Category: Safe For Children

Many parents are surprised to learn just how common spinal curvature problems can be during the teenage years. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a condition where the spine develops an abnormal curve, often appears during periods of rapid growth. While some cases are mild, others can lead to discomfort, reduced physical performance, and even changes in posture that affect confidence and overall well-being. Because the spine plays such a central role in the body, finding safe and effective ways to support its health is extremely important.

A study published in the American Journal of Translational Research on February 15, 2026, explored a combined approach to helping teenagers with scoliosis by focusing on both breathing patterns and spinal care. Instead of relying on a single method, researchers looked at how guiding proper breathing alongside correction of subluxation with chiropractic could work together to improve outcomes. This approach recognizes that the spine, muscles, and even breathing mechanics are all connected and influence each other in important ways.

The results were encouraging. Teenagers who received respiratory guidance and chiropractic adjustments showed greater improvements compared to those receiving standard traction treatment. In fact, nearly all of the patients in the combined group experienced meaningful improvement, including better spinal alignment, reduced curvature, and stronger back muscles. These findings suggest that addressing both structure and function at the same time may provide a more complete path toward recovery.

Beyond structural changes, the study also found important benefits in how the patients felt and functioned. Many experienced less back discomfort, increased endurance during physical activity, and better overall balance in their posture. Simple measures such as walking distance and pain levels showed clear improvement after care. This highlights that helping the spine isn’t just about appearance, it’s about improving everyday life.

One of the most interesting aspects of this approach is how breathing plays a role. Guided breathing exercises can help balance muscle activity around the spine, improve movement of the ribcage, and support better coordination throughout the body. When combined with chiropractic care for correction of subluxation, this may help restore more normal communication between the brain and body, allowing muscles and joints to function more efficiently.

Overall, this study adds to a growing body of research showing that a well-rounded, non-invasive approach to spinal health can make a real difference—especially during the critical growth years. By improving strength, reducing discomfort, and enhancing quality of life, this type of care offers hope for young people dealing with scoliosis and gives families another reason to take a proactive approach to spinal health.

Constipation is a very common issue in children, affecting millions of families worldwide. While it may seem like a simple digestive problem, it can actually have a much bigger impact on a child’s life. Children dealing with constipation may experience discomfort, embarrassment, and even anxiety around using the bathroom. In some cases, it can affect their confidence, behavior, and participation in school or social activities.

The Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal published the results of a case series on April 1, 2026, that reported on three children, ages six, four, and two, who were all experiencing ongoing constipation. Despite differences in age, diet, and background, each child showed similar patterns such as stool withholding, irregular bowel movements, and in some cases accidents. These issues were not only physical but also emotional, creating stress for both the children and their families.

Chiropractic care in these cases focused on improving nervous system function through the correction of subluxation. The goal was not simply to address the symptom, but to support better communication between the brain and the body. Since bowel function is closely linked to the nervous system, improving this communication can help the body regulate itself more effectively.

Over time, all three children showed improvements in their bowel habits. One child who had frequent accidents began to gain better awareness and control. Another child, who had gone up to a week without a bowel movement, began having regular daily movements. The youngest child, who had been uncomfortable and resistant to using the potty, gradually became more willing and began having consistent bowel movements.

Beyond physical improvements, parents noticed important changes in their children’s overall well-being. Increased confidence, reduced anxiety, and better participation in daily activities were reported across all three cases. As chiropractic care continued, the families described improvements not just in bathroom habits, but in mood, behavior, and quality of life. These changes highlight how closely physical health and emotional well-being are connected.

This case series offers encouraging insight into how supporting the nervous system may help children suffering with constipation. Chiropractic care for the correction of subluxation can provide a gentle, drug-free option to support normal body function. These findings offer hope for families looking for additional ways to help their children feel better and thrive.

A study published in the third quarter 2023 issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal documented three cases of children being helped by chiropractic with Nocturnal Enuresis, more commonly known as bedwetting.

The study explains this condition by saying “Nocturnal Enuresis is when bedwetting continues past an age where the bladder is neurologically and physically developed to be able to hold the urine all night.” By age five, most children are developed enough and should have control of their bladders. The study reports that nighttime bedwetting is not an uncommon occurrence. They note that it occurs in 15% of 7-year-olds, 10% of 10-year-olds, 2% of adolescents, and 1% of adults.

Medical care for nocturnal enuresis is mainly centered around the other conditions that may be present. Most times, this condition is considered self-limiting.  However, it can persist and can lead to self-esteem and emotional or psychological problems.

This study consisted of three children who all suffered with nighttime bedwetting. The first, a 7-year-old girl, also suffered from abdominal pain, alternating constipation and diarrhea, and emotional distress. The second child was a 7-year-old boy who suffered with an overactive bladder during the day, and bedwetting at night. The third child, a 10-year-old boy had to be awakened by his parents twice each night to go to the bathroom.

All three children were given physical examinations and checked for subluxations. All three were found to have subluxations, and chiropractic care was started to address these subluxations. Reassessments were performed to determine the level of progress in the children.

At the three-week mark, re-examinations were performed. In all three of these children, the parents reported that this child’s bedwetting had significantly decreased. The issues continued to improve as care continued. Additionally, all objective examination findings showed improvement in these children.

In their conclusion, the authors wrote, “Nocturnal enuresis is a considerable problem for the families involved. There is not only the stigma of bedwetting, but also the associated social, psychological and physiological issues.” They noted that all three children had seen significant reduction of bedwetting as early as the three week point in care.

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published a study on October 3, 2022, with the title, “Improved Brain Development in 37 Children Undergoing Chiropractic Care for Correction of Vertebral Subluxation: A Retrospective Analysis of Health Outcomes.”

The authors of the study begin by explaining that much of the function of the brain depends upon the input that the brain receives from the environment. If there is interference from subluxation that alters the incoming messages to the brain, (known as afferent input), there then will be an abnormal response coming from the brain. Abnormal responses can be interpreted as brain developmental issues in children.

The authors explain, “We know that subluxation can alter input, increasing afferent input to the nervous system, lowering adaptive thresholds, and creating hypersensitivity to “normal” stimuli. Altering input thus alters output; it is logical to think that this change in output can be measured via the functionality of the nervous system and, in this study, developmental skills and how the body interacts with the external environment.”

This study looked at and measured many functional and developments skills in children who were shown to be deficient in developmental areas and were categorized as Neuro-Deflective Disorder. The evaluation of the variety of issues was done using both objective findings and parental evaluations on the child’s day-to-day activity and developmental skills.

On all the children in this study, subluxations were located and addressed through specific chiropractic adjusting procedures. The children were then regularly given a reevaluation to determine progress of subluxation correction and developmental changes.

Learning outcomes, which included things such as completing homework, the ability to concentrate on tasks and goals, handwriting, reading comprehension, organization and planning, spelling, understanding concepts, vocabulary and expression, attention or focus, and participation in extracurricular activities was regularly measures. The results showed that in the group there was an average improvement in this area of 64.8%.

A 74.12% improvement was recorded in intra and interpersonal skills outcomes. These included feelings about school, relationships with peers, self-esteem, anxiety, rigidity, family relationships, loss of temper, emotional outbursts, and ability to self-regulate emotions.

The study documented a 62.60% improvement in sensory outcomes which include food choices, sensitivity to pain, and overall sensory sensitivity.

General health outcomes were also monitored and recorded and showed a 47.92% as a result of chiropractic care. These included quality of sleep, amount of sleep, eating habits, digestive health overall, frequency of bowel movements, and energy levels.

With an overall documentation of improvement in all areas, the study authors summed up their results in the conclusion where they wrote, “Chiropractic adjustments, which focus on the reduction of vertebral subluxation, appeared to be beneficial for children with Neuro-Deflective Disorders. When measuring and assessing quality of life for these patients and families there was a positive correlation between chiropractic care and improvement in measured areas.”

A dissertation by Genevieve M. Keating and released by Fielding Graduate University in 2021 has the title “Do Children in Australia Benefit from Chiropractic Care?” This paper is an exhaustive look over a ten year period at the responses of parents whose children underwent chiropractic care in Australia. The author of this paper looked at data from the Review of Chiropractic Spinal Care for Children that was conducted in 2019 by Safer Care Victoria on children under 12 years of age.

In explaining the purpose for this paper and study, the author noted, “Infant and early childhood development have significant impacts on long term health and wellbeing. This early development sets the scene for life-long health, wellbeing, and competence, and early preventative intervention in the health and educational fields can be very valuable.” She goes on to explain that “Chiropractors work with infants and children who have postural and musculoskeletal issues. It is important to address these issues early because they may impact breastfeeding, settling, sleeping, and development.”

The goal of this study was to answer a number of general questions concerning chiropractic care for children. The questions included, “Why do parents seek chiropractic care for their children?”, “Who else do they consult for these concerns?”, and “How satisfied were parents (or their children) with the care they received?”. The data was from the results obtained from 22,043 parents whose children under 12 had received chiropractic care in the last ten years.

The results of the study showed that 48% of those parents who sought chiropractic for their children did so for musculoskeletal complains. In most of those instances, the parents were concerned about their child’s development. Of these children, 77.5% of them were also under care of another health professional for the same issue.

Almost universally, 99.16% of the parents felt well-informed and involved in their decision about chiropractic care for their child. However, being well-informed at such a high rate was not the study’s most surprising statistic. The study also showed that 98.4% of the parents stated that their child showed improvement from their chiropractic care, and 99.6% of parents said chiropractic care benefited their child. These high levels of satisfaction and report of benefit is unprecedented anywhere else in healthcare.

A study published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (BioMed Central) on April 26, 2021, showed that an increase in screen time for children is directly associated with an increase in spinal pain. This study, titled “Spinal pain in pre-adolescence and the relation with screen time and physical activity behavior” was conducted at the Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen, in Denmark.

The stated purpose of the study was “To investigate how screen time and physical activity behavior were associated with spinal pain in pre-adolescence.” To accomplished this, the researchers sent web-based questions to children and their mothers. The children were asked how much of their leisure time did they spend in front of the computer, on computer gaming such as PlayStation, XBox, PSP, Nintendo and Wii, or watching TV or movies.

The scale of this study was large as the researchers obtained results from 45,555 children between the ages of 11 and 12. In addition to screen time, the researchers questioned the participants about their physical activity and how much time they engaged in sports. The researchers used the WHO’s definition of physical activity which includes activities such as games, playing, sports, transportation, recreation, physical education and planned exercise in the context of family, school and community activities. The children were also asked to rate how much spinal pain they may have experienced using a scale from 1 to 6 with 6 being the most pain.

The results showed that almost half of the children spent between 2 and 4 hours per day in front of some sort of screen. A smaller amount, 22%, spent less than 2 hours per day in front of a screen, and 9% spent more than 6 hours per day in front of screens. As expected, those with more screen time engaged in less physical activity.

The researcher found that those children with more screen time were proportionality more likely to have spinal pain. The more time a child spent in front of a screen, the less activity they engaged in and the more spinal pain they suffered. Children who spent more than six hours per day in front of screen were significantly at risk for spinal pain according to the researchers.

In their conclusion the researchers noted, “Findings indicate that both duration of screen time and physical inactivity are correlated with spinal pain in pre-adolescents with the strongest associations for screen time. Reducing screen time or increasing physical activity might help preventing spinal pain in pre-adolescents, particularly among high frequent screen users.”

Dr. Robert Braile, chiropractic practitioner and past president of the International Chiropractors Association commented on the findings in this study by saying, “Our bodies and spines are made to move. This is especially important in the developing skeletal system of a child. Screen time has become a part of our children’s culture. We must, however, balance this with inclusion of physical activity for children. The results of a sedentary lifestyle for kids is resulting in numerous health issues both short-term and long-term.”

On March 15, 2021, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health published the results of a case study documenting hearing improvement in a young girl after a single chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractic was started in 1895, in Davenport, Iowa. Coincidentally, the first chiropractic patient was a deaf man who regained his hearing after the first ever chiropractic adjustment. Although, at that time, little was known as to how an adjustment of the spine could help a person with hearing problems, science has shown that this is possible, and numerous similar cases have been documented.

The study notes that hearing loss in children is not uncommon. “The average annual prevalence of moderate to profound hearing loss, among 8-year-old children, from 1991 through 2010 was 1.4 per 1000, or 1 in 714 children.” They continued, “Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent disabilities, affecting 1 in 1000 newborns and up to 11% of school-aged children. Unilateral hearing loss affects 3% of school children.”

In this case, a 9-year-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother. The girl’s primary issues were bronchitis, upper back pain, headaches, and hearing loss in her left ear. The upper back pain was sharp and had started three days before the visit to the chiropractor. The girl’s medical doctor had diagnosed her with bronchitis after the pain started. She had previously seen an ear, nose, throat, and allergy specialist and gotten a hearing test. From that she was given a hearing aid and assigned special seating in school.

A chiropractic examination was performed including neck x-rays. From the tests and x-rays, it was determined that subluxations were present in her spine. With this information, specific chiropractic adjustments were started to address the subluxations.

It was reported in the study that the next day in school, the girl was able to hear without the use of her hearing aid. This was confirmed by her mother who also noticed the difference. After just the first chiropractic adjustment, it was determined that the girl had regained her hearing and no longer suffered from any kind of loss.

This study also reviewed other documented and published case studies where hearing issues were resolved under chiropractic care. In their conclusion to this study the authors wrote, “This case report details the chiropractic management of a 9-year-old female patient diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, which resolved after a single chiropractic adjustment. This may suggest a role for chiropractic care in the co-management of patients with sensorineural hearing loss.”

Above is the headline of a June 3, 2020, article in Science Daily reporting on a study published on April 30th by the University of Buffalo in the research journal Obesity. It is well established that childhood obesity is a significant health issue in the U.S. and in other developed nations. This study looked at the effect the stay-at-home lockdown has had on children and their eating habits.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States putting children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Obesity prevalence among children and adolescents is still too high.” On the CDC website, they note that prevalence of obesity is 18.5% and affects about 13.7 million children and adolescents. The breakdown shows that obesity affects 13.9% of 2- to 5-year-olds, 18.4% of 6- to 11-year-olds, and 20.6% of 12- to 19-year-olds.

The study was conducted in Verona, Italy, where there was a significant lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has had far reaching health, social, and economic implications. It has closed schools around the world leaving children at home where their diets were not regulated by school programs.

A total of 41 children and adolescents with obesity were included in the study. The researchers initially collected information on each participant’s lifestyle including diet, daily activity, and sleep behaviors. This information was later collected again at three weeks into the lockdown to see if there was a significant change due to the lockdown.

The results of the study showed that there was an increase in the number of meals eaten per day by the children while at home.

This increase showed that more than one additional meal was eaten each day. Although there was an increase in the amount of meals eaten, there was no increase in the amount of vegetables eaten. One possible benefit was that there was an increase in fruit consumption. Unfortunately, there was also a significant increase in the consumption of potato chips, red meat, and sugary drink during the

lockdown.

The results also revealed that the children had a significant increase in sleep time of over an hour per day. Conversely, they also had a significant decrease of around five hours less in sports and activity per week. As expected, there was a very large increase in screen time averaging almost five extra hours per day.

In their discussion, the authors point out that these results all point toward negative health outcomes and exacerbation of obesity issues. They commented, “Specifically, our longitudinal study of children and adolescents with obesity affirmed that eating, activity, and sleep behaviors changed in an unfavorable direction three weeks into their confinement during the national lockdown. These observations point to the critical need for implementation of preventive measure during periods of lockdown, particularly when their duration is uncertain.”

In the Science Daily article on this study, Myles Faith, PhD, UB childhood obesity expert and co-author on the study commented, “The tragic COVID-19 pandemic has collateral effects extending beyond direct viral infection. Children and teens struggling with obesity are placed in an unfortunate position of isolation that appears to create an unfavorable environment for maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors.”

A study published on November 4, 2019, in the journal JAMA Pediatrics showed that toddlers and preschoolers who use screens such as televisions, tablets or smart phones for more than one hour a day without parental involvement had lower levels of development in their brain’s white matter.

The study titled,  Associations Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children  starts off by asking the basic question,  Is screen-based media use associated with differences in the structural integrity of brain white matter tracts that support language and literacy skills in preschool-aged children? 

Lead author Dr. John Hutton, a pediatrician and clinical researcher at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital noted that  This is the first study to document associations between higher screen use and lower measures of brain structure and skills in preschool-aged kids. 

 This is important because the brain is developing the most rapidly in the first five years,  Hutton said.  That’s when brains are very plastic and soaking up everything, forming these strong connections that last for life. 

In this study, 47 healthy children between the ages of 3 and 5 underwent special MRI brain studies called diffusion tensor imaging designed to measure the brain’s white matter tracts. White matter in the brain is associated with the development of language, literacy and cognitive skills. The results of the study showed that the white matter in the brains of children who spent hours in front of screens wasn’t developing as fast as it was in the brains of kids who spent less time in front of a screen.

In addition to the MRI studies, the 47 children were also given cognitive testing to see if increased screen time had an effect on cognitive skills. The results of these tests showed that excessive screen times were significantly associated with poorer literacy skills, expressive language skills, as well as the ability to rapidly name objects.

Although TV has been around for decades, the introduction of tablets and smart phones has greatly increased the amount of screen time toddlers get. Dr. Hutton reports that by the first year of life, 90% of babies are using screens.

In one of many media interviews on this new study, Dr. Hutton sums up his comments by saying,  Screen-based media use is prevalent and increasing in homes, childcare and school settings at ever younger ages. These findings highlight the need to understand effects of screen time on the brain, particularly during stages of dynamic brain development in early childhood, so that providers, policymakers and parents can set healthy limits. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommends that preschool children not spend more than one hour per day unattended in front of screens such as TVs, tablets or smart phones. These recommendations include: 1) Children younger than 18 months only use screens when it’s used for video chatting. 2) Children ages 2-5 years old only consume one hour of screen time per day of  high-quality programs.  3) Families should designate  screen-free  activities. 4) Parents should consume media with their children so they are able to provide context for what they are seeing.

The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP) published a review of studies in their November 2018 edition that shows that breastfeeding early in life reduces the possibility of childhood obesity. This paper reviewed previous studies on breastfeeding as it related to early obesity in children.

This study was conducted at AECC University College, Bournemouth, in the United Kingdom. The statistics of obesity in this study were from the European union, but similar, and in many cases worse statistics are true in the United States. The issues are therefore comparable on both continents and should be addressed equally on both sides of the ocean.

The study begins by noting that obesity in the European Union (EU) is increasing. Notably, England and Poland have demonstrated the steepest increases in obesity. It is estimated that each year 400,000 children across Europe are becoming overweight or obese. Evidence shows that overweight children generally become overweight adults. This then puts them at higher risks of all the health issues that arise from obesity as well as a higher risk of death from the issues related to obesity. It is estimated that in the EU around 2.8 million deaths per year result from obesity associated diseases.

The study authors point out that proper diet and exercise can correct obesity, but they concede that the implementation of this lifestyle is many times easier said than done. They also note that there is a correlation between the tendency to become an overweight child and breastfeeding early in live. They state, “Several high-quality studies indicate that breastfed children have a lower risk of childhood obesity.” Unfortunately, the researchers point out that England has one of the lowest rates of breast feeding in Europe.

The study recommendations for breastfeeding say, “It is extensively acknowledged that infants should be nourished with nothing other than breastmilk for the first six months of life and that breastfeeding should continue with the addition of complementary foods for up to and beyond two years of age.” The researchers sought to find out if lower rates of both exclusive breastfeeding and combination of breastfeeding and formula feeding could affect the increase rate of obesity in children.

Using a calculation known as the body mass index (BMI) as a common way to determine obesity, the researchers looked at a large number of studies to determine how many fit the criteria and could add insight into breastfeeding rates and the effect on obesity. In their review, they determined that 25 studies with 226,508 subjects met their criteria. Data from these studies was then analyzed to draw conclusions.

The results of the analysis of all these studies showed that babies who were breastfed for seven months or longer were 22% less likely to be obese compared to who had never been breastfed. When the researchers compared those children who had at sometime been breastfed to those that had never been breastfed, the results still showed a 15% reduction in obesity for those babies who had some breastfeeding as compared to those who had never been breastfed at all.

In their discussion the authors state that, “The answer to the research question is that breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk for childhood obesity, at least to some extent.” They continued in the study conclusion by saying, “Research suggests that early breastfeeding is protective against childhood obesity.”