Chiropractic for Chronic Ear Infections

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Chiropractic for Chronic Ear Infections

By Jane Sheppard

 

What is Chiropractic?

 

More and more parents are beginning to look to chiropractors to

complement their children's health care. Chiropractic care involves

diagnosing spinal misalignments and correcting them by adjusting the

spine. A slight pressure is most commonly used with children rather than

the more forceful manipulation sometimes used with adults.

Chiropractors attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem

rather than just treat the symptoms. Misalignments of the spine (also

called subluxations) can occur during childbirth, from tumbles or falls,

or from any other normal activity. Chiropractors maintain that

misalignments left untreated can irritate the nerves and eventually

disrupt the body's ability to function properly. The purpose of a

chiropractic adjustment is to help to restore the normal functioning of

the nervous system so the body can heal itself without the use of drugs

or surgery.

 

Ear Infections and Chiropractic

 

Ear pain is the number one reason for child visits to chiropractors.

Many chiropractors believe that there is a strong link between the

birthing process and recurrent ear infection, also known as otitis

media. During the birthing process, cervical (neck) vertebrae can become

misaligned, disrupting nerve function, which can affect the eustachian

tube. This may lead to fluid buildup in the middle ear and cause otitis

media.

 

Ear infection or otitis media accounts for over 35% of all pediatrician

visits in the United States. Antibiotics, the usual treatment, are not

always effective and may even lead to a recurrence of ear infections.

Many children are dealing with a continuing cycle of repeat ear

infections, which lands them back at the pediatrician for more

antibiotics. For nearly 100 years, the chiropractic profession has

claimed that ear and other upper respiratory infections respond

favorably to chiropractic adjustments, though there has been little

research done to support this claim.

 

A promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic

Pediatrics now indicates that there is a strong correlation between

chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. 332

children with chronic ear infections participated in the study. Each

child, ranging in age from 27 days to 5 years, was given a series of

chiropractic adjustments. The results show that close to 80% of the

children did not experience another ear infection within the six-month

period following their initial visits. The six-month period included

maintenance treatments every four to six weeks. Joan M. Fallon, D.C.,

the author of the study and the chiropractor who treated the children in

the study, states that this pilot study can serve as a starting point

from which the chiropractic profession can begin to examine its role in

the treatment of children with chronic ear infections. She asserts that

large-scale clinical trials need to be undertaken in the field.

 

Side Effects of Chiropractic

 

Even though this study is not definitive and more scientific research

needs to be done in this area, chiropractic treatment is a conservative,

drugless approach to consider trying if your child has a history of

chronic ear infections. Under normal circumstances, chiropractic

adjustments are painless and will not hurt your child. There are no

invasive procedures and chiropractors do not use drugs that can have

harmful side effects.

 

Serious side effects from spinal adjustments appear to be rare. A recent

article in Integrative Medicine reported the low risk of serious

complications from neck and low back adjustments. According to the

literature review, the estimated risk for serious complications from

neck adjustments is 6.39 per 10 million adjustments. For low back

adjustments, it is 1 per 100 million adjustments.

 

Pediatric Chiropractic Care

 

Some chiropractors belong to the International Chiropractors

Association`s (ICA) pediatric council and take regular continuing

post-graduate courses in pediatrics. ICA points out that chiropractic is

meant to complement, not replace, traditional pediatric care and

chiropractors are trained to make referrals to pediatricians when

necessary. So in creating your child's holistic health care team,

consider chiropractic as a safe, non-invasive addition.

 

Related Article: Ear Infections: Alternative Solutions

 

Fallon JM. The Role of the Chiropractic Adjustment in the Care and

Treatment of 332 Children with Otitis Media. Journal of Clinical

Chiropractic Pediatrics. 1997; Volume 2, No. 2:167-183.

Coulter ID. Efficacy and Risks of Chiropractic Manipulation: What Does

the Evidence Suggest? Integrative Medicine 1998;1:61-66.

 

Use the information provided in this database as an educational resource

for determining your options and making your own informed choices. It is

not intended as medical advice or to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any

specific illness. If there is any chance your child is seriously ill,

take him or her to a qualified health professional for evaluation.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/2004 8:48:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

chrisziggy writes:

> Chiropractic for Chronic Ear Infections

 

I've heard CranioSacral Therapy may be helpful for ear infections as well.

 

Teresea C.