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Understanding and Managing Chronic Constipation in Children

Portrait of Dr. Matt Morris of Pinnacle Chiropractic Pediatric and Prenatal Chiropractor in Lakewood Ranch, FL.
Dr. Matt Morris
January 19, 2024

While talking about poop may bring laughter to kids and parents alike, when your child faces chronic constipation, it becomes a serious concern. Recent research suggests that approximately 25-30% of children experience constipation, impacting their overall well-being. More than a digestive issue, chronic constipation is often a symptom of an underlying problem linked to various childhood conditions such as autism, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, and ADHD.

If you have dealt with your child struggling with chronic constipation, you know the repercussions on their lives are significant, affecting their immune system, sleep, energy levels, and emotional regulation. If you have exhausted various remedies, including diet changes, prune juice, probiotics, and even Miralax, this is for you. We’ll delve into the genuine root causes of chronic constipation, extending beyond nutritional imbalances, and provide drug-free options to enhance your child’s quality of life.

A Story of Hope

Consider Lucas, who began experiencing stomach issues at the age of 4. His daily struggles with pain led his family through a maze of doctor visits, X-rays, ultrasounds, and a traumatic experience with Miralax. Despite feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, a glimmer of hope emerged when they stumbled upon a social media post mirroring their story. Skeptical yet desperate for answers, they sought help, leading to transformative changes in Lucas's life through Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care.

Understanding the Science: It’s Neurological

Chronic constipation is not merely a genetic or nutritional imbalance; it’s primarily a neurological imbalance. Many parents, like yourself, have already explored diet modifications, probiotics, and supplements with little success in achieving relief for their children. Clinically, chronic constipation is often “neurogenic,” indicating an overactive sympathetic nervous system and dysregulated digestive muscles.

This neurological imbalance, termed subluxation and dysautonomia, triggers a fight-or-flight response, diverting energy away from the digestive tract.  When your child’s nervous system is in this protective and stressed-out state, it greatly impacts the gut and digestive system, mainly by “conserving energy” for the skeletal muscles (to fight or flight) and taking it away from the muscles of the digestive tract. 

This is why we see chronic constipation strongly correlated with conditions like autism, ADHD, sensory challenges, and anxiety.  They all stem from that same neurological imbalance. 

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic adjustments, particularly targeting your child’s vagus nerve and parasympathetic system, provide a drug-free solution to restore balance and alleviate chronic constipation. The focus of our adjustments is to stimulate and activate the parasympathetic nervous system and vagus nerve, which in turn stimulates and activates digestive motility and relaxation for your child.

Next Steps: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic

So, if you are grappling with your child’s chronic constipation, understanding the neurological component is crucial. Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, such as the specialized approach at Pinnacle Chiropractic, can be a game-changer. By activating your child’s parasympathetic nervous system, often humorously referred to as “hitting the poop button,” our adjustments promote digestive motility and relaxation within their nervous system.

To learn more about how this works or get your child scheduled for a consult and exam, please reach out to Pinnacle today! If you are not local, please check out our PX Docs directory to find an office near you. Investing in your child’s neurological well-being not only addresses chronic constipation, but opens the door to a happier, healthier future for them.

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Patient Stories: Discover Reviews by Satisfied Chiropractic Patients

Hear what our patients have to say about their experience at Pinnacle.

They have been there for my first pregnancy, my miscarriage, and thankfully another pregnancy.
Pinnacle has truly been such a blessing in mine and my daughter life. All their staff care so much about you as an individual and of course your health. They have been there for my first pregnancy, my miscarriage, and thankfully another pregnancy. They have such a wealth of knowledge to share and help you along your journey. Pinnacle cares for you like family and we are so grateful for that.
I’ve now become a patient of theirs too, and I hope to start my other two children there as well
My 10 month old has been delayed on her gross motor skills. At her 6 month checkup, her pediatrician recommended she get evaluated for PT. In her case, I felt like she needed more that just PT to get caught up. I’ve heard so many people speak highly of chiropractic care for kids, I thought we’d give it a try. I can’t remember how I came across Pinnacle (might have been on Instagram because they have a lot of helpful posts). But anyway, I called and setup the first couple appointments for intake and scans. The entire staff is super friendly. Dr. Matt listened very well to what was going on with my daughter and we came up with 3 goals for her to hopefully meet with 9 weeks of adjustments (2x/week). The afternoon after her 2nd adjustment, she literally reached 2 of her goals. I almost couldn’t believe it. I realize it could have just been a coincidence but it’s just too close to happening right after the adjustments for me to assume that. She’s had about 10 adjustments total now, and she is catching up on other gross motor skills. Because she is a baby, her adjustments are quite gentle. There’s no cracking or popping involved. I’ve now become a patient of theirs too, and I hope to start my other two children there as well!
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University Park, FL 34201
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