For our final last installment of our Kids Need Chiropractic, Too! Series, we’re going to share a story about a very young patient. Logan’s* story showcases how children benefit from chiropractic care, both when they are very small, as well as while they grow up.
My Youngest Patient Who Benefited from Chiropractic Care
“How old was the youngest person you’ve ever adjusted?” is one of the questions I’m asked most frequently. And I enjoy answering it for a couple of reasons. For one, it’s fun to watch people’s surprised reactions. But more importantly, it really drives home how children benefit from chiropractic care, no matter their age.
So, how old was the youngest person I ever adjusted?
The short answer is: Two.
But he wasn’t two years old.
And he wasn’t two months old.
The full answer is that I adjusted Logan just two days after he came home from the hospital with Mom!
How Could a Newborn Benefit from Chiropractic Care?
It probably doesn’t surprise you that when I answer the question, I immediately get a follow-up question: Why would he need an adjustment that young?
Well, Logan and Mom had a bit of a rough birth. Not once, but twice, the umbilical cord became wrapped around his neck during the delivery! During the birth process, once the baby’s head is out, the doctor has to feel around the neck to determine if the cord is wrapped around it. If the cord is around the baby’s neck, the mother has to stop pushing while the doctor slips the cord over the baby’s head.
In the process, the baby’s head and neck can be turned and twisted in ways that wouldn’t occur during a birth without the umbilical cord interfering with the process. And this is just one way that brand-new people can arrive in the world with their heads, necks, and spinal cords out of alignment.
(Needless to say, the doctor who delivered him did an AMAZING job by successfully delivering him despite that challenging and scary situation!)
How Did Mom Know Logan Would Benefit from Chiropractic Care?
The funny thing is that Mom didn’t call me. I got a call from Grandma while Logan was still in the hospital with his mom! Pam, Logan’s grandmother, called because she knew what that kind of birth experience could do to a newborn’s nervous system.
She explained the situation, and asked if I would adjust Logan as soon as she was able to bring him in. Obviously, Logan’s mom Jennifer agreed with Grandma, and we arranged to adjust him in the office two days after they came home.
Logan’s Ongoing Chiropractic Care
Logan is now almost 15 years old, and he still comes to my office for regular chiropractic adjustments. As the pictures suggest, he’s happy, healthy, and loves coming to see me.
But there’s more to tell you about how Logan has benefited from chiropractic care. Just a few years ago, an orthodontist told Logan’s mom that he needed braces. The orthodontist explained that Logan’s teeth were coming in crooked because of the way Logan’s jaw was sitting.
Guess who called me this time. Grandma Pam again!
As soon as she heard about how Logan’s jaw wasn’t sitting properly, Pam picked up the phone and called me again.
She asked me if I thought chiropractic could help align his jaw properly, which would then help to correct how his teeth were coming in. I told her I couldn’t guarantee that chiropractic would eliminate the problem, but that it would likely help. I knew that getting his jaw adjusted regularly wouldn’t hurt anything, and that it could potentially reduce the amount of time he’d need to wear braces.
Grandma got Mom onboard, and she agreed to give it a shot. For eight months, Jennifer brought Logan in for routinely muscle work, neck and jaw adjustments, and stretching.
When Logan returned to the orthodontist, his family got news none of them expected. The doctor took one look at Logan’s teeth and jaw and determined there was no longer a need for braces at all! He said that whatever Logan did between visits had “fixed” the situation.
Chiropractic Care Doesn’t “Fix” You (You Do)
But no, I didn’t “fix” his jaw. And I didn’t “fix” his teeth. I did the adjustments, muscle work, and stretching with Logan, and his body did the rest. Chiropractic care certainly isn’t a cure all. In fact, it doesn’t “cure” anything.
Instead, the benefits of chiropractic care arise because it gives the body the ability to function at its best. When we keep our bodies in alignment, it allows Mother Nature to do her thing – keep us as naturally healthy as possible.
Having a properly aligned nervous system maximizes your body’s ability to operate optimally, and chiropractic care ensures that alignment. It’s amazing what your body can do for itself when you keep it aligned by investing in chiropractic care! Give it a try some time!
Understanding the Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Kids
Logan is lucky to have a grandmother like Pam who understands the benefits of chiropractic care. She’s a huge advocate for chiropractic care and an asset to my practice over the past 18 years. I feel truly blessed to have met Pam and have the opportunity to create a lasting friendship. I want to also give a shout out to Logan’s parents, Jennifer and Mark, for trusting me with their newborn baby!
If you have children, consider chiropractic care as a safe and natural way to promote their overall health and well-being. Give us a call to make an appointment for your kids.
*Please note: Logan and his family granted me permission to share his story.