As we progress through the stages of our lives, particular health issues can crop up. The notion that back pain only affects the ‘old’ is wrong. Back pain is something people can find themselves needing to manage at any stage of their life, from babies through to the teenage years, to pregnancy and beyond. These issues highlight the importance of maintaining spinal health, core strength, nutrition and regular chiropractic check-ups.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle and visiting your chiropractor will optimise the chances that you will enjoy spinal health well into your sunset years.

To assist you in refining your focus on spinal health, we have compiled the following tips for identifying some of the key, age-related spinal issues.

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Babies

Ensure a child sleeps on a flat, even surface, and does not repeatedly sleep on just one side. Do not hyper-extend a child’s spine and when lifting a baby, always support the child’s head and spine. Chiropractors are taught how to treat babies. We are trained to look for asymmetry in a baby’s posture. Sometimes, a difficult birth process may cause neck issues in newborns. We will ask the appropriate questions and perform a thorough examination to determine any skeletal issues.

Children

There is a saying in chiropractic, ‘As the twig is bent, so grows the tree’. In reality, there should be no such thing as ‘growing pains’. To assist your child’s growth and development, ensure they are not overweight, receive ample physical exercise and limit the time they spend in a sedentary posture. Educate the child with regard to sleeping position, using the correct pillow, and sitting positions. Monitor how your child carries their school bag and any excessive use of phones and devices. Have your child maintain appropriate flexibility, strength, and tone in all muscle groups. Ensure they have a balanced diet with the appropriate amount of rest. Recent studies* show that chiropractic is safe and effective for children. Chiropractors always modify their techniques to suit the developmental stage and age of the child to ensure it is gentle and safe. Every child should be checked annually by a chiropractor to ensure good spinal health. Consider spinal health to a child the same as you would dental health. Prevention is much better than cure. Remember that spinal conditions are much easier to treat if identified early in life. *Paediatric Chiropractic Safety Review, 2019

Teenagers

Growth occurs at a higher rate during the teenage years. This is often accompanied by increases in contact sports and activity. Teens are often prone to injuries under these circumstances. Chiropractors may be able to assist teenagers with the many growing conditions that they may experience.

The Sporting years

Many chiropractors have had associations with athletes and sports teams. By enhancing skeletal and muscle function they may be able to assist sports people achieve optimal performance. Many famous sports people have praised the involvement of chiropractic in their total sports preparation and injury treatment.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, many physiological changes occur within the mother’s body. These relate to foetal development and prepration for birth in the later stages. Variations in hormone levels accompany these changes, which can make joints more prone to being sprained. Chiropractors use specific techniques to correct skeletal issues, without causing harm to the mother or child. Pregnant women may benefit from chiropractic treatment.

Healthy Ageing

Inevitably, ageing spines will develop some degree of arthritic change. This may result in a loss of mobility and/or increase in pain. Regular chiropractic treatments might help to ease the transition into a person’s latter years.

For further advice on maintaining your spinal health book an appointment online today or phone (08) 8178 0181.

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