Monthly Archives: June 2023

The understanding and facts behind this topic are so clear and have been for so long, that it’s hard to believe every parent isn’t told the full truth about this all-too-common ‘Perfect Storm’ story. 

What am I talking about? I’m talking about the clear, and all too commonly seen path from childhood ear infections to lifelong asthma and immune challenges.

It starts with the way we birth and deliver babies in today’s traditional medical system. 

For thousands of years, kids were brought into this world WITHOUT the need for “intervention and induction” and also WITH the help of gravity. Was every birth perfect and non-complicated? Nope. But 30-40% or more of them didn’t end with anesthesia, surgical tools, and a baby being pulled out by their head and neck either.

I’m starting off talking about the birth process because it’s where the most common injury to the upper neck, brainstem, and cranial areas occurs. It’s the first “kink” that occurs, and it sets the stage for the rest of the path to develop. As you’ll see, one problem leads to another, and it just keeps going.

When there is physical strain, tension, pulling, and stress placed on the child’s head and neck during the birth process, it very commonly leads to something called a subluxation. I like to explain subluxation as having three parts – misalignment, fixation (“stuck”), and neurological interference/irritation. All three of those components are at play in this situation.

The greater the amount of intervention during the birth process (induction, forceps, vacuum, C-section, etc.), the greater the likelihood of a significant subluxation to the upper neck and brain stem area. Is it an ‘absolute’ situation? No, few things are… but in my 7 years of clinical experience, I can tell you it’s a very, very strong correlation.

How Childbirth Relates to Ear Infections

As we move forward, those three components of the subluxation lead to two main problems that cause and contribute to ear infections:

1. Poor “plumbing” or drainage
2. Lowered (weakened) neuro-immune function

When there is physical trauma to the neck in-utero, during birth, or from a fall early in life it creates that “kink” in close proximity to the “drain pipes” coming from the ears, sinuses, and head. Specifically, the top two vertebrae share a lot of nerve supply, muscles, and structures with the inner ear and sinuses.

If you “kink” those vertebrae you start to “clog” the drainage of the surrounding structures. In this case, that includes not just the ear, nose, and throat regions… but the lymphatics that drain the head and neck as well.

You see, pediatricians still today give the ‘explanation’ to parents that “early in life the Eustachian tubes are just more horizontal, and for some kids, that’s worse than others” and so on and so forth. Well, they are right… sort of. Those tubes are more horizontal early in life, but that’s because they were designed that way!

Gravity plays far less of a role in actually draining the fluid from our ears than does one other major factor – MOVEMENT.

You see, when those two ‘physical’ components of the subluxation occur, misalignment and fixation, not only does it “clog” up the actual physical space in the ears and sinuses and lymphatics… but it’s the FIXATION part that really messes things up. When those vertebrae get jammed and “stuck” from that early physical trauma, now they don’t move around as easily or as much… and therefore, they don’t do their job in helping move fluid out of the ear and sinuses.

So finally, the longer that fluid is allowed to sit in the inner ear, the greater the chance that “bad guys” like viruses (most of them) and bacteria set up shop, replicate, and cause an infection.

And on top of all that, because that region of the brainstem and spinal cord house and protect a very important “hard drive” and “operating system” for our immune system… when we have a subluxation there, we can have compromised neuro-immune function.

So if you have bad plumbing and poor immune function, you have ear infections.

The Role of Antibiotics

But alas, that’s why we have a Walgreens and CVS on every corner filled with antibiotics of all shapes, colors, and sizes right!? All a parent needs to do is go to their local pediatrician, urgent or immediate care, ER, or minute clinic and talk for a few minutes, grab the prescription, and head out. And all is good then, right?

Not so much.

We’ve had plenty of research since about the 1980s that first off, antibiotics don’t work very well for ear, sinus, and respiratory infections. And second, they don’t come without side effects. Not only are there short-term side effects such as stomach pain and diarrhea in a lot of kids, but the long-term ones are even worse.

Many studies have shown that if a child is given antibiotics early in life, especially within the first 12-24 months, it increases their risk of other long-standing inflammatory and autoimmune type issues like asthma later in life. 

But the problem doesn’t stop there with over prescribing antibiotics. Read an excerpt from another study that spells it out plain as day: 

“Antibiotics are not recommended for either diagnosis, as most of these infections are viral, but antibiotics are frequently prescribed to children with these diagnoses. Reducing unnecasssary antibiotic use is important: antibiotics are the leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits for pediatric adverse drug events and contribute to antibiotic resistance.” 

Even the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends a watch and wait approach. “Updated American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical practice guidelines address the diagnosis and management of uncomplicated acute otitis media (AOM) in children aged 6 months to 12 years. The new recommendations, which offer more rigorous diagnostic criteria to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, were published online on February 25 and in the March issue of Pediatrics.”

So if they’re known to not work well, known to have short and long-term side effects, and known to contribute to what is now a major public health crisis (antibiotic-resistant strains or “superbugs”)… then why do they still get prescribed left and right by pediatricians and doctors of all sorts? Good question.

My guess is that since most pediatricians still lack the level of education and understanding in natural health remedies and neurologically-focused options such as chiropractic, but yet care deeply and want the child and parent to receive some relief… they turn to the only thing they have in their ‘tool kit’ and still provide antibiotics.

Before we wrap up this blog post, let’s circle back to the birth trauma and poor plumbing discussion. Is that the only negative health effect our kids may face after significant birth intervention or trauma? Unfortunately, no. That is just where things get started. 

In case history after case history we see the following Perfect Storm pathway play out: 

• Tons of mental + emotional stress during the fertility period and pregnancy 
• Birth intervention leading to physical trauma to the brainstem and neurospinal system 
• Difficulty nursing, latching, soothing, and bonding 
• Colic, reflux, and constipation 
• Chronic and recurrent ear infections, cough, croup, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses 
  • Antibiotics, steroids, and other medications frequently then frequently provided 
• Altered motor development and delayed developmental milestones such as sitting up, crawling, walking, talking, social engagement, speech, etc. 
• Diagnosis of things such as apraxia of speech, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, etc. . 

But before we finish up this blog post, let’s explore the neurophysiological connections to asthma and how the next level of medical treatment, ear tubes surgery, may be at play. 

While just like the guidelines for when to prescribe antibiotics are not necessarily set in stone, neither are the ones that help doctors know when to recommend ear tubes. Most of the time it looks something like this: 

• 3 or more ear infections within 6 months 
• 4-6 ear infections within 12 months 

We’ve certainly seen many case histories of patients who’ve well surpassed that mark, and we’ve also taken plenty of case histories of kids who’ve received two or even three different ear tubes surgeries over the years. That likely comes from the reality that while the ear tubes and surgery “force” an improved drainage system for a short time period, as the child grows and the root cause of the buildup and poor plumbing is still not addressed… the body pushes out the original tubes and goes right back to the same Perfect Storm it has always been stuck in. 

Just like ear infections and upper respiratory challenges are the #1 reason for a visit to the pediatrician, this is the most common surgery (myringotomy or tympanostomy) in kids and is performed over 700,000 times in the United States each year, costing $1.8 billion dollars. 

So Where Does All That Stuck, Virus-Filled Fluid Go Next?

Many parents report immediate relief from the eustachian tubes surgery, but sadly a few weeks or months later, they start to notice that at night especially their child appears to be talking and breathing a differently. Their voice changes a bit and they become a bit more hoarse, unclear, and labored in their breathing… seemingly having to “work harder” at it than before. 

This time the pediatrician isn’t as concerned with the ears, but now says that the tonsils and adenoids are “swollen” and the kiddo has a strep infection. But hey, don’t worry! This one is actually bacterial a lot of the time, so you guessed it! MORE ANTIBIOTICS!

Well, as time progresses the snoring gets worse, the sinuses and throat more jammed up, the breathing more labored, and the strep infections more frequent. So finally that same pediatrician says to go back to the ENT and see about having his tonsils and adenoids removed.

For most kids, this means the same doctor, same hospital, and same surgical routine. After previously drilling some holes in one body part, they just altogether take out a few more. 

Like building a coffee table you bought at IKEA, who needs all those extra body parts right? I’m sure they were just “extra” and not really needed for good, long term immune health. 

(Sorry for the satire, it’s heartbreaking when you know what’s really going on and know that parents are told the whole story and given ALL of their options.) 

So, back to the hospital. More surgery, more ice cream. And, more dispersal of the fluid into other places within the body. 

In my Iowa farmer terms, the fluid keeps moving “south” and starts to set up shop now in the lungs and upper airway. It’s simply the next stop on the anatomical map, and where the ear, nose, throat, and lymphatics were all supposed to be draining into naturally and easily this whole time before the birth trauma or other trauma set up that subluxation and “kink” in the plumbing system.

Asthma & Allergies Set in for the Long Haul

Essentially now this child becomes sick every single day of their life… Advair, Flovent, Singulair, etc.  They can’t run without challenges, they can’t go outside without challenges. Spring and fall are nightmares for them due to “allergies” as they’re now called.

Basically, what started out as a short-term, acute problem that could’ve been fixed for good with some improved plumbing and by restoring neuro-immune function is now a lifelong chronic illness and immune dysfunction. What was once a kid who struggled for a night or two with pain and discomfort, is now a kid who struggles every single day of their life.

It’s an absolute “Perfect Storm” all on its own. 

These kids don’t need more antibiotics and they don’t need more surgeries. They need more facts. They need more doctors and pediatricians who will tell them the actual truth that antibiotics are not only mostly ineffective for all these challenges, they’re dangerous. 

They need doctors who will tell them to seek out chiropractic care and all the natural health options for ear infections, before sending them down this perfect storm road of antibiotics, surgeries, allergies, and asthma. 

If you have a kiddo who is suffering, or if you know someone who does, please get them checked by a Pediatric Chiropractor to find out if they are subluxated. If there was extra stress during the pregnancy or intervention and trauma during the birth process, the chances are high that they indeed are. 

But that can mean good news for your family! Because that can mean a better chance of finding answers and relief through chiropractic care and natural health! 

I believe that every child with ADHD has so much potential. They possess a unique brain and drive that when properly harnessed, can be a superpower.

The world needs more raging bulls. But for those kids who are always on the go, it’s important that they have the ability to slow down and take corners more smoothly when needed. 

Chiropractic care is a drug-free option that addresses the root cause of your child’s ADHD. By activating their brake pedal system and regulating their central nervous system, we can also regulate their chemistry, physiology, and overall body function. It’s a transformative approach that can help children of any age and severity.

I encourage you to learn more about this approach by checking out our PX Docs website, where we have an informative article that goes deep into ADHD. Additionally, we offer an ADHD test using a piece of technology called the INSiGHT scans, which can measure the amount of gas pedal versus brake pedal and provide insight into your child’s unique challenges.

It’s frustrating that traditional medicine often lacks a complete understanding of the chemical theory behind ADHD and doesn’t offer a test for it. At our office, we believe in providing measurable results, and our ADHD test does just that.

Parents, if you have a child struggling with ADHD, whether they’re diagnosed or not, whether they’re on medication or not, please know that you are not alone. ADHD affects 6 million kids in the United States, and over 4 million of them are on medication that can have harmful short-term and long-term side effects. 

So, I want to delve into the root causes of ADHD, including the neurology, chemistry, and physiology behind it, in a way that is easy to understand. This is specifically for parents who do not want to use medications to help their child with ADHD challenges. We nickname our ADHD kiddos “Raging Bulls” because they have a lot of energy and drive, and we absolutely love their personalities. If you resonate with this, then this is perfect for you.

We’ll explore the causes of ADHD and how it can be turned into a superpower for your child. We’ll also talk about the struggles that come with ADHD, such as difficulty with sleep. However, the most important message is that you can turn your child’s ADHD into a superpower without medication.

I want to debunk the outdated medical theories surrounding ADHD and get to the root of the neurology that is causing it. It’s important for parents to understand that once you know what’s really behind ADHD, you can start working on drug-free solutions to balance your child’s nervous system and help them thrive.

The Genetic and Chemical Imbalance Theories

It’s alarming that there is no medical test for ADHD, and yet 6 million children have been diagnosed with it, and 4 million are taking dangerous medications based on two scientific theories that both lack evidence. The first theory is the genetic theory, which suggests that ADHD is purely genetic. The second is the chemical imbalance theory, which proposes that certain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine are out of order, and medications are required for life to correct this imbalance.

This is where Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic comes in. Many people seek out chiropractic care for physical ailments, such as chronic neck or back pain. They may not even know they have ADHD, but will soon discover that a lot of times neurological challenges actually stem from these physical ailments.

Contrary to popular belief, the number one cause of ADHD is not bad genetics or bad chemistry. It’s actually imbalanced neurology.

The True Root Cause – Imbalanced Neurology

Our nervous system has two sides – the gas pedal fight or flight side and the brake pedal parasympathetic side. When the fight or flight side is overstimulated, it can lead to ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, and emotional dysregulation. This is because ADHD is a subtype that is impulsive or hyperactive in nature. 

However, the other side of the nervous system called the parasympathetic side, is also known as the “brake pedal.” This side of the nervous system is responsible for rest, relaxation, focus, following directions, and emotional control. Unfortunately, for children with ADHD, this side of the nervous system is underactive, and their gas pedal side is overactive.

Early Stressors Affect Neurology

So why does this happen? During the first few years of life, the brain is highly plastic and moldable. If a child experiences a lot of stress during this critical period, it can wreak havoc on the brainstem and nervous system. This stress can begin all the way back to pregnancy, labor, delivery, and birth interventions resulting in birth trauma. Furthermore, if a child experiences early-life stressors such as a lot of antibiotics or challenges, it can shift the neurology and hardwire the brain to be excessively in sympathetic overdrive.

When the nervous system is in this overdrive state, it creates an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are responsible for transmitting messages within the nervous system. This imbalance leads to the classic symptoms of ADHD. 

I have had the opportunity to discuss the real neurological differences between the gas and brake pedals of the brain with traditional medical doctors. This phenomenon is not merely a theory but a scientifically-backed explanation for ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing disorders, and other related conditions. 

While chemical imbalances are present in these cases, they are not the root cause but rather a secondary effect. The chemicals involved are meant to regulate the nervous system, which in turn responds to stimuli with either a fight or flight response. In the case of individuals with ADHD, their nervous system is wired to respond with an excessive urge to move, talk, or engage in risky behaviors. This is where the neurotransmitters come into play – responding to the nervous system’s signals. 

Therefore, while the chemical imbalance theory is not inaccurate, it is incomplete as it fails to address the underlying neurological differences that lead to these behaviors.

Air Traffic Control – The Autonomic Nervous System

There is something deeper, the true root cause of these chemical imbalances in children lies in an imbalance in the central or autonomic nervous system, which is often caused by early stressors a child experiences. While genetics may play a small role, the stressful and toxic environment we live in today affects our children earlier than ever before, leading to what we call the Perfect Storm theory.

But here’s the good news: by rebalancing and restoring function to the nervous system, we can address the true root cause of these imbalances using neurologically-focused chiropractic care. By focusing on the central nervous system, we can reactivate and wake up the “brake pedal” side of the nervous system, which is responsible for calming and regulating the body.

In PX Doc offices all across the world, we have developed a unique set of care protocols for children with neurological challenges, regardless of their specific diagnosis. We are not interested in simply treating or curing ADHD; our focus is on addressing the cause of the symptoms. We do this by using an adjusting protocol system that activates the parasympathetic side of the nervous system, which can help with concentration and calming.

The length and frequency of our neurologically focused chiropractic care plan depends on the severity and duration of a child’s nervous system challenges. We work with each family to create a customized care plan that will help their child achieve optimal nervous system function.

In order for your child’s brain and nervous system to calm down and function at their best, this care plan is necessary. It is commonly known as neurologically focused restoration chiropractic care. If your child is struggling in school with failing grades, a fried brain, and an inability to concentrate or sleep, and ADHD seems to be getting the better of them – there is HOPE. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic care can turn their ADHD into a superpower. 

I believe that every child with ADHD has so much potential. They possess a unique brain and drive that when properly harnessed, can be a superpower.

The world needs more raging bulls. But for those kids who are always on the go, it’s important that they have the ability to slow down and take corners more smoothly when needed. 

Chiropractic care is a drug-free option that addresses the root cause of your child’s ADHD. By activating their brake pedal system and regulating their central nervous system, we can also regulate their chemistry, physiology, and overall body function. It’s a transformative approach that can help children of any age and severity.

I encourage you to learn more about this approach by checking out our PX Docs website, where we have an informative article that goes deep into ADHD. Additionally, we offer an ADHD test using a piece of technology called the INSiGHT scans, which can measure the amount of gas pedal versus brake pedal and provide insight into your child’s unique challenges.

It’s frustrating that traditional medicine often lacks a complete understanding of the chemical theory behind ADHD and doesn’t offer a test for it. At our office, we believe in providing measurable results, and our ADHD test does just that.

Welcome, dads! There is no doubt a lot of hustle and grind of being a busy dad. So, I want to talk about the common tendency to accept poor health as just a part of being a dad. It’s not. We need to take care of ourselves so we can set a good example for our kids.

It’s easy to make jokes and accept the “dad bod” and all the health challenges that come with it. But ignoring these issues and relying on prescription drugs to treat them is not the answer.  

We want to break the cycle of accepting poor health as normal because you’re stressed and worn out. 

We know that our kids don’t always listen to what we say, but they definitely emulate our actions and habits. The truth is, if we don’t prioritize our health, we’re setting a bad example for them. When it comes to our health, our kids can either follow our bad habits or learn from our good ones. We want to help you set a good example for your family by taking care of yourself. That’s why Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is so important.

The Ripple Effect

I know some of you may be skeptical of chiropractic care, but I can assure you that it is backed up by science and clinical experience. Chances are you’re feeling burnt out, in pain, and exhausted all the time. You know what you should be doing to take care of yourself, but you just can’t seem to find the energy to do it. 

I don’t need to come in and try to be a mindset coach, nutritionist or exercise coach. But I do need to be real with you. The truth is, when we’re stressed and exhausted, our brain shifts into protective mode, making it difficult to make good decisions for our health.

In today’s fast-paced world, our nervous system is often caught in a loop of anxiety and ADHD. Our brain, as the master controller of our body, determines our ability to make sound decisions and take action. However, when we lack the energy to exercise or engage in healthy activities, our brains tend to opt for instant gratification like indulging in sugary treats and lounging on the couch. This can create a Perfect Storm for dads who find themselves increasingly burdened by their health.

As dads, we often get buried under the weight of our responsibilities and neglect our own health in the process. But the good news is that getting healthy is actually much simpler for men than it is for the amazing people that really run our lives, moms. By taking things in the right order and doing things in the right sequence, you can get healthy way easier than you think.

When dads prioritize their health, it has a ripple effect on the entire family. Studies show that when dads are active, fit, and healthy, it changes everything for the family. Your children will see the importance of taking care of their health and follow your lead.

The Role of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic

So, where do you start? The first step is actually getting adjusted. I know what you might be thinking, “Of course you’re going to say that, you’re a chiropractor!” But let me explain the science behind it by explaining a dad scan to you.

Before we begin chiropractic care with any of our patients, including dads, we start by getting a baseline test called an INSiGHT scan. This measures the health of your nervous system and gives us an exact blueprint as to why you may be experiencing constant pain or exhaustion. It’s like a cheat code to get you healthy.

The EMG Scan

I want to dive into a recent dad scan from our practice. There are three main things to notice. The first is the colors on the EMG, which measures neuromuscular tension or physical tension and exhaustion. The first thing you’ll see is that nearly all dads have way too much tension stuck in their neck, shoulders, and low back. This is why they often complain of neck pain, headaches at the base of their skull, or low back issues.

Problem number two on the EMG scan is the yellow, which is the opposite of red, and means weak core. If you’re like most dads today, you probably have a desk job that keeps you sitting for hours on end. This sedentary lifestyle can wreak havoc on your nervous system, particularly in the mid-thoracic area. This area of the spine is where your adrenals are located – the stress and protective glands of your body.

Dads are actually designed by God to be in charge of protection, so by nature are supposed to have extra energy. They’re supposed to have this extra drive, fortitude, neuromuscular, get after it and handle stuff for their family.

But when your nervous system becomes exhausted in this area, it can lead to adrenal exhaustion, leaving you feeling burnt out. Your neuromuscular system plays a crucial role in your ability to exercise effectively. If your nervous system is stressed out and worn out, as is often the case for busy dads, you’re going to have a hard time finding the energy, flexibility, and mobility you need to work out safely and consistently. In fact, pushing yourself too hard in this state can lead to injury and setbacks.

That’s where chiropractic care comes in. 

By focusing on the health of your nervous system, chiropractors can help you lay a strong foundation for better fitness, nutrition, and mental health. 

During the first 30 to 90 days of chiropractic care, your chiropractor will work to make adjustments that reduce tension, activate your core, and energize your nervous system. 

All you need to do is show up for your appointments and let them do the rest. Chiropractic care is the ultimate health hack for dads because it takes the pressure off of you to do everything on your own. 

The HRV Scan

The second scan we look at is the HRV scan. The little white dot on the scan represents the dad’s stress level, and as you move towards the lower left, it indicates increasing levels of stress and exhaustion. This constant tension in the shoulders, low back, core, and adrenals can cause exhaustion throughout the body and nervous system. While exercise, supplements, and diet can help alleviate some symptoms, chiropractic care is the only solution that addresses the root cause of stress.

My goal is to let you know that there is a way out of the vicious cycle of stress, exhaustion, and feeling like crap. Getting healthy and active is possible with chiropractic care, which is a part of the family health system. It is the most effective solution for dads who want to regain their energy and get healthy.

Give Us a Call – Today! 

If you’re not sure where to start, begin by giving us a call to set up your baseline scan. If you aren’t local to us, find a PX doctor’s office near you that uses similar technology. Many dads make two mistakes when it comes to their health. They either don’t start at all or try to take on everything at once. 

At our office, we’ll work with you to create a customized plan based on your scan and consultation to get you healthy step by step. The first step is getting your energy or mojo back through chiropractic care. 

We believe that every dad deserves to feel healthy, vibrant, and full of energy. By simply getting connected, receiving a consultation, and getting a scan, you can begin to transform your health and become the energetic dad that you’ve always wanted to be.

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and feel exhausted all the time. But you don’t have to be that dad anymore. You can take charge of your health and create a better future for yourself and your family. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

So, dads, let’s get after it and prioritize our health this summer. Together, we can create a healthier and happier future for ourselves and our families.

Hey parents, I want to talk about sleep today… or should I say lack of sleep. Let’s discuss the importance of sleep for your child’s health and well-being. Sleep is crucial for the immune, digestive, and cognitive systems of children. It impacts their social-emotional maturation and development. It is alarming to know that almost 50% of kids have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Not enough people are talking about this! 

Lack of sleep causes irritability, difficulty focusing, and decreased energy levels. These challenges are even more severe for children as their brain is still developing and learning to regulate emotions, focus, and behavior.

Did you know that the brain builds more neurons and connections during sleep in the first couple of years of life than later in life? 

During sleep, the brain repairs, recharges, and prepares for the next day. It’s essential for brain development and learning. Unfortunately, it’s common to see parents and children struggling with exhaustion, leading to unhealthy habits like excessive caffeine consumption in adults and behavior struggles in kids..

As a neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractor, I prioritize improving the sleep quality of my patients. We must address sleep as a primary concern. That’s why the popular tagline, “America runs on Dunkin,” is concerning. It’s exposing a significant problem with our culture’s addiction to caffeine, Starbucks, and energy drinks because we aren’t getting enough sleep!

We need to prioritize healthy sleep habits for our children and teenagers, as they need it most during this time of brain development and learning.

So what I want to do is help you get to the root cause of your child’s sleep challenges and sleep disorders. This information is relevant to families with infants, little ones, grade schoolers, teenagers, and even for you, mom and dad, if your sleep is not great either. If you have tried everything from magnesium, melatonin, essential oils, diffusers, lavender, probiotics, every white noise machine, and blackout curtains and are still not able to get your child to sleep, I promise you that this one thing I’m about to dive into is the missing link.

The Correlation Between Neurological Disorders and Sleep

I am an expert in pediatric chiropractic care with experience in helping sleep challenges in kiddos. Our practice specializes in treating colic, indigestion, neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Autism, TBI, anxiety, ADHD, sensory, and other spectrum disorders. We have found that the very first thing that we need to address in the case history of those kiddos is their struggle with sleep.

Whether we are working with brand new little babies or older kiddos struggling with some very serious life-affecting challenges, the very first thing we need to work on is sleep. As pediatric chiropractors, we focus on the root cause rather than just treating symptoms. Our obsession is to help your child get a good night’s sleep and, in turn, help them improve their motor planning, speech, behavior, and emotional well-being.

The Root Cause of Sleep Challenges

Lean in with me because I want to explain what may be causing your child’s sleep challenges and what we can do to help. This may get a bit deep into neurology, but I will keep it simple. Falling asleep and staying asleep both come from the same problem – an overactive, overstressed, overstimulated sympathetic fight or flight nervous system. During the day, it’s normal for our bodies to be on the gas pedal, with the nervous system being a little bit more fight or flighty as we go through our daily activities.

However, as nighttime approaches, our body’s central and autonomic nervous system senses our circadian rhythms and starts to activate what’s called the parasympathetic system. This is nicknamed the rest, sleep, and digestion side of the nervous system, and it’s the opposite of the fight or flight system. The parasympathetic nervous system helps us wind down and prepare for restful sleep.

Unfortunately, when children experience early life stressors such as birth interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, C-sections, or induction, they may experience physical trauma to the nerves and muscles in the brainstem and upper cervical spine. This area of the body houses and protects a very important nerve called the vagus nerve, which is in charge of rest and digest functions.

The vagus nerve branches from the brainstem area, makes its way through the neck and into the thorax, and helps calm our heart rate and respiration, as well as activate digestion. It also goes into our social, emotional, and cognitive functions, slowing the brain down when it’s activated. If the vagus nerve is not functioning properly, children may struggle to shut their brains and bodies down, causing restlessness and difficulty sleeping.

This is a sign of vagus nerve dysfunction, also known as subluxation, which is simply our chiropractic term for stress stuck on the brake pedal with the vagus nerve shut down. We frequently see this in children who have suffered physical trauma to the upper neck at birth or in accidents, as well as those who experience constant pressure and tension on their neck and shoulders due to activities such as looking down at their phone or working on a computer for extended periods of time.

This issue, commonly referred to as “tech neck,” is a major contributing factor to why children’s nervous systems may become stuck on sympathetic fight or flight overdrive, preventing the brake pedal (parasympathetic nervous system) from functioning properly.

How Can Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Help?

As pediatric chiropractors focused on neurological care, we prioritize the consultation and case history to understand your child’s challenges better. From colic to sleep issues to sensory and behavioral challenges, we recognize that these issues often stem from an overactive sympathetic fight or flight system and a vagus nerve brake pedal shutdown. 

These issues can lead to cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and brain-based challenges.

At the core of our care is our unique approach to adjustments, called neuro-tonal adjustments, that activate the vagus nerve and the rest and digest system. Our goal in the first week, month, and 100 days of chronic issues is to activate the vagus nerve and restore basic building blocks of health, like sleep.

Our approach to care has led to regular and common improvements in sleep and overall health, as reported by 65% of our patients within the first month. Improvements in sleep lead to improved mood, cognition, gut health, and more. This is especially true for older children with neurological challenges. These results are as common as they come in our PX Docs offices.

We recognize that healing happens in the order in which children get sick and that issues with sleep, digestion, and immunity are all under the control of the nervous system and the vagus nerve. By addressing the sympathetic fight or flight subluxation and reducing stress and noise, we can restore the function of the vagus nerve and the rest and digest system.

If you’ve tried other approaches without success, we believe that neurologically focused chiropractic care may be the missing link for your child’s health. We invite you to learn more about our approach and how it can benefit your child’s health.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s sleep, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

If your child has experienced physical trauma during birth or has had a difficult start, they may be stuck in a fight or flight mode. Our INSiGHT neurological testing can measure the amount of stress on your child’s nervous system and determine if their vagus nerve is dysfunctional or shut down. This will give you the answers you need to help your child get the restful sleep they need.

I know it’s common for parents and kids to be exhausted and emotional, but it’s not normal. 

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is the best solution for sleep challenges in children, more effective than other natural remedies like magnesium or melatonin. If you’ve tried everything and are still struggling with sleep issues, we encourage you to reach out to our office today.

Getting your child the sleep they need is essential for their overall health and well-being. Once your child is sleeping well, the whole family will benefit from better sleep and improved mood. Please share this information with other families who may be struggling with sleep challenges. We are here to provide hope, answers, and drug-free help