What is an Ear Infection?
While most people experience an ear infection at some point in their life, some individuals suffer from chronic ear infections. Ear infections are the result of a virus or bacteria entering an individuals’ body. Traditionally, antibiotics have been prescribed to treat ear infections. However, antibiotics are only beneficial or necessary when the infection stems from a bacterial infection.
The majority of ear infections stem from a viral infection for which antibiotics are not beneficial. Unfortunately, ear infections are most common in children, leaving parents scrambling for answers and a source of relief.
In recent years, chiropractors have discovered that many children who suffer from chronic ear infections have structural misalignments in their upper spine and neck. These misalignments create an imbalance in the muscles surrounding the ear. When the muscles surrounding the ear are tense, the body’s natural ability to drain fluid from the ear is impacted, resulting in an ear infection.
Alternatively, ear infections have also been traced to nerve compression. Several vital nerves that begin in the brain stem are responsible for controlling, regulating, and monitoring the ear. These nerves continue down the spinal cord, exiting from between the bones of the spinal column. When the spine or neck is misaligned, these vital nerves may be compressed and rendered unable to communicate effectively and defend the ear from infection.
It is important to note that chiropractic care is not an effective treatment for the ear infection itself. However, through chiropractic care and adjustments, we can alleviate the misalignments and nerve compression responsible for chronic ear infections.
