Chiropractic care is often associated with adults seeking relief from back pain, but it can benefit for older children, ages 8-12. As children grow and become more active, they face various physical stresses and strains that chiropractic care can address.
Physical Health
Improved Posture: Proper posture among older children is a common issue. In school and at home, children are spending an increasing amount of time hunched over books or devices. On average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens for education or entertainment. Good posture includes much more than simply how you or your child sits and stands. Posture affects many aspects of life, including self-confidence and concentration. Proper posture helps protect a child's growing spine and joints, and chiropractic adjustments can help realign the spine, promoting better posture and preventing future problems.
Injury Prevention and Recovery: Many school-age children become more active and become involved in sports or other physical activities. According to the National Department of Health and Human Services, more than 60 percent of kids under 12 report being on a sports team or taking sports lessons after school or on weekends. Obviously, the more active children are, the more the more likely they are to incur an injury. Chiropractic care can aid in the prevention of injuries by ensuring proper alignment and balance. In the event of an injury, chiropractic adjustments can also facilitate faster recovery and reduce pain.
Alleviating Growing Pains: Due to rapid growth during adolescence, growing pains are a leading complaint for kids in the 8-12 age range. Growing pains are characterized as cramping or aching pains in your child’s limbs, and are the most common cause of pain in a child’s musculoskeletal system. The pains generally affect both legs and happen at night and occur equally in boys and girls. Along with stretching and gentle massage, chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate these pains by ensuring that the musculoskeletal system is functioning optimally.
Mental Health
Emotional Well-Being: In the fall of 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. Although we do not know all the reasons why mental health among children is on the rise, we do know that the spine houses the central nervous system, which plays a crucial role in regulating stress and anxiety levels. By maintaining a healthy and well-aligned spinal cord, this will inevitably help to lower stress levels and improve mental health for older children. Additionally, spinal alignment can improve sleep quality by reducing discomfort, pain and promoting relaxation.
Academic Performance: Kids face many unavoidable distractions throughout the day which makes it harder for them to concentrate in an academic setting. Whether it be devices, hunger, peer pressure, or rapidly changing emotions, misalignments in the spine can also interfere with nerve function, potentially leading to difficulties in concentration and focus. Improved neural pathways and enhancing cognitive function are a few of the benefits chiropractic care offers growing children.
Boosting Immunity: A well-functioning nervous system can support a stronger immune system. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help older children fight off illnesses more effectively, leading to fewer sick days and better attendance at school.
Introducing children to a proactive approach to their health can lead to a lifetime of healthy choices that they will carry with them into adulthood. Access to chiropractic care at a young age can instill a lifelong appreciation for the importance of spinal health and overall wellness. Chiropractic care supports long-term health by addressing minor issues before they become major problems. By integrating chiropractic care into their health routine, parents can help their children achieve optimal wellness and set the foundation for a healthy future. Our team at Legacy Chiropractic is trained to offer growing, school-aged children proper chiropractic care. We recognize the rapid growth and changes taking place within these young bodies and are ready to help them maintain optimal health. Contact our office today for a free consultation.
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