Children and Chiropractic

Throughout this book we find many case studies involving children. In this section we show that various researchers have documented and reported on the intimate relationship between spinal health and overall health in children.

As mentioned in the ICA Review Sept/Oct 1995 p.5.

The Journal of Pediatrics reports that ‘Alternative Medicine (AM) is an aspect of child health care that no longer can be ignored’ in a study that determined that 11% of those surveyed had taken their child to an AM provider.  The most used was chiropractic.  The mothers who chose AM were better educated than those who chose conventional medicine. 

The medical reasons for seeking alternative care were for respiratory (27%), ENT (24%), musculoskeletal (15%), skin (6%), gastrointestinal (6%), allergies (6%), and prevention (5%).  The factors influencing choice of AM were word of mouth (32%), fear of drug side-effects (21%), chronic medical problems (19%), dissatisfaction with conventional medicine (14%), and more personalized attention (9%). 

Upper cervical chiropractic care of the pediatric patient: A review of the literature Prax, JC  Journal Of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics Volume 4, No. 1 1999

This is a review of the literature on upper cervical adjustments in the pediatric patient (infants and small children).  The author extracted data from indexed and non-indexed sources with four computer-based systems: Mantis, Medline, Index to the Chiropractic Literature, and Chirolars. Non-indexed literature was reviewed manually utilizing references from journals and textbooks.

Approximately 58 articles on chiropractic care of the pediatric patient in relation to upper cervical adjustments (full spine chiropractic techniques may have been used as well) were found. This review summarizes 25 studies documenting the positive outcomes on over one thousand children under chiropractic care.

Characteristics of 217 children attending a chiropractic college teaching clinic.  Nyiendo J. Olsen E.J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 1988; 11(2):78084.

The authors found that pediatric patients at Western States Chiropractic College public clinic commonly had ordinary complaints of ear-infection, sinus problems, allergy, bedwetting, respiratory problems, and gastro-intestinal problems.

Complete or substantial improvement had been noted in 61.6% of pediatric patients of their chief complaint, 60.6% received “maximum” level of improvement. Only 56.7% of adult patients received “maximum” level of improvement.

Cumulative incidence of lumbar disc diseases leading to hospitalization up to the age of 28 years.  Zitting, P, Rantakallio P, Vanharanta H. Spine 1998;23(21): 2337-42.

Investigators in Finland in a review of 12,000 cases of possible lumbar disc disease in subjects 28 years of age or less revealed that disc disease may begin as early as 15 years of age.

Back pain reporting pattern in a Danish population-based sample of children and adolescents. Wedderkopp N,Leboeuf-Yde C, Andersen LB, Froberg K, Hansen HS Spine 2001; 26(17): 1879-83

Researchers surveyed 481 children, 8-10 years old and 325 adolescents 14-16 years old.  Within a one month period, 39% stated they had experienced back pain – the thoracic (mid-back) area being the most common area of complaint in childhood; thoracic and lumbar (low back) pain is more common among adolescents.  Neck pain was rare in those surveyed.

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