Chiropractors Initiating Infant Care
How Do I Know When My Infant Needs Chiropractic Care?
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre.
Life Chiropractic Centre is a family chiropractic facility.
Today I am going to discuss how I know when your baby needs a chiropractic adjustment.
The first thing I do is ask the parent what has taken place since the previous adjustment. Have there been any falls off of the bed or couch?, have there been any illnesses?, is the baby teething?, are their bowels working properly?, have there been any recent vaccinations?.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/06.14.2016.adjusting.babies.part.1.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/06.14.2016.adjusting.babies.prt_.1.jpg width=500 height=305 /]And of course we always pay special attention around the developmental landmarks; when baby first starts to sit, crawl, stand and then walk/run.
All of these circumstances can lead to the formation of spinal misalignments or subluxations.
Of course I always do a physical check before every adjustment as well.
I will have them lie on their back in a pregnancy pillow (this is used when I adjust pregnant moms) which also serves as a nice, soft cradle for babies.
The first think I look for is if their head is tilted to one side or the other.
Then I will have them grab my fingers and I will gently pull them up.
This way I can check their grip strength and see if their neck muscles are developing properly. By 3 months of age or so their head should not lag.
Then I will assess the hips and legs for flexibility or tension.
I will also do a leg length check which is my most important check because if a leg is tense and pulling up short, this is a definite sign of subluxation.
Also, I will reach around behind the baby and check the different areas of their spine with my fingertips to make sure they are moving properly.
So, once I identify if and when and where the baby needs an adjustment, I proceed using an instrument called an activator.
As I squeeze the activator it gives a very small impulse.
I place my thumb on the neck vertebra that needs to be corrected and place the activator in the direction the vertebra needs to be corrected.
The activator makes a clicking sound as I squeeze it but my thumb is actually contacting the vertebra.
For the thoracic and lumbar spine and pelvis, I place the activator directly onto the vertebrae that need to be corrected.
After the adjustment, I expect to see that the baby’s head is in a neutral position, the leg lengths are equal and there is minimal tension anywhere in the body.
This way I know the spine is balanced and the nerve system is functioning optimally and therefore the baby’s health potential is also optimal.
So, as you can see by the accompanying video, it is a very gentle and non-invasive procedure.
If you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or any of your children may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations and posture checks in our office are always free of charge. And we also offer family appointments where we can check everybody at the same time.
This is always a fun experience and I can show you how spinal problems tend to run in families.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found right on our home page.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
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