Why Your Young Musician Needs Chiropractic Care

By Krista Elliott

One thing about being a musician (albeit not a great one; my skills can best be described as "advanced mediocre") is that you develop an even greater appreciation for the skills and effort of other musicians. I get a fresh reminder of this every time I watch a live performance. Whether it's a world-famous professional musician or a hard-working local group, the dedication and work that musicians put into their art never fails to impress me. 

And when I talk about work, I'm not just talking about the time spent rehearsing. I'm talking about the physical toll that being a musician can take on your body. Some instruments can really put your body through a lot of strain, especially after hours and hours (and hours) of rehearsing combined with hours-long performances. 

Tiny Kids, Big Music

What's even more impressive is when you see this amount of work and dedication in children. Small kids lugging around cellos almost bigger than they are, peering out from over drum kits, and stretching their tiny fingers to master the F-chord on their guitar — it's adorable. My own nephew played baritone sax as a kid (he still does), and it was pretty cute to see him playing a sax not much shorter than he was. He had to wear a special strap to help support its weight and keep the instrument from hurting his neck and back. 

It makes you wonder how many other small children are out there playing heavy or unwieldy instruments and what the results are on their developing spines.

Don't get me wrong -- music programs have a multitude of benefits for kids and should be fostered and encouraged wholeheartedly. But while we often remember to keep an eye on the well-being of our young athletes' spines and joints, we often forget to check in with their musical brethren. 

Keep 'Em Strong and Growing

So why does your budding musician need routine chiropractic care? Well, as mentioned, their spines are still developing. Kids are constantly growing, as any parent could tell you after seeing that their son's brand-new pants are too short after only a few weeks. So with all of this growth and eventual hardening of their vertebrae, it's absolutely crucial to ensure that your child's spine is growing with perfect alignment. 

Playing an instrument, however, can definitely throw that alignment out of whack. And if left undetected and untreated, these small subluxations and joint restrictions can develop into serious back issues later on in life. 

With regular chiropractic care from The Joint Chiropractic, any joint irregularities or problems can be detected and treated early. With gentle and precise adjustments, chiropractic care is safe for even your littlest musicians, helping them develop a healthy and straight spine that will serve them well for the rest of their life. 

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.