Children and Our Special Care

     Vital to childhood development and growth, the brain controls all biological functions occurring in the human body. Countless messages exchanged between the brain and body carry out the blueprints that guide the transformation of a newborn child into a mature adult. Conveying this ongoing stream of information to its intended destination is the function of the spinal cord and an extensive network of branching nerves. Each message provides instructions to the child’s growing body to provide for immune function, coordination of muscle activity, repair and growth of tissues, respiration and digestion among others. This constant flow of information between the brain and body is vital to normal childhood development and growth.

     Protecting these delicate structures from injury is the bony casing of the skull and spinal vertebrae. As with adults, upper cervical (neck) alignment and motion may have significant effects on the ability of the nervous system to clearly transmit information to and from the body. But how do newborns and children develop spinal problems so early in life?

     It begins with the normal birthing process, which any mother will tell you is somewhat of a traumatic experience. Even during the gentlest of births, presentation of the baby’s head through the birth canal requires physical pressure exerted by the mother. This can force the baby’s neck to twist or bend causing locking of the upper cervical vertebrae. Often during the delivery, the practitioner will pull or twist the head to assist with the delivery and, in turn, may compound the problem (1). Breach births place the newborn at unique risk for developing upper cervical problems depending on the presentation and total time of labor. If the newborn makes it through the birthing process unaffected, the inevitable tumbles and falls of childhood increase the risk of injury to the upper cervical spine potentially compromising brain-body communication.

     What does this mean to a growing child through their formative years? As with adults, disturbances in neural communication may have wide variety of effects. Colic may be a signal that the neural regulation of digestion has been compromised (15-18). Torticollis, neck and back pain, headaches and many other pain syndromes are influenced by nervous system function as well (19-22). The range of possible conditions is broad as well as complex. Over time, problems left in childhood tend to become larger through adulthood. Consequently, the sooner these problems are found, the faster they can be corrected.

My Child is Frequently Sick - Is This Normal?

     Contrary to what many believe, it is not normal for a child to be frequently "catching" colds, flus, sinus, or ear infections. Every child, as well as adult, possesses the inherent immunity to fight and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other disease causing organisms. With germs surrounding us in our environment daily, every human being on the planet would be sick if not for this important ability. Hospital staff would be chronically ill due to their constant exposure to a high concentration of a multitude of organisms. To answer why children become frequently ill, we must first ask what might be compromising their immunity.
Boy getting a scan

     Because of its discovered integration with the nervous system, the immune system is now being called the neuroimmune system by many experts in this field. This means that a change in normal nervous system function may have a direct bearing on immune function as well. This may result in the child who is susceptible to illness.

     Through our unique form of upper cervical care, we strive to improve nervous system function as a means to better the health of children.

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