November 2022

Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Children, Chiropractic Care, Pediatric / Martin

Today’s moms and dads know that essential neurological development occurs in the first few years of a child’s life, and how incredibly crucial supporting their development in these early years will affect their adolescent and adult development.

Helps with Children’s Neurological Development

When such an interference occurs in the nervous system, your child’s brain and body do not communicate as they should. Since a child learns about the world through their senses, it’s important that the brain processes that information correctly to reach milestones and thrive.

Although you may be surprised to find children in the waiting room at your chiropractor’s office, 17% of all chiropractic patients are under 18 years old, according to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The care these children receive is oftentimes preventative, meaning it sets them up for better health and well-being in the future, but it is also to deal with some sort of health issue or imbalance.

As adults, we’re often aware when our bodies aren’t in balance. Whether it’s chronic pain, headaches, or poor posture, our physical health affects us all. Children and infants aren’t exempt from this either; dysfunction within the body can inhibit their learning and growth.

Spine Misalignment can lead to Sleeplessness, Earaches, or Asthma in kids

We know that children are active explorers, and so they tend to experience more physical trauma than adults do. A small fall or bump can easily throw their spine’s alignment out of whack. Even slight misalignments can lead to issues like sleep disturbances, earaches, or asthma later on in life.

Fortunately, pediatric chiropractors have the specific knowledge and skill needed to help keep kids’ bodies functioning optimally.

Give Your Child A Positive Start

Studies show that nearly 80% of natural births cause some form of damage to the baby’s upper neck. With such a high statistic, having this area checked immediately can help to avoid future problems caused by misalignments.

We Care About Our Kids

Pediatric chiropractic care is a non-invasive and pain-free way to check for any type of spine misalignment. When we do our physical examination for a pediatric spinal misalignment, our pediatric trained and licensed chiropractors are looking for any signs of misalignments that can affect the development of your child’s healthy nervous system. Because of the small scale and nature of dealing with very small bodies, you want to seek out highly trained and practiced pediatric chiropractors like Dr. Yael Gurshwitz, at Anew Chiro Chiropractors in The Woodlands, Texas.

Newborns

Spinal trauma can result from a difficult birth or other traumatic events experienced in the first few months of a baby’s life. When an intervention at birth is necessary, force by a physician’s hands, instruments, or the birth canal on a newborns’ body can cause spinal misalignment which can lead to symptoms such as colic, failure to thrive, feeding problems, and incessant crying. Such trauma can be caused by interventions such as:

Breech presentation
Cesarean section
Forceps delivery
Prolonged time spent in the birth canal
Pulling and tugging on the fragileness of a baby’s neck

Toddlers and Young Children

There are certain physical milestones that a child reaches throughout their life, and moms and dads notice when a child is not reaching those milestones at the same time as other babies and toddlers their age.When those milestones are not met, parents may become concerned. If a child has developed a spinal subluxation due to the trauma they have suffered, they may not be meeting milestones which are on pace with the rest of the children their age. The types of physical trauma that can result in subluxations include:

Accidental slips
Rough and tumble play
A knock to the head
Falling down when they are first learning to stand up and walk
Injuries relating outdoor activities like bike-riding, or tree climbing
Any injury that may result from lots of running or swimming

Children whose nervous system has been impacted by the types of trauma or injuries mentioned above are much more likely to develop stomach issues, earaches, and ear infections. Not only are those some of the common ailments due to these types of trauma, but medical studies show that they may also develop difficulty learning, hyperactivity, as well as a lack of social development.

Adolescents

As teenagers participate in athletic activities, the chances of developing a spinal subluxation can increase. A variety of sports such as baseball, basketball, football, swimming, track running, tennis and soccer have the potential to cause injury to the spine when proper care is not taken. If there is anything that is known about teenagers, they overexert themselves and do not always practice proper techniques as they are learning and growing. This is why chiropractic care is so important during these formative years, as it can help to ensure that a growing body is well aligned and the nervous system is functioning properly.

Chiropractic care helps teens recover more quickly from physical trauma and also helps to improve their athletic performance. Chiropractic treatments can also help teenagers in terms of overall health by promoting better posture and preventing long-term damage to the spine. With regular check-ups, teenagers can stay healthy and safe while playing sports and remain physically active throughout their teenage years.

Chiropractic care is also a great way for teenagers to maintain an overall sense of wellbeing, as it helps reduce stress levels and promotes better sleep quality. This allows teens to be more focused and productive in all aspects of life.

Ultimately, chiropractic care is a great way to ensure that teens are able to remain physically healthy and happy as they grow into young adults. Whether the goal is to maximize athletic performance or simply stay healthy, regular visits to the chiropractor can help teenagers reach their athletic peak, or simply remain healthy while minimizing any potential long term health issues.

Improved Function

Our chiropractic doctors have received valuable feedback from many of our young patients in regards to their improvements in health and well being. The results have shown that our young patients have:

Improved immune system function
Much improved sleep and less restlessness
Fewer behavioral issues
Less down time due to illness
Improvement with ADD/ADHD
Fewer bouts of colic
Improved congenital muscular torticollis
Fewer bouts of ear infections
Less bed-wetting
Improved digestion
Improvement in allergies and bouts of asthma
Noticeably fewer seizures

A Stress-free Consultation

At Anew Chiro Chiropractic in the Woodlands Texas, we strive to provide your child with the highest quality of care. We understand that some children may have anxiety or ADHD, and we are very experienced in treating them. We make sure we have all the information we need to provide the best treatment for your child through our consultation. Our consultation will include details about the mother’s pregnancy, delivery, any interventions or medications given and any surgeries performed. We believe that pediatric chiropractic care is essential for children, from babies through adolescence, and we are proud to be treating so many of The Woodlands area youth.

As you know, prevention is key to achieving true wellness, and we are thankful to our patients and parents for giving their children the best start in life through early intervention through chiropractic care. If you would like to learn more about chiropractic care for your child, please contact us today. We look forward to helping your child reach their highest physical potential! Let us help give your child the chance to live and learn with confidence.Please call us today at (936) 273-3370 or visit our website https://anewchiro.com/ for more information about pediatric chiropractic care.

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Infant Torticollis

Uncategorised / Martin

What Is Infant Torticollis?

Sometimes falling asleep with your neck in the wrong position on your pillow can result in a stiff neck, making it painful or difficult to turn your head. This is referred to as torticollis, a fancy Latin word that means “twisted neck”.
Although it may seem unlikely due to newborns incredible flexibility, as many of their bones are still forming from cartilage, torticollis can occur. Especially if there has been trauma in the birth canal due to a difficult child birthing process. Sometimes, it can occur simply because of the baby’s position in the womb. This is referred to as infant torticollis or congenital muscular torticollis.
While seeing a newborn with a twisted neck or having trouble turning their neck can be unsettling to most parents, a newborn does not feel pain in the same way as someone older. The best thing about Infant torticollis, is that the problem usually resolves itself with time or just by changing the position of the baby.

What Causes Infant Torticollis?

There is not any need for great alarm when you see torticollis in infants. This head tilt is just as likely to happen in boys, as it does in girls, and usually presents itself anywhere from birth to 3 months of age.
It still remains a mystery as to why some babies present with infant torticollis, and others do not, but doctors are quick to point out that it is very common and parents should not be alarmed. Infant torticollis can happen because there is just not enough room in the fetus and the baby is cramped inside of the uterus. Or, in some cases, if the baby is in a breech position, where the baby’s bottom is facing the birth canal instead of the head facing the birth canal, it occurs with regularity. Additionally, infant torticollis may present itself when the baby is delivered using forceps or if any vacuum devices are used during childbirth. Anytime forceps or a vacuum, or a doctor’s hands, put pressure on an infant’s sternocleidomastoid muscle, known as the SCM, infant torticollis can develop. The SCM is a large and long muscle that runs down the sides of a baby’s neck from the ears to the collarbone, and applying more pressure to one side of the SCM can make it tighten up, causing tension on that side, and making it difficult for a baby to turn their neck.

Interestingly enough, in the presence of other conditions, such as developmental dysplasia of the hip, infant torticollis may be more prevalent. You can read more about developmental dysplasia of the hip, a condition which often occurs when the baby is in an unusual position in the womb, or goes through a very difficult and tough childbirth.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Infant Torticollis?

A baby with infant torticollis will appear absolutely normal except when it comes to any activity that involves rotating the neck. Some of the signs to be on the lookout for include the following:

- When they put in visible effort to turn towards you and you notice then getting frustrated when they are unable to turn their head completely

- When they tilt their head in one direction. This can be difficult to detect in newborns since their heads are so close to their shoulders

- When they seemingly prefer to only look at you over a preferred shoulder and do not follow you with their eyes as normal children would

- When breastfeeding, if your infant prefers one breast over the other, or has trouble breastfeeding on one side, over the other.

- When a child develops a flat head, known as positional plagiocephaly, on either side from lying in one direction all of the time, they may also develop torticollis.

- When an infant develops a small neck bump or lump, similar to a tense muscle “knot”, this may be indicative of infant torticollis

How Is Infant Torticollis Diagnosed?

The most common method for diagnosing infant torticollis is via a physical examination by your pediatrician. Remember that as the parent, you will spend an inordinate amount of time with your infant, watching them, feeding them, bathing and holding them, and it is important that you keep an eye out for anything that seems out of the ordinary. Should you feel that something does not feel or look right, it is important that you take them to see their pediatrician to put your mind at ease.

How Is Infant Torticollis Treated?

Should your infant or newborn be diagnosed with infant torticollis, the doctor may teach you a few stretching routines that you can perform at home with your baby. These stretching exercises will help to loosen up the tension or tightness in the SCM, while strengthening the weaker opposite side of the neck. It will be weaker because it has been used less. These stretching exercises will help your baby regain normal function and range of motion and help straighten out your baby’s neck. However, there are times that a doctor may recommend taking a baby to a physical therapist or a chiropractor that is trained and licensed to treat infants and newborns. As treatment progresses, your child’s chiropractor will do a routine check up every two to four weeks to ensure that the issue is resolved.

Helping Your Baby at Home

Simply put, encourage your baby to turn their head in both directions. Doing so will help them loosen those tight neck muscles and the SCM, and alternatively tighten the loose muscles. You may be concerned that you may actually do more harm than good with these exercises, but babies cannot harm themselves by merely turning their own necks. The harm comes from extra pressure that was previously applied.
The following is a list of exercises to try out:

- During the day, and especially during play time, grab your baby’s attention with toys and sounds that make them turn their heads in both directions.

- When it is time for a nap, have them face the wall. As babies prefer to look out onto the room, they will turn away from the wall and this will help to stretch out those tight neck muscles.

- When your baby is hungry, offer them your breast or bottle in such a way as to make them turn away from the side they are favoring.

Don’t Forget “Tummy Time”

Tummy time is incredibly important as an exercise for proper development that helps strengthen neck and shoulder muscles. This strengthening of both muscle groups prepares your baby for crawling, and is very helpful for a baby with torticollis and can help treat this problem by doing the following:

Place your baby on your lap for tummy time and position their had so that it is turned away from you. After doing so, speak or sing to your baby to encourage them to face you or turn towards you. Be sure to do this exercise for 15 minutes or so.

What Else Should I Know?

By practicing these stretching exercises and position changes, most babies with torticollis will improve within 6 months, although some cases may take up to a year. These stretching exercises work best when your child is three to six months old. However, if your child’s torticollis does not improve with these exercises, be sure to consult your pediatrician regarding muscle release surgery. This procedure is used for children with infant torticollis which do not improve with exercises and therapy.

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Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Children, Chiropractic Care, Hip issues, Pain, Pain Relief / Martin

What Is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip or Congenital Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is an abnormal or delayed development of the hip joint, causing a dislocation between the socket and thigh bone. This condition appears in around 1.5 per 1,000 births with girls being 8 times more likely to be affected. In normal circumstances, the femur should fit securely into its respective hip socket (the acetabulum). But sometimes during gestation or shortly after birth this connection becomes misaligned due to excess movement in the joint; usually leading to an upward displacement of the femur from out of its corresponding hip socket.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip can cause life-long physical issues, such as leg and hip pain, an awkward gait, restricted range of motion in the legs, unequal length between the limbs or even early onset arthritis. Being a firstborn child with female gender increases one’s risk factor for CHD; furthermore breech delivery as well as family history may play a role too. Therefore, it is essential to detect this condition at an early stage, so that any joint development difficulties can be addressed promptly and prevent long-term complications from arising.

If you think your child might have developmental dysplasia of the hip/hip dysplasia, it’s important to get medical attention right away because this condition can lead to severe problems if left untreated.

It is important to note that most infants treated for developmental dysplasia of the hip develop into active, healthy kids and have no future hip problems.

Can a Chiropractor help with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

Chiropractors are trained to recognize warning signs that could indicate the presence of a condition, such as:

-A discrepancy in leg length

-An unevenness at the thigh skin folds

-Restricted mobility or range of motion when bending the hip due to muscle tightness and tension

-The distinctive ‘waddle’ gait associated with this ailment

-The clunking sound emitted from within the affected hip upon walking.

As part of the six post-natal check ups your newborn should receive in their first year, Chiropractors can perform simple assessments for hip problems. If any issues are identified, chiropractic adjustments can help bring the joint back to ideal working order and condition. Additionally, strengthening exercises, pain management techniques and functional activities will be carried out by a chiropractor while they can also provide take home exercises that could supplement treatment from the comfort of one’s own living space.

What are the risk factors associated with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

The cause of developmental dysplasia of the hip is mostly unknown, but there are many contributing factors, usually both genetic and environmental. There are a number of risk factors that have been associated with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), including:

- Use of forceps during delivery

- Family history of DDH

- Being born a female

- Breech position delivery

- Tight swaddling of an infant’s legs

- Oligohydramnios or low amniotic fluid during pregnancy

- Being born twins, triplets, etc.

- First-born babies are at greater risk of dislocation of the hipOther factors

- Having flexible ligaments

- The presence of other conditions
  - - infant torticollis, clubfoot malformation, congenital conditions, metatarsus adductus, etc.

It is important to note that even in the presence of the aforementioned factors, DDH may not develop, but it is critical to have your child diagnosed further should they be present. Early detection and treatment are critical to avoid more invasive procedures discussed at the end of this article.

What Happens in a Hip With Developmental Dysplasia?

Our hips have a remarkable ball and socket system that allows us to move in all directions, from the front, back and side-to-side when walking or running. The ball part of the joint usually sits inside a socket forming part of the pelvic bone. The ball moves around in different directions inside the socket and usually stays put in normally developing children. Unfortunately, with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), this joint does not form correctly which results in an incorrectly positioned ball within a shallow socket. When this occurs, there is too much space between your baby’s thigh bone and pelvis. This additional space causes his or her thigh bone to slip out of place when he or she moves around in the womb, or during and after birth.

Unless these issues are quickly treated, they can result in severe pain while walking, and can cause arthritis at a young age. Both of these conditions can cause immense suffering for those affected.

What are the Symptoms of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip rarely causes pain in babies, but can be very difficult to diagnose without an exam. Parents should pay particular attention to the following signs and symptoms:

- One hip/leg moves differently or has a different range of motion

- A popping or clicking that is heard from the hip area

- A limp when first starting to walk

- The folds of skin under the thighs or buttocks do not line up

- A difference in leg length

How Is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Diagnosed?

Before three months of age, your chiropractor that specializes in treating infants and children will perform two physical exams to test for DDH.

- In the Ortolani test, your child’s pediatrician or chiropractor will apply upward force as they move your child’s hip away from the body (abduction).

- In the Barlow test, your child’s pediatrician or chiropractor will apply downward force as they move your child’s hip across the body (adduction).

Once diagnosed, they will work closely with your pediatrician or pediatric orthopedic doctor to come up with the best treatment plan and physical therapy regimen.

How Is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Treated?

Getting the ball of the hip into the socket and keeping it there, so that it develops normally will be the main objective of treatment.

Your doctor will choose the treatment based on the child’s age, and the options include:

- bracing as through a Pavlik Harness

- a closed reduction with casting

- an open reduction/surgery and casting

Pavlik Harness bracing

If the baby is younger than 6 months old, the use of a soft brace is usually the best route. The brace most often used is a Pavlik harness. Utilizing a shoulder harness that attaches to foot stirrups, the Pavlik harness puts the baby’s legs into a position which guides the ball of the hip joint into alignment with the socket.

The normal amount of time in a Pavlik harness will be from 6 to 12 weeks. Utilizing a Pavlik harness usually means that most babies will not require further treatment.

If for some reason the harness does not realign the ball and socket joint, doctors may perform one of the following:

- a closed reduction/manually moving the ball back into the socket, and casting
  - - Used when a baby commences treatment after age 6 months.

- an open reduction/surgery and casting
  - - Used when a baby commences treatment after age 18 months.

What is the long term prognosis for Children with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?

If treatment is sought early, then the long term prognosis for Children with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip is a healthy one. Most infants identified and treated within the first two weeks of life have healthy hips as adults, with very few experiencing any pain or disability associated with the hip joint. However, treatment for infants can be time consuming and complex, involving specialized equipment, so it’s important to consult a doctor as soon as possible if you suspect DDH is present. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to achieving a healthy long-term prognosis for these children.

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