Babies, Toddlers, Children, and Teens
We see children of all ages, from babies and toddlers through to teenagers and young adults.
Chiropractic for kids is safe and gentle, and a little different than chiropractic for adults. It is always tailored to the body and age of the child, and to their unique stage of growth and development. The effects are the same however, and like adults, chiropractic is great for helping children of all ages to feel and function their best.
ICPA-Trained Chiropractors
Our chiropractors all have training with the ICPA, the International Paediatric Chiropractic Association. ICPA-trained chiropractors have specialised training and expertise across all child age groups, so they can help with most issues that your kids might encounter as they grow up and move from milestone to milestone. ICPA training provides assurance that your children are in safe hands and will receive top-notch care specific to their age and stage. For parents, the ICPA has a fantastic and highly informative website to help you discover the many benefits of chiropractic for kids: https://icpa4kids.com/parent-portal
Age-Specific Care
From helping colicky babies to ensuring your young ones have well-aligned little bodies and can achieve their developmental milestones, chiropractic has a wide range of benefits for kids of all ages.
Chiropractic care for kids is always age-specific. The techniques we use with babies and infants is different to those we use with an older child or adolescent, both of which are different to the techniques we use to adjust and treat adults. Adjusting babies, kids and teens is always safe, gentle and age-appropriate. What’s more, we try to make it fun and interesting for kids so they can enjoy the experience of coming to our office and being adjusted, without any sense of anxiety or fear. This helps parents get them through our doors, and it helps kids to make a positive lifelong association with their chiropractic care, so they can look forward to coming to see us when they need us the most.
Kids At-A-Glance
As your kids grow, it is good for parents to routinely take a quick look at them standing, sitting and lying down. This is especially important during periods of significant growth as imbalances tend to accelerate when kids are growing the fastest. Perform this little check at least twice a year, and perhaps with each changing season. If, in any of these positions, you see a tilt, imbalance or asymmetry, then it is always a good idea to have them checked by a chiropractor to ensure there are no issues of concern.
At GB Chiropractic, we offer parents a Quick Check appointment for kids, which only takes about 10 minutes and costs £55, the same as our regular office visit. We find this is a practical and affordable way for parents to get good information, a professional viewpoint, and peace of mind when they need it.
Scoliosis Screening
From around the age 3-4 years onward, all kids should be regularly screened for scoliosis. This used to be done annually at schools, but is no longer a common practice. However, parents can do a “quick screen” at home by having their child stand and bend forward toward their toes (Adam’s Test). In this position, you stand behind them and look for any signs of a higher hip, ribcage, or shoulder blade. If you see any of these, or any other signs of tilting/imbalance when they are standing, sitting or lying down, then it is a good idea to get them in for a chiropractic appointment.
In cases where scoliosis is detected, your chiropractor can provide important information and expert guidance on what to do. Some kids will just need to be monitored regularly, while others may benefit from a short course of chiropractic treatment to straighten things up a bit. In a few cases, kids may need a set of x-rays or may require further assessment and referral. Invariably, your chiropractor will be able to provide you with good information, peace of mind, and the certainty of knowing what to do next.
Kids and Posture
More than ever today, our children are subjected to the negative effects of prolonged sedentary postures. When you add up the time our kids now spend sitting at school, studying, screen time, mobile phones, television, gaming, in cars or transit, or anything else where they sit for long periods, you begin to realise that this can’t be good for their young, flexible and growing bodies. Indeed, it is a huge problem, and from as early as 6 or 7 years old we are now seeing kids with stooped posture, neck or back pain, and the earliest signs of degenerative changes on x-ray.
While changing their postural habits and environments is a good start and very worthwhile, it is not possible to remove our kids from these postural settings entirely, so parents need to consider those things that can help their kids keep their spines healthy and their posture upright and in good alignment.
Chiropractic is a quick and ideal way to help your kids clear the buildup of stress and tension, improve and reset their natural posture, and to ensure that any postural misalignments are addressed and resolved before becoming more problematic. Parents who use chiropractic for this purpose often have their children checked regularly throughout the school year as a proactive strategy for their child’s posture, health and wellbeing.
Kids and Pain
While pain in adults is rather common, pain or discomfort in children is generally considered unusual and parents should not ignore it. As a rule, kids’ bodies have greater flexibility and resilience than adult bodies, and so they can often endure a lot more before becoming painful. As such, if a child begins to complain of pain somewhere, we would usually consider this a “red flag”, and parents should always take this seriously and have their child checked as soon as possible.
Your chiropractor is experienced and highly trained in assessing the full range of pains and musculo-skeletal issues that arise in children. So if your child is having pain somewhere, don’t wait, just give us a call and we should be able to help.
Kids and Stress
Because our children are often bright-eyed, exuberant, and care-free much of the time, we sometimes assume that kids do not experience stress or accumulate tension in their young bodies. In reality, kids experience stress just like any other human being, but they may not express it or manifest it the way adults do. The long-term effects are the same however, and kids who encounter or hold significant stress can become prone to developing pains, problems, illness and fatigue, and a whole host of health issues.
Parents who understand chiropractic and may know of its benefits for alleviating stress will often consider occasional chiropractic adjustments for their kids to help clear the stress and tension in their young bodies. This can make your kids feel and function better, and it can improve their overall health.
In addition, many parents report additional benefits for their children that include:
improved sleep, mood and energy
stronger immune function (fewer colds, flus, and illnesses)
reduced anxiety, tension, and better resilience with stress
improved physical and mental performance
and all-around happier kids!
This clearly verges into the area of health and wellbeing for children, and this is an area we are passionate about at GB Chiropractic. We want the very best for your kids, just as you do!