 | Dr. Kevin Darden graduated Cum Laude from the Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City in 1999 and began his practice in Derby, later moving to Wichita. His primary emphasis is Sacral/Iliac, upper cervical, lumbar disc thinning, and mid-thoracic. In addition, Dr. Darden has a major focus on education for pain prevention. Well known as the "Teaching Doctor", he believes the only way for lasting relief from chronic pain is patient education. He has practiced this concept for the last six years, becoming proficient at determining the causes of specific pain from treating thousands of patients through: Thompson Technique, Diversified, Gonstead, and Acupuncture. Currently, the Director of the Sedgwick County Kansas Chiropractic Association, Dr. Darden can be seen hosting his television program FEEL BETTER, LIVE BETTER, PLAY BETTER, found on channel 49. In addition, Dr. Darden gives lectures at his office location @ 5119 E. Kellogg Dr. and scheduling may be obtained by calling 316-685-0020 . |
Chiropractic Care
2005-06-01 11:06:00
Chiropractic care for infants?
: At what age should chiropractic care be an option? I have heard of infants receiving such care. Is it safe?
ANSWER: I remember the first infant I ever treated in private practice. Jake was having colic type symptoms (spitting up, crying a lot, and not sleeping). His mother insisted that treatment helped her other children and wanted me to treat this little fellow too. Much research has been done regarding treatment of colic symptoms with chiropractic care, and I had studied it in school, but I had not yet had any first hand experience. Obviously the treatment of infants and toddlers isn't the same as treating adults. Adjustments cause more of a sliding sound than popping. They are extremely easy to treat because they don't have any stress and the worries of the world on their shoulders yet. In examining little Jake, I found two areas that needed treatment. I asked the mother to bring Jake back in two days for a recheck. I was nervous and excited at the same time, waiting for his return. When Jake came in he was smiling and laughing. I asked his mom how little Jake was doing. I will always remember her reply, "he's fine", as if she expected the treatment to have fixed him. I treated Jake three times total and he never had problems again. He was 3 months-old at the time of treatment, and as his mother says, "Now he is the healthiest child." Jake is 6 years-old and has had no other health issues. I absolutely love treating the little ones. The youngest that I have ever examined was 6 days old. The delivery process is so hard on the neck of the newborn, it is very common to have trauma occur to the upper neck from the delivery. And, little ones respond so quickly to treatment; usually responding within three treatments. Older patients may require more treatments due to time and severity of their problems. As we age, we heal slower. Chiropractic has evolved from the days of ripping the neck this way and then the other. Treatments have become very gentle. Most patients feel very little if any discomfort during the treatment which has made it safe for children and infants.Each age group has specific problems. The newborns generally have spitting up problems or crying from the neck pain. The infants have colic type symptoms or intestinal distress. Children are sitting a lot more and are suffering from slouching (mid back problems), sitting (pelvic pain and leg pain), and video games (neck and shoulder pain). Teens have a lot of weird habits that cause spine curvatures, headaches, mid back pain, low back pain, and leg pains. Adults have the teenager's habits, only worse. Time is taking its toll and the teen's pain has increased into adult hood. The seniors have a lifetime of bad habits and trauma that have caused chronic pain in multiple areas. It is amazing the amount of pain of the seniors. They have pain and discomfort everywhere. Most will always experience chronic pain but with treatments, the pain can be controlled.
