Baby's First Adjustment by Corte Madera chiropractor Dr Harte

I have often been asked, “When, at what age, should chiropractic care begin?” A good question!

Some people are shocked at the idea of chiropractic care for children. Even some of my (very much) lesser colleagues might think or even say, “What do kids need adjustments for? They don’t have backaches.” Well, some kids do, but not typically. Anyway, this misses the point. Chiropractic is about health, about the full expression of

Life… important for everyone… critical for children. Anyone and everyone with a spine, a nervous system and life force needs to be checked for interference to the nervous system, what is called Vertebral Subluxation Complex, or VSC.

What is VSC? It is a misalignment/dysfunction of a vertebra from the one above or below, causing an interference to the function of the nervous system. Most subluxations do NOT involve pain, but every subluxation takes away from the full expression of life.

So, let’s rephrase the question: At what age should anyone/everyone be checked for Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC)? Once you become aware of its full health implications, that VSC is THE most serious health risk factor, then the answer is obvious… as soon as one might acquire VSC. When is that?

The birth process, as tough as it is for mom, is tougher, and considerably more dangerous for baby. Abraham Towbin, M.D. found that sudden infant crib death caused by spinal damage to the nervous system (VSC) during the birth process. He noted that 7 of 8 autopsies showed this to be the cause of death in SIDS victims. David Yashon, M.D. confirmed Towbin's findings, and reports that the delivery process is a cause of spinal injury with nerve damage, resulting in  10% of infant death. G. Gutmann, M.D. writes that 80% of the children that he examined shortly after birth, or as infants, were suffering from subluxation of the atlas, the first bone in the neck, causing all manner of diseases. Larry Webster, D.C. declares “Chiropractic care must begin at birth.” He notes that the average pull today (from medical childbirth) is between 90 and 140 lbs.  The spine can be stretched 1/2" before injury.  The spinal cord can be stretched 2 1/4" before injury. A study entitled "Immediate Management of the Traumatized Infant" says "Birth trauma was, nonetheless, the sixth leading cause of neonatal mortality in the United States in 1981." "It is still true that the most dangerous journey some people will ever undertake is that from the womb to the outside world."

Yes, the birth process is generally THE first gross insult to your baby’s nervous system, to your baby’s health… Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Not only do you want your child to be healthy now; you want him or her to grow up expressing his or her genetic potential… physically, mentally and socially. This is why EVERY child should be checked by a straight chiropractor for Vertebral Subluxation Complex, right at birth if possible.

Don Harte, D.C.

Marin Straight Chiropractor

Liberator of Innate