The process of a child’s development is important. What controls this process? The brain. As a child grows, the brain, muscles and nerves all grow as well.
As they grow, more and more skills have room and ability to develop. A hiccup in that development has a domino effect in how that child progresses.
The brain sends and receives messages via the spinal cord. A tiny misalignment in the spine can cause the nerves and spinal cord to not communicate properly. This is called a ‘subluxation’.
Subluxations cause the brain to try to stabilize the spine with tightened muscles. The tightened muscles are the body’s adaptation process to guard the spinal cord. Usually we think of ‘stabilization’ as a good thing. The problem is, the tightening causes a disconnect and interferes with nervous system communication and functions that affect your child’s whole body.
Common Causes of Subluxation In A Child
- birth trauma (most common and overlooked in the USA),
- mom had a stressful pregnancy,
- baby was in a weird position during pregnancy,
- injury,
- fell off a bike,
- hit their head,
- landed wrong,
- jumped funny,
- tripped,
- stress,
- degenerative disease,
- inflammation,
- poor posture…
The Neck
If a misalignment is in the neck, the result tends to be tightened muscles in the neck and head resulting in a drainage system that doesn’t work properly. Symptoms include constant ear infections, sinus infections, raspy cough that won’t go away, swollen tonsils, headaches…
The Vagus nerve is the nerve that runs from the brain, thru the neck and controls the organs all the way to the waist. It is responsible for getting info from the brain to our organs, as well as info back to the brain from our organs.
You’ve heard of innate responses. An innate response is the response our body has that doesn’t require us to consciously think about. For instance, our immune system to function, our heart to beat, our lungs to breathe and our digestive system to move food through properly, etc. It supplies information for the larynx, esophagus, lungs, trachea, heart, and most of the digestive tract. It also supplies muscle function in the throat and mouth and can result in a baby having trouble latching or having a tongue tie.
The vagus nerve is responsible for the proper communication for our innate responses to work properly.
The Mid Back
When the misalignment is in the mid back (thoracic), the result tends to be difficulty breathing, tightening of the chest, even asthma, etc. The muscles of the thoracic help control the lungs, diaphragm and muscles that help your child breathe. Interestingly, a misalignment in the thoracic spine can cause a child to be anxious and/or overly cautious.
The Low Back
When the subluxation is in the lower back or pelvis, a child tends to have stiffness or flexibility problems, digestive issues, back pain, low energy, etc.
A Few Common Signs Your Child May Have A Subluxation
- Eating trouble
- ADHD
- Difficulty breathing
- Trouble sleeping
- Short temper (ie angry meltdowns)
- Constant ear infections
- Sinus infections
- Swollen tonsils
- Loss of balance
- Lack of coordination
- Swelling
- Lower back pain
- Getting sick all the time
- Low energy
- TMJ
- Headaches
- Digestive issues (ie doesn’t poop or has diarrhea)
- Depression
- Dizziness
Final Thoughts
If your child has a subluxation, the sooner you know, the sooner you can get them the help they need so their body has the freedom to grow and develop properly. Many offices, like ours here at Radiant Life, can perform a pain-free, drug-free neuro scan to measure exactly where the subluxation is and put together a plan to correct it.
You want to make sure you choose a pediatric chiropractor that will take the time to fully reconnect your child’s brain with all of the organs of their body. That’s something we’re passionate about here at Radiant Life. We want your child to have the best future possible.
Once you have those answers and a plan, it feels like a weight will have lifted off your shoulders.
