As a parent, you want the absolute best for your child. So when you’re exploring options to support their health and well-being, it can be incredibly confusing and distressing to get conflicting advice from two different health professionals. You may have heard wonderful things about chiropractic care from a friend, only to have your trusted pediatrician advise against it.
This leaves you stuck in the middle, wondering who to believe. Please know, this is a common situation, and your confusion is completely understandable. You are trying to make an informed decision for your family, and that’s what matters most.
In our practice, we often hear this from families in Cooper City. This article, prepared by Dr. Cody Capeloto, aims to shed light on this issue. We will explore the valid reasons behind some medical doctors’ hesitation, explain the different philosophies of care, and show you how a collaborative approach is not only possible but is the best path forward for your child’s health.
The Short Answer: A Difference in Approach, Not Antagonism
In most cases, when a medical doctor discourages chiropractic care, it isn’t from a place of malice. The hesitation typically stems from fundamental differences in training and philosophy, a lack of exposure to modern chiropractic, and a professional culture built around treating symptoms and disease.
Their concern is often rooted in outdated stereotypes of chiropractic as an aggressive, pain-based therapy, which is a world away from the gentle, neurologically-focused care we provide for families, infants, and children at Alive & Free Chiropractic.
Understanding the Medical Perspective: Valid Concerns and Outdated Views
To bridge a gap, you must first understand both sides. Medical doctors and pediatricians undergo rigorous training that is nothing short of heroic. Their expertise in diagnosing disease, managing acute illnesses, and handling emergencies saves lives every single day. Their perspective is shaped by this training.
A Philosophy of “Find It and Fix It”
Traditional medicine is primarily built on a pathogenic model-it focuses on identifying and fighting disease. If your child has an ear infection, the goal is to identify the bacteria and eliminate it with an antibiotic. If they break a bone, the goal is to set and cast it. This “find it and fix it” approach is incredibly effective and necessary for acute care.
Chiropractic, especially neurologically-focused care, operates on a different model focused on salutogenesis-the creation of health. We ask, “What is interfering with the body’s natural ability to be healthy, and how can we remove that interference?” This isn’t better or worse; it’s a fundamentally different question that leads to a different approach.
Lack of Exposure in Medical Training
The simple truth is that most medical students receive little to no formal education on chiropractic. Their curriculum is packed with pharmacology, pathology, surgery, and diagnostics. Any information they do get about chiropractic is often brief, generalized, and may be decades out of date.
Their understanding may be limited to what they’ve heard from colleagues or what they’ve seen in patients who had a negative experience with a symptom-based practitioner, which doesn’t represent the whole profession.
At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we see ourselves as part of your family’s dedicated health team, working alongside your pediatrician to ensure your child can grow, develop, and thrive.
The “Back Cracking” Stereotype
For many, the word “chiropractor” conjures images of an adult with low back pain getting a forceful “crack” or “pop.” While some chiropractors do focus on musculoskeletal pain in adults, this stereotype completely misses the point of modern pediatric and family chiropractic.
The gentle, specific adjustments we deliver to infants and children bear no resemblance to this image. The pressure used is often no more than you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato. The goal isn’t a sound; it’s a precise and gentle input to the nervous system.
The Chiropractic Perspective: A Focus on Function and the Nervous System
At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we don’t treat symptoms or diseases. That is the job of medicine. Instead, our focus is singular: to assess the function of the nervous system and correct any interference that may be hindering the body’s ability to heal, regulate, and develop properly.
The nervous system is the master control system for the entire body. It coordinates every function, from your child’s heartbeat and digestion to their immune response, sleep cycles, and developmental milestones. When this communication system works without disruption, a child has the best possible chance to adapt, heal, and thrive.
Stress-whether it’s physical (birth trauma, falls), chemical (toxins), or emotional-can create patterns of tension that lead to misalignments in the spine, which we call subluxations. These are not bones “out of place,” but rather areas that are stuck and not moving properly, creating irritation and interference in the nervous system. This focus on optimal function is why so many families seek out pediatric chiropractic care to support their child’s development from the very beginning.
Bridging the Gap: How We Collaborate with Medical Professionals
We firmly believe that chiropractic care is not an alternative to medical care; it is a vital partner to it. Your pediatrician is an essential part of your child’s health team, and we honor that role. Our goal is to work with them, creating a collaborative team with you, the parent, as the team captain.
Co-Managing Care for Optimal Results
We are not a replacement for your pediatrician. We do not diagnose or treat conditions like ear infections, colic, or asthma. Your pediatrician is the expert in managing those diagnoses. Our role is to ensure the nervous system, which controls the immune system, the digestive system, and the respiratory system, is functioning at its best.
For instance, if a child is seeing their pediatrician for recurring ear infections, the pediatrician manages the active infection. Our role is to assess and adjust the upper cervical spine to support better drainage and nervous system function, which may help the body’s resilience against future challenges by addressing an underlying functional issue. It’s a perfect example of a two-pronged approach: one professional supports the body during a crisis, while the other works to build a stronger foundation for long-term health. Both are crucial.
Open Communication and Shared Goals
We welcome open and respectful communication with all of our families’ other healthcare providers. We believe the ultimate shared goal is a healthy, happy, thriving child. We are always willing to explain our approach, share our clinical findings (with your permission), and work together to ensure your child receives complete and congruent care.
When speaking with your pediatrician, frame chiropractic as a wellness strategy. You can say, “We’re using chiropractic care to support our child’s nervous system function and overall development.” This shifts the conversation from “treatment” to “support.”
What to Look for in a Collaborative Chiropractor
If you’re seeking a chiropractor for your family, it’s important to find one whose philosophy aligns with a collaborative, wellness-based model. Here are a few things to look for:
- A Focus on the Nervous System: They should talk more about brain development and function than about pain. Their goal is supporting the body’s innate ability to heal, not just chasing symptoms.
- Specialized Pediatric Training: Ask about their postgraduate training in pediatrics and pregnancy. Certifications from organizations like the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) are a great sign.
- Gentle, Specific Techniques: A true pediatric chiropractor uses adjusting techniques that are incredibly gentle. They should be able to explain and demonstrate the light pressure they use.
- A Commitment to Co-Management: They should express respect for the role of your pediatrician and be willing to communicate with other members of your child’s healthcare team. They see themselves as a partner, not a replacement.
- Empowerment and Education: A great family chiropractor empowers you with information. They take the time to explain their findings and help you understand how you can support your child’s health at home.
Your family deserves a team that works together. If you’re in the Cooper City, FL area and want to learn more about how neurologically-focused chiropractic can fit into your child’s wellness plan, we invite you to connect with us. Call our Alive & Free Chiropractic office today at (754) 203-5907 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cody Capeloto.
Do you accept insurance for pediatric chiropractic care?
While we don’t bill major medical insurance directly, our care is eligible for HSA and FSA funds. This allows us to focus on neurologically-focused wellness care without insurance limitations. We offer simple, transparent payment plans to ensure care is accessible for families in Cooper City.
Is pediatric chiropractic safe for infants and children?
Yes, when performed by a trained and certified pediatric chiropractor, it is exceptionally safe. The adjustments are incredibly gentle, often using no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. The focus is on a light, specific input to the nervous system, not forceful manipulation.
What happens during a child’s first visit?
The first visit is all about discovery. We’ll have a detailed conversation with you about your child’s health history and your goals. Dr. Cody Capeloto will then perform a gentle, non-invasive examination, including advanced scans with our INSiGHT technology to assess nervous system function. We take our time to ensure both you and your child feel comfortable and safe.
How is a pediatric adjustment different from an adult adjustment?
They are worlds apart. An adult adjustment may involve more dynamic movement. A pediatric adjustment is all about gentle, sustained pressure or light, quick taps. There is no “cracking” or “popping.” The goal is a precise neurological input to help restore proper function, tailored specifically to a child’s delicate and developing spine and nervous system.