Common childhood maladies like colic and acid reflux can be treated in an unexpected way — with chiropractic care. People may not often think of children when they think of the kinds of patients who seek out chiropractors, but chiropractic care can help treat early
childhood injuries and conditions before they become a problem later in life.
We spoke with Dr. James Goodge, a third-generation chiropractor, sports injury specialist and doctor at Randour Chiropractic Clinics, with locations in McDonald and Carnegie, about the benefits of pediatric chiropractic care and how it’s used to treat early childhood injuries and sports injuries.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
What are some common reasons that parents seek out chiropractic care for children?
I always tell my patients who are pregnant, “After you have your baby, just bring your baby in with you for your next appointment, and just let me examine it to make sure that everything’s OK.” Birth is probably one of the most traumatic things we go through. Delivering a baby is a traumatic process and can be tough on a baby’s spine. It’s good for the infant to get checked right away.
The second thing is that if a baby does have a minor physical injury occur, it can usually be corrected. Chiropractic treatment for these problems early on makes them less likely to become a chronic condition later in life for the child.
What are some of the benefits [of] early chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care can help support a child’s overall health and development. By keeping the spine and nervous system functioning well, it can improve how the body communicates and responds to stress. A healthy nervous system supports a stronger immune system.
Chiropractic care can be a painful experience. How do you make it more approachable for younger patients?
How painful it is really depends on the patient. Kids and babies don’t have the muscles we have as adults, and they don’t have arthritis or conditions older adults have. It’s a lot easier to adjust them, because you don’t have to use as much force.
If I could work on elementary to high school kids only, my job would be a breeze. They’re the easiest group to fix because they respond so well. It’s an older person who’s had a back problem for 10 years that’s more challenging to fix.
How does chiropractic care help with early childhood issues like colic and acid reflux?
One of the main things we see with kids is [colic symptoms from a misaligned] upper cervical (neck) area. During delivery, a baby’s head and neck can experience traction or pressure as they’re guided through the birth canal, which can also cause some upper neck problems. Adjusting colicky babies helps to calm them down.
With acid reflux, there’s an area between the shoulder blades that has nerves that go directly down to the stomach. When you have a pinched nerve there, it can lead to excessive production of acid. Chiropractic care can help with this issue.
You offer sports chiropractic services as well. What kinds of sports injuries necessitate seeking out chiropractic treatment? How does it help heal those injuries?
My cousin, Dr. Adam Robison, and I actually went through a program to become sports-certified chiropractors. One thing I like about treating athletes is that we’ll see a lot of high school -aged kids, which we normally don’t see in a [chiropractor’s] office very often. We see a lot of extremity issues, like injuries to ankles, wrists and shoulders that we can adjust.
The other thing we see is concussions in kids who play contact sports like football. Like I said, adjusting the upper cervical area of the neck helps to take that pressure off the nervous system, which helps the brain heal faster.
