All-Star Chiropractor For A Young Cheerleader? Would You Do It?

[Babs]

I took my 13 year old to a chiropractor for lower back pain. She went three times per week for several weeks and it eliminated her pain. At another time her general practitioner -- who has done additional work in the area of pain management saw that her hips weren't completely aligned and he told me to bring her to a chiropractor and he recommended the one we had previously seen. I believe we were at a respected chiropractor's office. The chiro said he doesn't start with xrays on kids ... the xray isn't a great thing for them and if he can clear the problem without taking xrays all the better. If the problem persists he said he would xray then.
Also - my blue cross blue shield covered 20 visits with the chiro. We went to more than that for my daughter. I have no idea if this is common but once the 20 visits was completed the chiro continued to see us for just the cost of our co-pay. So he got our copay and insurance for 20 visits and then any visits for the rest of the year he only got our copay.

 

[aggie1983]

I will readily admit a chiropractor can work wonders with SOME back pains, I have taken my son to one for that. It is the ones who claim (for example) that you don't need vaccinations if you use them, or they can cure allergies ( both of which I have actually heard claimed by more than one) that I have issues. But under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you ever allow a chiropractor to "adjust" the neck - especially on a child. Serious injuries can and have resulted from that kind of "manipulation".

 

[cheeringfor3]

I should add that my chiropractor doesn't accept my insurance, but his charge for a standard office visit is actually less than my co-pay for a specialist would be.

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

I have a newly 9yo cheerleader who often complains of lower back pain after cheer practice. Was considering a chiropractor for her but have heard pros and cons and I'm not sure if it's the right thing. Have any of you done it and did it help? Thanks.

Have you spoken with the tumbling coaches about this? Is it possible there is something about the way she is doing her BHS that could be causing her pain? I know way back when CP was first learning BWO's she was complaining of wrist pain because her back wasn't flexible enough, so when her hands hit the floor they were bent at a really sharp angle (>90*) and causing pain. Sometimes they can get the skill, but there are still slight body mechanics issues that cause pain. I would start with a MD before a chiro though, 9 is *really* young to be compaining of low back pain after any kind of sports practice.

 

[tgjaglover]

I have had intense lower back pain before, and I was too young for it to be anything natural so I know x-rays are important! Like others have said its best to see if it's a bone issue or not before you look into a chiropractor. BUT If there's nothing wrong with the x-rays, (in my case there was nothing wrong) I would look into physical therapy. I know it sounds crazy for a kid, but I went, my insurance covered it, and my back pain was alleviated after a couple months!

 

[mom24girls]

Have you spoken with the tumbling coaches about this? Is it possible there is something about the way she is doing her BHS that could be causing her pain? I know way back when CP was first learning BWO's she was complaining of wrist pain because her back wasn't flexible enough, so when her hands hit the floor they were bent at a really sharp angle (>90*) and causing pain. Sometimes they can get the skill, but there are still slight body mechanics issues that cause pain. I would start with a MD before a chiro though, 9 is *really* young to be compaining of low back pain after any kind of sports practice.

This is a good possibility. She has had her bhs for almost a year and it still looks bad. No coach has been able to help her fix it yet though and she has no choice but to throw it.

 

[MomOf2ThatsMe]

This is a good possibility. She has had her bhs for almost a year and it still looks bad. No coach has been able to help her fix it yet though and she has no choice but to throw it.

She has a choice. You only need 85%-ish of the team with the level-specific tumbling to max out a scoresheet.

 

[Mamarazzi]

Because I worked with chiropiractors for years, I know the process is very, very safe and I had both my children adjusted as babies many, many times. Chiropractic can treat many conditions, so I say go for it! Every trained chiropractor will do full spine xrays before touching anything, to check for fractures, and may order an MRI (which is NOT always necessary.)

 

[kayleigh]

When i went to the chiropractor he did X-rays and found nothing wrong with my bones except for i slouch and i arch my lower back. He discovered that my back muscles were really really inflamed and i couldn't turn my neck to my shoulder or do a back bend without it hurting. my chiropractor had me go to the massage therapist 3x a week (covered by insurance), go to physical therapy and get adjusted and my back felt so much better. but since i've stopped going it's a lot better than before but i constantly feel like i need to get adjusted all the time.

 

[mom24girls]

She has a choice. You only need 85%-ish of the team with the level-specific tumbling to max out a scoresheet.

I meant she doesn't have a choice but to throw it because she has no medical note saying she can't so at practices everyone with a handspring has to throw it and if she didn't it would be defying the coach. I would have to take her to get a doctors note for her not to do it. Also our tumbling is still under 85% so every tumbler counts.

 

[angelndscz]

My daughter went to the chiro starting at age 7. Actually it was her brother who needed the chiro, and since my daughter was already there and told the chiro her back was borthering her the chiro started working on her back too. Her chiro use to be a cheerleader (flyer) and is also a nutritionist which is nice. I definetly do not think it would hurt to take her in for an evaulation.

 

[Sharkie]

I invite a physical therapist to our practises every now and then. He's specialised in sport injuries and when any of the girls have any problem with joints/bones/muscles they can ask him for advice and a quick check and he'll tell them if it's necesairy to go to see a doctor and get x-rays and several therapy sessions or if it's just a little injury caused by a wrong movement that can be fixed with stretching or another simple excersice.

he also watched the girls during practise and this way he can see if someone is doing a wrong body position which is causing discomfort. ex one of the bases did a weird thing with her lower back while dipping for doing an extension, which caused her alot of back ache.