiences difficulty breathing, mobilizing the thoracic spine (upper-middle back) can help them to breathe easier and alleviate symptoms of asthma. For kids with consistent allergies, asthma, or ear infections, please be sure to accompany chiropractic treatment with care from your pediatrician or regular health care provider.
Better Recovery After Birth
During and following childbirth, a baby can experience a variety of physical traumas such as crooked spines, torticollis, underdeveloped digestive systems, infants are especially vulnerable to trauma during birth. Infant chiropractic care can alleviate these traumas, promoting post-birth recovery and helping babies grow and thrive.
Better Posture & Growth Milestones
Although our kids may seem rubbery and indestructible at times, childhood is a key time for habitual postures and patterns to start setting in. The developmental years are the perfect time to preserve the abundant health our kids are born with rather than needing to go back to ‘fix’ or heal issues that may arise throughout their life. Kids are often very active and sometimes take falls that we may not know how significantly have impacted their spinal alignment. It can be helpful to have a pediatric chiropractor monitor our child’s health on a regular basis – especially for kids who are not old enough to effectively communicate their needs.
Better Mood & Focus (ADHD)
It’s important to clarify that chiropractic care does not necessarily “treat” ADHD. However, it can impact children positively who have been diagnosed and it is known to be a safe and natural treatment for the symptoms. Regular adjustments help to support more efficient and effective nerve flow. Spinal misalignments can often lead to behavioral issues as well as changes in brain functionality. Adjusting your child’s spine restores balance to their brain, body, and their entire nervous system which can lead to higher levels of concentration, improved mood and focus.
Pediatric chiropractic care is designed to offer a whole body approach to wellness. In addition to the adjustments, some practitioners offer a variety of sound and light frequencies as part of their therapy. Your provider may also recommend certain dietary changes and exercises. It has been found that by eliminating certain foods, introducing moderate exercise and healthier sleep patterns can help ADHD symptoms to subside. These recommendations could be useful not only for ADHD but help to alleviate headaches, balance the nervous system, regulate sleep, enhance their immune system and so much more!
Relieve Tensions, Headaches, Migraines
Headaches can be linked to innumerable causes. In a world full of loud noises, bright lights, countless ingredients, radiation, and toxins, it’s best to try to minimize the factors that may be playing a role in irritating our system. Tension in the upper cervical and neck area can often be a significant cause of recurring headaches and migraines. How does this issue first arise? Misalignment of the neck is quite common in both kids and adults. More and more, we find that kids develop a slouched posture and that the cervical or natural lordotic curve in their spine becomes diminished due to looking down at devices, texting while walking, and lack of movement for long periods of time.
Movement is certainly medicine when it comes to your spine. While it’s impossible to consistently monitor our child’s posture, behavior, and activity, seeing a pediatric chiropractor is a wonderful way to ensure they are receiving the care they need in this busy life. Relieving the tension in their neck and encouraging a healthy cervical curve is sure to help alleviate the headaches and migraines they may be experiencing.
Improve Digestion, Constipation
If your child is experiencing constipation or other digestive issues, a pediatric chiropractor can offer your little one an extremely gentle and non-invasive adjustment as opposed to medications or other harsh treatments. Light adjustments administered to the child’s spine and neck have been known to relieve constipation and numerous digestive issues. Chiropractic care is intended to help release trapped gas from the joints which can improve blood circulation. Healthier blood flow is a super simple way to encourage more regular digestion. Not to mention, proper alignment of the mid-low back, hips and pelvic area can relieve tension on the intestines and promote a more easeful experience.
"I firmly believe that chiropractic adjustments to the skull and neck can improve middle ear drainage and decrease ear infections."
~ Dr. William Sears, M.D.
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Father of Eight children (three of them are MDs).
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Bestselling author of Baby Books, translated into 40 languages
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Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine
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Guest of CNN, Oprah, 20/20, Dateline, Donahue, Today's Show