If you associate chiropractic care with the kind of lower back pain that becomes more common as you age, then you may think that chiropractic care is for older people.  But the truth is that people of all ages benefit from chiropractic care.  Our patients range from the elderly to the very young.

Why would a child need a chiropractor?

No matter how young we are, we all have spines, and we are all susceptible to those spines going out of alignment in the course of daily living.  Misalignments can manifest as aches or “growing pains,” but they can also affect the rest of the nervous system.  A properly functioning nervous system helps your child to meet and overcome any challenges they may have.

Very young children can often be found favouring one side over the other, or neglecting the use of an arm or a leg.  A temporary discomfort can develop into an entrenched habit, where it’s a lot harder to break.  Chiropractic care can address these concerns early, before they become patterns.

Chiropractic care for children is not new.

Founder of chiropractic D.D. Palmer addressed the importance of checking a child’s spine at birth and throughout life over 100 years ago.

Chiropractic care for children is often gentler than chiropractic care for adults, because a child’s spine is still developing.  Chiropractors adjust their technique to meet the needs of the patient.

You might be aware that many athletes, including professional sports players and Olympic hopefuls, go to chiropractors.  Their chiropractors support their bodies and keep them functioning at their best.  You might wonder what that has to do with your child, who might not be involved in high-level sports competitions.

Firstly, one would hope that your child is physically active on a regular basis!  Secondly, this might not involve sports at all.  Some kids prefer active play – running around playing pretend, climbing playground equipment, exploring their environment, inventing dances, hiking, beach play – to organized sports, and that’s fine.  In conclusion, what’s important is that children find it fun to move their bodies and engage in daily physical activity.

All that active play means that your child is an athlete, and athletes benefit from chiropractic care.   Sports injuries (which can just as easily result from active play) are common.  They do not need to be debilitating.  Your chiropractor will ensure that sprains, strains and misalignments heal properly and quickly.

We see many families at Sheppard Chiropractic Centre.  If your family members aren’t already patients, we would be honoured to assist with their care.  Call Sheppard Chiropractic Centre at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172.