Chiropractic and Children
1.
Is
chiropractic appropriate for children?
Yes.
Chiropractic’s drugless and preventive approach to good health makes it
perfectly appropriate for infants, children, and teenagers. Chiropractic is
licensed in all 50 states of the U.S. for the care of children of all ages.
2.
How
safe is chiropractic for a child?
Chiropractic
is one of the safest forms of children’s health care. A chiropractor does not
adjust a baby or a child the same way as he or she adjusts an adult. A baby’s
spine is very supple during the first few months of life, so the doctor of
chiropractic applies only a slight pressure to make an adjustment. For older
children whose spine is still made of mainly cartilage, slight pressure followed
by a gentle push is all that is required to put the vertebra back in place.
3.
When
should I take my child to a chiropractor?
When
you want to give your child a head start in good health and all the benefits of
a conservative, drugless approach to health care, you should take your child to
a chiropractor. It is important to have a chiropractic exam during the first
year of a child’s life as spinal trauma can occur during birth, as well as
from tumbles while learning to sit up or walk. Improper lifting and carrying can
also contribute to spinal stress.
Your
child’s spine grows almost 50% in length during the first year. This is
equivalent to a six-footer growing to nine feet in just 12 months! It’s this
kind of tremendous growth and developmental changes which make a complete
chiropractic examination so important in the early stages of a child’s life.
If there is a problem, the earlier it is corrected the less likelihood there is
of it becoming a chronic or more serious problem later in life.
Doctors
of chiropractic believe it’s much more important to prevent diseases than wait
till some disease occurs.
4.
How
effective is chiropractic care for children?
Chiropractors
have been providing safe and effective care for children for more than 103
years. Without efficacy, parents would have long ceased to seek out a doctor of
chiropractic for their children. A 1992 survey showed that the most common
conditions for which children visit a chiropractor are: earaches, neck pain,
check-up, headache, upper respiratory, low back pain, allergies, asthma,
enuresis, and thoracic pain. Other reasons are ADD and ADHD, colic, torticollis,
insomnia, growing pains, and persistent crying in infants.
5.
How
can chiropractic care help an older child who is not ‘sick’?
Chiropractors
do not treat diseases, they help to correct spinal misalignments that can cause
health problems. Through regular adjustments, counseling on proper nutrition,
exercise, and posture, the chiropractor can help you raise a child who is
structurally and functionally sound.
The
number one “illness” in children is accidents. You may not realize it, but
youngsters take numerous tumbles -- learning to ride a bike, or even just
jumping and running around. If your child takes part in athletic activities, the
“sack” of a quarterback could twist a young spine, pitching a ball can throw
a vertebra out of alignment. These underlying injuries, if left uncorrected, can
cause serious problems as the child grows into adulthood.
Doctors
of chiropractic can do more than correct these problems. They can also help
improve performance on and off the field by helping the body to function at its
optimum level, naturally, and without drugs.
6.
What
if my child has a health problem that does not respond to chiropractic care?
Doctors
of chiropractic are trained to recognize complex health problems. Their primary
obligation is the welfare of the child. It is the position of the ICA Council of
Pediatrics and its parent organization, the International Chiropractors
Association, that when the doctor of chiropractic or any doctor reaches the
limits of their skill and authority that they are “ethically and morally bound
to make patient referrals to practitioners in other fields of healing when such
referrals are necessary to provide the highest quality of patient care.”
7.
There
are so many different health specialists today, who is responsible for the
health of my child?
You
are. As a parent or guardian you must take responsibility for your child’s
health and use your best judgment as to what is most appropriate for your child.
Fortunately, there are some outstanding primary health care providers to help
you make your decision, including your doctor of chiropractic, pediatrician, and
dentist. These professionals should make up your child’s personal health care
team.
8.
Do
all Doctors of Chiropractic care for children? How do I choose?
All
chiropractic schools have required courses in pediatrics. Doctors of
Chiropractic are also licensed in all 50 states of the US to provide
chiropractic care to children and adults. However, Dr. Vilkelis is taking
postgraduate courses in to specialize in this field. The ICA Council of
Chiropractic Pediatrics offers a 3-year postgraduate program (320+ hours) that
leads to Board Certification in Chiropractic Pediatrics. Dr. Vilkelis has
successfully completed his first year of training. Dr.
Vilkelis is pleased to have an ever increasing presence of children In his
practice.