First, before reaching any conclusions about whether children can benefit from upper cervical care, the researcher should understand the difference in approaches to spinal care currently in practice. Today, most chiropractic specialists approach spine treatments by looking at segments or “local fixations,” as it is phrased by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). On the other hand, NUCCA practitioners focus on upper cervical care that affects the whole body’s balance and aids long term spinal stability.
Is it safe?
According to NUCCA’s website, “children can be adjusted using the NUCCA procedure right from birth” and in many cases, the child’s condition doesn’t require a “full NUCCA assessment”. Children are in an important developmental stage and will undergo a safe and simple assessment to prevent any additional harm being done. Once an assessment of their condition is made, a correction is only done if and when it is absolutely necessary. Upper Cervical corrections are pain free and there is not popping or cracking of your child’s spine. NUCCA also states that “children also generally respond more quickly to adjustments and usually require fewer adjustments to attain spinal stability.”
A book titled “Manual Therapy in Children,” by Heiner Bledermann, takes a comprehensive look at the subject of manual therapy for children of diverse ages. The author’s approach looks deeply into the relationship between the neuromusculoskeletal structure and its performance at different stages of a child’s life. The book places a strong emphasis on preventative techniques as a child matures and grows, and it also elaborates on safe treatments and the proper management of the spine, again, at each stage of the child’s development.
So how does a child begin the process of becoming misaligned?
For adults, stress, trauma to the body, and various toxins are all contributors to a back showing misalignment. However, for children the state of his or her spine usually has something to do with a sporting mishap, an accident at home or school, or in most cases, something genetic that the child was probably facing from birth. Scoliosis is one of the most common conditions we see in our office, and Upper Cervical can help to relieve pain, discomfort, and stress on the spine.
The emphasis of NUCCA, along with practitioners who imitate their core approach, can be better understood along these lines: By bringing stability and balance to the upper cervical portion of the spine, the body is given the tools it needs to sustain long-term health. Patients who receive NUCCA-endorsed treatments typically feel better now as well as over the course of their life time.
Stress itself can be viewed as a separate factor. Multiple studies conducted over recent decades show an unmistakable correlation between stress in a patient’s life and the tendency for back problems. Consequently, when children experience emotional-based trauma, they can also benefit from an upper cervical approach. The upper cervical treatments can help to relieve symptoms for the child such as tightness in the shoulder area or help to relieve back pain.
How should I pick an Upper Cervical Chiropractor?
For children, one of the smartest things a parent can do is to examine closely the credentials of the spinal care specialist or chiropractor under consideration. You will need to establish the authority and expertise of that specialist. So much of the advice found in research points to the fact children are more fragile, because of their developmental state. Hence, you should and can make certain the specialist possesses a superb track record in working with younger aged patients.
