What is a Pediatric Chiropractor?
A pediatric chiropractor is a healthcare professional who specializes in assessing and analyzing the spine for areas of subluxation or misalignment and correcting these areas with gentle chiropractic adjustments. They see patients from infancy to adolescence and have undergone additional training beyond their chiropractic degree to understand the unique needs of newborns to teenagers.
Pediatric chiropractors use gentle, non-invasive adjustment techniques adapted to the age and size of the child to deliver the appropriate force and specificity to correct misalignments of the spine and improve nervous system function. Many parents bring their children to the pediatric chiropractor with a common list of symptoms or problems such as colic, constipation, torticollis, poor sleep, nursing/feeding difficulties, body tension, tongue tie issues, hating tummy time, and issues related to posture and mobility.
The job of the pediatric chiropractor is to reduce spinal subluxation or misalignments and the positive side effect is often an improvement in the child’s overall health and well-being along with improving the complaints listed above by addressing imbalances in the musculoskeletal and nervous system. It’s important to note that while pediatric chiropractors can help manage symptoms associated with various conditions, they do not treat specific diseases or conditions. Instead, their focus is on enhancing the child’s overall health and well-being.
The Boston Children’s Hospital reports that up to 30% of normal, healthy babies have colic. Boys and girls are equally affected and physicians are not sure what causes colic.
Why choose pediatric chiropractic care?
Sweet Family Chiropractic specializes in providing gentle and effective chiropractic care tailored specifically for infants, children, and adolescents. Parents choose our pediatric chiropractic services to help support their children’s health when dealing with a variety of common childhood health challenges like:
- Colic, Constipation & Digestive discomfort
- Breastfeeding difficulties and tongue tie concerns
- Difficult labor and delivery for mom and baby
- Poor sleep
- Torticollis and Body Tension
- Hating tummy time and other issues related to posture and mobility
If your child is suffering from the issues listed above in general these are indicators your child is a good candidate for pediatric chiropractic care. Of course an thorough health history and exam will be performed on every child but these health challenges indicate nervous system tension that chiropractic adjustments can help relieve. All infants should be checked by a pediatric chiropractor due to the stress placed on the nervous system and spine during labor and delivery.
Older children who experienced these issues as babies but were never checked by a pediatric chiropractor also should be evaluated. Often parents are told these kids will grow out of the complaint but we know stress continues to exist in the nervous system and can manifest in different ways and new struggles as they go through different parts of development.
Older children often present at our office with:
- Headaches and pain
- Postural and mobility issues
- Sports injuries
- Behavior concerns
- Wellness and Prevention
Our pediatric chiropractic approach is rooted in gentleness, specificity, and a holistic understanding of your child’s unique needs. Dr. Kelsey works collaboratively with parents and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive care that best serves your child’s needs.
When is a good time to visit a pediatric chiropractor?
The short answer is it is never too early or too late to bring your child to the chiropractor. Dr. Kelsey’s youngest patient was just two days old, not counting her own 2 children adjusted hours after birth. Ideally, all infants would be checked by a pediatric chiropractor shortly after birth due to the stress placed on the nervous system and spine during the birth process.
How are children adjusted differently than adults?
Adjustments performed on children and infants are indeed different from adult chiropractic adjustments. The key differences are the amount of force used and the specific techniques utilized.
For infants and children, chiropractors use very gentle and specific adjustments to improve spinal alignment and relieve pressure on the nervous system. This is typically done with gentle single finger contacts. The amount of pressure used for an infant adjustment is very light, comparable to what you would use to check the ripeness of a tomato.
On the other hand, adult chiropractic adjustments involve the application of a controlled, quick, and specific force to a spinal joint to improve spinal motion and improve the body’s physical function. The adult patient is placed in a variety of positions and can be adjusted by hand, with tools, or the use of a drop table. The adjustment is scaled to consider the patient’s age, size, and unique needs of all patients.
“Dr. Sweet has an incredible talent and passion for treating pregnant women and pediatric patients…” – CM
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care
1. Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Absolutely. Pediatric chiropractic care is gentle, safe, and adapted to the unique needs of children. Chiropractors use specialized techniques that are appropriate for the age and size of the child. We always recommend finding a chiropractor who sees children regularly and has advanced training. The ICPA is a great resource for finding additional pediatric chiropractors in your area. We are more than happy to provide a recommendation if you aren’t nearby.
2. At what age can a child start receiving chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care can begin at any age, from infancy through adolescence. The adjustments are modified for the child’s size and development stage.
3. What conditions can pediatric chiropractic care address?
Pediatric chiropractic care can help support your child’s nervous system and therefore can oftentimes help provide relief for a variety of issues, including colic, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, ear infections, growing pains, and postural concerns. However, it should be noted that the adjustments are to treat musculoskeletal imbalances or subluxations and are not treating any specific condition.
4. How long does a pediatric chiropractic session typically last?
The duration of a session varies, but on average, it may last between 15 to 30 minutes. The initial consultation might take a bit longer to allow for a thorough assessment.
5. How often should my child receive chiropractic care?
The frequency of visits depends on the child’s specific needs. In the beginning, more frequent visits may be recommended, and as progress is made, the visits may become less frequent.
6. Will my child feel pain during an adjustment?
Chiropractic adjustments for children are generally painless. They involve gentle, targeted pressure to address misalignments without causing discomfort.
7. Can chiropractic care help with behavioral issues or ADHD?
While chiropractic care is not a cure for behavioral issues, some parents report improvements in behavior and focus after chiropractic adjustments. It’s essential to consult with both a chiropractor and other healthcare professionals for comprehensive care for your child.
8. How do I prepare my child for a chiropractic visit?
A well-rested and fed child is ideal but not always reality. All kids are welcome. Dress them in comfortable clothing, and let them know that the chiropractor is there to help them stay healthy. Showing them on a stuffed animal that the chiropractor will be feeling their back and neck can be a good way to prepare your child. The appointment is scheduled with enough time to allow a feeding or diaper change if necessary.
9. Are chiropractic adjustments covered by insurance for pediatric patients?
Our office is self pay and we do not accept any insurance.
10. Can parents be present during the chiropractic session?
Yes, parents are required to be present during the session. Your comfort and peace of mind are important to us. Often the infant patient will be adjusted in the arms of the parents and bigger kids to if necessary.
11. How can I book a pediatric chiropractic appointment?
You can easily book an appointment by contacting us or booking online. We look forward to welcoming your child to our practice!
