How Neurologically Focused Chiropractic Can Supercharge Occupational/ Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Therapy Results for your Child
As a parent, you want to see your child thrive—whether that means better movement, improved speech, or stronger social-emotional regulation. If your child is working with a physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT), or speech-language pathologist (SLP), you’re already investing in their success. But what if there was a way to enhance their progress even further?
Many parents find us when their child has gotten “stuck” from a progress standpoint and aren’t moving forward or is even regressing despite doing all the amazing work. And that is because if a child’s autonomic and central nervous systems are stuck in fight-or-flight, things don’t stick.
Chiropractic care re-establishes balance to the autonomic nervous system creating a more stable foundation for movement, sensory motor integration, social-emotional regulation and other therapeutic interventions. This makes OT/PTs and chiropractors a powerful team driving better and faster results for kiddos and their families.
The Missing Piece: Restoring Balance to the Nervous System
Many children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), autism, or sensory processing challenges experience nervous system imbalances. They may be stuck in “fight or flight” mode, making it difficult to focus, coordinate movements, or regulate emotions. Neurologically focused chiropractic care in Ottawa helps restore balance between the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous systems, providing a stable foundation for other therapies to work more effectively.
When your child’s nervous system is balanced, they can better absorb the benefits of PT, OT, and SLP—leading to faster progress and longer-lasting results.
The Science Behind the Adjustment
Chiropractic adjustments stimulate the nervous system, improving how the brain integrates sensory and motor information. Research shows that these adjustments specifically enhance function in the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex—areas responsible for movement, balance, coordination, social-emotional struggles, speech, focus, concentration and much more!
When the nervous system functions optimally, children experience improvements in:
Movement and balance
Speech and language processing
Emotional regulation
Focus and concentration
Sensory integration
There is a Hierarchy to Neurodevelopment - and This Matters for Your Child’s Development
Neurodevelopment follows a strict hierarchy, with the nervous system as the foundation at the bottom of the pyramid. Everything else—motor function, speech, gut health, immune function—relies on a well-regulated nervous system to build upon.
Without a balanced and properly functioning nervous system, the motor system struggles, making it much harder for your child to progress in therapies like OT, PT, and SLP. Trying to address gut health, immune function, or even behavior through functional therapies, supplements, or detoxes often falls short if the nervous system is dysregulated. The body cannot heal and integrate new motor patterns, speech, or behaviors effectively when it is stuck in survival mode.
By addressing nervous system imbalances first, chiropractic care helps create an environment where therapy can be more effective. Think of it like building a house—you need a strong foundation before adding the walls and roof.
But to be clear—OT, PT, and SLP are what bring the benefits of a regulated ANS/CNS to life! A well-balanced nervous system sets the stage for success, but it’s through these therapies that children develop the functional skills needed to thrive.
How to Know if Chiropractic Can Help Your Child
The first step in determining whether chiropractic care could benefit your child is a comprehensive neurological scan. At our practice, we use INSiGHT CLA neurological scans to assess how stress, dysregulation, and inefficiencies in the nervous system may be impacting your child’s development. These scans provide objective data on:
Parasympathetic deficiency – Difficulty shifting into “rest and digest” mode, leading to slow progress in therapy.
Sympathetic dominance – Stuck in fight-or-flight mode, resulting in frequent meltdowns or difficulty focusing.
Chronic nervous system stress – Determines how long it may take for your child to heal, re-learn, and build new neural pathways.
Brain energy efficiency – Weak core muscles and overactive neck muscles can lead to poor balance and coordination, affecting motor skills.
These insights help us tailor a chiropractic care plan that supports your child’s therapy, ensuring they get the most out of every session.
Ottawa Chiropractor to helps kids with spectrum, sensory and anxiety challenges with nervous system regulation
If you’re already investing time, energy, and resources into PT, OT, or SLP therapy for your child, finding a neurologically focused chiropractor in Ottawa could be the key to unlocking even greater success. By addressing nervous system imbalances, we can help your child progress faster, stay regulated, and reach their full potential.
Schedule a consultation today to learn how chiropractic care can complement your child’s therapy journey!
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