Constipation in children is a common occurrence. Some children may not want to take the time out to use the bathroom, some may hold out because they are not in a familiar environment, and some may have had a painful experience with bowel movements in the past that causes a desire to avoid that same experience.
Some common signs that your child could be constipated
infrequent bowel movements (less than 2 times a week)
painful or hard to pass stool
stomach pain
XL stools
pebble-like stools
Poor appetite
Crankiness
What can you do to help your child with constipation?
Diet will play a huge role in helping constipation. Increasing water intake, lowering the count of processed foods, and adding more fiber-rich foods can help tremendously. Some fiber-rich foods include pears, apples, raspberries, broccoli, sweet potatoes, peas, beans, and nuts. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends the number of grams of fiber each day to be your child's age plus 5. So, if your child is 6 you would add 5 and the recommended grams is 11g of fiber per day. (age 7 + 5 = 12 grams, Age 4 + 5 = 9 grams ...)
Chiropractic adjustments can also aid in relieving your child from the pain of constipation. The digestive system, like any other system, is linked to the nervous system. Pressure on these nerve roots caused by misalignment of the vertebrae in this area may interfere with the normal function of the bowel as well as other organs of the digestive system, causing a host of GI problems.
A chiropractor can provide treatment that includes spinal manipulative therapy, stretching, and soft tissue therapy to correct spinal misalignment. This greatly reduces the pressure on the nerves; therefore the message from the brain on the need to have a bowel movement will not be interfered with.
The body is pretty amazing at healing itself with the right help. Feel free to schedule an appointment with us by calling our office at 828-382-8005.
Comments