When people hear the term “chiropractic” they usually think
of manual manipulation as a treatment for back pain, neck pain, and/or
headaches. While it is true chiropractic has become well known as a popular
treatment for these common ailments it is actually a form of preventive
healthcare with much broader applications.
This discrepancy in the perception of chiropractic and the
reality of its role in modern healthcare can be illustrated by the Kentuckiana
Children’s Center. The Kentuckiana Children’s Center treats special needs
children with chiropractic as the foundational treatment modality. At
Kentuckiana, chiropractic care is supplemented with care from many other
healthcare disciplines. By placing all these healthcare disciplines under one
roof and working toward the united goal of helping children these angels of
mercy are able to help children burdened with what would have previously been
described as being dim potential and allow them to have greatly improved lifetime
outcomes.
By using chiropractic as the foundational treatment modality
it allows physical therapy, speech therapy, nutritional therapy, and all the
other allied healthcare disciplines available at Kentuckiana to be maximally
effective. The combined effects of these therapies supply diverse sensory input
resulting in better outcomes than would normally be expected from the
application of any of these healthcare disciplines used by itself. This diverse
sensory input appears to promote greater cognitive stimulation and therefore
improved outcomes and results for the children under care at this unique
facility.
Utilizing all of these different healthcare disciplines to
promote greater cognitive stimulation in children allows the organized sensory
input to augment cognitive function (the ability to think and reason), the
immune system, and motor coordination. The improvement in physical functions
the practitioners at Kentuckiana are able to attain for the children under care
in this type of environment offers results not being achieved at other
facilities.
The organization of sensory input to strengthen the
cognitive function, immunity, and motor coordination is well documented in the
scientific literature and in clinical observation. To stay abreast of the
latest medical developments the doctors, staff, and board members at
Kentuckiana regularly attend workshops, seminars, and other types of continuing
education functions pertinent to the conditions they treat in the pediatric population
at the facility. Additionally, the doctors perform research at Kentuckiana to
submit for publication in scientific journals.
Some of the observable results found at Kentuckiana via the
use of chiropractic as the foundational treatment modality include: improved
speech, decreased severity of seizures, improved bowel function, improved sleep
patterns, fewer tantrums, less seizures, calmer behavioral patterns, and the
speedier attainment of goals when undergoing other therapies such as
occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy. Overall, many of
the parents note that their child is simply more pleasant to be around.
Additionally, the special needs children treated at
Kentuckiana are a shining example of Doctors of Chiropractic being modulators
of the nervous system thereby affecting all the various functions the nervous
system controls. This takes Doctors of Chiropractic out of the realm of being
simply doctors treating low back pain, neck pain, and headaches.
However, such care
of special needs children demands funds to keep this effective therapy
available. Kentuckiana accepts private-sector donations, insurance
reimbursement, as well as conducting fundraisers, writing grants, and mailing
requests for donations numerous times throughout the year. Some donors make
specific donations of equipment or facility maintenance thereby allowing the
continued operation of this special facility. However, the current economic
climate and increasing competition from other non-profit organizations that
compete for the same funds is creating funding difficulties for Kentuckiana.
