Think of your child’s nervous system as the body’s main communication highway, with the brainstem acting as the control tower. When everything is flowing smoothly, messages are sent and received clearly. But what happens when there’s a roadblock at the most critical intersection—the very top of the spine? For many children with sensory challenges, a tiny misalignment here can create static on the line, scrambling the signals that help them make sense of the world. This leads to the core question many families are asking: can upper cervical chiropractic help with sensory processing disorder by clearing that roadblock? This article explains the vital brain-body connection and how restoring proper alignment in the neck can help regulate the nervous system, allowing for a calmer, more organized sensory experience.
If you’ve ever noticed your child having a tough time with loud noises, certain textures of clothing, or crowded spaces, you might be seeing signs of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Simply put, SPD means a child’s brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. It’s not a matter of behavior; it’s about how their nervous system interprets the world around them. For these kids, everyday sensations can feel overwhelming, leading to reactions that can be confusing for parents.
What feels like a gentle touch to you might feel scratchy and irritating to them. The background music at a restaurant might sound like a rock concert. Because their sensitivities can change from day to day, it can be challenging to pinpoint triggers and find a sense of balance. Understanding the root of these challenges is the first step toward helping your child feel more comfortable and in control. At Lazar Spinal Care, we see many children with these sensitivities and focus on getting to the core of what’s causing this disconnect in their nervous system. Our approach to pediatric chiropractic care is designed to be gentle and effective for even the most sensitive little ones.
Because every child is unique, the symptoms of SPD can vary widely. You might notice physical reactions like frequent headaches, dizziness, or tense muscles when your child is in a stimulating environment. Emotionally, they might seem more anxious, get frustrated easily, or have big emotional outbursts that feel out of proportion to the situation. These aren't tantrums for the sake of it; they are often a genuine cry for help from an overwhelmed nervous system.
These reactions are often triggered by things we might not even notice, like the hum of a refrigerator, the seams in their socks, or the bright lights at a grocery store. While SPD is its own condition, it can sometimes be associated with other neurodevelopmental conditions like autism or ADHD. The key is recognizing that these behaviors are your child’s way of communicating that their sensory world feels chaotic and unmanageable.
Living with SPD can make ordinary childhood experiences feel like major hurdles. A birthday party can be a sensory minefield of noise and activity. A classroom full of students can be too distracting to focus on learning. Even a simple family meal can be stressful if the tastes or smells of food are too intense. This constant state of sensory overload can leave a child feeling anxious, isolated, and misunderstood, which can impact their self-esteem and social development.
This is where the connection between the brain and body becomes so important. Chiropractic care can help by focusing on the health of the nervous system, which is the master control system for processing sensory information. Gentle spinal adjustments can help regulate the nervous system, improving the brain’s ability to interpret sensory input more effectively. Many parents find that this care helps their children feel calmer and more grounded, allowing them to participate more fully in the world. We’ve seen firsthand how addressing these underlying issues can help with a wide range of conditions related to nervous system function.
To understand how sensory processing can go off track, it helps to first look at how it’s supposed to work. Think of your child’s nervous system as the body's command center. It’s responsible for taking in information from the world around them—the feeling of a soft blanket, the sound of a dog barking, the sight of a bright light—and making sense of it all. This complex network, made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, is what allows us to interact with and respond to our environment. When this system is working smoothly, sensory information is processed correctly, and a child can respond appropriately. But if there’s a disruption in this communication pathway, the world can start to feel overwhelming.
Your child’s brain and body are in constant conversation, and the nervous system is the line they use to talk. The spine acts as a protective case for the spinal cord, which is the main highway for these messages. When your child touches something, for example, nerves in their skin send a signal up the spinal cord to the brain. The brain interprets that signal ("this is soft" or "this is hot") and sends a message back down, telling the body how to react. This incredible brain-body connection controls everything from balance and coordination to how your child feels emotionally and physically. For this communication to be clear and effective, the pathways need to be free of interference, which is a core focus of pediatric chiropractic care.
Sometimes, this communication highway can get a traffic jam. If the bones at the top of the spine are out of their proper alignment, they can put pressure on the delicate nerves near the brainstem. This can disrupt the flow of information, causing signals to get crossed, delayed, or exaggerated. For a child with SPD, this might mean a gentle touch feels painful or normal background noise sounds deafeningly loud. This interference can put their nervous system into a state of constant high alert, often called "sympathetic tone." The goal of upper cervical care is to gently correct these misalignments, which can help regulate the nervous system and improve the brain’s ability to process sensory input more effectively, addressing many of the conditions we help with at our clinic.
When you hear "chiropractic," you might picture the kind of full-body adjustments that involve twisting and popping. Upper cervical care is different. It’s a specialized approach that focuses on the most critical and delicate area of your spine—the very top—to restore communication between your brain and body. For a child with sensory processing challenges, this precise and gentle method can make a world of difference.
Upper cervical chiropractic care centers on the relationship between the head and neck, specifically the first two vertebrae: the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis). This small area is a superhighway for your nervous system. It’s where your brainstem sits, controlling nearly all of your body’s automatic functions—from breathing and heart rate to posture and sensory processing. When these top two bones are even slightly misaligned, they can interfere with the vital nerve signals traveling between the brain and the rest of the body. By focusing on this one critical area, we can address the root cause of many health issues, rather than just chasing symptoms. Our specialized techniques are designed to correct these specific misalignments and restore proper function.
One of the biggest concerns parents have about chiropractic care for their children is safety and comfort. This is where upper cervical care truly shines, especially for kids with sensory sensitivities. Our adjustments are incredibly gentle, with no cracking, popping, or twisting. We use precise, light-touch methods to correct misalignments. One of our primary techniques, Quantum Spinal Mechanics (QSM3), is based on measurement and precision, allowing for a correction that is both effective and comfortable. This gentle approach is ideal for children, as it works with their body’s natural healing ability without causing stress or discomfort. It’s a calm and reassuring experience designed to help your child feel safe and supported throughout their care.
While many forms of chiropractic care can be beneficial, the upper cervical approach is distinct. Traditional chiropractic often involves adjusting multiple areas of the spine to increase mobility and relieve pain. Upper cervical care, however, is based on the principle that if the head and neck are properly aligned, the rest of the spine will follow. It’s a highly specific and analytical approach. We use advanced diagnostic imaging to pinpoint the exact angle of the misalignment before making a single, precise correction. This focus on the root cause—the interference at the top of the nervous system—is what makes it such a powerful option for complex neurological conditions we help, including Sensory Processing Disorder in children.
It might seem like a big leap to connect your child’s sensory sensitivities to the alignment of their spine, but the link is more direct than you might think. Your child’s nervous system is the master communication network that controls how they experience the world. When there’s interference in that network, especially at the very top, the messages can get scrambled. This can lead to the very sensory challenges you see every day. By addressing the structural source of this interference, we can help the body’s communication lines clear up, allowing for a more balanced and organized sensory experience.
The very top of the spine, where the head meets the neck, is a critical area for your child’s health. This region, made up of the first two vertebrae (C1 and C2), is called the upper cervical spine. It’s not just a collection of bones; it’s the protective gateway for the brainstem. Think of the brainstem as the body's main control center, managing a constant flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body. Because of this vital location, even a tiny misalignment here can have a significant impact on how your child’s nervous system functions and processes sensory input from their environment.
When the upper cervical spine shifts out of its proper position, it can put pressure on the delicate nerves surrounding the brainstem. This disruption can interfere with the signals traveling back and forth, essentially creating static on the line. This interference can cause the nervous system to get stuck in a state of high alert, often called "sympathetic tone." For a child with sensory challenges, this means their system is constantly in a "fight or flight" mode, making it incredibly difficult to process sights, sounds, and touch calmly and appropriately. This is one of the core conditions we can help with.
Correcting these misalignments is all about restoring clear communication. Our gentle Quantum Spinal Mechanics (QSM3) approach focuses on bringing the head and neck back into proper alignment, which takes the pressure off the nervous system. When the interference is removed, the brain can more accurately receive, interpret, and respond to sensory information. This helps regulate the nervous system, improving the brain’s ability to integrate sensory input more effectively. By addressing the structural issue, we can support the body’s natural ability to balance itself, which can lead to profound changes in how your child experiences their world.
When your child’s nervous system is overwhelmed, it can feel like you’re both stuck in a constant state of high alert. The goal of upper cervical care isn’t to "cure" SPD, but to address underlying spinal misalignments that may be interfering with how their brain and body communicate. By restoring balance to the nervous system, we can create an environment where your child’s body is better equipped to process sensory information, manage stress, and regulate emotions.
Think of it like this: if the main communication highway between the brain and the body has a roadblock, messages get jumbled. Upper cervical care focuses on gently clearing that roadblock at the most critical point—the top of the spine. This allows for clearer signals, a calmer system, and a greater sense of ease for your child. Let’s look at exactly how this gentle approach can make a difference.
The brainstem, which acts as the body's main switchboard, passes directly through the top two bones of the neck. When these vertebrae are misaligned, they can put pressure on this vital area, creating static and interference in the nervous system. This can disrupt the flow of information between the brain and the body. By gently adjusting the upper cervical spine, chiropractic care can help reduce this irritation, allowing the nervous system to process sensory information more effectively. Our specialized techniques are designed to correct these misalignments precisely, helping to restore that clear line of communication so your child's brain can accurately perceive and respond to their environment.
For a child with SPD, sensory signals can feel like a constant barrage of overwhelming noise. A misaligned spine can worsen this by scrambling the signals before they even reach the brain for processing. Upper cervical care helps regulate the nervous system, improving the brain’s ability to process and interpret sensory input more effectively. When the nervous system is functioning with less interference, the brain can better organize information from the senses—touch, sound, sight, and movement. This can lead to more appropriate responses and a reduced sense of being overwhelmed by everyday stimuli. The goal is to help the brain turn down the volume on the static so it can hear the music.
Many children with SPD live in a state of chronic stress, with their nervous system stuck in the "fight or flight" (sympathetic) mode. This constant state of high alert makes it incredibly difficult to relax, focus, or handle sensory input calmly. A misalignment at the top of the spine can contribute to this overactive stress response. Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments aim to restore balance within the nervous system, helping it shift back toward the "rest and digest" (parasympathetic) state. This shift promotes better sensory integration and regulation, helping your child feel safer and more grounded in their own body instead of constantly feeling on edge.
When a child’s nervous system is calmer and sensory information is processed more clearly, emotional regulation often follows. The constant stress and sensory overload of SPD can lead to frequent meltdowns, anxiety, and difficulty managing feelings. Chiropractic care focuses on correcting nervous system imbalances that may be affecting sensory processing, coordination, and emotional regulation, helping children feel calmer and more in control. By addressing the underlying physical stressor of a spinal misalignment, we support your child’s ability to handle daily challenges, reduce the frequency of emotional outbursts, and build resilience. This helps create a foundation for greater emotional stability and well-being for your entire family.
Bringing your child to a new type of appointment can feel a little overwhelming, but I want to walk you through exactly what to expect. Our entire process is designed to be calm, gentle, and reassuring for both you and your child. From the moment you walk in, our goal is to understand your child’s unique needs and create a supportive environment where they can begin to heal. We take the time to listen, observe, and connect with your child before starting any part of the assessment.
Your first visit is all about gathering information. We perform a comprehensive and non-invasive evaluation to get a clear picture of your child’s spinal health and neurological function. This isn't about finding what's "wrong," but rather understanding how your child's body is currently operating. We use advanced diagnostic tools like PostureIQ™ and Insight™ neurological scans to see precisely how their nervous system is communicating. These scans are completely painless and help us identify any areas of interference that might be contributing to sensory processing challenges. This detailed assessment allows us to pinpoint the root cause of the issue, so we can create a care plan that is truly specific to your child.
When you think of chiropractic care, you might picture twisting or popping, but our approach is different. We use incredibly gentle and precise adjustment techniques to restore balance to the nervous system. One of our primary methods is Quantum Spinal Mechanics (QSM3), which involves a light touch to correct misalignments at the top of the spine without any forceful movements. The goal is to gently encourage the body back into its proper alignment, which helps improve the communication between the brain and the body. This focus on gentle care makes it a comfortable and positive experience for children, especially those who are sensitive to touch and new environments.
After the initial assessment, we’ll develop a personalized care plan tailored to your child’s specific needs. This plan outlines the recommended frequency of visits and the goals we’re working toward together. The focus of pediatric chiropractic care is to help regulate the nervous system, which improves the brain’s ability to process and interpret sensory information more effectively. We’ll walk you through every step of the plan, explaining what we’re doing and why. We believe in partnering with parents, so we’ll always make sure you feel informed and comfortable with the care your child is receiving. Progress is a process, and we’ll be there to support your family along the way.
As your child’s nervous system becomes more balanced, you may start to notice positive shifts in their behavior and well-being. While every child’s journey is unique, many parents report seeing their kids become calmer and more focused. You might observe fewer meltdowns, better emotional regulation, and an improved ability to handle sensory-rich environments that were once overwhelming. Some families also see improvements in sleep patterns and coordination. The ultimate goal is to help your child’s nervous system function without interference, allowing them to better integrate sensory input and thrive. You can read about the experiences of other families on our patient reviews page.
As a parent, you want to find the best possible support for your child. When you see them struggling with sensory challenges, it’s natural to explore every option that could help them feel more comfortable and confident in their world. You’re looking for an approach that is not only effective but also safe, gentle, and tailored to their specific needs. Deciding on a new type of care can feel overwhelming, but understanding how it works and who it’s for is the first step toward making an informed choice for your family.
Upper cervical chiropractic care is a highly specific approach that may be different from what you picture when you think of chiropractic. It’s not about pops or cracks; it’s about precision. By focusing on the critical connection between the head and the neck, we can address underlying issues in the nervous system that may contribute to sensory processing difficulties. The following sections will help you understand if your child is a good candidate for this care, how it fits into their overall healthcare plan, and what makes it unique.
The best way to determine if your child can benefit from upper cervical care is with a comprehensive evaluation. During this initial visit, we assess your child’s spine, posture, and neurological function to see how their brain and body are communicating. Children who are good candidates often have a nervous system that seems stuck in overdrive, which can interfere with their ability to process sensory input effectively.
If your child struggles with emotional regulation, coordination, or sensory integration, restoring balance within their nervous system could make a significant difference. Through gentle and precise adjustments, our goal is to ease the interference that may be scrambling their sensory signals. Our pediatric chiropractic care is designed to help their nervous system function with greater ease, promoting better sensory regulation.
We believe in a collaborative approach to your child’s health. Upper cervical care is not meant to replace other essential therapies, such as occupational, physical, or speech therapy. Instead, it’s designed to complement them. When your child’s nervous system is more balanced and regulated, they are often better equipped to engage with and benefit from their other therapeutic activities.
Think of it as strengthening the foundation. By correcting nervous system imbalances that may affect sensory processing and emotional regulation, we can help your child feel calmer and more in control. This improved internal state can make it easier for them to participate in other therapies and achieve their developmental goals. We are here to be a supportive partner on your child’s dedicated healthcare team.
It’s common for parents to wonder how upper cervical care differs from traditional chiropractic. The main distinction is the area of focus. While general chiropractic often addresses the entire spine, upper cervical care concentrates specifically on the top two vertebrae in the neck—the atlas and axis. This area is the critical junction where the brainstem meets the spinal cord, acting as the main control center for nerve communication.
Because this area is so delicate, our techniques are incredibly precise and gentle, making them a safe option for children. There is no twisting, popping, or cracking involved. Instead, we use specific, light-touch adjustments to restore proper alignment, which in turn allows the nervous system to function without interference. This focused approach gets to the root of the communication breakdown between the brain and the body.
Is this type of chiropractic care actually safe for children? This is the most important question, and I’m glad you’re asking it. Yes, upper cervical care is incredibly safe for children because it is so gentle. We don't use any of the popping, twisting, or forceful movements you might associate with traditional chiropractic. Our adjustments, like the QSM3 technique, are based on precise measurements and involve a very light touch to correct the alignment at the top of the spine. The entire process is calm and designed to be comfortable, even for the most sensitive kids.
My child is very sensitive to touch. How do you perform the adjustment? We completely understand this concern, as it’s very common for children with sensory challenges. Our approach is built for sensitive systems. The adjustment itself is a light, specific touch applied to the neck while your child is resting comfortably. There is no sudden pressure or movement. We take our time to build trust and ensure your child feels secure before we do anything, and the entire process is calm and reassuring.
How is this different from the occupational therapy my child already receives? Upper cervical care and occupational therapy are wonderful partners in supporting your child. Think of it this way: occupational therapy helps your child develop skills and strategies to manage their sensory world from the outside in. Our work focuses on improving the underlying function of their nervous system from the inside out. By clearing interference in the brain-body communication pathway, we help create a calmer internal state, which can make it easier for your child to engage in and benefit from their OT sessions.
How will I know if this is working for my child? Every child responds differently, but progress often shows up as subtle shifts in their daily life. You might notice they have fewer meltdowns, seem calmer in busy environments, or handle transitions with a bit more ease. Some parents see improvements in sleep patterns, focus, or coordination. We aren't treating the disorder itself, but rather helping the nervous system function better. These positive changes are signs that your child's body is becoming more balanced and resilient.
How long will my child need to receive care? The goal of care is to correct the primary spinal misalignment and allow your child’s body to stabilize and heal. Initially, visits may be more frequent to ensure the correction holds. As their body adapts and their nervous system function improves, the frequency of visits will decrease. Our aim is to help your child’s body maintain its proper alignment on its own, not to create a dependency on endless adjustments.