Chiropractic Pediatrics 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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, there are chiropractors who take postgraduate courses in pediatrics after graduation because they want to specialize in this field. The ICA Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics offers a 1-year postgraduate program that leads to Board Certification in Chiropractic Pediatrics with the designation, CICCP. Completion of a 3-year program offers the designation, DICCP (Diplomate of the ICA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics). Since all chiropractors are licensed to care for children, there are many doctors of chiropractic who also see children in their practice on a regular basis.
Source: International Chiropractic Associations Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics. For more information visit: www.icapediatrics.com.
To schedule your child for their initial visit, please call 757-220-4917 and click here to complete the appropriate New Patient forms.