The Importance of Chiropractic Care for Children: Insights from Major Bertrand De Jarnette and Sacral & Occipital Region
importance of Sacral and occipital region in human spine
Major Bertrand De Jarnette, the founder of the Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), recognized the critical role chiropractic care plays in the health of children early in his career. While the SOT system is designed for patients of all ages, its sophistication and safety make it particularly well-suited for pediatric care.
Understanding Birth-Related Traumas
During the birth process, infants' spinal cords and nervous systems can be subjected to various injuries. Beyond these birth-related traumas, children may experience several micro or macro-traumas that can impair their nervous system, including:
Sports Injuries
Auto Accidents
Falls
Traumatic Emotional Events
Food Sensitivities and Reactivity (Viscerosomatic Response)
Toxic Environments
Drug Exposure
The Significance of Spinal Health
Maintaining optimal spinal and nervous system function is crucial for overall health and well-being. Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments can provide several benefits, such as:
Enhanced Circulation: Increases blood supply to the brain.
Improved Neurological Function: Balances the autonomic nervous system.
Better Motor Balance: Reduces impairments affecting reaction times.
Decreased Muscle Spasms: Alleviates excessive signaling from intervertebral muscles, altering how the central nervous system (CNS) responds to stimuli.
Activation of Neurological Pathways: Coordinates specific pathways for improved function.
Increased Nerve Response: Enhances overall nerve responsiveness.
Reduced Nerve Facilitation: Decreases hyperirritability within the nervous system.
Improved Neural Inputs: Increases the quality and quantity of inputs to the CNS.
Balanced Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Movement: Enhances CSF flow throughout the CNS.
Strengthened Immune Function: Boosts the immune system's effectiveness.
Genetic Resilience: Raises the threshold for negative genetic predispositions.
Restoration of Basal Metabolic Rates (BMR): Normalizes metabolic function.
Enhanced Adaptive Responses: Increases individual thresholds for stress and adaptability.
Chiropractic adjustments can effectively "reboot" the nervous system, resetting abnormal neurological patterns and promoting healthier responses through neuroplasticity.
The Need for Early Intervention
Birth-related spinal cord injuries are often underdiagnosed. Severe injuries can result in immediate death, while incomplete injuries may lead to neonatal death or survival with lasting effects. Commonly affected areas include the upper cervical spine and cervicothoracic junction, although multiple spinal levels can be involved.
As children develop, reactive neurological stress patterns can create compensatory mechanisms that enable them to interact with their environment but often result in suboptimal function. These compensations can lead to decreased functional capability, impaired adaptive responses, and overall diminished health.
The Opportunity for Correction
In children, there is a unique opportunity to identify and correct primary subluxations before degenerative or compensatory patterns develop. While adults can benefit from chiropractic care, addressing long-standing subluxation complexes and their compensatory patterns often requires more time and effort.
Conclusion: Unlocking Human Potential through Chiropractic Care
The ultimate expression of human potential is realized through the benefits of chiropractic adjustments. By prioritizing spinal health in children, we can help ensure optimal development and well-being for future generations. Emphasizing early intervention and the advantages of the Sacro Occipital region in the human spine can lead to healthier lives and improved overall health outcomes. By investing in chiropractic care, we empower children to thrive physically and neurologically, setting the stage for a brighter, healthier future.
