Motor Delays | Pediatric Chiropractor Cooper City, FL

Is your child struggling with motor delays, leaving you wondering if they’ll ever catch up to their peers? You’re watching other children their age running, jumping, and moving with ease while your little one seems to be behind in reaching those important developmental milestones. The worry keeps you up at night, and you’ve probably tried various therapies and approaches, only to see minimal progress or temporary improvements that don’t seem to last. You’re not alone in this journey. Many families throughout Cooper City, Pembroke Pines, and the surrounding areas are facing similar challenges with their children’s motor development. While conventional treatments often focus on managing symptoms or teaching compensatory movements, there may be an underlying cause that hasn’t been addressed – your child’s nervous system function.

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Proudly serving families in Cooper City, Davie, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Weston, and throughout Broward County, FL.

What Is Motor Delays?

Motor delays refer to when a child doesn’t reach movement milestones at the expected age ranges. These delays can affect gross motor skills like crawling, walking, jumping, and running, or fine motor skills such as grasping objects, writing, or buttoning clothes.

There are two main types of motor skills that can be affected. Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups and whole-body movements, while fine motor skills require coordination of small muscles, particularly in the hands and fingers.

Motor delays can range from mild to severe and may appear on their own or alongside other developmental concerns. Some children may catch up on their own over time, while others need additional support to reach their full potential.

The key thing to understand is that motor development is controlled by the nervous system. When there’s interference in how the brain and body communicate, it can show up as delays in movement and coordination.

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Signs and Symptoms of Motor Delays in Children

Every child develops at their own pace, but there are certain red flags that may indicate motor delays (CDC: Developmental Milestones). Here are key signs to watch for:

• Not sitting without support by 9 months or walking by 18 months
• Difficulty with balance and coordination, frequent falling or clumsiness
• Struggles with fine motor tasks like using utensils, crayons, or scissors
• Avoids playground equipment or physical activities that peers enjoy
• Has trouble with bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together)
• Difficulty with activities requiring hand-eye coordination like catching or throwing balls
• Seems weaker than other children their age or tires easily during physical activities
• Shows preference for sedentary activities and resists movement-based play

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What Causes Motor Delays?

While many healthcare providers focus on the symptoms of motor delays, the root cause often lies in nervous system dysfunction. Your child’s brain controls every movement, from the smallest finger motion to running and jumping.

When the nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight mode, it’s difficult for their brain to focus on normal development and motor learning.

We often see what we call the “Perfect Storm” – a combination of factors that stress the developing nervous system. Birth interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or C-sections can create physical stress on a newborn’s delicate spine and nervous system. Environmental stressors such as toxins, infections, or emotional stress can further impact development.

When these stressors accumulate, they can create subluxations – areas where the spine isn’t moving properly, interfering with nervous system communication. This interference can leave your child’s nervous system stuck in a fight-or-flight state, making it difficult for their brain to focus on normal development and motor learning.

The vagus nerve, which helps regulate the body’s rest-and-digest functions, can also be affected. When this important nerve isn’t functioning optimally, it impacts everything from muscle tone to coordination to the brain’s ability to process sensory information needed for proper movement.

This is why simply working on exercises or movements might not be enough – if the underlying nervous system dysfunction isn’t addressed, progress can be slow or limited.

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How Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Helps with Motor Delays

At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we take a different approach to motor delays by addressing the root cause – nervous system dysfunction. Our process begins with advanced INSiGHT scanning technology that measures how well your child’s nervous system is functioning.

These scans are completely safe and painless, giving us objective data about where stress and interference might be affecting your child’s development. We can see areas where the nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight mode and identify specific regions that need support.

Using gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments designed especially for children, we work to remove subluxations and restore proper communication between the brain and body. These adjustments are nothing like adult chiropractic care – they’re incredibly gentle, often feeling like light pressure similar to what you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato.

As we support nervous system function, many families notice improvements in their child’s coordination, balance, and motor skills. Research suggests that when the vagus nerve functions better and the nervous system can shift out of survival mode, the brain has more resources available for normal development and motor learning (American Academy of Pediatrics: Motor Delays).

Motor delays often don’t occur in isolation. We frequently see connections with Low Muscle Tone, Speech Delays, or conditions like Torticollis. By addressing the underlying nervous system dysfunction, we’re often able to support multiple areas of development simultaneously.

The beautiful thing about working with children is their incredible neuroplasticity – their brains’ ability to form new connections and pathways. When we remove nervous system interference, we’re giving your child’s brain the best opportunity to develop and thrive.

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What to Expect at Your Child’s First Visit

We understand that bringing your child to a new healthcare provider can feel overwhelming, especially when they’re already struggling with developmental challenges. Our Cooper City office is designed to be welcoming and comfortable for children and families from Pembroke Pines, Weston, Southwest Ranches, and Davie.

Your first visit begins with a thorough consultation where we’ll discuss your child’s birth history, developmental milestones, and current challenges. We want to understand your family’s complete story and what you’ve tried so far.

Next, we’ll perform our comprehensive INSiGHT nervous system scans. These are completely non-invasive and painless – most children find them interesting rather than scary. The scans give us objective information about how your child’s nervous system is functioning.

During our report of findings, we’ll review the scan results with you and explain exactly what we found. If we can help your child, we’ll create a customized care plan designed specifically for their needs. If we don’t think we’re the right fit, we’ll help you find the resources that would serve your family best.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Delays

Is chiropractic safe for children with motor delays?

Absolutely. Pediatric chiropractic care is incredibly gentle and safe when performed by a doctor trained in neurologically-focused techniques. Our adjustments for children are very different from adult care – they’re light, specific touches that help restore nervous system function. Many children find the process relaxing and enjoyable.

How long before we see improvements in my child’s motor skills?

Every child is unique, but many families begin noticing changes within the first few weeks of care. Some see improvements in sleep, behavior, or mood first, followed by motor skill development. The timeline depends on factors like your child’s age, how long the nervous system dysfunction has been present, and their individual healing capacity.

Can chiropractic care replace physical therapy for motor delays?

Neurologically-focused chiropractic care and physical therapy work well together and serve different purposes. While PT focuses on teaching movement patterns and strengthening muscles, chiropractic care addresses the nervous system function that controls those muscles. Many families find that when the nervous system is functioning better, their child progresses more quickly in physical therapy.

What if my child won’t cooperate during the appointment?

We’re experienced in working with children who have various needs and comfort levels. Our office is designed to be child-friendly, and we have many techniques to help anxious or uncooperative children feel safe. Sometimes we can even perform parts of the exam and adjustment while a child is playing or being held by a parent.

Will my insurance cover chiropractic care for motor delays?

Because we are neurologically-focused rather than a typical back-pain chiropractor, most major medical insurance plans do not cover what we do. Our approach is more specialized and more intensive than what insurance was designed for. However, we accept HSA and FSA — which many families have and don’t realize they can use for this. We also offer family discounts and flexible options to make care affordable. We always find a way for families who are committed to their child’s health.

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Take the Next Step for Your Child

You don’t have to watch your child struggle with motor delays wondering if things will ever improve. There’s hope, and there are answers. Your child’s nervous system has an incredible capacity to heal and develop when given the right support.

At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we’re here to help you uncover the root cause of your child’s motor delays and create a path forward. You don’t have to figure this out alone – our team is ready to support your family every step of the way.

Your child deserves the chance to move, play, and explore the world with confidence. Let’s work together to give them that opportunity.

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