Pediatric

Manitoba, Canada has become the focal point of a heated battle by the chiropractic profession to protect the rights of children to receive the benefits of chiropractic care. Over the past year several anti-chiropractic forces have started a false smear campaign to gain publicity by trying to say that chiropractic care may be dangerous. This flies in the face of all evidence showing that chiropractic has always been among the safest health care professions.

In spite of facts to the contrary the Canadian smear campaign has been effective and accomplished their first goal in getting the government of Manitoba to discontinue chiropractic coverage for children up to the age of 19. This move effectively forces many children away from a natural choice of chiropractic and toward drugs or surgery. In a statement dated May, 10, 2002, one of the world’s renowned chiropractic pediatric experts, Dr. Maxine McMullen Vice President of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) and founder and president of the ICA Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics stated, “This decision is not based on science or good health care practice. Chiropractic care has been proven to be safe and effective for children and people of all ages. This decision is based in fear and not in fact. The world chiropractic community will mobilize to take those steps necessary to see that fairness and open access for all people prevail.”

Other chiropractic organizations have also begun to mobilize. In a release dated May, 8, 2002 Dr. Jeanne Ohm, Secretary of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association asked all their members to, “Please e-mail the Premier of Manitoba, the Honorable Gary Doer with a short, professional e-mail on behalf of chiropractic care for children. Take the moment now to turn this around. His address: Premier@leg.gov.mb.ca .

In the 1970’s the American Medical Association was sued for restraint of trade and antitrust activities. In that famous “Wilk vs. AMA suit”, the AMA lost, and had to publicly admit wrongdoing in their journals as well as cease any illegal and unlawful activity against chiropractic. Since then the AMA has been barred from the types of false smear campaigns in the US that have now taken place in Canada. The chiropractic community and the patients we serve are continuing to mobilize to reverse this situation. It is our belief that everyone should have open access to chiropractic care if that is the form of health care they choose.

According to a Canadian study reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, antibiotics and vaccines are the medicines that most often cause adverse reactions in children. “There is relatively little pediatric data on adverse reactions, which can range from rashes to potentially fatal hypersensitivity”. More than 1,500 Canadian cases were reviewed between 1985 and 1995 by Sandra R. Knowles and her colleagues at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto. In all, 1,800 drugs were implicated in this study.

The leading problems were caused from: Amoxicillin/Ampicillin with a 24% reaction rate, vaccines in general with a 19% reaction rate, Trimethoprim came in with 8%, Sulfamethoxazole (sulfa drug) at 8%, Erythromycin – was at 3%, and Penicillin also at 3% reaction rate.

A case study appeared on November 6, 2009 in the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documenting the case of a young boy suffering with torticollis and neck pain, who was helped with chiropractic. This case study also discussed the increased utilization of chiropractic care by children under 17 years of age.

The author of the study noted that in 1997, research showed that there were approximately 30 million visits to chiropractors by patients under the age of 18. According to the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, the author reports that at present, that number is closer to 60 million visits per year. The author also notes that when compared to the adult population of chiropractic patients, a higher percentage of these cases are for non-musculoskeletal conditions.

In the specific case reported in this study, a 10 year old boy was brought to the chiropractor suffering from acute torticollis. Torticollis, sometimes known as wry neck, is a situation where the neck is in spasm and tilted to one side. According to this study, the day before, the young boy awakened with severe neck pain and was unable to move his head and neck. His condition was so severe that he had great difficulty lifting his head off his pillow due to the pain. He was taken to an emergency care facility where according to his mother, was examined and released with prescriptions of Motrin and Valium.

When the boy first came to the chiropractor’s office he was in severe pain and was unable to straighten his head. His history revealed no severe trauma and he also suffered from mild asthma only using medication on an as needed basis. The chiropractic examination showed severe muscle spasm and restricted range of motion in the neck.

A determination was made that vertebral subluxations were present and a course of specific chiropractic adjustments was initiated. On the boy’s second visit he reported that he had felt significant improvement after his first adjustment. His severe spasm and head tilting had improved and he was experiencing only minimal pain. By his 3rd visit, the patient demonstrated a significant reduction in muscle spasm in the neck and mid back with improved range of motion. At this point the boy reported that he was pain free. By the 13th visit when a re-evaluation was performed, the 10 year old was back to normal and performing normal activity.

In the May 4, 2011, issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, appears a case study documenting chiropractic care helping a two-year-old boy who was having trouble walking after having recovered from a broken leg.

In this case, the boy had suffered a broken tibia in his leg by falling down some stairs. The boy received medical care and was placed in a cast. The cast was removed after 8 weeks when the fracture had healed. After removal of the cast, the boy was experiencing trouble walking and was subsequently brought into a chiropractor to see if he could be helped.

The boy’s mother reported that prior to his accident, her son was able to walk normally. She noticed that after the accident, her son had trouble walking on the leg that was not broken and that he now had a toe-in positioning of both feet while standing and walking which were not present prior to the fracture.

A chiropractic examination was performed including asking the boy to walk and run. The doctor noted that when walking the boy had a greatly exaggerated toe-in gate which made it difficult for the boy to keep his balance. When running, the boy did not use his right hip or knee, but instead used his body mass to move that side of his body. He did, however, use the left side normally, even though that was the side of the fracture.

It was determined that vertebral subluxations were present in the boy’s thoracic and pelvic regions, and a course of corrective adjustments was initiated to correct the subluxations. On the first visit, the parents, who were under care and were anxious to get their son adjusted, mentioned that their pediatrician expressed concerns about getting the boy adjusted. After being reassured that the adjustments given to their son were specifically designed for the child’s size, care was initiated.

On the second visit, the parents reported that their son was walking somewhat better and he had slept normally for the first time in a while. By the fifth visit the boy was walking much better and the only noted abnormality in his gait was when he was running. By the 14th visit, the boy had no problems with either walking or running and he had slept normally ever since his first adjustment.

In their study conclusions, the authors explained their results by stating, “This case study described a pediatric patient with a healed tibial fracture. During the time of casting, compensation led to fixations in the spine, pelvis and lower extremity. Chiropractic care helped to restore the childs normal gait, range of motion, and sleeping patterns.”

A research case study published on September 29, 2010 in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, documented the case of a young boy being helped with dizziness, chronic neck pain and migraines. In this case a twelve year old boy with a long history of routine, recurrent dizziness, chronic neck pain and migraines was brought by his mother to the chiropractor for care.

The history showed that this boy’s dizziness started when he was 3-years old and had been getting progressively worse in intensity and recurrence. The boys dizziness would occur every 3 months and was predictable to within 1-2 days. His neck pain and headaches began when he was 8 years old and would occur 2 to 3 times per week.

His problems were having a profound effect on his life. Since beginning school at age 5 he had consistently missed between half and two-thirds of his scheduled school days. The study noted that when he was not having these attacks he was a happy, positive boy who enjoyed what little school he did get to attend.

The boy had been previously seen by numerous medical professionals including a general practitioner, an otolaryngologist, a neurologist, a pediatric neurologist, and a senior medical lecturer. He had received a variety of diagnoses mainly consisting of various forms of vertigo and headaches. Finally, he was brought to a chiropractor.

After examination, chiropractic care was initiated consisting of specific adjustments to areas of the spine determined to have vertebral subluxations, causing nerve system interference. After just the first week of chiropractic care, the boy stopped getting headaches and neck pain. His regular cluster of dizziness did not develop and this was the first time in 9 years that he did not get this dizziness at the regularly predictable time.

The effects for this child were profound and long lasting. The study reported that two months after starting chiropractic care he did suffer a mild episode of vertigo for 3 days. He also had another 3-day episode eight months later. However, after two years of regular chiropractic care these two brief episodes were the only symptoms the child had experienced. Additionally, during this time he has not reported any further headaches or neck pain.

The above headline comes from a September 8, 2009 research update release from the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health. The author of the release Matthew McCoy D.C., is an Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at Life University, a public health specialist, health researcher and editor of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health.

The release notes that on September 4, 2009, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) issued a report on the H1N1 virus known as the swine flu. The CDC report showed that there had been 36 deaths in children under 18 associated with the swine flu. The CDC report noted that a higher than usual amount of these deaths (67%) involved children with serious “high-risk medical conditions”. Normally the average death toll in children from the yearly flu shows that only 35% to 55% had previous serious medical conditions. This suggests that children not suffering from serious medical conditions are less likely to die from H1N1 than from previous years flu outbreaks.

Additionally, the CDC report noted that most of the previously seriously ill children, (92%), who succumb to the flu were suffering from “neurodevelopmental conditions”. Because of the nervous system involvement reported by the CDC, Dr. McCoy noted, “The number of children with neurological, neurodevelopmental and pulmonary disorders who ended up with complications from the H1N1 flu and who ultimately died from these complications point to the need to make sure that children with such disorders, and in fact all children, have as little interference to their nervous systems as possible”. Dr. McCoy added “It (CDC report) also shows that the majority of children who ended up with complications from H1N1 infection were not normal, healthy children. So, if you have normal, healthy children – rather than panic from these media reports its better to consider the things you can do to make sure that your childs immune system remains functioning at its best.”

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health notes that in addition to a healthy diet, exercise and proper sleep, one crucial way to make sure a childs immune system is functioning at its best is to make sure their nervous system is free from interference. The Journal release also noted that the nervous system has a direct effect on the immune system and the spine houses and protects the spinal cord and nerves, a vital portion of the nerve system. They therefore state that it is important to have childrens spines checked for any interference to the nervous system.

Dr. Christopher Kent, chiropractic researcher and President of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation, advised, “Nerve interference can result from spinal misalignments or abnormal motion in the spine called vertebral subluxations and because the nervous system affects immune function it is important to reduce or correct any vertebral subluxations if found.” Dr. Kent added, “The lesson in all of this is to go back to the basics. The best defense against viral and bacterial diseases, in addition to the recommendations for hand washing and covering your mouth, is a highly functioning immune system. Chiropractic should be part of an effective flu prevention strategy.”

The scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, published a case study on February 6, 2012, documenting the resolution under chiropractic care of a 9-month-old infant with constipation. The child had developed constipation at nine months of age after the mother had stopped breastfeeding.

The study authors begin by noting that constipation is the slow or difficult movement of feces through the large intestines. They also reported that, “Chronic constipation is among the most common digestive complaints in the United States.” The highest number of these cases occurs in both pediatric and geriatric age people. The authors also report that it is a common misconception to believe that constipation resolves itself near puberty for many children with the problem, noting that studies show more that 50 percent eventually become chronic.

In this case, a 9-month-old girl was brought to the chiropractor with the chief complaint of constipation. The mother advised the doctor that her daughter had been suffering with the problem for about 5 months since she discontinued breastfeeding. It was noted that the baby would go as long as two days without a bowel movement, and that movements involved straining, and were painful to the child.

The infant was born via forced labor, was born with a heart murmur, and had a history of repeated ear infections. A chiropractic examination was performed with the results finding subluxations in the upper neck (atlas) and at the base of the spine (sacrum). Care was initiated at the rate of one visit per week. Chiropractic care consisted of specific adjustments to the atlas and sacrum when warranted. The adjustments were age specific for the infant to correct the subluxation in her spine.

The reported results showed that after the first visit, the child’s bowel movements increased in frequency. After three weeks, the mother reported that her child’s constipation problems were infrequent. By a five month follow-up, the constipation was resolved and the child’s stools were normal.

In the April 20, 2009 issue of the scientific journal, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, was a case study report of a young girl who had signs of cerebellar ataxia that were completely eliminated with chiropractic care. Cerebellar ataxia is a disorder that results in balance and coordination problems.

In this case a 7 year old girl was brought to a chiropractic clinic for health and wellness. In the course of examination tests were performed that showed a brain malfunction consistent with cerebellar ataxia. Chiropractic care was initiated for the presence of vertebral subluxations. The young girl was seen weekly in the initial stages of care. By the fourth adjustment the patient was re-tested and the specific findings of cerebellar ataxia were gone.

Author of the paper, Dr. Nicoleta Borcean explained this case by noting, “Basic science research shows that the proper development and function of the brain relies on proper structure and movement of the spine from an early age.”

She continued, “It makes perfect sense when you think about it” stated Dr. Borcean. “The brain constantly needs and wants to know where our body is in space. If there is interference with the neurological communication between the spine and the brain all sorts of malfunctions can occur.”

Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health added, “There are very important functional relationships between the spine and the brain that if disturbed can result in a host of problems with how the brain functions”. According to McCoy “Childrens nervous systems need the constant stimulation of movement in order to develop and function properly. Abnormal position or movement of the spinal vertebra can develop and this can lead to nerve interference. It is this interference, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct.”

On September 13, 2005, Medical News Today published the announcement of the creation of chiropractic guidelines for pediatric care. The guidelines “The Child Patient: A Matrix for Chiropractic Care” was originally released as a supplement to its peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP) Vol. 6, No.3, 2005.

The release is noteworthy in two respects. This is the first time guidelines such as these have been published with parameters establishing the necessity of chiropractic care for children of all ages. But additionally, since these guidelines were published as a supplement to a scientific, peer reviewed journal, the medical news outlet “Medical News Today” picked up the release and published it in their general release available for all physicians and the general public.

Dr. Joan Fallon, Board of Directors member of the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) and past chair and current Executive Committee member of the ICA Pediatrics Council stated, “The foundation of chiropractic care is the presence of subluxation.” She continued, “For children, subluxation manifests itself differently than in adults, and also may occur as a result of multiple non- pain producing activities especially in the very young child. The Matrix closely examines the presence of subluxation in the child with respect to their anatomy, physiology and development.”

Dr. Lora Tanis, Chairperson of the ICA Pediatrics Council noted the importance of these guidelines by stating, “This is an invaluable contribution to the profession and to the public at large because for the first time we have a published document that explains why infants and toddlers need chiropractic care and how the need and/or frequency of care relates to birth trauma, immune system maturity and developmental milestones along with any abnormal, congenital, traumatic or acquired injuries the child may have.”

From the October 31, 2011 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health comes a case study documenting the correction of autistic symptoms of a child receiving chiropractic care.

The authors of the study start off by reporting some sobering statistics by stating, “Autism is a neurobehavioral disorder that has shown an increase in prevalence in the children of this era. It affects more than 400,000 in the United States and ranks as the third most common developmental disorder of the pediatric population.”

In this case a 9-year-old autistic boy was presented to a chiropractic office for care by his mother. She also noted that her son had a history of repeated ear infections and fell frequently due to his hyperactivity. The boy was also suffering from delayed speech at 1-2 years of age and had not spoken by 3-years of age. Finally at the age of 3 and a half, the boy was diagnosed with autism.

A chiropractic examination was performed and it was determined that the boy had subluxations in his pelvis and in the top bone in the neck, the “atlas”. A series of specific chiropractic adjustments was begun for correction of the subluxations found. Dietary changes were also made.

The results of the case were partially determined by the mother filling out an Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), comparing her son’s behavior before care, to his behavior at around the 14th visit. The overall scores of the ATEC showed a 16% improvement by the 14th chiropractic adjustment. This included a 17% improvement in the Health / Physical Behavior score.

In addition the child was able to discontinue one of the medications he was taking and at the time of the study, reduce the remaining one. The mother also reported that her son improved to the point where he had an almost complete absence of stereotypical autistic movements, improvements in his ability in sociable situations and improvements in communication, both verbal and physical.