Way to Grow! Chiropractic Care for Kids and Teens Dr. Lisette Miller
through the day. These ‘grab-and-go’ diets may lack adequate nutritional value, ultimately leading to micronutrient deficiencies.
rue health is attainable at every age! Although this seems obvious, I’ve noticed a disconnect when it comes to family wellness in my day-to-day practice. Many patients will readily mention chiropractic care for a friend or co-worker, but it is far less common for patients to consider having their growing children checked. This is especially concerning because it is during the teen years that the toxic load can be the greatest. In addition, habits established during this stage of life will either have life-long benefits or life-long consequences in the years to come. It is imperative that our teenagers understand and value the benefits of holistic, conservative care, right from the start!
Consequently, as unhealthy habits are formed in all areas, the nervous system and its adaptability suffer, and the triad of health begins to tip completely off balance. Introducing conservative healthcare options, such as chiropractic and acupuncture, during the teen years is a crucial opportunity to provide the education, tools and resources that will enable the body to grow and heal naturally, the way it’s designed to!
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Physical, emotional, and chemical stressors represent the three pillars of overall health and well-being…and they affect us all in some way. If one or more of these areas becomes neglected, a person tends to suffer, maybe not immediately but eventually. Health begins to fade and symptoms of distress will start to slowly appear. The potential for imbalance is especially prevalent among our teen population who are beginning to juggle increasingly hectic schedules along with greater independence. Physical stressors such as car accidents, postural stress from backpacks and sports injuries often leave lasting effects on the developing spine and nervous system if left uncorrected. Emotional stress is also at an all-time high due to the pressures to “fit in” and to achieve peak performance. Deadlines, activity schedules, college applications, after school jobs, late nights, as well as strained family and friend relationships, may begin to take a toll. Chemical stressors such as environmental pollutants, processed foods and chemical additives further add to the increasingly toxic burden. Kids tend to eat as they are rushing out the door, miss meals, or begin relying on energy drinks, caffeine and sugar to get 18
Improve Healing Unfortunately, kids and teens with an ‘invincible’ mindset, hectic schedules and weak wellness habits, are more likely to get hurt or sick. Whether it’s bumps, bruises, coughs or colds, chiropractic care is designed to allow the body to heal at an optimal level. Treatment focuses on making the body work more efficiently, and in turn, sickness and injuries become less frequent as overall health is restored. Three reported improvements of chiropractic care for kids are improved immune system function, better quality of sleep and happier disposition. Ease “Growing Pains” Despite the name, ‘growing pains’ have not actually been directly linked to growth spurts. They are more likely associated with intense childhood physical activity which can wear on the muscles. Another theory is that because it is common for bones to develop at various rates, some joints and muscles become stressed or strained due to inconsistent growth patterns. Inflammation due to poor diet and nutrient absorption may also play a role. Chiropractors assess the spine from a biomechanical and functional stand point. Altered biomechanics and spinal misalignments of the low back and pelvis may lead to an imbalance in the muscles of the
www.livingwellmagazine.net
December 2017
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