Do you have a child who is dealing with tics? For many, this can be debilitating and difficult to deal with. It may seem like there is no escape from the daily discomfort of having uncontrollable muscle spasms or vocalizations.
You’re not alone in your struggle. One in five children will experience some tic disorder at some point during their childhoods – it doesn’t discriminate by gender or ethnicity! If you are looking for an alternative treatment option to help manage these symptoms, chiropractors might provide relief. Chiropractic care has been shown to reduce both the severity and frequency of symptoms associated with tic disorders.
Seeing a chiropractor may help tic disorders might make sense because the spine and nervous system are interrelated. The central nervous system (CNS) controls and coordinates all functions of the entire body, including tics; when there is a decreased function in the CNS, tic symptoms can be exacerbated. Since chiropractors focus on alignment, this can help tic disorders because tics are believed to be caused by problems within the CNS. Chiropractors also believe tic symptoms can worsen if there is a misalignment in the spine, so chiropractic care can help relieve some tic symptoms.
The vagus nerve may also play a role when it comes to misalignment. The Vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve, stretching all the way from the brain to the abdomen. It helps control functions of the face and neck muscles, stomach, heart, lungs, kidney function, liver function, blood pressure regulation, and maybe tics themselves.
Is a chiropractor the magic bullet? Although some people have had some success with chiropractic care for tics, many have found it will not ultimately make tics go away. It can, however, help reduce symptoms.
Here is what I want you to know in my experience, there are many layers of tic disorders, and poor alignment may be one of the contributing factors. However, it is most likely not the main problem. Most children have many contributing factors that lead to the perfect storm causing tics to boil over. As you have heard me say many times, tics are the visual symptom of something going on much deeper in the body.
Suppose you are looking for natural approaches for overcoming tic disorders. I want to encourage you to grab my Tic Disorders Cheat Sheet; it is a great place to get guidance in the face of an overwhelming diagnosis. You can grab that here