Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system, which causes swelling and narrowing of the airways. Pediatric asthma refers to asthma in children. The normal treatments  are inhalers, steroid medication, and nebulizers. These medications simply help to control symptoms, however they do not treat the cause. This means that those with asthma who control their disease with the current treatments will not get any better but will simply manage each attack as it comes, and in many cases get worse over the years.Pediatric Chiropractic and adult chiropractic care has historically been used to treat the cause of asthma. With Pediatric Chiropractic adjustments using manual or activator techniques, the nerves that control function to the lungs and the entire respiratory system are relieved of all tension and interference caused by misalignments of the spine. When the nerves are able to work at 100%, the respiratory system is able to function much more effectively.

 

 

A study published in the November / December 2000 issue of Today's Chiropractic gives some insight into the use of chiropractic in combating asthma. Forty seven patients were observed for a two year period.  They had been medically diagnosed with persistent asthma ranging from mild persistent in 11 cases, moderate persistent in 28 cases, to severe persistent in 8 cases.  The care rendered consisted of specific pediatric chiropractic and adult chiropractic  adjustments.  The range of visits was from 14 to 44, withthe average being 26 during the study period. All 47 of the study patients showed "a marked improvement ranging from 87 to 100 percent." Their symptoms improved as well as a decrease in  their usage of acute asthma attack medication. Even more impressive was the fact that all of the patients in the study reported maintaining their improvement after a two-year follow up. 

 

 

There is a strong link between people who suffer from childhood asthma and nerve interference from subluxation. Subluxations are when bones in the spine pressure or irritate nerves causing abnormal nerve function. 

 

An article published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (Vol. 1 No. 4) showed positive effects of pediatric chiropractic care on 81 children with asthma. It concluded that "Based upon information currently available, pediatric chiropractic care represents a safe non-pharmacological health care approach, that may be associated with a decrease in asthma-related impairment, reduced respiratory effort, and a decrease incidence of asthma attacks. The correction of vertebral subluxation could reduce or eliminate the need for medication, and potentially ease the severity of the asthmatic condition."

 

 

This was verified in another study. In a study conducted in 1996 by the Michigan Chiropractic Council (MCC), a panel of doctors performed an out-come assessment study to test the qualitative and quantitative effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic care on children with asthma. There was an overwhelming interest in the study. More than 500 parents called the MCC seeking to get their child involved in the pediatric chiropractic study.The study, which took place during May and June of 1996, examined the pediatric chiropractic effectiveness in correcting the cause of asthma in patients from birth to age 17. The average age of the participant was 10 years.  After 30 days of pediatric chiropractic health care, patients averaged only one attack, whereas prior to the study they were experiencing more than four attacks.  Medications were decreased by nearly 70 percent. Patient satisfaction was rated 8.5 on a scale of 10.  More than 70 pediatric chiropractors from 62 cities in Michigan participated in the study involving more than 80 children suffering from asthma.

 

 

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association cites several studies when coming to the following conclusion discussing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma:  

 

 

Mesa, & Queen Creek

Female Chiropractor