Coordination problems can affect a child’s ability to obtain and perform skilled movements. Clumsiness, tumbles and falls are all part of growing up as a child develops and fine tunes their movement skills.  However for some children this clumsiness extends well past the usual time period into late childhood and coordination issues can be a precursor to other developmental delays. Even though Neuro-Developmental Delay (NDD) is not something that is diagnosed until the child reaches three years of age, signs of motor coordination difficulties can be spotted earlier that can, which can also affect a child’s confidence and behavior, ability to focus and retain information, social development, fine and gross motor development, and postural tone.  A child with coordination problems may exhibit:

• Lack of processing information
• Lack of hand-to-eye coordination
• Slow to acquire physical skills and need to rely heavily on visual aids to help learn
• Uncoordinated running style
• Balance issues
• Awkward posture
• Slow response to their surroundings – e.g. slow response if a ball is kicked towards them
• Frequent tripping over or bumping into things
• Lower athletic ability compared to peers
• Fine motor skill problems such as untidy writing 
•  Poor spatial awareness
• Difficulty learning how to ride a bike

Children who have difficulty with coordination often show a delayed attainment of gross and fine motor skills. These skills vary from running and catching balls to balancing and tying shoelaces. This is usually a hindrance when it comes to compulsory sport at school and even lunchtime play in the school yard. Many sufferers also experience speech difficulties, learning disabilities and reluctance to form friendships. For children with coordination problems their awkwardness interferes significantly with their daily activities. This not only causes physical suffering, but also mental and emotional distress from feeling (and perhaps being told) that they are different from their peers.

Chiropractic is useful in addressing coordination problems by targeting any central nervous system and mechanical issues that may restrict movement.   In almost all children with developmental delays, spinal subluxations (misalignments) are present.  A spinal misalignment is a twisted, turned, or out of place vertebra. This may not seem like a significant problem, but spinal misalignments cause nerve interference that leads to dysfunction within the body.  Without proper nerve communication, the brain can’t properly send messages to the rest of the body. The development of children is affected because of this, whether it be motor skills, speech, or physical growth.  After a gentle adjustment, these misalignments are corrected and spinal health is restored. Normal nerve function can resume and the body can once again function as it should. Movements will become smoother for those with fine or gross motor problems, concentration improves for children who struggle to focus, and immune system function improves for happier, healthier children.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics titled, “Improvement in motor developmental delay in a 15-month old male following chiropractic care to correct vertebral subluxation: A case report,”  begins with the authors defining the issue. “a child who is not meeting a range of milestones at the expected rate of development is ‘delayed.”  Explained are the areas of delay stating, “multiple areas of development including cognitive skills, social and emotional skills, speech and language skills, fine and gross motor skills and activities of daily living.”

Developmental delay is measured against six areas defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “windows of achievement.” Each of these have different age ranges depending on the level advancement for the age of the child. These achievements include sitting without support, standing with assistance, hands-&-knees crawling, walking with assistance, standing alone, and finally walking alone. Not being able to achieve these tasks within the timeframe set forth in the WHO guidelines is considered developmentally delayed.

In this study, a 15-month-old boy was unable to crawl or creep, unable to pull himself up to stand, or to stand alone or walk. From 6 months of age, he was able to sit upright, and from around 9 months old, he was able to roll.  These ability limitations were significantly behind expected milestones and why the boy was considered to be developmentally delayed.  

A chiropractic examination was performed which revealed multiple areas of spinal and pelvic restrictive movement and alterations of muscle tone. The boy’s ability to balance was reduced with difficulty in supporting himself on his hands and knees.

Chiropractic treatment commenced for correction of vertebral subluxations (spinal misalignments) with multiple visits per week being performed in the initial stage of care.  The study revealed following the first 2 chiropractic adjustments, the boy started to crawl on his hands and knees by himself unassisted. After a 3rd visit, the boy was able to pull himself up to a standing position.  After the 6th visit the boy was able to crawl on his hands and knees with no difficulty and began standing unassisted. After 7th chiropractic visit, the boy began to take unassisted steps with increasing confidence. In their discussion, the authors of this study summed up the results by saying, “Motor development improvements were reported in a 15-month-old male over the course of 16-weeks of chiropractic care”.  

Chiropractic treatment when approached with an open mind can offer great benefits to the pediatric population, without the risks which chiropractic has proven throughout its history on safety, has the lowest malpractice insurance across the Country.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Having a Chiropractic background since the year 2000, Dr. Kaminsky offers many methods of treatment with an emphasis on Craniosacral Therapy in NYC.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a method focusing on the link between the cranium (head) and sacrum (the second to last bone at the base of your spine), scientifically proven to work in unison to pump fluid throughout the body, an unknown disruption of which can cause many health issues.  The craniosacral mechanism pumps vital fluid called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) through the body and in a sense energetically lubricates the joints, tissues, organs; basically all cells of the body. It is the driving force of all your body’s systems of function; including maintaining the tone of your muscles.

The Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) are surrounded with CSF generating energetic rhythmic impulses of fluid delicately pumping throughout your body’s parts “breathing” the movement of life. This measurable rhythm of moving fluid, like the heart rhythm, pulse rhythm, breathing rhythm is the foundational “blueprint” and primary principle of our real-time state of our health. 

Compromises of our rhythmic movements of fluid flow correlates to the impulse restrictions in the system which the body is unable to overcome or self-correct. This is the reason why we have “dis-ease”, symptoms, conditions, basically all ailments.  This is where the skill of an experienced craniosacral therapist becomes valuable.  By placing his or her hands on your body the practitioner can feel, detect, evaluate, and facilitate correction of these restrictive arrhythmic impulses.

The craniosacral therapist helps your rhythm restore and renew in compromised areas allowing for healing to take place of sensory, motor, musculoskeletal, neurological disorders, symptoms, conditions and pain.  To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your healing treatment with Dr. Kaminsky.