Can Chiropractic Adjustments Benefit Children and Teens?

The World Health Organization states that 1.71 billion people have musculoskeletal conditions worldwide. And while they are more common in older adults, they may also affect children and teens.

Musculoskeletal conditions generally affect the bones, joints, muscles, and nearby connective tissues. These conditions often lead to pain and limited movement. As a result, children and teens might experience difficulties in their daily activities. If your child or teen has musculoskeletal issues, consider a chiropractic treatment for them.

What Is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is a kind of treatment performed by a licensed chiropractor. He or she uses his or her hands to manipulate the joints. Sometimes, the chiropractor uses a special instrument to apply controlled pressure and force to a spinal joint.

A chiropractic adjustment is also called spinal manipulation. The goal of this treatment is to realign the joints and improve spinal motion. In turn, this reduces pain and improves the body’s movement and physical function.

Can Chiropractic Adjustments Benefit Children and Teenagers With Musculoskeletal Issues?

Children and adolescents with musculoskeletal concerns can benefit from having a chiropractic adjustment. There's a study published in the National Library of Medicine. It states that five to 10 percent of chiropractic patients are children and teens.

Headaches, neck pain, and lower back pain are the most common reasons people turn to chiropractic adjustment. The treatment can also help kids and teens with the following conditions:

Muscle Aches or Joint Pain

Kids and teens may overuse their muscles and joints. They can also sustain injuries leading to pain and stiffness. A chiropractic treatment may help ease growing pains. These pains mostly occur in the limbs and lower back.

Arthritis

As surprising as it sounds, kids may develop arthritis, too. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis leads to persistent joint pain. It occurs when the child’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, causing inflammation.

Sciatica

A chiropractic adjustment may also help with sciatica, which happens when there’s an injury or pressure to the sciatic nerve. It leads to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs. While it’s more common in adults, kids and teens may also have sciatica.

Whiplash

Children and teens involved in a vehicular or sports accident may have a neck injury called whiplash.

Chiropractors Offer Other Treatments

Getting in touch with a licensed chiropractor can help treat your child’s musculoskeletal issues. Besides an adjustment, they also provide the following:

Exercises and stretches for joint mobility and stability
Soft-tissue therapy to relax tight muscles and spasms
Joint bracing or Kinesio taping to support healing sprained joints

Licensed chiropractors can also make referrals to other experts. For instance, they might refer your child to a dietitian or nutritionist. The specialist can then create meal plans that ease inflammation.

Get the Treatment Your Child Needs

On top of affecting their daily activities, pain and limited movement may harm your child’s health. Does your child have musculoskeletal concerns? Consider seeking consultation with a licensed chiropractor.

To learn more about the treatment your child or teenager needs, visit Brookdale Health at Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. You may also call us at (763) 561-4045 to schedule an appointment.