Dr. Brad Butler, D.C., Clinical Director at Oakland Spine & Physical Therapy, has received extensive post-graduate training in Chiropractic Newborn/Pregnancy Care by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, and is an active I.C.P.A. member. His dedication to treating the whole body and the whole patient begins with active pre-natal and post partum care and extends through specialized care for the particular concerns of mothers, infants, and children.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy puts extra stress on every part of the mother’s body, including her joints and central nervous system. So many systems of the body change rapidly during pregnancy, and these changes can result in a misaligned spine or joint. Conditions can include increased sway in the back, pelvic bone alterations, and stressful changes in posture. If the pelvis is not properly aligned, it can restrict space available for the growing baby, and it may make properly positioning difficult when time for delivery approaches.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy can maintain the health of the mother, decrease her nausea, ease labor and delivery, and relieve back, neck, and joint pain. It is particularly helpful in reducing the incidence of breech births and Cesarean section, and can greatly relieve pain and discomfort when the child descends into the birth canal prior to the beginning of labor.

Attention Deficit Disorder

Parents of a child diagnosed with ADD or ADHD often don’t know where to turn for help. Is the diagnosis is accurate? Does the child learn in a different way, or have undiagnosed dyslexia? Are they bored in class, or not be able to adjust to a particular teacher’s style of teaching?

Children with ADHD present with tics, tremors, balance problems, and very high sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and movement. Many chiropractors and chiropractic neurologists believe that an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system leads to an imbalance in the way brain hemispheres grow, and that this is the root cause of ADHD. Chiropractors offer drug-free treatments for children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, which include specialized sensory therapies, spinal manipulation, and balance and postural exercises. Nutritional and lifestyle guidance are also essential to drug-free management of ADD/ADHD, and may include removal of additives, chemicals, and preservatives from the child’s diet, as well as detection and treatment of food and environmental allergies.

Bedwetting

Bedwetting (the involuntary passage of urine during sleep) beyond the age of 5 is considered a disorder that needs to be addressed. This condition is still not well understood; it has been proposed that it may be due to immature sleep patterns, small bladder capacity, nerve interference, or psychogenic factors. Chiropractic studies have shown that bedwetting resolves when spinal subluxations (imbalances) and their resultant nerve interference are resolved through spinal manipulation.

Subluxations are common among children – they are very active and their bones are growing rapidly, so the risk of spinal misalignment in childhood is high. Chiropractic adjustment of these subluxations frees nerve communication from the brain, and has been proven effective in eliminating the problem of bedwetting.
Parents can help during treatment for bedwetting by avoiding scolding, waking the child during sleep, or restricting fluids. Emotional support and encouraging the child to participate in their treatment are positive, effective strategies.

Colic

Colic is inconsolable crying in an infant. Studies have shown that the likely reason for colic is over stimulation of the child’s nervous system, which results in overreaction to stimuli (light, sound, touch) and intestinal problems including excessive spitting up, gas, and intestinal pain. Any parent of a colicky baby will tell you they’ll do just about anything to give their baby relief from their discomfort.

Chiropractic manipulation has been proven time and time again to be extremely effective in treating infant colic. Removing spinal imbalances and encouraging healthy autonomic nervous system function can vastly reduce colic symptoms and often completely eliminate them in the vast majority of babies. Parents can also be trained in special colic release techniques they can use at home.

Chronic Ear Infections (Chronic Otitis Media)

Ear pain is the most common reason for children’s visits to their chiropractor, and is responsible for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Many chiropractors feel that vertebrae in the neck can be misaligned during the birthing process, which can interfere with spinal nerve function and result in the buildup of fluid in the middle ear. Chiropractic manipulation promotes drainage of the ear, which encourages the child’s body to build their own antibodies and recover more quickly.

Chiropractic adjustment can break the vicious cycle of pediatrician’s visits and multiple antibiotic prescriptions to treat otitis media. A study in the Journal of Clinical Pediatrics showed a strong relationship between chiropractic care and the resolution of ear infections. In this study, approximately 80% of children with otitis media were given a series of chiropractic adjustments, and 6 months after their initial visits these children did not develop another ear infection.