Growing Pains
The condition referred to as "growing pains" occurs in 20 – 40 % of children from three to four years old up until adolescence and is seen more often in girls than in boys. The pains are intermittent and do not occur every night, but seem to be more likely to occur after a day of increased activity. The pain experienced with this condition would appear to be associated with referred pain from a sacroiliac subluxation on the side of the leg pain.
Learning to walk, ride a bike or play sports can produce subluxations. Many times these subluxations are written off as growing pains. Ignored, these problems may worsen until they can become more difficult to correct as an adult.
Any child who has been either diagnosed with "growing pains," or who complains of intermittent leg pains in bed at night, should have a thorough checkup with a chiropractor to ensure that spinal problems are not the underlying cause.
Parents are given few to no options for treatment. Typically, massaging the legs and the use of analgesics are the only suggestions. Parents are told this is normal during the growth process and it will pass. Should we accept this weak diagnosis of “growing pains”? The answer is “NO!”
Are there other options available to alleviate these leg pains? YES! Try Chiropractic!
Chiropractic care locates misalignments and corrects them, usually alleviating your child’s leg pains after only a few visits. When corrected at this age, you give your child a better chance at growing up healthy, with a properly functioning nervous system. And… what better gift can you give your child than true health, the kind that radiates from the top down and the inside out?
So, what causes these “growing pains”? From a chiropractic standpoint, we must look at the biomechanical issues. The first five years of a child’s life is the time of greatest spinal growth. Other interferences of the growth process may include birth trauma, a fall, sports injuries, and overly sedentary lifestyles.
Another important point is that many of these children also have complaints of spinal pain in addition to the leg pain. Chiropractors look at the body as a whole and not as separate parts. Chiropractors recognize that, if there is stress in one area of the body, the rest of the body will somehow compensate for this stress.
How Does Chiropractic Help?
The doctor of chiropractic performs a thorough exam of the child’s spine and locates areas of misalignment contributing to this nerve system stress. The specific chiropractic adjustment restores nerve system function and the child’s whole body benefits. Growing pains is one common disorder resulting from nerve system stress. Spinal misalignment, especially in the lower lumbar spine and pelvis, creates imbalances which may contribute to leg pain. Pelvic misalignment can lead to leg-length inequalities; the child is unevenly distributing his or her weight, placing additional stress and strain not only on the spine, but feet, ankles, and knees as well. If there are any muscular imbalances in the lower back, knees, or ankles, it could make the child more susceptible to injury. Be concerned and aware of the sources of physical stress to children’s spine. Back packs, slouching, and sitting too long are common causes of stress overload in the older child.
If your child has been diagnosed with growing pains, it is recommended that they visit a chiropractor. A physical assessment can ensure that any leg and back pains are not the result of underlying spinal problems or muscle imbalances.
Health Care System vs Healing System
More and more money is being spent on health care by governments around the world and with the aging population in most western countries future health care costs will be alarming. Yyet if you look at the statistics the irony is society is getting sicker, not healthier. For example, the growing epidemics in diabetes and obesity. While it could be argued that the health care system is tied up in politics, money and big pharm, it is fairly clear that its main focus is on disease and treatment of symptoms. Can such a system create health, when it only ever addresses the effect and ignores the cause? Would the fire department attempt to put out a fire while the gas mains remain on?
Studies show there is very little relationship between this sort of healthcare spending and longevity. This really should be no surprise. You also cannot blame your bad genes anymore. Lifestyle affects life expectancy much more than genetics. The simple, unavoidable fact is you create your health! It is your responsibility.
Your health depends far more on your body’s ability to heal and create health than the health care system. Your body has an innate intelligence (you may call it “life” or by another name), which controls every single process. Your innate intelligence formed you into a healthy baby from just a two cells. After 9 months you were born ready to face the world with every cell, tissue and organ working together and able to keep you alive. You waited until the right moment when everything was just right before deciding to be born. How can the knowledge of a medic or chiropractor be greater than the wisdom your own body has? It is the full expression of your innate intelligence that allows you to have life, health and vitality. It is as simple as that. As a chiropractor we tap into this source of healing and health by removing nerve interference and allowing your body to regain health. Invest in your own healing system.
Health Talks
We have regular Chiropractic health talks in the office where you will learn how to get the best out of your care, with the least amount of time, effort and money. If you haven't got to a talk, or know someone who could benefit from Chiropractic this is a great opportunity to learn more about health and learn some special exercises you won’t get at any other time. The talks are open to the public. We regularly hold them Thursday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. Talk to us for more details.
We will be at the Over 50s show again in Estapona this November. It is an exciting time informing the community of the holistic message of chiropractic, and help people discover the fact true health and healing comes from inside their body, not from the outside (such as drugs and surgery). Did you know posture is a window into your neurological health?
We look forward to seeing you all soon,
The Marbella Chiropractic Team
