Chiroblog

An article in a 2019 issue of Psychology Today entitled, The Puzzle of the Unbalanced Mind, compares two kinds of “fitness landscapes,” which are simple models showing how different amounts of a trait affect an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce. In a symmetrical fitness landscape, individuals with low to medium levels of a trait have the highest reproductive success, and as you move toward either extreme—too low or too high—the number of successful offspring decreases. Mutations can widen the range of trait values, causing some individuals to fall into less optimal fitness zones on either side of the peak. In contrast, a cliff‑edged fitness landscape shows a situation where increasing a trait generally improves reproduction—right up until it hits a dangerous tipping point. Just past that peak, even a small shift can push individuals “off the cliff,” causing sharply reduced fitness.  The term fitness, as used by the author of the article, refers not to athletic ability but to the physical and behavioral health of that person.  So reduced fitness relates to a child who may have a weakened immune system, or more difficult behavioral issues.

Fitness landscapes offer a helpful way to understand why some children struggle more when their bodies or nervous systems drift away from an ideal range of balance and coordination. In a child’s developing spine and nervous system, there is a “sweet spot” where mobility, posture, primitive reflex integration, and sensory processing all work together smoothly—similar to the middle zone in a symmetrical fitness landscape. When birth strain, limited neck motion, poor crawling patterns, or retained primitive reflexes shift a child away from this zone, the system must work harder to interpret sensations, coordinate movement, or regulate behavior. Pediatric chiropractic care gently supports children by improving spinal motion and reducing tension, helping the brain receive clearer, more organized input from the body. This effectively moves a child toward the optimal middle of the landscape, widening the buffer between them and the “cliff edge” where small challenges can lead to bigger struggles—whether that’s feeding difficulty, colic-like discomfort, increased startle responses, or motor‑development delays. In this way, gentle pediatric chiropractic care supports resilience in growing children, helping their systems stay balanced, adaptable, and functioning at their best. 

We have seen countless times how children with autism come to the office for their first visit and are dysregulated and highly charged, and within several weeks to months they become more calm, focused and communicative. 

Reference: 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201903/the-puzzle-the-unbalanced-mind

The 1907, a landmark law case occurred in Chiropractic.  Believe it or not, chiropractors were being arrested and jailed (yes I am not kidding) for practicing medicine without a license. Over the course of the early to mid 1900’s, over 600 chiropractors were jailed, some multiple times!   

Wisconsin v. Morikubo case was the first successful legal defense of chiropractic, establishing it as a distinct profession from medicine and osteopathy. Arrested for practicing medicine without a license, Shegataro Morikubo, DC, from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, was acquitted based on attorney Tom Morris’s brilliant defense.   Morris was the lawyer hired by Dr BJ Palmer, one of the founders of chiropractic and at the time, president of the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.  Attorney Morris illustrated to the court that chiropractic was a separate and distinct "science, art, and philosophy" focused on the nerve system, not blood (which was the major tenet of osteopathy). 

Attorney Tom Morris argued that because Dr Morikubo did not use drugs or surgery, nor was he taught about drugs or surgery in chiropractic school, he was not practicing medicine. The defense focused on differentiating the chiropractic "philosophy of the nerve" from the osteopathic "supremacy of the artery".  The trial is considered a landmark event that saved the chiropractic profession during its early difficult years and also helped to establish future chiropractic licensing boards in all 50 states. 

It is amazing that now almost 120 years later, that pivotal case still protects chiropractic but even more importantly, shows how our version of brain-based chiropractic can be cited as having one of its early beginning promoters a clever attorney who knew why chiropractic was so special!

References:

The Morikubo Trial: Content Analysis of a Landmark Chiropractic Legal Case. Senzon 2019

https://chiroindex.org/?search_page=articles&action=&articleId=25851&search1=%22Subluxation%22

Looking back at the lawsuit that transformed the chiropractic profession

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8493523/pdf/i2374-250X-35-S1-25.pdf

The superficial stomach muscles, called the rectus abdominus, are made up of a right and left side, connecting strongly in the middle. A common condition during pregnancy is diastasis recti abdominis, the separation of the two sides of these core muscles. A study found that halfway through pregnancy, at least one third of women have this condition. You can actually visualize a diastasis by having the pregnant mom perform a mini sit-up, to see if the abdominal wall ‘cones’ or ‘pouches’ up.

There are many causes of diastasis recti abdominis. Unavoidable factors include hormonal changes which relax the tissues in the abdomen. Multiple pregnancies close together as well as being pregnant with twins are also factors.  Heavy lifting, crunches, planks, and slouched posture should be avoided as much as possible while pregnant. Whether the cause is avoidable or not, there are plenty of ways to help strengthen the core and work towards a reversal of the separation.

            The abdominal muscles can be supported during pregnancy, helping to decrease the severity of this condition. Focusing on belly breathing to properly engage the diaphragm and core is simple and can be done easily throughout the day. Consistent, low impact movement like walking, yoga, and swimming get the body moving in a way that helps to both strengthen and relax the muscles. Good posture is important and can be supported through aligning the spine with chiropractic adjustments. But importantly, if the person’s pelvis is out of alignment, then prenatal-specific chiropractic adjustments are essential to ensure that the abdominal muscles can heal properly. Properly preparing the body throughout pregnancy is essential, and those preparations should include regular exercise and chiropractic care by specifically trained perinatal certified chiropractors. 

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27324871/

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10029-025-03417-5.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/368909964_The_chiropractic_care_of_pregnant_women_a_scoping_review_of_the_literature/fulltext/6400dec60d98a97717d0baa0/The-chiropractic-care-of-pregnant-women-a-scoping-review-of-the-literature.pdf

New research brings encouraging information for families of young children with Autism who are minimally speaking. A large study following 707 preschoolers found that almost 2/3 of minimally speaking children developed some amount of spoken language after participating in early intervention programs. The researchers discovered that how long a child stays in therapy often matters more than the number of hours per week they receive. Children who had stronger motor‑imitation skills—such as clapping, pointing or nodding—were more likely to make gains in spoken language.

Parents have options now to look for supportive health care choices like pediatric chiropractic to help their child maximize their potential when they notice developmental delays.  While early intervention speech-language therapy is the primary, research‑supported method for developing language, some families also explore supportive options like pediatric chiropractic care to promote comfort, body awareness, and overall well‑being during this developmental phase. Parents have found that gentle pediatric chiropractic care can help their child feel more relaxed, regulated, and ready to engage during learning.  We see this everyday in our practice.  Kids who have been going to speech therapy and have been making mild to moderate improvements suddenly accelerate their improvements after starting brain-based pediatric chiropractic care. 

References:

[neurosciencenews.com]

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15374416.2025.2579286#abstract

If you’ve been following the big ideas shaping 2026, you know healthcare is changing fast. We’re talking about a future where health decisions aren’t just about treating sickness—they’re about keeping families healthier for the long term. That’s exciting news for parents because it means more options for proactive care. One area that’s gaining attention? Pediatric chiropractic. It’s all about supporting your child’s growth and development naturally, focusing on posture, spinal alignment, and especially on brain and nervous system health—things that can make a big difference as kids grow.

Think about it: today’s healthcare is becoming more personalized and tech-driven. Pediatric Chiropractors, pediatricians and wellness experts are working together, using tools like primitive reflex testing and visual/vestibular exams to create care plans that fit your child’s unique needs. Pediatric chiropractors are part of this movement. We're not just adjusting spines—we’re helping kids move better, sleep better, and feel better, often reducing stress on growing bodies before it turns into bigger issues. For parents, that means fewer surprises and more peace of mind.

As we look ahead, the best healthcare decisions will combine traditional medicine with preventive care. Adding pediatric chiropractic to your child’s wellness routine is a simple, low-risk way to support their overall health and make sure their brain and nerve system are working as effectively and efficiently as it can. It’s about giving kids the best start possible—helping them thrive in 2026.  And that’s what healthcare is really about: working together to raise healthier, happier kids.

Ready to give your child the best start possible? Schedule a pediatric chiropractic check-up today and discover how small adjustments can make a big difference for your child’s future health. Your family deserves care that’s proactive, natural, and designed for the world of tomorrow.  For more information, click here: https://www.theadjustment.com/

Reference: [substack.com]

Pregnancy is a time of many physical changes, and some expectant mothers may experience discomfort or challenges with fetal positioning. The Webster Technique, a chiropractic method developed by Dr. Larry Webster from Life University in Marietta, Georgia, aims to gently align the pelvis and reduce tension in surrounding muscles and ligaments. The Webster Technique focuses on improving the biomechanics of the sacrum and pelvis, which creates a more balanced environment for the baby and can, as Dr. Webster used to say, “give the pelvis more room.” [icpa4kids.com], [vertebrals…search.com]

Research supports the Webster Technique’s effectiveness in helping pregnant mom’s with babies in a non-optimal birth position.  A survey published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that 92% of pregnancies showed improvement following Webster Technique adjustments during the last months of pregnancy. Similarly, a practice-based study involving 81 pregnant women showed that about 70% of them had significant improvements after receiving the technique. Multiple case reports over the years, including a 2025 case report, documented that a woman at 37 weeks’ gestation had great results with the Webster Technique.  [spinecentral.co.uk] [vertebrals…search.com] [vertebrals…search.com]

Beyond encouraging optimal fetal position, the Webster Technique can ease pregnancy-related discomfort by relieving pelvic and sacral stress. Many pregnant women report lower back and hip pain relief following treatment. The consistency of positive outcomes makes the Webster Technique a valuable, gentle, and non-invasive option for prenatal care.  

One of our favorite recent cases was a pregnant mom at 41 weeks who was referred to the office by her Ob/Gyn on a Wednesday night for her first ever visit to a chiropractor.  After a detailed exam, we provided her a gentle Webster-based adjustment.  The following day, we received a text from the mom, who said that she went into labor a few hours after the adjustment, and had a natural delivery the next morning!  She texted us a beautiful picture of her and her newborn.  What a celebration!  This just shows that chiropractic can be an amazing intervention for our pregnant moms at any stage of their pregnancy.

When you think about your spine, you probably picture it as the backbone of your body—literally. But did you know that this incredible structure has been evolving for hundreds of millions of years? The story begins with simple aquatic creatures that had nothing more than a flexible rod called a notochord. Over time, that rod transformed into segmented vertebrae, giving rise to the first vertebrates. These early innovations allowed animals to move more efficiently and protect their nervous systems, setting the stage for everything from fish to mammals—and eventually, us. The spine allows for greater flexibility and protection for the spinal cord, but it also is very vulnerable to injury (which is why chiropractic was eventually created in 1895!).

As life moved from water to land, the spine had to adapt to new challenges. Early reptiles and synapsids (our distant ancestors) developed specialized regions in their spines, like thoracic and lumbar sections, to handle twisting, bending, and weight-bearing. This was a game-changer for locomotion. Later, mammals refined these features even further, creating a spine that could support running, climbing, and eventually walking upright. Researchers using advanced imaging and computer modeling have shown how these changes weren’t just about strength—they were about flexibility and balance too. And as the spine evolved, so did our brains…to adapt to walking on 2 feet, we had to create more complicated brains to allow us to use our hands for more complex things and our feet and back for support. 

Fast forward to humans, and the spine takes on its most unique role yet: supporting bipedalism. Standing on two legs required new curves in the spine to keep us balanced and upright. But here’s the catch—those adaptations came with trade-offs. Studies show that our vertebrae are more vulnerable to issues like lower back pain and osteoporosis compared to our primate cousins. Plus childbirth had to change, since the human pelvis is much smaller than most mammals…hence our baby’s come into the world with brains that aren’t completely grown, to make birthing a human baby somewhat easier.  However, that makes our spine, brain and nerve system even more vulnerable.

Hopefully this is a fascinating reminder that evolution isn’t about perfection; it’s about making do with what works best for survival. So next time your back aches, you can thank millions of years of evolutionary engineering for getting you here!  And thank your chiropractor for helping keep your spine, brain and nerve system as healthy as possible!

Further Reading

• Journal of Human Evolution – The evolution of spinal morphology in hominins
• Nature Reviews Rheumatology – Spinal disorders and evolutionary trade-offs in humans
• Evolution & Development – Origin and diversification of vertebral elements in vertebrates
• Proceedings of the Royal Society B – Functional evolution of the mammalian axial skeleton
• Journal of Anatomy – Comparative morphology of lumbar vertebrae in primates and early mammals
• Science Advances – Synapsid trunk evolution and the origins of mammalian flexibility
• The 4 billion year path to human evolution:  https://www.visualcapitalist.com/path-of-human-evolution/

The human brain doesn’t mature all at once—it develops in a very organized way. According to Dr. Robert Melillo, this process starts from the bottom and works its way up. Early in life, the brainstem and lower regions control basic survival functions (like eating, swallowing and breathing) and reflexes. These primitive reflexes, like grasping or rooting, are essential for newborns but should fade as higher brain areas develop. As the cortex matures, it begins to exert “top-down” control, calming these reflexes and allowing more voluntary, purposeful movements.

Another fascinating aspect of brain development is how each hemisphere takes turns leading the way. In the first two years (from birth until age 2), the right side of the brain grows more rapidly, supporting sensory processing, emotional regulation, and spatial awareness. The goal in the first 2 years of brain development is more ‘big picture’; having the child learn who they are and what they are doing here.  Then, during the next two years, the left hemisphere takes the spotlight, driving language skills and analytical thinking. The goal in the 2^nd two years is gathering and expanding detailed information on all the stuff that was processed in the first 2 years.  This balanced progression is crucial for healthy cognitive and motor development.

Recent research adds even more insight. A study called Sensing Echoes by Torres shows that a simple newborn hearing test—the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)—can reveal subtle delays in brain signal timing. These delays may predict which children are at risk for autism, making ABR a powerful early screening tool. Similarly, Leisman and Melillo’s work on primitive reflexes suggests that if these reflexes linger beyond infancy, they could signal developmental challenges like ADHD or autism. Identifying these markers early gives parents and clinicians a chance to intervene sooner, supporting better outcomes for children.

We are pediatric specialist chiropractic office and looking for retained primitive reflexes (RPRs) is foundational in what we examine in children.  We have found that children with more RPRs generally have more challenges, and between chiropractic adjustments and home-based neurological exercises, children can gain focus, improve calmness, have less outbursts, and generally become happier and healthier kiddos!

References: 

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/2/pgac315/7035935 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.70053

A recent study looked at how eating habits differ between children with autism and those who are typically developing, as well as how much parents know about nutrition. Researchers found that children with autism tend to eat fewer snacks but have more emotional eating behaviors, like overeating when upset. They are also more likely to have strong reactions—such as tantrums—when they can’t get their favorite foods. Compared to other children, kids with autism eat core food groups less often and consume more packaged foods and sugary drinks.  Dealing with kids with Autism like we have for many years, I agree with this part of the article.  However, it doesn’t really go into the fact that many of the favorite foods of kids with Autism are due to texture vs purely ‘like or dislike.’  The same muscles that are used to chew and swallow food are used to some degree to speak, which explains why children with more severe levels of Autism may not eat a balanced diet as well as have difficulty in speech. 

The study also showed that parents of children with autism generally have less nutrition knowledge than parents of typically developing children. This I find not completely accurate. As stated above, I find the reason that children with Autism tend to eat more processed & packaged foods is not because of a lack of parental education (many of the parents I work with who have kids with Autism are very highly educated)…rather there are certain foods kids with Autism are drawn to (mac and cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, French fries, for example) due to texture, taste (sweet/salty) and look (all are yellowish).

Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050656525002081

A 2023 study focuses on finding ways to identify neurodevelopmental challenges, such as autism, much earlier than current methods allow. Today, autism is usually diagnosed between ages 2-4, when social and communication delays become noticeable. However, the building blocks for these skills—like sensory processing—are present at birth. The researchers discovered that a routine newborn hearing test, called the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), contains hidden clues about how the brain processes sound. By doing advanced analysis on these ABR signals, they found clear differences between babies who later received an autism diagnosis and those who developed typically. This means that, in some children, certain developmental concerns can be detected soon after birth.

Early detection is critical because the sooner interventions begin, the better the long-term outcomes for a child’s growth and learning. The new approach doesn’t require extra procedures—just smarter analysis of data already collected during standard newborn hearing screenings. By turning these tests into a universal screening tool, doctors could identify potential developmental delays months or even years earlier than current practices. This breakthrough offers hope for personalized care plans that support healthy brain development from the very start of life. 

This is so many newborns, toddlers and preschoolers that we see can have complete trajectory changes by simply identifying weaknesses at birth or during their early years and then strengthening them, so that as each child ages, their brain-nerve system-body connections are working at optimal level.  If an ABR test can reveal clues about how the brain processes information in a young child, so can testing primitive reflexes, looking at early eye movements, and other simple tests that a certified pediatric chiropractor can perform. 

Reference: 

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/2/pgac315/7035935