Bed Wetting and Chiropractic
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Lack of bladder control can cause shame, guilt and impaired social skills. |
Bed wetting takes a tremendous toll on children.
Embarrassment. Alarms. No sleepovers. Plastic mattress covers.
Frustration. Unable to fit in. Even diapers.
Up to the age of four or five, most children have poor bladder
control at night. But after that, the inability to stay dry at
night is a sign of an underlying problem. While chiropractic is
not a treatment for bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis), countless
children have been helped with safe and natural chiropractic care.
Bladder Physiology
Two key muscles control the emptying of the
bladder. Their technical names are the detrusor and trigone muscles.
Nerves that exit the spinal column in the lower back and sacrum
control these muscles.
During the early years of life, the sacrum has five separate segments.
Later, they fuse together to form the triangular-shaped bone that
adults have at the base of the spine. If these segments misalign
(falling, learning to walk, ride a bike, etc.) they can compromise
nerves that are responsible for bladder function.
We look for these sometimes subtle misalignments during our examination.
When these misalignments are reduced with safe and natural chiropractic
adjustments, nervous system control and regulation of the bladder
can be restored.
Published Research
The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics document many studies showing the positive benefits
of chiropractic care.
- A study of 46 children received chiropractic care for a 10-week
period. A quarter of those receiving chiropractic care had 50%
or more reduction in the wet night frequency, while none among
the control group saw a reduction. (JMPT 1994 (Nov-Dec);17 (9):
596-600 )
- Children with a history of persistent bed-wetting received
eight chiropractic adjustments. Number of wet nights fell from
seven per week to four. (JMPT 1991 (Feb);14 (2): 110-115)
- The
lumbar spine of an eight-year-old male bed wetter was adjusted
once and at a one-month follow-up. There was a complete resolution
of enuresis. “This happened in a manner that could not be attributed
to time or placebo effect.” (JMPT 1994 (Jun);17 (5): 335-338)
Will Chiropractic Care Help?
Since chiropractic isn’t a treatment
for bed wetting, a thorough examination is necessary. If the bed
wetting is caused by nerve interference from the spine, many children
see great results with chiropractic care. Find out!
We approach these cases with sensitivity and compassion. Your
son or daughter will appreciate and understand our explanations.
Please call or email me using the link below if your specific concern
hasn't been addressed here.
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