Posture and spinal alignment are windows into the brain.
Posture depends on reflex responses to the vestibular (balance), proprioceptive (body awareness), and visual processing systems.
Children with posture distortions and poor spinal alignment often struggle to sit still or focus their attention. Some may have learning or emotional challenges.
Chiropractic adjustments have been linked to improved motor control, balance, proprioception, and processing speed.
Adjustments can also improve autonomic nervous system balance (vagus nerve tone) and quality of life.
Primitive reflexes are involuntary movements normally present in infants. In most children, they integrate (disappear) in the first year or so of life.
When retained in older children, they are associated with a variety of difficulties, including ADHD, autism, behavioral challenges, emotional dysregulation, sensory sensitivities, sensory seeking, and more.
Primitive reflexes can be integrated with specific exercises and sensory stimulation.
Repeatedly stimulating the reflexes, and performing developmental movements, creates brain changes that allow progression to later stages of development.
Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) uses red and infrared low-level laser therapy to improve brain health and cognitive function.
tPBM has proven benefits to a wide range of cognitive skills, including attention, memory, language, behavior, impulse control, emotional regulation, and more.
tPBM works by boosting the activity of mitochondria- the "power plant" of the cell. More energy means more connectivity.
tPBM also improves overall brain health by reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and protecting against oxidation.
More and more children seem stuck in "fight or flight" mode, and unable to "rest and digest".
Kids with poor vagus nerve tone may seem anxious, avoidant, or restless.
Stimulating the vagus nerve can balance the nervous system and restore its calming influence. This is accomplished differently in different age groups.
For older children, a microcurrent stimulation can be used where the vagus nerve passes through the ear and neck.
In younger kids, a combination of vibration, red light therapy and simple activities like humming is the preferred method.
Sensory processing and integration is the foundation of all learning, self-regulation and behavior.
Interactive Metronome (IM) therapy combines rhythmic movements with auditory and visual feedback, which helps "sync up" our sensory and motor areas- slowing down and building conscious awareness of the body and environment.
A more synchronized brain is a more regulated brain. IM has been shown to create significant improvements in school performance in areas like math and language, as well as big changes at home.
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to "rewire" itself, strengthening connections and building new skills.
If one area of the brain is "weak", neuroplasticity therapies are how we give it a workout. Each lobe of the brain has different functions, and different therapies will strengthen them.
For example, many children with poor attention have weaker frontal lobes. Using frontal lobe activities like fast eye movements, memory games and inhibition exercises, we can create lasting improvements in just the right areas.
Each child's therapies are chosen for their specific brain region assessment.