When you think about chiropractic care, you probably picture adults dealing with back pain or stiff necks, right? Most people do. But here’s something that might surprise you: your child’s spine—specifically the top two bones in their neck—plays a crucial role in their overall health, development, and growth from the moment they’re born.
At Desoto Upper Cervical in Southaven, Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer specialize in caring for children of all ages, from newborns just days old to teenagers navigating growth spurts. We focus on the upper cervical spine—the atlas and axis vertebrae at the base of the skull—because this tiny area has an outsized impact on your child’s nervous system and overall health.
If you’ve ever wondered whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your child, or why their neck would even need attention when they’re so young, let’s talk about it. We’ll explain what upper cervical care for children really involves, why it matters, and how it can support your child’s healthy development.
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What Makes Upper Cervical Care Different
First, let’s clarify what we mean by upper cervical care, because it’s quite different from what you might think of as typical chiropractic treatment.
Upper cervical care focuses exclusively on the atlas (C1) and axis (C2)—the top two vertebrae in the spine. These bones are unique. They’re the most mobile vertebrae in your entire spine, allowing you to turn your head, nod, and move in all directions. But that mobility also makes them vulnerable to misalignment.
More importantly, these two vertebrae surround and protect your brainstem—the part of your central nervous system that controls virtually every automatic function in your body. Heart rate, breathing, digestion, immune response, sleep cycles, growth hormones—all of this is coordinated through the brainstem. When the atlas or axis is misaligned, even slightly, it can interfere with brainstem function and affect your child’s entire nervous system.
At Desoto Upper Cervical, we use two highly specialized techniques: Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology. These aren’t your typical chiropractic adjustments. There’s no twisting, popping, or forceful manipulation. Instead, we use precise, instrument-assisted corrections that are incredibly gentle—especially important when working with children.
For infants and young children, the amount of pressure we use is about the same as what you’d use to check if a tomato is ripe. It’s that gentle. Most babies sleep right through their adjustments, and older children often don’t even realize anything happened.
Why the Upper Cervical Spine Matters for Your Child
You might be thinking, “But my child is young and healthy. Why would their neck need attention?” Great question. Let’s talk about what happens from the very beginning of your child’s life.
Birth and Early Development
The birth process, as beautiful as it is, can be physically traumatic for a baby’s delicate neck. Think about it—whether it’s a natural delivery, a difficult labor, forceps or vacuum assistance, or even a C-section, there are significant forces applied to a newborn’s head and neck.
Research suggests that up to 90% of newborns may have some degree of upper cervical misalignment following birth. These aren’t the obvious, severe misalignments—they’re subtle shifts that may not cause immediate obvious symptoms. But over time, they can interfere with nervous system function and contribute to common infant issues.
Have you ever wondered why some babies have such a hard time with colic, while others don’t? Or why some struggle with latching and breastfeeding? Or why some infants have persistent digestive issues or sleep poorly? While there can be many factors involved, upper cervical misalignment is often a contributing factor that gets overlooked.
When a newborn’s atlas is properly aligned, the brainstem can function optimally. Nerve signals flow freely. The body’s automatic systems—digestion, breathing coordination, sleep cycles—work the way they’re supposed to. For many infants, gentle upper cervical correction can make a significant difference in their comfort and well-being.
The Physical Demands of Childhood
As your child grows, their upper cervical spine continues to face challenges. Think about all the physical milestones: learning to hold their head up, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, pulling up, and eventually walking. Each of these stages involves developing new muscle control and coordination, and each comes with its share of tumbles and bumps.
Toddlers fall constantly—dozens of times per day as they master walking and running. Most of these falls seem harmless, and usually they are. But over time, those little impacts can create subtle shifts in the upper cervical spine. One fall might cause a slight misalignment. Another fall might compound it. Before you know it, there’s enough misalignment to affect nervous system function.
School-age children face new challenges: heavy backpacks that put uneven strain on their developing spines, hours spent hunched over tablets and phones (hello, tech neck), sitting at desks with poor posture, and sports activities that involve impacts and collisions. All of these can affect upper cervical alignment.
Teenagers going through growth spurts experience rapid changes in their bodies. Sometimes their bones grow faster than their muscles and ligaments can adapt, creating new stresses on the spine. Plus, they’re dealing with increased academic pressure, more time on devices, higher-intensity sports, and sometimes even contact sports that can directly impact the neck.
How Upper Cervical Misalignment Affects Children
When a child’s atlas or axis is misaligned, it can create interference with the nervous system in several ways:
The brainstem can be irritated or compressed. Remember, the brainstem coordinates almost every automatic function in your child’s body. When there’s pressure or irritation from misalignment, it can affect everything from sleep and digestion to immune response and growth hormone production.
Nerve communication is disrupted. Your child’s nervous system is constantly sending signals between the brain and every part of their body. These signals travel through the upper cervical spine. Misalignment can interfere with clear communication, which can affect how their body functions and develops.
Blood flow can be reduced. Important arteries that supply the brain pass through or alongside the upper cervical vertebrae. Misalignment can affect blood flow, which can impact brain function, concentration, sleep, and overall vitality.
Muscle tension develops. When the atlas or axis is misaligned, the body tries to compensate. This creates tension patterns throughout the neck, shoulders, and back. For children, this can affect posture, coordination, and physical comfort.
The result can be a wide range of issues—some obvious, some subtle. We’re not saying upper cervical misalignment causes every childhood problem. But we are saying that when the upper cervical spine is properly aligned and the nervous system is functioning optimally, children’s bodies work better and they’re healthier overall.
Benefits of Upper Cervical Care for Children
When Dr. Hall or Dr. Reistroffer corrects upper cervical misalignment in a child, parents often notice improvements in several areas:
Better Sleep
Sleep is absolutely crucial for children’s growth, learning, brain development, and emotional regulation. Many parents report that their children fall asleep more easily, sleep more soundly, and wake up more rested after beginning upper cervical care. This makes sense—when the brainstem is functioning properly without interference, it can better regulate sleep cycles.
Improved Immune Function
Your child’s nervous system and immune system work closely together. When there’s no interference in the upper cervical spine, the immune system can function more effectively. Many parents notice their children get sick less often or recover more quickly from colds and other illnesses once they begin regular upper cervical care.
Better Behavior and Focus
This one surprises a lot of parents, but it makes sense when you think about it. When a child is uncomfortable due to upper cervical misalignment—even if they can’t articulate that discomfort—it can affect their behavior, attention span, and mood. When that misalignment is corrected and they feel better physically, behavior and focus often improve.
Relief from Common Childhood Issues
While we’re not claiming to cure diseases or conditions, many parents seek upper cervical care to help their children with recurring ear infections, colic and digestive issues, asthma and breathing difficulties, bedwetting, growing pains, frequent headaches, and difficulty concentrating. By optimizing nervous system function, we support the body’s natural ability to heal and regulate itself.
Enhanced Athletic Performance
For children involved in sports, proper upper cervical alignment can improve coordination, balance, body awareness, and reaction time. It can also help prevent injuries by ensuring proper biomechanics and can support faster recovery when injuries do occur.
Better Posture Development
The habits your child develops now will follow them into adulthood. In our device-obsessed world, children spend hours in positions that are terrible for their spines. Upper cervical care, combined with posture education, can help children develop healthy habits that will benefit them for life.
Support for Proper Growth and Development
This is the big one. When your child’s nervous system is functioning optimally—free from interference caused by upper cervical misalignment—their body can grow, develop, and heal the way it’s designed to. Everything works better when there’s no interference in the master control center.
Is Upper Cervical Care Safe for Children?
This is always the first question parents ask, and it’s the most important one. As a parent, your child’s safety is your top priority. We get that because we’re parents too.
Upper cervical chiropractic care has an excellent safety record when performed by trained specialists like Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer. The Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology techniques we use at Desoto Upper Cervical are incredibly gentle, precise, and specifically adapted for children’s developing bodies.
These aren’t general chiropractic techniques that have been slightly modified for children. These are specialized methods that require advanced training and certification beyond chiropractic school. Dr. Hall and Dr. Reistroffer have invested significant time and training in these techniques specifically because they wanted to provide the safest, most effective care possible for patients of all ages, including children.
Serious adverse events from pediatric upper cervical care are extraordinarily rare. Most children find the experience comfortable and relaxing. Many fall asleep during adjustments. Some even look forward to their visits!
Research on pediatric chiropractic care consistently shows it to be safe when performed by qualified practitioners. We would never do anything that could harm your child. Your child’s safety and well-being are our absolute priorities.
When Should You Consider Upper Cervical Care?
Some parents bring their children for specific concerns, while others incorporate upper cervical care as part of a wellness approach to healthcare. Here are times when evaluation might be particularly beneficial:
After birth, especially if there was a difficult delivery, forceps or vacuum assistance, or any concerns about the baby’s neck or head position.
If your infant has difficulty latching or breastfeeding on one side, shows a preference for turning their head to only one side, has persistent colic or reflux, or is excessively fussy without a clear cause.
If your child experiences frequent ear infections, recurring headaches, chronic neck or back discomfort, persistent bedwetting beyond the typical age, difficulty concentrating or behavioral challenges, or sleep problems.
After any significant falls, accidents, or sports injuries that might have affected the head or neck.
Before and during growth spurts, when rapid changes in the body can create new stresses on the spine.
As part of a preventive wellness routine—similar to regular dental check-ups or well-child pediatrician visits—to ensure the upper cervical spine stays properly aligned and the nervous system functions optimally.
What to Expect at Desoto Upper Cervical
If you’re considering bringing your child to our office, here’s what the process typically looks like:
Your first visit starts with a comprehensive health history. We’ll ask about your child’s birth, any falls or injuries, current concerns, overall health, and developmental milestones. We want to understand the complete picture.
Next is the examination, which is gentle and non-invasive. We’ll assess your child’s posture, check upper cervical alignment, look for areas of tension or restriction, and evaluate their range of motion. For young children, much of this happens while they’re sitting on your lap or playing with toys in our office. We create a comfortable, non-threatening environment.
If we find upper cervical misalignment, we’ll take specialized imaging to see exactly what’s happening. Then we’ll explain our findings in plain language and discuss whether upper cervical care would be beneficial for your child.
The correction itself is remarkably gentle. We use a specialized instrument to deliver a precise adjustment. There’s no twisting, popping, or forceful movement. Most children don’t even realize the adjustment has happened. Some fall asleep. Older children might feel a slight sensation, but it shouldn’t be uncomfortable.
The frequency of care varies based on your child’s needs. Some children need more frequent initial corrections to establish proper alignment, then transition to less frequent check-ups. We’ll create a personalized care plan for your child.
Upper Cervical Care Complements Medical Care
Let’s be very clear about something important: upper cervical care is not a replacement for your child’s pediatrician. Your child should continue seeing their pediatrician for regular check-ups, vaccinations, medical concerns, and any acute illnesses or injuries.
What we offer is complementary care that focuses specifically on upper cervical alignment and nervous system function. Many pediatricians appreciate having chiropractors as part of their patients’ healthcare team. We’re happy to communicate with your child’s other healthcare providers to ensure coordinated, comprehensive care.
Think of it this way: your pediatrician handles medical issues and monitors overall development. We handle structural alignment and nervous system optimization. Together, this provides a more complete approach to your child’s health.
Building a Foundation for Lifelong Health
Here’s something to consider: the foundation for lifelong health is built during childhood. The habits, patterns, and physical structure your child develops now will affect them for decades to come.
When you address upper cervical misalignments early—before they become chronic problems or create compensatory patterns throughout the body—you’re giving your child a significant advantage. You’re ensuring their nervous system can function optimally during these critical years of growth and development.
You’re also teaching your child an important lesson: that their body has an incredible ability to heal and function properly when given the right support. You’re introducing them to a natural, preventive approach to healthcare that empowers them to take an active role in their own health.
Children who grow up receiving regular upper cervical care often become adults who are more body-aware, experience fewer chronic health problems, and understand the importance of maintaining their health rather than just treating symptoms when they arise.
Common Questions from Parents
At what age can my child start upper cervical care?
Children can receive upper cervical care from birth—literally within the first few days of life. We’ve adjusted many newborns. The techniques we use are modified for their size and development, ensuring care is always appropriate and extremely gentle.
Will the adjustment hurt my child?
No. The corrections are so gentle that most children don’t feel anything beyond slight pressure. Babies often sleep through their adjustments. Older children might feel a brief sensation, but it shouldn’t hurt. If your child ever seems uncomfortable, we adjust our approach immediately.
How often will my child need to come?
This varies based on your child’s specific situation. Some children benefit from more frequent initial visits to establish proper alignment, then transition to monthly or even less frequent wellness check-ups. After the initial evaluation, we’ll recommend a care plan tailored to your child’s needs. As they improve and their spine stabilizes, visits typically become less frequent.
What if my child is scared or won’t cooperate?
We work with children all day, every day. We’re patient, we’re good at making kids comfortable, and we have plenty of strategies for working with nervous or active children. We can perform examinations and adjustments with younger children sitting on your lap. We have toys and distractions. We never force anything. Your child’s comfort is as important to us as their care.
Is this the same as regular chiropractic?
No. Upper cervical care is a specialized focus within chiropractic that requires additional advanced training. We focus exclusively on the atlas and axis—the two vertebrae that have the greatest impact on overall nervous system function. The techniques we use—Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology—are much more precise and gentle than general chiropractic adjustments. This specialization is particularly important when working with children.
Do you accept insurance?
Many insurance plans cover chiropractic care for children, though coverage varies by plan. We recommend calling our office at (662) 393-4848, and our staff can help you verify your coverage and understand any out-of-pocket costs. We want to make care accessible for families.
Give Your Child the Foundation They Deserve
As a parent in Southaven or the surrounding Mid-South area, you want to give your child every advantage for a healthy, thriving life. Upper cervical care at Desoto Upper Cervical offers a safe, gentle, effective way to support your child’s nervous system function, proper growth, and overall development.
Dr. David Hall and Dr. Troy Reistroffer are committed to providing the highest level of specialized upper cervical care for children of all ages. We use the most advanced, gentle techniques available—Atlas Orthogonal and Orthospinology—to ensure your child receives precise, comfortable care.
We understand that trusting someone with your child’s health is a big decision. That’s why we take the time to thoroughly evaluate each child, explain exactly what we find, answer all your questions, and provide honest recommendations about whether upper cervical care would benefit your child’s specific situation.
Many families in Southaven have made upper cervical care a regular part of their children’s healthcare routine, and they’ve seen the difference it makes. Better sleep, fewer sick days, improved focus, better athletic performance, and just overall healthier, happier kids.
Desoto Upper Cervical is located at 1134 Church Rd W in Southaven, MS. Call us at (662) 393-4848 to schedule a consultation for your child. Let’s talk about how upper cervical care can support your child’s healthy growth and development. We’d love to be part of your family’s healthcare team.
Your child deserves the best foundation for a healthy life. That foundation starts with a properly aligned upper cervical spine and an optimally functioning nervous system. Let us help you give them that gift.
