As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to see your child struggle with chronic health issues. Yet, an alarming 40% of school-aged children today suffer from at least one ongoing health problem, according to the CDC. From digestive disorders and respiratory challenges to neurological conditions like ADHD and anxiety, our children are facing an unprecedented epidemic of poor health.
But what if there was a common thread underlying many seemingly unrelated conditions? A root cause that, when addressed, could unlock your child’s innate potential for healing and thriving?
That missing piece of the puzzle is often subluxation—a dysfunction within the nervous system that can set the stage for a wide range of both acute and chronic health challenges. While subluxation is a term many may not be familiar with, understanding its role in your child’s well-being could be the key to finally finding the answers and solutions you’ve sought.
When your conventional pediatrician dismisses your concerns, continues to blame genetics or bad luck, or says “don’t worry they’ll grow out it” it simply means they lack the understanding and ability to look deeper into the root cause of health challenges in kids, and are especially inept at understanding neurological function and development.
Let’s explore subluxation, how it develops, and its far-reaching impact on your child’s health. We’ll also explore the factors that can lead to subluxation, how it can manifest in various symptoms and conditions, and how Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care can help in ways you likely never knew!
What is Subluxation?
Subluxation refers to a complex neurological dysfunction within the body, characterized by three main components:
- Misalignment: Altered positioning and alignment within the neurospinal system.
- Fixation & Restriction Motion: Abnormal tension or fixation within these neurospinal segments and regions then leads to reduced range of motion and overall movement.
- Neurological Interference & Imbalance: The combination of this misalignment and restricted movement (proprioception) disrupts and alters neurosensory input into the brain, leading to interference and imbalance within the nervous system.
When subluxation occurs, it can interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system, which is responsible for controlling and coordinating all the systems in the body. Nervous system dysregulation and dysfunction are easily the most overlooked and dismissed component of both acute and chronic health challenges in kids and adults alike.
The key component of subluxation that sets all the neurological dysfunction in motion is the joint fixation and restriction of movement, which is known as proprioception.
Proprioception is the body’s sense of position and movement. It relies on sensory receptors in the joints, muscles, and connective tissues to communicate with the brain. Subluxations can disrupt this communication, leading to decreased proprioception and increased perception of noxious or stressful stimuli and input into the brain (nociception).
While this may present as true physical pain and discomfort in an adult, in kids it more commonly presents as altered sensory input or sensory overload, digestive or immune system dysfunction, and especially as altered sensory perception and motor input, tone, and coordination. Subluxation plays a major role in the development of both gross and fine motor delays, as well as overall developmental delays and challenges in children.
The upper neck and brainstem region are particularly vulnerable to subluxation because they house a high concentration of proprioceptors and are responsible for controlling many vital functions in the body, such as:
- Breathing
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Digestion
- Immune function
- Sensory processing
- Motor control
In addition, the upper neck and brainstem are in close proximity to the vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system, which regulates the body’s involuntary functions. The autonomic nervous system is divided into two branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “fight or flight” response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest and digest” functions and overall nervous system regulation.
Subluxation of the spine or brainstem can disrupt the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, leading to a wide range of symptoms and health challenges. This imbalance, known as dysautonomia, is a critical factor in many of the chronic health conditions we see in children today.
What Causes Subluxation? Understanding “The Perfect Storm”
While subluxation can occur at any age, children are particularly vulnerable to developing this neurological dysfunction due to a combination of factors that we call “The Perfect Storm.” This term describes the cumulative impact of various physical, chemical, and emotional stressors and stages of subluxation that can overwhelm a child’s developing nervous system, leading to subluxation and subsequent health challenges.
Prenatal Stress and Anxiety
“The Perfect Storm” often begins before a child is even born, with the mother’s experience of stress and anxiety during pregnancy. Research has shown that maternal stress can have a significant impact on fetal development, including the development of the nervous system.
When a mother experiences chronic stress, her body releases higher levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can cross the placenta and affect the developing fetus. This exposure can alter how the baby’s nervous system develops, making it more susceptible to subluxation and dysregulation later in life.
Birth Trauma and Interventions
The process of birth itself can also contribute to the later development of subluxation stress and illness, particularly when interventions such as forceps, vacuum extraction, or cesarean section are used. These interventions can cause physical strain and trauma to the baby’s delicate nervous system if the baby is not in the proper position, leading to misalignment and tension in the upper neck, brainstem, and other components of the neurospinal system.
Even in cases of “normal” vaginal delivery, the intense pressure and twisting forces experienced by the baby’s head and neck can cause significant misalignments and nerve interference, causing their physiological function to get off track just enough to trigger difficulty nursing, soothing, sleeping and so forth.
Early Childhood Stressors
After birth, a variety of common childhood experiences can further contribute to the development of subluxation. These early childhood stressors include:
- Colic and reflux
- Constipation and digestive issues
- Repeated ear infections and respiratory illnesses
- The overuse of antibiotics and gut dysbiosis
When a child experiences these stressors, their nervous system can become stuck in a state of “fight or flight,” leading to chronic tension and imbalance. This sympathetic dominance can interfere with the child’s ability to rest, digest, and heal, creating a vicious cycle of stress and dysfunction.
Fortunately, by understanding “The Perfect Storm” of factors leading to subluxation, parents can identify potential root causes of their child’s health challenges and take steps to support their nervous system health.
Signs and Symptoms of Subluxation in Children
Subluxation can manifest in many signs and symptoms in children, some of which may be easily recognizable, while others may be more subtle or overlooked. As a parent, it’s essential to be aware of these potential indicators so that you can seek appropriate care for your child.
Some common signs of spinal subluxation include:
Developmental, Behavioral, and Neurological Symptoms
- Delays in reaching milestones, such as crawling, walking, or talking
- Poor coordination or clumsiness
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or tying shoelaces
- Sensory processing issues, including sensitivity to light, sound, or touch
- Speech delays and apraxia
- Attention and focus difficulties
- Emotional dysregulation, such as frequent meltdowns or tantrums
- Anxiety or mood swings
- Stimming, toe-walking, and dyspraxia
- Motor tics and seizure disorders
Physical Symptoms
- Chronic pain and tension, particularly in the neck, back, or head
- Poor range of motion, posture or uneven shoulder height
- Digestive issues, such as constipation, reflux, or colic
- Respiratory problems, including asthma, allergies, or frequent infections
- Difficulty sleeping or restless sleep patterns
- Bedwetting or constipation
While these symptoms and conditions can indicate the presence of subluxation and specific patterns of neurological dysfunction, it’s important to note that addressing subluxation is not a direct treatment or cure for any symptom or condition.
Subluxation-Based Nervous System Focused Chiropractic Care, which we’ll explain in more detail below, simply yet effectively addresses subluxation and nervous system dysregulation in order to help improve overall neurophysiological function within the body. From there, the body is more than capable of healing and restoration all on its own!
This is where the chiropractic and medical approach differ substantially. While medical care aims to address the symptoms of a condition, chiropractic seeks to address the underlying root cause and provide care that improves nervous system function first and foremost, allowing the body to address the symptoms and conditions more effectively on its own.
The PX Docs’ Approach to Addressing Subluxation
At PX Docs, we take a unique, neurologically-focused approach to identifying and addressing subluxation and nervous system dysfunction in children and adults alike. Our doctors undergo extensive training in Pediatric + Family Chiropractic Care, allowing them to provide gentle, specific adjustments tailored to each child’s needs.
True Neurologically-Focused Pediatric + Family Chiropractors do not just rely on symptoms, postural distortions, x-rays, or palpation for their pattern analysis and clinical results, but instead utilize cutting edge technology called the INSiGHT Scans to take their work to a whole new level.
It only takes a matter of minutes to run these scans, and the amount of wildly insightful clinical information they provide a nervous system focused chiropractor is truly incredible.
The INSiGHT Scans consist of the 3 various scans, including:
- NeuroThermal: Measures asymmetrical infrared heat patterns within the neurospinal system, detecting patterns of regional dysautonomia and nervous system dysregulation.
- NeuroCore (sEMG): Assesses patterns of neuromuscular dysfunction, asymmetry, tension, exhaustion, and more, helping determine which components of neurospinal motor function are most negatively affected and interfered with. These scans detect and measure what is known as dysponesis and altered proprioception or sensory input.
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Evaluates how subluxation and nervous system dysfunction has affected overall autonomic function, adaptability, and reserve capacity (energy). HRV is a direct and effective measurement of dysautonomia.
These INSiGHT Scans help our PX Doctors look far deeper into patterns of subluxation and neurological dysfunction than traditional analysis methods like x-ray, posture, and palpation. Those are still fantastic and helpful methods of subluxation and pattern analysis, but the INSiGHT Scans stand alone as the gold standard in today’s practice environment.
The clinical application of these scans and pattern analysis goes far beyond just the initial look into subluxation and neurological dysfunction, and also allow our PX Docs to do the following:
- Create Customized Care Plan: Pattern analysis allows chiropractors to develop a more individualized care plan based on the specific neurological patterns they observe in a patient. This can lead to more targeted and effective adjusting techniques and approaches, instead of doing the same thing for each and every patient.
- Tracking Progress: By continually assessing the patterns before and after a series of adjustments (usually six to twelve), Neurologically-Focused Chiropractors can determine the effectiveness of the care being provided and make necessary modifications to the care plan or adjusting protocols if needed.
Below is an image of Initial and Progress EMG Scans on a pediatric patient who was struggling with Sensory Processing Disorder and High Functioning Anxiety.
As shown in the initial EMG scan on the left, her nervous system was overwhelmed with excessive sensory input and stress (red and blue areas). After 2-3 months of care, her subluxation and sensory stress were reduced, resulting in the calm, regulated scan on the right (white and green areas).
Neuro-Tonal Subluxation Analysis + Adjusting
While nothing provides the comprehensive and in-depth level of subluxation analysis quite like the INSiGHT Scans, each of the doctors in our PX Docs Network is trained in our Neuro-Tonal Analysis and Adjusting system as well.
Each and every visit our doctors go through a series of sequential neurological pattern and subluxation analysis checks that allow us to find out exactly which regions and areas need targeted adjustments, as well as which particular adjusting techniques are going to be most effective for this particular visit.
This is where PX Doctors are quite different from even other nervous system focused and subluxation-based chiropractors, in that we do not adhere to the same adjusting technique and protocol for every single patient. Instead we work hard to adapt and pair the most effective adjusting technique to each and every patient, each and every patient, and each and every adjustment.
Empowering Your Child’s Health: The Power of Neurologically-Focused Care
As a parent, you want nothing more than for your child to be healthy, happy, and able to reach their full potential. When subluxation and nervous system dysregulation is present, it can create a significant barrier to achieving these goals, leading to a wide range of health challenges, developmental delays, and limited healing capacity.
By understanding the role of subluxation in your child’s well-being and seeking the care of a qualified PX Doctor, you can take a proactive approach to better supporting your child’s health and healing. Our Neurologically Focused Chiropractic Care is designed to address subluxation and nervous system dysfunction using safe, drug-free approaches that seek to restore proper nervous system function and empower your child’s body to heal itself.
If you believe you or your child might be dealing with subluxation or any of the symptoms of nervous system dysregulation we’ve discussed, we recommend visiting the PX Docs Directory to begin your journey toward improved health and optimal healing for the whole family.
Our network of highly trained and compassionate pediatric chiropractors is dedicated to helping children of all ages overcome health challenges and thrive.
