Chiropractic treatment for children
The treatment is a natural, drug-free treatment that is safe and effective for the whole family including babies and children. Chiropractic treatment can benefit people of all ages, including small children and pregnant women.

Pregnancy can cause uncomfortable effects, including changes in posture due to weight gain that cause pain in your back, hips, groin and legs. Postural changes may also influence the ligaments and muscles attached to the pelvis and in turn the positioning of the uterus and birth canal. Although a natural process, birth is sometimes traumatic for both mother and baby and chiropractic can help you and your baby recover.

As children grow, we can help not only with the strains caused by the rough and tumble of life but also with some of the problems that children can suffer in their first years.

Although back and neck pain is not considered common childhood disorders, they should always be thoroughly investigated. Spinal problems in children can be due to many reasons and can be categorized by age groups and developmental milestones.

The diagnosis and treatment of spinal problems in children is a specialized task and should be undertaken with great care to ensure that a serious problem is not presenting as a relatively minor complaint. Symptoms of back and neck pain in infants and young children can sometimes be difficult to understand due to the inability for children to communicate effectively and some symptoms may not appear to relate specifically to spinal problems.

Which problems can chiropractic help?
Problems can develop within your child’s spine during birth or at other times during childhood from general bumps and knocks when your child learn how to crawl and walk, and in later in life from falls accident s and carrying heavy school bags. These problems can lead to symptoms such as:
• Colic
• Otitis Media (ear infections)
• Bedwetting / Nocturnal Enuresis
• Sleeping and feeding problems
• Poor co-ordination
• Adolescent Scoliosis
• Torticollis
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Head aches
• Back Pain
• Behavioral Problems (due to pain)
• Scheuermann’s Disease

Other problems that sometimes present to chiropractors are:
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis / Still’s Disease

Early assessment of your child’s spine may help to prevent some of the above symptoms. The treatment for babies and young children is modified using a slight pressure (sustained release) most commonly rather than the manipulative technique used on adults. It is safe, gentle and effective.

Try the following easy home tests, if you answer ‘yes’ to any of them, your child could benefit from a chiropractic check up.

Home Tests:
• Does your child have an odd shaped head?
• Stand behind your child. Is one shoulder lower than the other? Then ask them to bend forward. Can you see a curvature of the spine?
• Do your child’s shoes have uneven wearing on the soles?
• Lie your child face down on a bed with their feet hanging over the edge. Hold their feet so their toes point downwards. Does one leg look shorter?

Do not forget that children have genuine problems. A good way to ascertain if they are telling the truth is to ask them to point at the pain. If they are consistent, assume that they are telling the truth. If you are unsure book an appointment.