By age 5, 90% of a child’s brain is developed. For this reason, it is important to ensure proper development during this time. People often ask why children should be adjusted, especially when they are not expressing pain. Contrary to popular belief, chiropractic care is more than just pain relief. It is about fostering an optimally healthy nervous system. I would even go as far as to say that a child’s adjustment, in general, is more impactful than an adult’s. It is better to raise healthy kids than try to fix sick adults.
The nervous system is a complex system made up of different neural structures including the brain, the spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. The nervous system controls the immune system, digestive system, sleep patterns, hormone regulation, and expresses mood and personality, among other things. The structures in the nervous system should all work together in harmony. Just like any other system, when one component is slightly off, the whole system is affected. Therefore, nervous system health is of utmost importance.
According to WebMD, ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is a condition diagnosed from symptoms such as inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Anyone can have ADHD; people of all ages are known to struggle with this. This is also why it can be difficult to diagnose – it can present itself in a multitude of ways. This is one example of a nervous system that is not functioning at its highest potential. ADHD is extremely complex and can be an overwhelming and hopeless diagnosis. Being diagnosed with ADHD can be a long journey, and by the time a family receives the diagnosis they are mentally and emotionally drained, feeling like the diagnosis is the end of the journey. Finding a team to come alongside you to support and encourage you is pivotal in ensuring that the diagnosis is not without hope.
Chiropractic care and CranioSacral Therapy focus less on removing or lessening ADHD symptoms and more on improving overall neural function and expression of health. Every person is more than the label or diagnosis of ADHD (or whatever it may be), which is why we believe it is important and effective to focus more on amplifying what is right rather than removing everything that is “not”.
Two of the ways we enhance the nervous system at our office is through safe and specific chiropractic adjustments and CranioSacral Therapy.
For further reading on these topics, check out these articles:
https://upledger.ie/latest-news/how-craniosacral-therapy-aids-addadhd-by-john-upledger/ https://pathwaystofamilywellness.org/Chiropractic/chiropractic-care-for-children.html
-Dr. Sophie Mills, Chiropractor
-Dr. Sophie Mills, Chiropractor