Many people have the misconception that infants, toddlers, and children are not good candidates for chiropractic healthcare. This is not true. The rapid growth and high level of activity of children make them a group that may benefit the most from chiropractic treatment. It is common for children of any age to suffer injuries that are disregarded as normal childhood accidents or not recognized by parents. Such injuries, if left untreated, may lead to future problems throughout the developmental years and into adulthood. Chiropractic treatment helps restore normal motion and function to injured areas. It helps in the overall healing of injuries children are exposed to. Chiropractic has further been shown to benefit many common childhood ailments such as colic, and ear infections.
Colic is a condition of excessive, inconsolable crying in an otherwise healthy, thriving infant. The crying is mostly unaffected by the parents efforts to comfort the child. Infantile colic is estimated to affect about 20% of all infants. Colic is usually viewed as a benign condition. However, the psychological affects of colic on infant-parent interactions can impact the relationship. There is evidence that colic is a major factor in cases of violence toward infants. Considering this, infantile colic is a potentially harmful condition. There are many ideas of the cause for colic, yet the etiology remains unknown. Various drugs and dietary measures have classically been used, with moderate success (1).
Chiropractic spinal adjusting has long been a treatment for colic. Studies done through the 1980’s and 1990’s show good results in 90% of infants treated with chiropractic within 2-3 treatments. (1). Furthermore, controlled studies have shown spinal adjusting to be more effective than drugs for the treatment of colic (1). Chiropractic adjusting for the infant is very gentle, safe manipulation of the skeletal system.
Otitis media (ear infection) is another common childhood ailment. 83% of children have one episode of otitis media by age 3. It is caused by a blockage of the eustachian tube preventing proper inner ear drainage. This results in a build up of fluid and pressure in the ear. Ear infections are more prevalent in the winter, children younger than 6 years old, in daycare, with smoke exposure, and with pacifier use after 10 months old. In the acute severe stage, antibiotics must be considered to prevent more serious secondary infection; however, in the early stages or in mild cases, conservative treatment may be more appropriate and effective in managing the infection. Upper cervical spinal adjusting has been shown to improve the symptoms of ear infection (2). Combined with soft tissue manipulative techniques for drainage helps the children fight the infection. Additionally there is a procedure to open the eustachian tubes called the endonasal technique. This technique involves using the finger to manually open the eustachian tube at the back of the throat. This allows the ear to drain, relieving the pressure and pain. The data available today suggests that the conservative approach is more appropriate than an aggressive historical treatment of antibiotics for a majority of earaches. Of equal importance are the proper environmental and lifestyle changes necessary to lower the risk of future earaches (2).
Colic and Earaches are two conditions that are effectively treated with the conservative approach of chiropractic healthcare. Both conditions have well researched for effectiveness and complications with high success rates and parent/patient satisfaction within a short course of treatment. Chiropractic healthcare is a safe, drugless, conservative approach to treatment for many ailments seen in the pediatric population.
If you would like more information about colic or otitis media treatment, please call Alaska Advanced Care Chiropractic 262-6050 for an information packet.
1. Klougart, et al. Infantile Colic Treated by Chiropractors: A Prospective Study of 316 Cases. JMPT 1989:12:4.
2. Lamm, D.C., Lester. Otitis Media. Western States Chiropractic College conservative care pathway.
Pediatrics
