Back Pain, Chiropractor, Massage Therapy, and Sports Injury Clinic - Back To Basics Chiropractic

The future health of children is affected a lot by their well-being in the first few years of life. It is during this time that the spine and related joints, bones and muscles develop.

Child Chiropractor

An active lifestyle is vital in this development, as it assists in the formation and strengthening of the musculo-skeletal system. To make sure that your child is getting the best from their physical activity, it is important to have regular chiropractic check-ups. Chiropractic is not only useful for treating muscle and joint injuries; it is an essential part of day-to-day health. Poor spinal health affects the functioning of the central nervous system, which has implications for many areas of the body. Spinal problems can develop over time into conditions such as joint immobility, back and neck pain, headaches, and scoliosis. Regular chiropractic care allows proper development and functioning of all areas of the body.

It is recommended that children attend up to six spinal examinations a year, at which time the development of the spine, joints and muscles will be investigated. Spinal check-ups performed when your baby begins to sit, crawl and walk can ensure that these movements are being performed correctly, and identify any possible impediments to proper spinal maturity.

Spinal examinations in children are simple, safe and non-intrusive. As few as six check-ups a year can help secure your child's long-term spinal and health and engagement in a fun, active life.

Common Childhood Conditions

There are many common conditions for which chiropractic can help young children.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis
Scoliosis is an excessive curve or twist of the spine. The spine can appear as an "S" or "C" shape rather than a straight line when looking from behind. It can continue to progress into the early 20s when the bones of the spine are fully mature.

Of every 100 children, 3 to 5 develop spinal curves that are severe enough to need treatment. Adolescent scoliosis is the most common type and occurs after the age of 10. Girls are eight times more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis. The younger you are when scoliosis appears, the greater the chance of curve progression. Scoliosis occurs rarely in adults.

Scoliosis is almost always painless. Most cases are mild, requiring only follow-up and observation. In more severe cases, the spine can rotate as well, resulting in prominent ribs on one side of the body and narrowed spaces between ribs on the other. Severe scoliosis can cause ongoing back pain, arthritic degeneration of the spine and difficulty breathing. Usually a curve of the spine develops without being noticed. However, as the scoliosis progresses, some signs do appear. Symptoms may include uneven shoulders, hips or waist, lower back pain, prominent shoulder blades, or tiredness when standing or sitting.

It is important for children to be examined in order to detect the development of a scoliosis and commence early treatment to prevent worsening of the curvature or possibly help reduce it. Your Chiropractor can provide a variety of techniques to help your condition, including spinal adjustments to increase movement and biomechanical function, and advice on posture and exercise to help prevent further increase in the problem.

Colic
Most people have heard of the effects of colic on both newborns and their parents. Incessant crying and discomfort in a baby can take their toll on new mothers trying to discover the cause of the complaint. As yet, doctors are uncertain what triggers colic, or what it is exactly. It is characterised by constant, loud crying from the first few weeks of life. It can last up to three months, but usually subsides within six weeks. Regular bouts of crying are usually accompanied by bowel pain, stomach rumbling and wind.

Due to their recurring and persistent appearance, symptoms of colic can be difficult to treat. Some parents find help from swaddling, cuddling, rocking, or singing to their child. Rhythmic rubbing of the stomach may help reduce wind, and changing the diet of your child (and your own, if breastfeeding) may also reduce symptoms.

As the true origins of colic are still unknown, results of these methods vary from child to child. It is difficult to find a single foolproof relief to colic.

Chiropractic, however, has shown to be highly effective in reducing the amount of times babies with colic spend crying. Subluxations (spinal misalignments) commonly occur in babies during birth, resulting in underdevelopment of the spine and related nerve problems. Gentle chiropractic adjustments can help correct problems in the spine, which then releases tension and colic. The chiropractors at Back to Basics can also recommend a nutrition course to prevent the return of any symptoms related to diet.

Perthes Syndrome

Perthes Syndrome
Leg-Calve-Perthes Syndrome occurs when the blood flow to the top of the thigh bone (femur) is interrupted. The result is degeneration and deformity in the area. This has drastic implications for bone development and function.

Often Perthes Syndrome is misdiagnosed as a form of early-onset arthritis. The degeneration of the bone is similar to arthritis, however a correct diagnosis is vital for recovery. Symptoms include a limp, pain in the hip, knee, groin or thigh, muscle spasms, short stature and limited movement of the hip. Perthes Syndrome can occur randomly during the life cycle, but it is most common in boys aged three to eleven years.

Some sufferers of Perthes Syndrome require various orthopaedic devices for up to two years, while others undergo surgery to help the problem. Fortunately, not all patients need undertake treatment. Depending on the severity of the condition, participation in sports may need to be limited. While some sufferers may benefit from activity, the degeneration of the hip may make this difficult or inappropriate. A chiropractic consultation can assess the extent of the problem and the appropriate course of action to be followed.

Children who have treatment for Perthes Syndrome under the age of three years have very good chances of recovery. For those children left undiagnosed and untreated, risk of permanent disability increases with age. To give your child the best chance of pain-free development, book them in for a chiropractic consultation today.

Asthma
Asthma is a very common condition, affecting around 5% of the population. Asthma is generally recognised by recurrent wheezing attacks, difficulty breathing after sport or when exposed to allergens, coughing spells, chest pains and feelings of weakness.

Chiropractic care has shown to be effective in alleviating the symptoms related to asthma.

Children with asthma typically have neck and upper back spinal malfunctions, known as subluxations. These disruptions irritate nerve muscles and restrict the body's ability to breathe and function properly. Specific spinal adjustments to affected areas return the nervous system to its proper functioning. These adjustments reduce the amount of attacks experienced by asthma sufferers, as well as related problems such as muscle tightness, joint stiffness and wheezing.

It is important to address asthmatic symptoms early in their onset in childhood, to give your child the best chance of recovery and participation in exercise necessary for their development.
Recent studies have confirmed that chiropractic care can quarter the number of asthma attacks suffered each day, and even decrease the need for medication by up to 70%. Most importantly, chiropractic has offered asthma sufferers the possibility of a healthy, active and fulfilling lifestyle.

Co-ordination Problems

Co-ordination Problems
Tumbles, trips and clumsy skills are all part of growing up, as we develop our fine motor capacities. For some children, however, this clumsiness extends well past the usual time period into late childhood. This problem is known as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD), and affects around 6% of children. Many people refer to this as simple clumsiness, yet this title does not express the seriousness of the disorder strongly enough. Children with DCD show delayed attainment of gross and fine motor skills, from running and catching balls to balancing and tying shoelaces. Many sufferers also experience related speech problems, learning disabilities, and reluctance to form friendships. For children with DCD, their awkwardness interferes significantly with their daily activities. This not only causes physical suffering, but also mental and emotional distress from feeling (and perhaps being told) that they are different from their peers.

The origins of DCD are unknown, although disruptions in the nervous system are usually blamed.

Several treatments are available for children with DCD. Certain medication and behavioural therapy courses are used, focussing on motor and cognitive strategies. Chiropractic is also useful in addressing DCD problems. The chiropractors at Back to Basics Chiropractic can provide specific exercises designed to enhance motor control. These physical exercises are vital for overcoming DCD and achieving physical development at a correct rate. Chiropractic can also assist in addressing other spinal or movement problems that may be related to, or cause greater symptoms of DCD. With correct care, DCD sufferers can overcome their physical difficulties and achieve high levels of movement and personal satisfaction.

Ear infections
Ear infections are a common and painful problem for young children. Almost half of young children will develop an ear infection in their first year of life. During ear infections, fluid builds up behind the eardrum, causing immense pressure and inflammation. This results in severe pain, irritability, fever and even temporary hearing loss. Recurring infections cause great pain to children, not to mention frustration to parents woken at night with their child's crying.

Antibiotics are usually the first avenue of treatment for ear infections. The problem with these drugs is that as they are continually used, the bacteria causing infection become more resistant. Other treatments such as ear-tube surgery and adenoidectomy should only be last-case choices for young children.

Recurring ear infections can be treated by care at Back to Basics Chiropractic. Impairments in the nervous system mean that the ear is unable to drain the fluid build-up behind the ear drum which causes the pain. Simple pressure applied to the spine repairs the functioning of the nervous system. This reduces the pressure on the eardrum, as well as permitting long-term proper drainage of ear fluid.

Studies of chiropractic have consistently produced positive results for ear infections. A long-term investigation of 4600 people showed that ear infections only developed in people with spinal tension, and that once this pressure was relieved, 80% never experienced problems again.

It is important not to risk the health of developing bodies with severe and invasive treatments. Chiropractic offers a safe, natural and effective alternative for your child.

Congenital Hip Dysplasia

Congenital Hip Dysplasia
Congenital Hip Dysplasia (CHD) refers to the abnormal development of the hip joint, in which the socket and thigh bone can become dislocated. Normally, a child's thigh bone (femur) sits perfectly centred in the hip socket (acetabulum). Occasionally, however, during gestation or shortly thereafter, the two parts become unaligned, allowing excess movement in the joint. Usually this involves the femur moving upward out of the socket.

CHD can lead to many physical problems during life, including leg and hip pain, a limp, limited range of motion, legs of different lengths, and early on-set arthritis.
Early detection of CHD is vital to ensure the development of the joints can be corrected and prevent long-term problems.

Chiropractors can perform simple checks for hip problems as part of the routine for post-natal checks that all newborns should attend six times in their first year of life. If a problem is detected, chiropractic adjustments can assist in restoring the joint to its proper functioning. Adjustments have been effective in treating not only the symptoms, but the actual cause of CHD. With chiropractic care, it is possible to reverse the gap in the join.

To ensure that your child has the best chance of healthy development, it is important to detect problems early. A simple, fast check-up with a chiropractor at Back to Basics Chiropractic may be the best action you ever take for your child's long-term health and happiness.

Growing pains

Growing pains
Complaints of thigh, knee or calf pain in the night are common during childhood. This recurrent pain is usually dismissed as 'growing pains'. This may not actually be the case and some treatable problems may go ignored. While it seems reasonable to accept that the pain is due to growth, why does this condition occur only in the legs, and not other parts of the body that grow, such as the arms, fingers and nose?

Growing pains occur during the very active years of adolescence. Jolts, twists and stresses of energetic play can result in subluxations (misalignments) in the spine, which affect the nerves controlling the legs, knees, pelvis and hips. All of these nerve problems can manifest themselves in leg pain.

If your child has been diagnosed with growing pains, it is recommended that they visit a chiropractor. A physical assessment can ensure that any leg and back pains are not the result of underlying spinal problems. Spinal misalignments left untreated through childhood can develop into serious problems later in life. Children tend to experience more incidents of back pain than older generations. Around 84% of back complaints in children extend into adulthood.

It is also important for children to maintain their flexibility during growth spurts.
The chiropractors at Back to Basics Chiropractic can recommend appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce overall muscle tension. This will allow children to perform in regular childhood activities free of pain and tension.