Ear Infections

Ear infections can turn peaceful nights into sleepless ones for kids and adults alike.
The ache, pressure, and fullness in the ear often come from more than just germs. In many cases, nerve irritation and drainage blockages play a major role, which is exactly where chiropractic care can make a difference.

What’s Really Happening During an Ear Infection

An ear infection (otitis media) occurs when fluid becomes trapped behind the eardrum, allowing bacteria or viruses to grow. This fluid buildup usually follows a cold, allergies, or sinus congestion that blocks the Eustachian tube, which is the small canal that drains the middle ear into the back of the throat.

When that drainage system fails, pressure increases inside the ear, causing:

• Ear pain or throbbing
• Fullness or muffled hearing
• Fever or irritability (especially in children)
• Tugging at the ear or difficulty sleeping

Why It Keeps Coming Back

In many patients, especially children, recurring infections aren’t just about exposure to germs. They’re about poor drainage and nerve interference.
When the upper neck (C1–C3) vertebrae are misaligned, they can irritate the nerves that help regulate the muscles around the Eustachian tubes. This makes it harder for the ear to drain naturally, allowing fluid to collect again and again.

How Chiropractic Care Supports Healing

At Active Family Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we look beyond symptom relief. We address the root cause of why infections persist.

Here’s how chiropractic can help:

• Gentle adjustments in the upper cervical spine improve nerve communication to the muscles that open and drain the ear canal.
• Restored alignment helps reduce inflammation and pressure buildup inside the ear.
• Enhanced nervous system function supports the body’s natural healing process, so infections clear faster and recur less often.
• Acupuncture (select clinics) can further support immune regulation and sinus drainage.

Chiropractic doesn’t treat infection directly. It empowers your body to do what it’s designed to do: heal itself.

Why Kids Benefit So Much

Children’s Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than adults’, making them more likely to trap fluid. That’s why even small misalignments can have a big impact. Gentle, precise adjustments, especially after colds or falls, help restore drainage before infection takes hold.

When to Schedule Care

If you or your child are experiencing frequent ear infections, pressure changes, or difficulty hearing, it’s time to look deeper than antibiotics alone.
Chiropractic care is safe, gentle, and non-invasive, and it often complements medical care beautifully, reducing the likelihood of chronic infections and helping the entire body function better.

Don’t Wait for Another Sleepless Night

Healthy ears depend on proper drainage and nerve function. Both start with a balanced spine.

Don’t wait until pain becomes routine. Call today to schedule your chiropractic ear evaluation:

• Grand Island: (308) 384-4955
• Hastings: (402) 249-5500
• Kearney: (308) 222-4400
• Columbus: (402) 265-6800