Chiroblog

As parents, one of the most encouraging truths about your child’s brain is this: it is constantly changing, adapting, and growing. This ability is called neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to form and strengthen connections based on experience, movement, and learning. Research shows that neuroplasticity is shaped by environmental input and stimulation, influencing everything from motor skills to behavior and learning. In simple terms, your child’s brain becomes better at what it practices. Pediatric chiropractic care focuses on supporting the nervous system—especially the communication between the brain and body—helping create an environment where these positive changes can occur more efficiently.

From my research and reading, there are four key ingredients that help drive neuroplasticity: novelty, frequency, intensity, and duration. First, the brain thrives on new and novel experiences. When children are exposed to new movements, sensations, or challenges, their brains are more likely to form new connections. Frequency matters because repetition strengthens these connections—what your child does consistently becomes wired into their nervous system (“nerves that fire together wire together”)*. This is supported by neuroscience research showing that repeated stimulation reinforces neural pathways and improves function. Intensity refers to how engaged and activated the nervous system is during an activity, while duration reflects how long and consistently these inputs are applied over time. Studies demonstrate that intensity and duration together influence the degree of neuroplastic change in brain networks. When all four elements are present, the brain is given the best opportunity to adapt and grow.

This is where pediatric chiropractic care can play a supportive role. Gentle, neurologically-focused adjustments provide novel sensory input to the brain and body, helping “wake up” areas of the nervous system that may not be communicating optimally. Brain-based chiropractic adjustments are new and unexpected inputs (new); the body does not receive these sorts of spinal corrections throughout a typical day unless they go to a pediatric chiropractor.  Through regular visits (frequency), appropriate care plans (duration), and targeted adjustments that engage the nervous system (intensity), chiropractic care may help reinforce healthier brain-body connections. Emerging research even shows measurable changes in brain activity following chiropractic care, suggesting it can influence neuroplastic processes. For parents, this means that consistent, supportive pediatric chiropractic care—combined with movement, play, and enriched experiences—can help your child build stronger foundations for growth, learning, and overall well-being.

Recently, when calling a company to order a product, I gave my email address (rubinchiropractic@gmail.com) to them for verification.  This person then said, “I’ve heard about bringing kids to a chiropractor…what is it that you do?”  I told her that “the brain and the body are connected by the spine, so that everything we feel and everything we do is because of that connection.  If something is interfering with that connection, there will be a consequence.  That’s what we do…we reconnect the disconnected areas!”  I then found a referral in her area from the  International Chiropractic Pediatric Association website: https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor/  Another kid’s going to be better! 

*[More on this in a future blog post]

References:

[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[aota.org]

[mdpi.com]

[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A fascinating new study from MIT reveals that the brain—far from having no more growth after early childhood—is actually filled with millions of “silent synapses,” or dormant neural connections waiting to be activated. These connections make up roughly 30% of synapses in the adult cortex and can quickly “turn on” when new learning occurs, allowing the brain to form new abilities.  This discovery breaks from the ages old concept that once your brain forms, you can never get new brain cells again, since the brain actually maintains a reserve capacity for growth and adaptation throughout life. In simple terms, the brain is always ready to learn—it just needs the right input and stimulation to bring these hidden connections online.

This concept is especially powerful when we think about children. The developing brain is already primed for change, but MIT’s research suggests that even unused or underdeveloped pathways may still be waiting for the right signal to activate. That’s where gentle pediatric chiropractic comes in!  Neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections in response to experience—is the foundation of learning, behavior, and development. When a child is exposed to healthy sensory input (like a pediatric chiropractic adjustment), movement (like neurologically-based exercises), and environmental engagement, these experiences can strengthen neural pathways and awaken those “silent” circuits. Conversely, if stress, dysfunction, or lack of proper input is present, some of these pathways may remain inactive, potentially contributing to challenges with focus, coordination, or regulation.

Here is how pediatric chiropractic care can play a supportive role. Gentle, neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustments aim to improve communication between the brain and body, creating a more balanced and responsive nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments combined with neurologically based exercises are new, novel inputs which essentially clears the brain of its ‘cobwebs’ When the spine and nervous system are functioning optimally, the brain is better able to receive, process, and adapt to sensory input—essentially giving those silent synapses the opportunity to activate. Chiropractic care may help remove interference so that the child’s natural neuroplasticity can be expressed more fully. For parents, this is an encouraging reminder: your child’s brain is not stuck or limited—it is adaptive, dynamic, and filled with untapped potential, just waiting for the right inputs to thrive.

A minimally speaking child with Autism started in our office 3 weeks ago.  He is now pointing at letters on a letterboard, has more eye contact, is calmer both in school and at home, and even came to the office the other day and greeted me with a wave and said, “Hi Dr Rubin.” Neuroplasticity-- through chiropractic and neuro exercises-- added new inputs and changed the way this child’s nerve system is regulated--- and that is the true power of pediatric chiropractic!

References:

[sciencedaily.com]

[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]