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Surviving Holiday Celebrations When Your Child Has Sensory Overload

Pediatric Chiropractic

Is your child already dreading summer celebrations? Are you anxious about the inevitable meltdowns, tantrums, and tears that seem to accompany every fireworks display or crowded holiday gathering?

If you’re like many parents we meet, you’ve probably tried everything. Noise-canceling headphones, watching fireworks from a distance, or even avoiding celebrations altogether. But what if we told you that these well-meaning strategies only address the symptoms, not the actual root cause of your child’s sensory overload?

The Hidden Truth About Sensory Challenges

Studies show that up to 1 in 6 children struggle with sensory processing challenges. For these kids, events like Fourth of July celebrations aren’t just uncomfortable—they can be genuinely overwhelming and even painful.

But here’s what most physicians aren’t telling you: your child’s extreme reaction to fireworks and celebrations isn’t simply about loud noises or bright lights. It’s often a sign of a deeper neurological imbalance that can be properly addressed, not just managed through avoidance.

Logan’s Story: From Overwhelmed to Thriving

Let us tell you about Logan, a child whose story might sound familiar. For his first few years of life, Logan struggled with such severe sensory overload that his family couldn’t take him anywhere in public. Not grocery shopping, not to restaurants, certainly not to loud events like fireworks displays.

His parents constantly dreaded social gatherings and worried about his future and starting school. Logan’s sensory challenges were so extreme that once, when he cut himself badly, he didn’t even register the pain. He was only bothered by the sensation of blood running down his arm.

Traditional approaches weren’t helping, and his family felt increasingly isolated and hopeless. But today, after receiving neurologically-focused chiropractic care that addressed the root cause of his sensory processing challenges, Logan is a thriving honor roll student who can enjoy family celebrations, including Fourth of July festivities.

His transformation from a child trapped by sensory overload to one who can participate fully in life’s experiences shows what’s possible when we address the real underlying cause rather than just managing the symptoms.

Understanding Your Child’s Nervous System

Sensory overload isn’t just about external triggers like loud noises and bright lights. It’s a sign that your child’s nervous system is stuck in a state of constant “fight or flight,” making normal sensory input feel threatening or overwhelming.

This state, which we call “sympathetic dominance,” means your child’s brain is constantly on high alert. Unable to properly filter and process sensory information from their environment.

What makes the Fourth of July particularly challenging is that it combines multiple intense sensory experiences simultaneously. Loud unexpected noises, bright flashing lights, crowds, unusual smells from sparklers and barbecues, and disrupted routines.

When your child’s nervous system is already struggling to process everyday sensory information, these holiday celebrations can become the perfect storm that pushes them over the edge into complete overload.

The Root Cause: Beyond Symptom Management

The root cause of your child’s sensory challenges is often a condition called dysautonomia. An imbalance between the “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system and the “rest and digest” parasympathetic system.

This imbalance is frequently caused by subluxation, which is essentially interference in the communication between the brain and body. Particularly affecting the vagus nerve—the master controller of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Surprisingly, this subluxation often begins during birth, especially when interventions like C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, or induction are involved. Creating what we call “overlooked and dismissed birth trauma.”

When the vagus nerve is compromised by birth trauma, your child’s nervous system gets stuck in an overactive sympathetic state. Making it nearly impossible for them to naturally calm and regulate themselves.

Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short

Traditional approaches to sensory overload focus primarily on avoidance strategies—skipping fireworks, using noise-canceling headphones, or creating “sensory-friendly” environments.

While these strategies can help in the moment, they don’t address the underlying neurological dysfunction that makes your child hypersensitive in the first place.

Medications that attempt to dampen your child’s responses often come with unwanted side effects and still don’t fix the root neurological imbalance.

Even therapy approaches like sensory integration therapy or occupational therapy, while beneficial, are often less effective if the underlying nervous system dysfunction isn’t addressed first.

A Different Approach: Addressing the Root Cause

At RCW, our approach takes a fundamentally different path by directly addressing the root cause of your child’s sensory challenges—the subluxation and dysautonomia affecting their nervous system.

We start with comprehensive INSiGHT Scans. Particularly the NeuroSpinal EMG Scan, which allows us to measure the exact location and severity of nervous system stress and tension in your child’s body.

These scans help us identify the “nociception” or neurological noise that’s disrupting your child’s ability to process sensory information properly. Creating what we often call “Noisy Brain Syndrome.”

Our precise, gentle adjustments then target these areas of subluxation. Helping to restore balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and allowing your child’s brain to better filter and process sensory input.

Imagine a Different Summer for Your Family

Imagine your child actually looking forward to Fourth of July celebrations, get-togethers, and summer parties instead of dreading them. Picture your family enjoying fireworks together without having to leave early because of a meltdown. This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s what we see regularly when children receive care that addresses the real root cause of their sensory challenges.

Like Logan, who transformed from a child unable to handle even simple public outings to a thriving honor roll student, your child has the potential to overcome sensory overload when the underlying nervous system dysfunction is properly addressed. The difference isn’t just noticeable during big events like the Fourth of July. It impacts every aspect of your child’s development, learning, and quality of life.

Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?

We would love to help your child’s nervous system find balance so they can experience all the joy this summer has to offer. If you’re ready to move beyond just managing symptoms and start addressing the root cause of sensory overload, call RCW today to schedule a consultation and INSiGHT Scans.

Because your child doesn’t need to “grow out of” sensory overload—they need someone to help get to the root of it. And we’re here to help with just that.

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44% of Teens Feel Hopeless—Here’s What Doctors Are Missing

Family Wellness

As a parent, watching your once full-of-life teenager transform into someone withdrawn, constantly overwhelmed, and struggling with anxiety or depression can be heart-wrenching. You’ve likely consulted various healthcare providers, tried different approaches, and perhaps even considered medication—yet your teen’s struggles continue.

What if we told you that the root cause might not be the “chemical imbalance” that most conventional doctors continue to blame these rapidly increasing teen challenges on?

The Crisis Our Teens Are Facing

The United States is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis among adolescents. According to recent CDC data, 44% of American high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Even more alarming, nearly one in three teenage girls report having seriously contemplated suicide—twice the rate of boys.

What’s particularly interesting is that during this same period of rising mental health challenges, we’ve seen some positive trends for young people. Including reduced alcohol consumption and fewer teen pregnancies. Yet anxiety and depression have continued to surge across all demographics.

Beyond the Chemical Imbalance Theory

While traditional medicine typically addresses these challenges with medications aimed at correcting presumed chemical imbalances, many parents find these approaches merely mask the symptoms rather than address underlying causes.

The truth is, the ‘chemical imbalance’ theory behind anxiety and depression isn’t as scientific or proven as most people believe.

What’s really happening? Our teens’ nervous systems are stuck in ‘fight or flight’ — constantly dysregulated, exhausted, and overwhelmed. They’re trapped in stress mode 24/7, often chasing constant stimulation just to cope.

Understanding the Neurological Foundation

From a neurological perspective, anxiety and depression are often connected to imbalances in the autonomic nervous system. Specifically between the sympathetic “fight or flight” response and the parasympathetic “rest and digest” functions.

This neurological imbalance, called dysautonomia, represents a crucial but often overlooked root cause that can leave teens stuck in a persistent state of stress and emotional dysregulation.

The Critical Role of the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve is the primary component of the parasympathetic nervous system and plays a crucial role in emotional regulation, stress recovery, and social connection.

This “wandering nerve” connects the brain to vital organs and helps regulate heart rate, breathing, digestion, inflammation, and emotional states.

Research shows that lower vagal tone is significantly linked to challenges in managing emotions and a heightened sensitivity to stress. Exactly what we see in teens with anxiety and depression.

When vagus nerve function is compromised due to subluxation and nervous system stress, it affects your teen’s ability to calm themselves, process emotions, and maintain balanced mood states.

The “Perfect Storm” Leading to Teen Mental Health Issues

This neurological dysfunction often begins early in life, what we call “The Perfect Storm”:

  • Maternal stress during pregnancy can affect the developing fetal nervous system through stress hormones that cross the placental barrier.
  • Birth interventions like forceps deliveries or C-sections can cause subtle injuries to the upper neck and brainstem regions. Potentially affecting the vagus nerve and leading to subluxation.
  • Early childhood factors continue building the foundation for later challenges, including repeated infections, frequent antibiotic use, disrupting the gut-brain axis, environmental toxins, and physical injuries.
  • Modern lifestyle factors significantly amplify these neurological imbalances. Including digital technology, sleep disruption, decreased physical activity, and poor nutrition affecting the gut microbiome and vagal function.

Many researchers have noted that the sharp rise in teen mental health issues coincided with the widespread adoption of smartphones around 2012, pointing to digital technology as a significant factor—but the full picture is much more complex and begins much earlier in life.

Recognizing Signs of Nervous System Dysfunction in Your Teen

If your teen is struggling, look for these signs that may indicate neurological imbalance:

  • Physical signs like sleep disturbances, appetite changes, digestive issues, continually getting sick, fatigue + exhaustion, and restlessness often reflect an underlying neurological imbalance.
  • Emotional indicators such as persistent sadness, excessive worry, irritability, and loss of interest stem from an autonomic nervous system stuck in sympathetic dominance.
  • Behavioral changes including social withdrawal, declining academic performance, and increased sensitivity to criticism frequently signal nervous system dysregulation rather than just “typical teen behavior.”

There Is Hope: Finding the Root Cause

Simply put – it’s NOT easy being a teen in today’s crazy world.

Thankfully, teens have a remarkable ability to bounce back and become resilient, adaptable, and joyful once again! The teen brain and nervous system are going through so many changes all at once, and once we get the stuck sympathetic stress, tension, subluxation, and exhaustion out of the way for them – it’s programmed for healing + recovery!

At RCW, we use advanced technology, called INSiGHT Scans, which can help us identify specific areas of dysregulation and dysautonomia and provide critical insights into your teen’s autonomic function.

Based on these assessments, we can then create personalized care plans, including specialized approaches designed to release excessive sympathetic “fight or flight” activity while stimulating the vagus nerve and parasympathetic function.

By addressing these neurological imbalances, we help restore proper communication pathways between the brain and body, creating the physiological foundation for improved emotional health and mood regulation.

Renewed Hope for Parents

Parents often tell us they feel renewed hope after learning about this nervous system-focused approach to healing! They’re relieved to discover there’s a different path they can take. One that doesn’t rely on potentially dangerous medications with long-term side effects, but instead focuses on restoring proper function to the systems that naturally regulate mood, stress, and emotional well-being.

If your teen is struggling with anxiety or depression, it’s likely their nervous system is imbalanced and dysregulated – and there is hope for healing. The teen brain is remarkably resilient when given the right support. So please don’t wait to reach out to RCW to schedule a consultation today!

Your teen’s story isn’t over. There’s so much healing ahead. Let’s take the first step together.

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Understanding Fevers: Why Your Child’s Fever Might Actually Be a Good Thing

Pediatric Chiropractic

It’s the middle of the night, and you’re jolted awake by your child’s warm forehead and flushed cheeks. Your heart races as you scramble for the thermometer, confirming what you already knew – your child has a fever. Like most parents, your instinct might be to immediately reach for fever-reducing medication. But what if everything we’ve been taught about fevers is actually incomplete or even incorrect?

The Misunderstood Healing Response

Did you know that fever-reducing medications might actually prolong illness in some cases? What if that elevated temperature isn’t an enemy to be fought, but an intelligent healing response orchestrated by your child’s brain and nervous system. One that’s actively fighting infection, activating the immune system, and doing a very important job!

Fevers account for approximately one-third of all pediatric office visits in the United States. That’s millions of worried parents rushing their children to doctors each year, often unnecessarily. What’s even more concerning is that many parents administer fever-reducing medication for temperatures below 100.4°F, which isn’t even technically a fever!

What a Fever Really Is

A fever is not simply an elevated temperature—it’s a sophisticated response produced by your child’s brain and nervous system. Specifically, the hypothalamus which acts as the body’s thermostat.

When your child’s immune system detects pathogens like viruses or bacteria, it releases chemicals called pyrogens that signal the hypothalamus to raise the body’s temperature via prostaglandins. This creates a controlled, intentional increase in temperature that’s quite different from dangerous overheating that occurs in conditions like heat stroke.

From a neurological perspective, a fever is actually a sign that your child’s nervous system is regulating properly, actively coordinating a complex immune response to eliminate pathogens and restore health.

The Powerful Benefits of Fevers

Here’s what’s happening when your child has a fever:

  1. Slowing down pathogens: Many bacteria and viruses replicate optimally at normal body temperature. Even a modest increase in temperature can inhibit their reproduction and spread.
  2. Enhancing immune function: Higher temperatures actually accelerate white blood cell production and improve their mobility and effectiveness. Research indicates that fevers increase the number of circulating neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.
  3. Activating the healing process: The fever is literally your child’s immune system kicking into high gear. Creating an internal environment where healing can happen more efficiently.

When Fever Patterns Indicate Deeper Issues

A child’s fever patterns—whether they spike high fevers easily, struggle to develop fevers when fighting infections, have prolonged low-grade fevers, or never develop a fever when they should—often indicate there might be dysfunction within their neuro-immune system.

If your child’s fever response is consistently excessive OR suppressive, it could be a sign of underlying nervous system dysfunction, sometimes triggered by early life factors like:

  • Prenatal stress
  • Birth trauma (especially from interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or c-sections)
  • Frequent early antibiotics

These can disrupt proper neurological development and affect how a child’s body mounts fever responses.

When Fevers DO Warrant Medical Attention

While fevers are generally beneficial, certain situations require professional care:

  • Any fever in infants under 3 months
  • Fever above 102.2°F in children 3-6 months old
  • Persistent fever above 102.2°F for more than two days in children over 6 months

Watch for accompanying signs like lethargy, difficulty breathing, severe headache with neck stiffness, refusal to drink leading to dehydration, or a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed.

Remember that even when medical intervention is necessary, this doesn’t invalidate the premise that fevers themselves are beneficial. The goal is to approach them with understanding while recognizing situations that truly require attention.

Supporting Your Child’s Fever Without Suppressing It

Instead of immediately reaching for medication, consider these supportive approaches:

  1. Focus on hydration: Offer room temperature water, diluted electrolyte drinks without artificial colors, herbal teas for older children, or homemade popsicles.
  2. Create a healing environment: Ensure extra rest, a comfortable room temperature, lightweight clothing, and light blankets that can be easily removed.
  3. Consider tepid sponging: If your child is uncomfortable, try sponging with lukewarm water, but avoid cold baths, which can cause shivering and actually raise core temperature.
  4. Get your child checked for nervous system dysfunction (subluxation): Consider having your child’s nervous system checked by a neurologically-focused chiropractor to ensure proper communication between the brain and immune system.

From a neurological perspective, these supportive measures create an optimal environment for the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system to function properly, leading to more effective fever patterns and faster recovery.

Empowering Your Approach to Childhood Illness

At RCW, we understand fevers from a natural and neurological perspective that transforms how we approach this common childhood experience. Rather than fearing fevers, we can recognize them as evidence of a well-functioning neuroimmune system organizing an intelligent healing response.

If you are ready to schedule a consultation, please reach out to us today! 

When we support rather than suppress this process, we honor the body’s innate wisdom and help our children develop resilient, self-regulating immune systems!

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Why Your Newborn Needs to be Adjusted Right After Birth

Pediatric Chiropractic

As a brand new parent, you want to give your newborn the absolute best start in life. You’re carefully selecting the safest car seat, researching the most nutritious feeding options, and creating the perfect sleep environment. But what many parents don’t realize is that even the most “normal” birth process puts tremendous physical stress on your baby’s delicate body. Particularly their brainstem, neck, and nervous system.

Birth Is More Physically Demanding Than We Realize

In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 deliveries now end in C-sections. Beyond that, many births involve other interventions like induction, forceps or vacuum delivery, and various forms of manual assistance. The numbers are quite staggering once you look closely at what’s happening in labor and delivery rooms across developed countries.

But it’s not just birth interventions that can cause concern. Even in natural, intervention-free births, the physical stress of labor and delivery places significant pressure on an infant’s spine and delicate nervous system. This pressure can lead to subtle birth trauma and neurological interference caused by misalignments, also known as subluxation, which may impact your child’s development, nervous system regulation, and overall health from the very beginning.

Understanding Those Challenging First Weeks

Those first few weeks with your newborn can be challenging if you are dealing with constant crying, difficulty nursing, sleep struggles, reflux, or colic. While conventional medicine often dismisses these as “normal baby problems” that they’ll eventually outgrow, these signs may actually be indicating underlying neurological dysfunction that can be addressed.

In a study from the American Osteopathic Association, subluxation or “somatic dysfunction” was found in 99% of healthy newborns. The severity and incidence of these biomechanical challenges within the spine and cranial system increase with longer labor times and the use of birth interventions.

This statistic may seem staggering, especially considering that conventional pediatricians typically have no training in identifying or addressing these issues. Even children born naturally without intervention can benefit massively from an early life chiropractic check-up that looks for subluxation and nervous system dysfunction.

Why Early Detection Matters

The reason it can be beneficial to find subluxation early is that it not only can cause immediate issues with latching, nursing, digestion, sleeping, and soothing—but they are NOT something your child will simply “grow out of.” Due to their location within the nervous system and brainstem regions, they commonly begin to affect various aspects of growth and development as time goes on—most notably interfering with gross motor development, fine motor skills, speech, and other developmental milestones.

The Science Behind Birth-Related Subluxation

Infants Cannot Protect Their Delicate Spine

What makes birth trauma particularly concerning is that newborns have no motor or muscular control developed yet, so they can’t protect themselves during the birth process. This significantly increases the likelihood and severity of neck and brainstem injuries from birth intervention.

Understanding Subluxation in Newborns

Subluxation in your baby’s neurospinal system has three key components:

  1. Misalignment within the neurospinal system, which can lead to issues like difficulty latching, torticollis (neck tightness), and plagiocephaly (flat spots on the head).
  2. Fixation and restricted motion. Movement is essential for a developing infant as it provides the brain with proprioception—when subluxation creates fixation, it reduces this vital input to the brain.
  3. Neurological interference and imbalance, which disrupts proper communication between the brain and body.

The Critical Role of the Brainstem and Upper Neck

All motor tone and development for the entire body is controlled and coordinated by the cerebellum, brainstem, and upper cervical region of the spinal cord. It functions like an “air traffic control” center. When the nerves and muscles of the upper neck and spine are compromised in the first moments of life, all motor development downstream is negatively affected.

And remember—motor development equals brain development in infants.

The Vagus Nerve Connection

The upper neck and brainstem region, the area most affected by birth trauma, houses the vagus nerve—the primary controller of your baby’s parasympathetic “rest, digest, and regulate” nervous system.

When birth trauma creates subluxation in this area, it can significantly disrupt vagus nerve function, leading to dysautonomia (imbalance in the autonomic nervous system). This disruption can affect virtually every major system in your baby’s body: digestive function (colic, reflux, constipation), sleep regulation, immune response, emotional regulation, and developmental milestones.

Common “Normal Baby Problems” That Signal Neurological Dysfunction

What if those common challenges aren’t just phases to endure but actual signs of a nervous system under stress?

  • Colic and excessive crying aren’t just “phases” but often manifestations of a stressed nervous system struggling to regulate itself.
  • Breastfeeding difficulties frequently stem from upper cervical subluxation affecting the cranial nerves that control sucking, swallowing, and other precise movements.
  • Reflux and digestive issues often occur when vagus nerve dysfunction disrupts normal digestive motility.
  • Sleep disturbances happen when a subluxated nervous system stuck in sympathetic dominance makes it difficult for babies to relax into deep, restorative sleep.
  • Early developmental delays can occur when subluxation restricts normal movement patterns that stimulate proper neurological development.

The Gentle Approach of Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Unlike the adjustments you might picture for adults, newborn adjustments are incredibly gentle—using no more pressure than you would to test the ripeness of a tomato or press on your closed eyelid.

These precise, gentle techniques are specifically designed to release tension patterns and restore proper nervous system communication, allowing your baby’s body to function optimally.

We use advanced technology like INSiGHT Scans to identify precise areas of nervous system stress, allowing for highly specific and individualized care plans tailored to your baby’s unique needs.

Setting the Foundation for Lifelong Health

The first year of your baby’s life represents an extraordinary period of development. During this time, their brain will more than double in size and form more than a million new neural connections every second. These early patterns establish the foundation that will influence their health and development for years to come.

By ensuring that your baby’s nervous system is functioning optimally from the very beginning, you’re not just addressing immediate challenges like colic, reflux, or sleep issues—you’re setting them up for a lifetime of improved health, stronger immunity, better regulation, and optimal development.

Taking Proactive Action

Don’t wait until those “normal baby problems” become chronic issues. You can take a proactive approach to your child’s health by scheduling consultation at RCW with one of our neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractors as soon as possible after birth.

A comprehensive assessment will include a detailed health history, gentle physical examination, and advanced neurological scans to identify areas of nervous system stress.

We know that taking care of your newborn baby can be the most exciting AND nerve-racking time of your life! By considering neurologically-focused chiropractic care, you’re taking an important step toward giving your baby the best possible start—one where their nervous system can function optimally from day one, allowing them to grow, develop, and thrive as nature intended.

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An Exhausted Mom’s Survival Guide: Navigating Motherhood with Adaptability and Resilience

Uncategorized

Motherhood is an excessive amount of responsibilities, from caring for our children to managing household chores, work commitments, and more. It often feels like there needs to be more hours in the day to accomplish everything on our to-do lists. With carpool lines, meal prepping, loads of laundry, and trying to keep all of the kids accounted for, it’s easy for moms to neglect their own well-being leading to exhaustion and burnout. Although motherhood is literally the best job in the world, it can also sometimes feel like the hardest, too. This season is full of joy, and it is very rewarding but can get lonely at times. This is why we created this little “survival guide” to help ease those tough days. To remind you to give yourself grace. That you are the best mother for your child. AND to give you some practical tips to help your overall health and wellbeing.

Understanding the Science

As mothers, our bodies undergo significant changes, both physically and mentally. Due to frequent hormonal changes, sympathetic overdrive, and exhaustion, we need to do all we can to support our bodies through motherhood. One key contributor to exhaustion is adrenal fatigue, a condition where the adrenal glands become overworked due to chronic stress. This constant state of heightened stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm as our nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

Moreover, the lack of quality sleep exacerbates the problem, leaving us reliant on caffeine to get through the day. Unfortunately, coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeine only act as band-aids. Forcing us as moms to never get out of this cycle and help the root cause, which is helping our nervous system become more adaptable to all of this stress! 

Tips for Survival

So, how can we navigate motherhood with resilience and adaptability? It starts with prioritizing self-care and making small but impactful changes to our daily routines. Here are some tips to help you thrive:

  • Prioritize sleep: Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night by establishing a bedtime routine and creating a relaxing sleep environment.
  • Fuel your body with nutritious foods: Focus on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body and provide sustained energy throughout the day. Start the day with protein first, even before coffee! 
  • Delegate tasks and ask for help: Don’t be afraid to ask for support from your partner, family members, or friends. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to lighten your load and give yourself time to recharge.
  • Make time for self-care: Schedule regular self-care activities that rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. Whether it’s taking a long bath, going for a walk in nature, or indulging in your favorite hobby. Prioritize activities that bring you joy and relaxation, even if it is just 10 minutes to reset! 

Regulate Your Nervous System 

This should be the first step! The above suggestions are very important, but most of them won’t make a major impact unless our nervous systems are rested and regulated FIRST. So what does this mean? First, let’s go over the two parts of our nervous system. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (the brake pedal)  and the Sympathetic Nervous System (the gas pedal). Each part is equally important! The goal is to have fluidity between the two. If you need to be in go mode, chasing after your child, you want the gas pedal on! But once they start to calm down, your nervous system should be able to recognize this and enter a rested and relaxed state as well. Most of us as moms are stuck in sympathetic dominance. This means that even when our children are safe, our body is stuck in stress mode. When we are chronically stuck in this state, exhaustion really settles in, and motherhood challenges become physical fast. 

Taking the First Step

If you’re struggling to find balance in motherhood, consider exploring neurologically-focused chiropractic care. By being on a care plan that is customized to your “mom exhaustion,” your nervous system will be able to find the balance between the gas vs brake. It will strive for resiliency and adaptability to all that comes with being an amazing mom! 

So, how do you start?! Our cutting-edge technology, called the CLA INSiGHT Scan, assesses your nervous system’s function. It shows us exactly what is going on within your brain and body and can pinpoint that mom exhaustion! Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you by scheduling a nervous system scan today. 

Success Story: Alyssa’s Journey

Let us tell you about our awesome friend, Alyssa, and we’ll look at one of her Neurological INSiGHT Scans.

About three months after giving birth, Alyssa threw out her back. She thought it would just resolve over time, but instead, the pain she was experiencing was not decreasing and, in fact, was increasing rapidly. Alyssa was at the point where she was barely able to move off the couch, let alone care for her newborn baby. 

When she saw her scans, Alyssa was really shocked and immediately a little disappointed. She was expecting everything to be lit up like a red Christmas tree! But there wasn’t a lot lit up at all. She immediately felt hopeless and like she was “unhelpable.” BUT then we explained to her that her body was so exhausted from the pain and the neurological state of the “gas pedal” that it was in shutdown mode! The scan wasn’t lit up because it was exhausted!!

Surprisingly, pain relief wasn’t the first sign that Alyssa’s care plan was working. Instead, she noticed that she was finally able to sleep! She had always struggled with sleep and had never been able to fall asleep or stay asleep. She also noticed that her anxiety was no longer affecting her everyday life. AND finally her back pain began to diminish!

Here is Alyssa’s first EMG scan! The yellow in Alyssa’s neurological scans indicated exhaustion in her body after being stuck on sympathetic ‘stress mode’ for too long. 

Alyssa’s life has looked different in many ways since starting. She is completely off all anxiety meds, has less and less pain every day, and has been able to achieve her initial goal – PLAY ON THE FLOOR WITH HER BABY.  Alyssa said that she loves having a provider team that believes in her and feels more empowered to advocate for herself and her family.

Ready to see what your Neurological INSiGHT Scans look like?!

Motherhood is the most extraordinary club to be a part of, but it is also just straight-up HARD sometimes. We hope that we can help you find the hope, answers, and drug-free help that you have been searching for. For not only your sweet kiddos and family but FOR YOU too! 

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Your Guide to Finding the Right Pediatric Chiropractor

New Patients

Keep reading to learn the key differences between standard chiropractic care, integrated or functional therapies, and truly specialized neurologically-focused Pediatric chiropractic care.

The Truth About Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Not all chiropractors are equipped to help children—especially those with complex neurological challenges like sensory processing issues, ADHD, or chronic health concerns.

Let us share a story about a young patient named Henry. He came to our practice after trying traditional chiropractic care without success. Henry struggled with intense sensory processing challenges—running full speed into walls for sensory input, having extreme reactions to clothing textures, and struggling with impulse control.

His previous chiropractor provided care, but without a neurological focus and proper frequency, Henry’s underlying issues weren’t being addressed. After just one month of specialized, neurologically-focused care, his mother noticed profound changes they hadn’t seen before. His sensory-seeking behaviors became less intense and more manageable, and his overall regulation improved dramatically.

So what makes the difference? There are core components that determine whether your child is getting the right care. They may seem simple, but they make all the difference.

The 5 Critical Elements That Make Pediatric Chiropractic Care Effective

1. Advanced Education and Training

Most chiropractors have advanced training in spinal care, back pain, neck pain, etc. But taking care of kids requires specialized pediatric training that goes far beyond basic chiropractic education.

Today’s children face what we call “The Perfect Storm“—unfortunately high levels of stress and toxicity building up early in their lives, contributing to the fact that over 50% of kids today are chronically ill or struggling with complex health conditions.

Advanced pediatric training includes a deep understanding of:

  • Developmental milestones
  • Nervous system function
  • Brain development
  • The gut-brain connection
  • Neuroinflammation
  • And much more

When your child’s care provider has this specialized training, they’re better equipped to address the root causes of your child’s challenges rather than just treating symptoms.

2. Experience with Pediatric Cases

While many chiropractic practices may have “Family” in their name and see a few kids here and there, you’re really looking for someone who is FULLY focused on Pediatric and Family Care and has extensive experience with complex cases.

An experienced pediatric chiropractor should have a track record of successfully working with children who have:

  • Sensory processing challenges
  • ADHD
  • Autism
  • Chronic conditions like ear infections or constipation
  • And even more complex conditions like seizures or special needs

You’re also looking for an office that is fully focused on kids in terms of the environment, layout, and approach—a place where your child feels comfortable and welcomed.

3. Advanced Technology and Neurological Testing

In 2025, it’s essential that your child’s chiropractor uses advanced technology like INSiGHT Scans to properly assess nervous system function.

These non-invasive scans take just 15-20 minutes yet provide more information on the real root cause of your child’s condition than many other forms of testing. They allow practitioners to find nervous system dysfunction, dysregulation, and subluxation with precision.

Most importantly, these scans should be performed throughout care to track progress and ensure that real neurological change, healing, and restoration is happening.

4. Multiple Adjusting Techniques

Each child’s case is unique and requires a personalized approach. Using one singular technique often limits results in complex cases.

Different adjusting techniques address various aspects of nervous system dysfunction. A one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t address complex pediatric needs.

The right pediatric chiropractor should be well-versed in multiple techniques and able to adapt their approach to your child’s specific needs and comfort level.

5. Appropriate Care Planning

Today’s children often need more intensive care plans than previous generations due to the increased neurological challenges they face.

A proper pediatric care plan should include:

  • Frequency and duration based on neurological assessment, not just a standard “one-size-fits-all” approach
  • Adaptability as your child progresses
  • Regular reassessment to ensure optimal results
  • Clear communication with parents about expectations and progress

Finding the Right Care for Your Child

If you’re feeling frustrated with your child’s current chiropractic care, or if you’re just starting to explore options for your child’s health, now is the time to make a change.

The right care can make all the difference—just ask Henry’s mom, who saw transformation in her son after finding the right provider.

Your child deserves care that’s specifically designed for their unique needs. With the right chiropractic care, you can give them the support they need to reach their full potential.

Remember, it’s not that chiropractic doesn’t work for children—it’s that not all chiropractors are equally prepared to work with children, especially those with complex neurological challenges.

Taking the Next Step

If you’re ready to explore this type of neurologically-focused pediatric chiropractic care for your child, reach out to RCW today! We specialize in this specialized form of neurologically-focused care and are here to make both you and your child feel comfortable, heard, and hopeful.  If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find a PX Docs office near you. 

Your child’s health journey deserves the best possible support. With the right care, we can help your child thrive—neurologically, physically, and emotionally.