There are some in the chiropractic profession who do not see any need to check and adjust the spines of children for vertebral subluxations. They are probably not only on a different page from those of you who are reading this; they are more than likely not even in the same book. I would like to encourage thought and as a result, action, by those of you who see the value of chiropractic for everyone regardless of age or the size of their spine. Let’s not forget the children! Let’s remember the amazing benefits! Let’s not neglect to encourage our adult practice members to bring their children in for regular chiropractic care! I have just recently retired from practice. My former associate, Dr. Judy Campanale, who has taken over my practice, was (and continues to be) a model of how to bring value to children. She has a special gift of demonstrating love to them and she loves children to come in and get their spines checked. One of her adjusting rooms is specifically decorated for children, complete with posters, toys and books that attract them and make them feel welcome. Dr. Judy is always quick to befriend them and find out what is going on in their lives. She encourages them to bring in their pictures and she adds them to the wall.
It is my belief and I have often said, that people may bring their kids into the office and still not understand chiropractic but it’s a sure bet if they don’t bring them in, they don’t understand chiropractic. If they don’t understand chiropractic, we have a big problem… bigger than a few children not getting on the table. If the chiropractor (and the parents) know that chiropractic is good for the children and will bring great benefit to their lives, is it not a form of child abuse to neglect their receiving regular chiropractic care? Are we educating their parents sufficiently so that they want to and insist on their children getting their spines checked?
Regarding chiropractic care for children, there is one more thought that I would like to address. Is it possible that “pediatric chiropractic care,” that is, practices that are devoted solely to or emphasize the care of children, could be a hindrance to the idea that all kids need chiropractic care? That may sound like a silly question, but bear with me. It’s great that there are those in our profession focusing the public’s attention on chiropractic and children, but it seems to me that it just may create two problems. The first is one that I have always had concerns about. Does the idea that chiropractic gets “sick kids well” lead to a therapeutic model for chiropractic? I find that many people who are practicing “pediatric chiropractic” have their attention on sick children in general, and children with childhood diseases, in particular. Does that hurt the objective, non-therapeutic message we want to bring the profession and the public to accept and embrace…that of chiropractic for all, young and old, for life, regardless of any signs or symptoms of a diagnosed disease? Secondly, does the emphasis upon children by the “pediatric chiropractor” affect the non-“pediatric specialist” chiropractor in any way from actively encouraging parents to bring in their children, just as pediatrics has become a specialty in the practice of medicine? When we teach “pediatric chiropractic” on a post-graduate level, are we implying it is not something every chiropractor can and should do? Just something to think about.
I think any type of “specialty” chiropractic practice (weight loss, nutrition, sports, pediatric,etc.) put somewhat of a medical spin on our profession. We are all the same under the chiropractic umbrella – either subluxated or not. Age, size, gender, athletic ability makes no difference. Having a “specialty” practice does add some question to the already confused public about what we do. I thing we should help the public understand the simple principle that if a LIVING CREATURE HAS VERTEBRAE, they should be checked for subluxation. Keeping it all inclusive makes it easier to understand what our objective is.
Well said!