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The safety of Chiropractic for children is getting a boost from the findings of two practice-based studies. These International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) reports provide additional evidence about the safety and effectiveness of Chiropractic care for children of all ages.

The first study involved 812 pediatric clinical cases totaling 7,436 separate office visits. Girls totaled 382 and boys 430 with ages ranging from under 1 day up to 18 years for those treated. Of those, 153 were totally new to Chiropractic and 346 were examined as part of a “wellness checkup.” The most common complaints attended to were ear, nose and throat/respiratory disorders followed by musculoskeletal problems involving the neck area and spine. Gastrointestinal disorders were also reported.

More than 90% of the chiropractors reported patient improvement for their original complaints with 717 of the children reporting improvements. Only 9 of the children reported any treatment-related aggravations such as soreness. No treatment-related complications were reported for any of the 812 children during over 7,400 office visits.

Even more interesting, according to the ICPA, was that many of the children report­ed healthy improvements beyond the complaints they originally mentioned. Of the Children, 74 reported improvements such as greater range of motion, improved sleep, improved immune function and improved mood.

In the second study, parents of children receiving Chiropractic care where asked to provide information on the success of treatment. Several hundred parents responded representing thousands of Chiropractic visits by their children.

Parents by and large reported both an improvement in the condition the child was brought in to treat, plus improvements unrelated to that first issue. A large percentage of parents reported improved disposition in their child, improved immune function and improved sleep. Only 2 cases reported treatment-related aggravations and neither of these was of a serious nature requiring discontinuation of office visits.

Evidence of studies and individual successful cases continue to mount showing the benefits of Chiropractic care for children, plus carryover benefit to parents and others who come into their lives.

Source: The World Chiropractic Alliance. November 2007. http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcy2007/nov/e.htm