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By now, many of you may have seen babies leave our wellness studio, some happy and some a bit upset, but nonetheless they come and go.
Yes, infants can get chiropractic care.
Why, you ask, would infants need chiropractic care if they have no neck pain or back pain? The journey from the womb to the world is nothing short of miraculous, but it's also a path fraught with physical demands. From the twists and turns of being born, be it via the vaginal canal or via C-section, to the rapid growth spurts in early life, an infant's spine and nervous system undergo tremendous changes.
Chiropractors with specialized training in pediatric care employ gentle techniques, often using similar pressure to that you would to test the ripeness of an avocado. This non-invasive approach aims to facilitate the body’s natural healing processes, fostering a foundation of health that can benefit children as they grow.
Parents who embrace chiropractic care for their babies often report improvements in issues such as colic, breastfeeding difficulties, constipation, and even sleep disturbances.
Spinal and cranial adjustments on infants and children
Subluxations—the misalignments along the spine— can occur, possibly impacting nerve function and, subsequently, a baby's overall well-being. When there is a subluxation present, a chiropractic adjustment needs to take place to restore proper spinal function.
The primary subluxation must be addressed first. After restoring movement between the sacrum and occiput and ensuring there are no other spinal misalignments, we proceed with the adjustment up to the cranium—the skull.
The most common adjustment for a primary subluxation in infants is one of the most important for all human beings and it involves restoring the sacro-occipital reciprocal motion (SORm). That is the motion relationship between the lowest bone in the spine—the sacrum—with the lowest bone in the skull—the occiput—for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. When the SORm is not working properly, it often indicates tension in the spine. (More in-depth info on CSF and SORm in the second part of this blog post).
Developmental Milestones: assessing proper function of the nervous system
During the first year of life, the brain grows 101% and only 15% on the second year, where eighty to ninety percent of the grey and white matter will be formed by the age of two. We also know the cerebellum will grow 240% in the first 24 months of life!
Keeping an eye on developmental milestones is a simple and helpful way to check if there might be any tension in a child's system. If there's a subluxation, it could cause some stress on a child's central nervous system. If not addressed, this could lead to challenges with neurological development as they grow.
By assessing the primary breathing motion, or sacro-occipital respiratory motion (SORm), back in sync, we can spot any blockages in the CSF flow around the spine and cranium. That is why it is important to tackle any tension patterns along the spine and skull that may limit the SORm more often during the first two years of your child's life.
Get the whole family in!
Though most people seek care for pain relief from back pain or stress. Chiropractors often see pain as the message the body is trying to relay. It is a good opportunity to make a change. Chiropractic care aims to ensure that the spine and nervous system function harmoniously, an aspect crucial for all ages, including our tiniest family members. When you and your children get chiropractic care, pain or no pain, we are able to ensure and restore proper flow of the CSF by restoring the SOR motion. Make that change go beyond pain and get all your family checked for spinal and cranial subluxations, and adjusted when necessary. The entire family will thrive!
How it all happens.
This second part of the blog post talks about the how and why it is so important to get adjusted, no matter the age, but specially babies. Read below for an in-depth learning experience.
“There is one disease, and it is called congestion”-Paracelsus
In "Anatomy Trains," Thomas Myers cites Paracelsus to stress the importance of manual and movement techniques in addressing fascial restrictions. He notes that nutrient flow to cells is influenced by the fibrous matrix's density and the ground substance's thickness; a denser matrix means tighter collagen fibers and less flexibility, while a thicker ground substance offers more cushioning.
Enter the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF plays a crucial role in keeping the electrolyte balance stable in the central nervous system, providing nourishment to the areas it touches, and helping with waste removal. Plus, CSF carries hormones and neuropeptides. When CSF flow becomes stagnant, it can negatively impact the nervous system and is linked to aging.
What could cause CSF to remain stagnant? A dense fascia that is lacking flexibility.
What is the pumping action that moves the CSF up and down the spinal canal and around the brain? The Sacro-occipital reciprocal motion (SORm).
Normally, the sacral base in relationship to the lumbar region moves smoothly with breathing, flexing as you inhale and extending as you exhale, while the occiput-the skull bone that articulates with the spine-gently glides downward and forward on the inhale, and backward on the exhale. If this movement is disrupted, it might mean there’s a bit of a snag in the system that might need an adjustment.
The cranial misalignments
Tension in the meninges causes tension in the cranium. Think of these layers like an interconnected fascial network, crucial for healthy blood flow and lymphatic drainage. The outermost layer, the dura mater, is the tough one attached to the skull bones. When the dura is tense, it impacts the inner layers, the pia and the arachnoid causing what we call dural-meningeal tension.
The spinal levels where the meninges cling on to the spine to secure the spinal cord like a koala to a eucalyptus tree are at the sacrum and the upper neck. This is why most times you see a pediatric chiropractor focusing on the bottom and top of your baby's spine and then the cranium—the skull.
When there is dural-meningeal tension present it will not only impact the spine but also the alignment of the cranial bones, hindering CSF flow. Relaxing these layers and ensuring smooth CSF flow is essential for everyone, and crucial for a child's proper brain and nervous system development.
To summarize...
If the fascia is dense and lacking flexibility in the upper spine, occiput, and/or sacrum
the dural-meningeal tension will increase and the SORm will be restricted
hindering the CSF proper flow along the spinal cord and brain
affecting the nervous system, and therefore, proper bodily functions.
🎤Mic drop!
For more info on cranial distortions, normal child development you can follow this affiliate link to my mentors' book about it. Or ask me for a copy at the office.
References for this blog post:
- Rosen MG. Evaluating and adjusting protocols: Correcting the primary and cranial subluxation patterns. Lecture presented: International Chiropractic Pediatric Association; 28-29 Jun 2014; St. Louis, MO.
- Anrig CA, Plaugher G. Pediatric Chiropractic. 2nd Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013. Chapter 28- Sacro-Occipital technique for the pediatric patient; p. 1067-1111.
- Malone JJ. Evaluation and Adjusting Protocols: Correcting Primary Spinal and Cranial Subluxation Patterns [lecture notes]. Media (PA): International Chiropractic Pediatric Association; 2021 May 26. 130 p. Available from: https://icpa-seminar-notes.s3.amazonaws.com/Malone/Malone_Notes.pdfSubscription needed.
- Myers TW. Anatomy Trains: Myofascial meridians for manual and movement therapists. 2nd Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. 295 p.
- Sakka L, Coll G, Chazal J. Anatomy and physiology of cerebrospinal fluid. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2011 Dec;128(6):309-16.
- Whedon JM, Glassey D. Cerebrospinal fluid stasis and its clinical significance. Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 May-Jun;15(3):54-60.
- Rosen M, Watson N. It is all in the head: Common vs. Normal cranial distortions and what it all means. Wellesley (MA): RoseWat Publishing; 2021.120p.
