As the kiddos venture back to school in the weeks ahead, the co-mingling of exciting summer stories and freshly cultivated germs will begin once again. Especially as we migrate into the Fall months and temperatures begin to drop we will no doubt see the potential of ear infections, sinus infections, and upper respiratory infections sharply rise.
So can chiropractic really help with a reduction in these occurrences? Or are the success stories regarding chiropractic care, ear infections, and upper respiratory infections merely anecdotal? For all you parents out there, here is the evidence you’ve been looking for! The following study comes from one of my favorite publications, How to Have Well Adjusted Babies, written by Dr. Jennifer Barham-Floreani.
Published Case Study:
An eighteen-year study of 4600 cases of upper respiratory infections in a core group of 100 families found that when spinal motion was restricted by spinal misalignments in the upper neck area, ear infections occurred. Furthermore, when these misalignments were resolved through chiropractic adjustments restoring the spinal motion, the ensuing infection was typically arrested and it did not progress.
The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics
The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics discusses five case studies of pediatric patients with chronic recurrent otitis media. All five cases had previously received regular medical care that had unsuccessfully resolved the chief complaint of recurrent ear infections. Each patient reported excellent outcomes after chiropractic adjustments were delivered, thus resulting in no further ear infection.
The Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics
Another study published in The Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics examined the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments for ear infections. A study was performed on 46 children aged 5 years and under, resulting in the improvement of 93% of the episodes of ear infections. 75% of the 46 children studied saw improvement within 10 days or fewer and 43% within only one or two treatments.
When Dr. Joan Fallon, a Frisco chiropractor, and clinical researcher, was asked to comment on these findings she was quoted as saying, “Chiropractic care mobilizes drainage of the ear in children. If the ear continues to drain without a build-up of fluid and subsequent infection, children will continue to accumulate their own antibodies and recover quickly. Once they fight the infection themselves, children tend to do very well and stay away from ear infections completely. Unless there are environmental factors like smoking in the home, an irregular shaped Eustachian tube, or something clinically similar, they generally do very well.”
In my personal life, I have seen my son Benjamin (Benny) thrive as a result of chiropractic care. I adjusted him for the very first time when he was an hour and a half old…without a doubt, one of the most special experiences of my life. He gets adjusted several times per week; laughing and giggling every time. I’m proud to report that Benny is now 16 months old and has yet to be sick one time, whether it be ear infections or upper respiratory infections!
Contact Taylor Family Chiropractic
If your family is tired of dealing with recurrent ear infections or upper respiratory infections, call us now so that we can help! Let Dr. Taylor and the staff at Taylor Family Chiropractic (214)387-7883 make this return to the school year one of the BEST YET!!
1.) Barham-Floreani, J. (2009). How to Have Well Adjusted Babies. 2nd Edition. South Melbourne: Well Adjusted Pty Ltd. Page 488-489.