Why would a child see a chiropractor?

The pediatric visit to a chiropractor involves evaluation and correction of the spine which may not be routinely examined by the child's other health care providers. As you make decisions about your baby's health care and are confronted with the issues of antibiotics, vaccinations, and the growing use of behavior altering drugs, consult with your chiropractor. Make sure your child has the best chance to be all he or she can be by having a nervous system free from interference.


The chiropractic examination primarily focuses on detecting subluxated vertebrae change the body's normal physiology, creating abnormal function that contributes to disease.

Subluxation of the vertebrae can cause health problems for a child by:
• impeding normal physiological mechanisms, e.g. restricting fluid drainage from the middle ear causing recurrent ear infections.
• interfearing with the function the body systems, e.g. digestion in a baby with colic.
• compromising respiratory functions, such as bronchodilation in an-asthmatic child
• damaging the structure of the joints through constant pressure, leading to joint degeneration.

How can parents know if a child needs chiropractic?

Unless a child has an obvious symptom, it can be difficult for parents to recognize when children have spinal subluxations. There are some signs however, which parents may look for, which indicate a spinal problem.

Common signs of spinal problems may include:
• the baby's head consistently being tilted to one side
• restricted head or neck motion to one side

When should I take my child to a Doctor of Chiropractic?

When you want your child to have all the benefits of a conservative, drugless approach to healthcare. Your child's first visit to the Doctor of Chiropractic can be a pleasant experience, one without painful injections and procedures. A chiropractor should examine your child during that all important first year of life when spinal trauma can occur during birth as well as from tumbles while learning to sit up or walk. Improper lifting and carrying of your child can also contribute to spinal stress for parent and child. Your child's spine grows almost 50% in length during the first year. It's this kind of tremendous growth and developmental changes which make a complete chiropractic examination so important. It's important to prevent disease rather than wait until some illness occurs.

Potential Causes of Spinal Subluxation in Youths:

Spinal subluxations can be caused by the regular trauma of childhood and although not every fall will cause the spine to become subluxated, the constant traumatic effect of such falls need to be evaluated because it is a frequently unrecognized cause of ill-health.

Through regular adjustments, counseling on proper diet, exercise and posture, chiropractic can help you raise a child who's body is structurally and functionally sound. Your child will also learn good health habits at an early age that can be very beneficial to him or her as an adult.

The "sack" of a young quarterback could twist a young spine. A softball pitcher could throw a vertebra out of alignment. Doctors of Chiropractic can do more than correct these problems, they can also help improve performance on and off the field by helping the body function at its optimal level, naturally and without drugs.

In today's schools children are required to carry backpack loads which are too much for their growing spines, causing subluxations.

Chiropractic care can be a benefit to the health and well being of people of all ages, from infancy to adulthood.

Help for Children with Learning Disabilities:

Dr. Marty is also the co-creator of a treatment center called The Brain Training Center of the Treasure Coast. It specializes in treating children with Autism, ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, and other learning disabilities.

One of the challenges of treating children with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) is that diagnoses are often not very specific because they are determined from lists of behaviors that could realistically be applied to numerous disorders.

The BTC's approach is to place less empahasis on a specific diagnosis and focus on helping to control the symptoms of a disorder. The goal is to improve the negative behavioral aspect, academic performance, and concentration.

Diagnoses our patients have often been given include:

• Pervasive developmental disorder
• Autism
• Asperger syndrome
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Dyslexia

Parents may note symptoms such as the following as early as infancy and typically, onset is prior to three years of age.

• Difficulty using and understanding language.
• Difficulty relating to people, objects, and events (lack of eye contact or pointing).
• Unusual play with toys and other objects.
• Difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings.
• Repetitive body movements or behavior patterns, such as hand flapping, hair twirling, foot tapping, or more complex movements.

Visit The Brain Training Center of The Treasure Coast's website to learn more about their programs and see if they may be of assistance to your family.