Increasing Number of Children Receive Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors offer a drug-free approach to common childhood ailments,
complement pediatricians.

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A growing number of parents
are adding pediatric chiropractic care as an integrative component of their
children's health care regimen.

Survey data indicates that the percentage of chiropractic patients under 17
years of age has increased at least 8.5 percent since 1991, says the American
Chiropractic Association. Further, a recent Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention study indicated that nearly 3 percent of children in the United
States were treated with chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation in 2007,
making it the most common form of doctor-directed complementary or alternative
medicine used by children.

According to Elise Hewitt, DC, a Portland-area doctor of chiropractic and
president of the American Chiropractic Association's Pediatrics Council,
chiropractic care isn't just for adults. Infants and children can benefit from
spinal manipulation and other forms of chiropractic care just as much as their
parents and grandparents.

"It's very important that a child have both a pediatrician and a pediatric
chiropractor. A pediatric chiropractor is not there to replace the role of the
pediatrician," says Dr. Hewitt. "The pediatrician provides medications when
necessary and delivers care in times of serious illness and injury. A
pediatric chiropractor is there for preventative wellness care and maintenance
of the child's structure. The two are very complementary."

Studies are beginning to show that chiropractic can help children not only
with typical back and neck pain complaints, but also with issues as varied as
asthma, chronic ear infections, nursing difficulties, colic and bedwetting.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a highly skilled treatment, and in the
case of children, very gentle. Doctors of chiropractic -- commonly referred to
as chiropractors -- practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care
that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Following their
undergraduate education, doctors of chiropractic obtain a four-year degree
consisting of more than 4,500 hours of study and clinical experience.
Pediatric specialists receive additional post-doctorate training.

"The vast majority of parents report that their children enjoy their
chiropractic adjustments and look forward to subsequent visits. They also
report that their children experience a greater level of health while under
regular chiropractic care," Dr. Hewitt notes.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the nation's leading
chiropractic organization representing more than 15,000 doctors of
chiropractic and their patients. To find a chiropractor near you, visit the
ACA's searchable member database at www.acatoday.org/DocSearch.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Elise Hewitt:
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=85746

SOURCE American Chiropractic Association

Angela Kargus of American Chiropractic Association, +1-757-253-1676,
akargus@acatoday.org