The Wellness Path

09/23/2025

✨ Ever notice how your little one seems more on edge lately?
Maybe they cling a little tighter when you drop them off… struggle to settle at night… or complain of tummy aches when nothing else seems wrong.

You’re not alone, mama—anxiety in kids is becoming more and more common. 💛

Here’s what most parents don’t realize 👇
When a child’s nervous system gets “stuck” in stress mode, their body keeps sending signals that it’s not safe—even if nothing scary is happening.

This is where gentle chiropractic care makes a huge difference. By easing tension in the spine and calming the nervous system, kids can shift out of that fight-or-flight state and back into rest-and-digest. 🌿

Parents often share that their child:
💤 sleeps deeper
😊 handles emotions more calmly
🧠 focuses better
🤗 feels more confident in their own skin

Every adjustment is safe, gentle, and tailored to your child—no forcing, just helping their body return to balance.

💡 If your little one is showing signs of anxiety, this might be the support they need.
👉 Book an appointment today at The Wellness Path and let’s help your child feel safe, calm, and free to just be a kid.

09/15/2025

Ever notice how some kids just can’t seem to turn it off?
They’re crashing into the couch, melting down in stores, or bouncing from one thing to the next.

Most parents think it’s just “extra energy”… but that’s not usually the case. What I see in the office every day is a nervous system that’s running in high gear—like their body forgot how to shift into calm mode.

That’s where adjustments can make a huge difference. When we help calm the fight-or-flight system and support reflexes, kids finally start to regulate. And when parents add in a simple sensory diet at home (things like animal walks, swinging, playdough, or deep pressure play), the progress sticks even faster.

It’s amazing to watch a kid go from overstimulated and overwhelmed… to calm, connected, and thriving. 💛

If this sounds like your little one, send me a quick DM with the word BALANCE—I’ll share some tools to get you started.

09/12/2025

We’re thrilled to be nominated for the 2025 Best of Tennessee Awards! Every vote counts, and we need yours. Cast your vote today to help The Wellness Path win!

GUIDEtoTENNESSEE.com/best-of/vote/health-medical

Click on view all nominees and pick The Wellness Path

We appreciate your support!

Help decide the best of the Health & Medical category in Tennessee! Vote for your favorite organizations in the 2025 Best of Tennessee Awards. See nominees in this category and cast your vote to support Tennessee's top organizations in the Health & Medical category.

09/09/2025

“Maybe you don't need more time to heal, maybe you just need new experiences to show your nervous system a different reality" and that really did change everything.

Great share from a patient

09/03/2025

Ever notice your baby only turns their head to one side?

Maybe they always look to the left in their car seat. Or when you hold them on your right shoulder, they snuggle in, but on the left, they fuss and can't get comfortable.

It's easy to brush it off as a cute quirk. But often, it's a sign that something's up. This is one of the biggest things we look for.

What's usually happening is a tiny misalignment right at the top of the neck—at the C1 vertebra. This isn't a "broken bone," it's more like a kink in a hose. It creates interference in the nervous system, which causes the muscles in the neck to become imbalanced. We call this "neck tonicity."

This means one side is tighter than the other, so it's literally easier and more comfortable for your baby to only turn one way.

The problem is, this misalignment doesn't just affect turning. It messes with the crucial sensory input going to their brain. If the brain isn't getting good information from the neck, it puts the entire nervous system into a low-grade state of stress.

This can be the hidden culprit behind not just torticollis, but also feeding troubles, fussiness, and trouble settling.

The good news? It's something we can help with. Gentle, specific chiropractic care for infants focuses on correcting these misalignments to restore balance and reduce that nervous system stress.

If you're in the Maryville or Knoxville area and have noticed your baby favoring one side, it's worth getting it checked. Trust your gut.

Send me a DM if you have questions. We're here to help.

09/01/2025

That feeling in your gut? The one that whispers something's off, even when everyone says it's "normal"?

Don't ignore it.

I talk to moms every day who are frustrated and exhausted because feeding their baby is a struggle or their constipation or colic the baby has will just "outgrow" it. They're told it's just a phase, or that they're overthinking it.

But I'm here to tell you something different: trust yourself. That mother's intuition is your superpower.

I've spent years training in pediatric care, but I will always listen to a mom's gut feeling first. Always. You have a connection to your child that no textbook can ever teach. If your instinct is telling you there's a problem, we need to listen.

So many amazing moms downplay what they feel. They say, "I don't want to be dramatic..." But feeling that something isn't right isn't dramatic—it's insightful. It’s love in action.

If you're watching your baby struggle with latching, reflux, or just seem to be in discomfort, and that little voice inside is saying "this isn't right," I want you to know two things:

You are not crazy.

You are probably right.

That instinct is there for a reason. Let's find out why together.

If you're in the Maryville or Knoxville area and your mom gut is going off, send me a message. Let's talk about what you're seeing and feeling. I'm here to listen.

08/29/2025

"Failure to thrive."

Hearing that phrase about your baby is absolutely terrifying. It just isn't fair.

If your little one is struggling, you know it's more than just a "spitty baby." It's heartbreaking. You've probably tried all the medications. You've followed all the advice. But nothing seems to make a real difference.

Seeing your newborn struggle to keep their milk down, watching them not gain weight... that fear is so heavy. You just feel so helpless. This is the opposite of how those first few months are supposed to feel.

I get it. And honestly, it's why I do what I do.

We had a little one come in who was three months old and still at his birth weight. He couldn't keep anything down. The meds didn't work for him. His family was running out of hope.

What we do is so different. With babies, it's incredibly gentle. I use just a light, sustained contact—almost like holding a pulse. We're feeling for the tiniest shifts, the moment those little muscles finally let go. It's about helping their nervous system, which controls everything from digestion to reflux, finally function without so much stress.

And for that little guy? It was a complete 180. He started holding his feeds down. He started gaining weight. He finally began to thrive.

Most approaches are just managing the symptom. We look for the root cause. Often, it's a stressed nervous system from a tough birth. Your baby's body isn't broken; it's just stuck in a stressed state.

If you're ready to see if there's a underlying cause we can help with, message me.

DM me the word 'THRIVE'. Let's just talk. Tell me your story, and let's see if we can help you. You still have options.

08/28/2025

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If feeding your baby feels like a battle, the cause might be hiding in plain sight. 👇

That shallow latch. The clicking sounds. The reflux symptoms. The exhaustion for both you and your baby when what should be a bonding moment turns into a struggle.

You've tried different holds. You've seen lactation consultants. You might feel like you're doing something wrong. But what if the issue isn't your technique? What if it's a physical, mechanical problem from the birth process?

Research shows up to 95% of babies have misalignments after birth, often at the top bone in the neck (the Atlas). This tiny bone protects the brainstem and the nerves that control your baby's tongue, swallow, and suck reflexes.

When it's misaligned, it can disrupt the entire suck-swallow-breathe coordination, making feeding incredibly difficult.

The good news? This is a known, addressable issue. At The Wellness Path in Maryville, we use gentle, specific pediatric chiropractic care to assess and correct these misalignments. By restoring proper nerve function and neck motion, we help remove the hidden barrier to comfortable feeding.

You don't have to keep struggling. Many parents see immediate improvements after a single adjustment.

Are you a mom in the Knoxville or Maryville area who is ready to explore every possible option to make feeding easier for you and your baby?

The full explanation—including exactly how the atlas bone affects feeding and what we can do to help—is in our latest blog.

Tap the link in our bio to read "When Feeding Is A Struggle: How Your Baby’s Neck Could Be the Missing Link" on our website. → https://www.wellnesspathchiro.com/when-feeding-is-a-struggle-how-your-babys-neck-could-be-the-missing-link/

If you prefer to talk directly, text us at 865-214-7438. Help is here.

08/27/2025

Did you know 70% of your baby's brain development fuel comes from one place? 🧠

It’s not food. It’s not toys. It’s motion—specifically, spinal motion.

The birth process, even natural and uncomplicated ones, can create tiny misalignments (subluxations) that limit this crucial motion. This can put stress on an infant's nervous system, acting as a silent barrier to their full potential.

The most challenging part? They won't "show signs." This isn't about colic or fussiness (though it can help that too). This is about the underlying foundation of their entire neurological wiring. The effects often don't become visible until much later.

This is why at The Wellness Path in Maryville, we recommend early foundational chiropractic care. We use gentle, specific adjustments to restore optimal motion to the spine, ensuring your newborn's brain is getting the feedback it needs to develop without interference.

You are giving them a lifetime advantage, starting from their very first days.

This is a decision proactive parents in Knoxville and Maryville are making right now.

Are you the type of parent who wants to ensure your child's nervous system has every opportunity to develop without limitation?

If you're in the Knoxville/Maryville area and have a newborn (or one on the way!), DM me the word 'BRAIN' to chat about our gentle pediatric assessments. Let's build a solid foundation together.

08/25/2025

"Did you know your baby’s neck could be the hidden reason they struggle to feed? 👶🍼"

The very first bone in your baby’s neck — the atlas (C1) — sits right under the brainstem. When it’s not moving properly (often from birth stress), it can interfere with the nerves that control sucking, swallowing, and even breathing while nursing.

That’s why some babies:
👉 Struggle to latch
👉 Make clicking sounds while feeding
👉 Favor one side or breast
👉 Tire out quickly during nursing

Gentle chiropractic care helps restore motion and reduce tension at C1, allowing the suck-swallow-breathe reflex to work the way it’s designed.

💡 If your baby struggles with feeding, it might not be “just how they are” — it could be a sign of nervous system stress. DM us or comment “FEEDING” to learn how we can help.

08/12/2025

Your Child’s Nervous System Holds the Key to Their Behavior, Emotions, and Social Connections 🧠💙

Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory teaches us that the vagus nerve is the body’s communication highway between the brain and the body. When the vagus nerve is working well, kids feel safe, calm, and connected — ready to learn, play, and build healthy relationships.

But if their nervous system is stuck in “fight, flight, or freeze,” it can show up as:

Emotional outbursts or withdrawal

Anxiety and difficulty focusing

Social struggles

Sensory sensitivities

Sleep or digestive issues

Pediatric chiropractic care gently supports the spine and nervous system, improving vagal tone and helping the body shift into a regulated, safe state. Over time, this can mean fewer meltdowns, better emotional balance, stronger social skills, and improved overall well-being.

A well-tuned nervous system is the foundation for your child’s growth and resilience.

✨ Let’s help your child’s body and brain work together the way they were designed.

📅 Book an appointment or learn more today — your child’s potential is waiting to shine.

07/18/2025

💥 “The technique Dr. Vic uses had me doing workouts I hadn’t been able to do for 5 YEARS — in just 5 visits!” 💥

Not only did this amazing patient find relief from chronic back pain, but their physical performance, daily life, and confidence were completely transformed. 🙌

✅ Faster recovery
✅ Pain relief that lasts
✅ Workouts & movement restored
✅ Total health upgrade

This is the power of specific, neurologically-based chiropractic care — and when your body is in alignment, your life follows. 🧠

👉 Ready to experience these kinds of results for yourself?
Comment RESULTS or DM us today to book your first visit!

📍Serving Knoxville + Morristown + Maryville