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Care For Children "Chiropractic care for my child? Why? His back doesn't hurt." Parents who often appreciate the importance of checkups for their child's teeth, hearing, eyes, ears, nose and throat draw a blank when it comes to the spine. A spinal checkup could be one of the most important of your child's life! Why? In addition to the stress of childbirth, the constant jumping, falling, running and bumping of a normal childhood often cause vertebral subluxations, with serious health consequences if uncorrected. The clinical picture ranges from central motor impairment and development [sleeplessness, uncoordination, seizures] through impairments of vegetative regulatory systems [vomiting, digestive problems, elimination problems], to lowered resistance to infections, especially to ear-nose-and-throat infections. For over a hundred years doctors of chiropractic have observed often dramatic responses from some infants after a chiropractic spinal adjustment with conditions as varied as Erb's Palsy (in which an arm is limp and undeveloped), unbalanced facial and skull symmetry, foot inversion, colic, torticollis (twisted neck), "nervousness," and ear, nose and throat infections. Today we find more parents bringing their children to doctors of chiropractic for spinal checkups. With a healthy spinal column, a child's body can better deal with the sore throats, ear infections, stomachaches, fevers, measles, mumps and the 101 other problems that often make up young life. Without chiropractic care some children will live in continued sickness, condemned to a life of taking medicines and perhaps even surgery. Spinal Adjustments Adjusting the spine is the cornerstone of chiropractic. We utilize multiple techniques in order to provide the greatest service to our patients. Along with the traditional manual adjustments, your doctor may use special tables or adjusting instruments for infants, children, and pregnant women. Care For Pregnancy Pregnancy can be a time of joy and anticipation, yet for some the experience is colored by pain, discomfort and illness. This is often because pregnant women undergo many structural and hormonal changes that affect the spine, nerves, joints, ligaments, connective tissue, center of gravity, and stability. The doctor of chiropractic can ensure that the spinal column, pelvis and related structures are balanced, moving easily and free of vertebral subluxations. Free of vertebral subluxations, the mother-to-be experiences pregnancy at a greater level of comfort, health and vitality, and can better handle the stress of childbirth. Questions about Pregnancy and Chiropractic: Is chiropractic safe for a pregnant woman and her unborn child? Absolutely! Chiropractic's gentle, drug-free approach is especially beneficial during pregnancy. Can I see other health care providers while under chiropractic care? Of course. There is no conflict. Many women continue chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy in addition to seeing other health care providers. How late in pregnancy is it possible to get a spinal adjustment? Anytime. Women have even received chiropractic care during labor. Can spinal care help postpartum depression? According to one journal, "Postpartum depression is a rarity in patients receiving...manipulative therapy." Do I have to have a problem in pregnancy to see a chiropractor? Not at all. Periodic spinal checkups during pregnancy should be as common as periodic weigh-ins. Excercise Counseling Learning how to use your body properly is an essential part of the chiropractic approach to health. Throughout your chiropractic care, you will be instructed in the proper use of an exercise program, custom-tailored to your individual needs. These exercises become an integral part of getting well and staying well. Nutritional Counseling Simply stated, "You are what you eat." Often, the difference between regaining health and remaining ill is the patient's eating and drinking habits. During your initial consultation, your doctor will ask specific questions to determine if you require special nutritional advice. It is a critically important part of your chiropractic care. How Do You Get Subluxations? There are three basic causes of vertebral subluxation. Physical stresses on the spine and nervous system may include slips and falls, motor vehicle accidents, repetitive motion, and improper sleeping. Chemical stress includes smoking, alcohol abuse, not drinking enough water, improper diet, or the overuse of drugs or medications. Finally, emotional stress is a major cause of subluxation due to its effect on the hormonal and muscular systems of the body. Regardless of the cause, these subluxations need to be detected and removed. Is Chiropractic Addictive? Chiropractic is no more addictive than exercise, proper diet, or brushing your teeth. Chiropractors recommend getting your spine checked for subluxations periodically throughout your lifetime because it is healthy for you to do so. Patients under long-term chiropractic care report an overall sense of health and well being far beyond diet and exercise alone.