12/04/2025
When your little one can't breathe easily, every parent's heart breaks.
Croup is that scary barking cough that often comes with labored breathing, especially at night. While it's typically caused by viral inflammation of the upper airways, here's what many parents don't know: your child's nervous system controls their entire respiratory function.
The nerves that innervate your lungs, diaphragm, and airways all originate from specific levels of the spineâparticularly the cervical (neck) and thoracic (mid-back) regions. When there's interference in these areas, your child's body can't regulate inflammation, coordinate breathing muscles, or activate their natural healing response as effectively.
Here's how chiropractic care supports the respiratory system during croup:
đ« Removes nervous system interference in the thoracic spineâallowing better communication between the brain and the lungs, improving oxygen exchange and respiratory muscle coordination
⥠Enhances vagus nerve functionâthe vagus nerve controls airway dilation and helps regulate the inflammatory response in the respiratory tract
đȘ Releases tension in the diaphragm and intercostal musclesâwhen these breathing muscles can move freely without restriction, your child can breathe more deeply and effectively
đ§ Activates the parasympathetic nervous systemâshifting the body out of stress mode and into "rest, heal, and recover" mode where true healing happens
âš Supports lymphatic drainage in the chest and throatâhelping the body clear congestion and reduce swelling in the airways more efficiently
đ Improves rib mobility and chest expansionârestricted ribs can limit how deeply your child can breathe; adjustments restore proper movement
Parents often notice after consistent chiropractic care during respiratory challenges:
-Easier, less labored breathing
-Shorter duration of symptoms
-Less frequent croup episodes overall
-Better sleep (because they can actually breathe!)
-Faster recovery times
-Reduced need for interventions
We're not treating croupâwe're removing the interference so your child's innate intelligence can do what it does best: HEAL.
If your little one struggles with croup, asthma, frequent respiratory infections, or difficulty breathing, let's get their nervous system assessed. When their body can communicate clearly, everything works betterâincluding those precious little lungs.
