A question that comes up a lot when I tell people I am a chiropractor for kids in Littleton, CO, is why do kids need to see a chiropractor? The answer is simple, even though their bodies are smaller than an adult, they still experience aches and pain like adults do. Pediatric patients experience symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, back pain and often extremity pain. Having your child see a pediatric chiropractor is a great way to relieve these symptoms and start to teach them more body awareness and how to advocate for themselves and their health. One of the most fun parts of working with kiddos is watching them become more and more aware of what they are feeling in their body. This is an important skill most of my adult patients haven’t even mastered.
Top 3 reasons your child should see a chiropractor:
1: To help with growth and development. Children grow so fast. Because of this they often have imbalances in their body’s biomechanics. Imbalances in the musculoskeletal system can lead to movement compensation patterns. These compensation patterns can include things such as continually throwing a ball with poor form which can lead to their shoulder being more susceptible to injury. Getting adjusted and addressing muscular imbalance regularly as a child can help improve movement patterns and help to avoid pain and injury later into adulthood.
2: Children play hard with no concern of how they are using their bodies. On one hand this is a really good thing, playing and experimenting with movement is vital to growth and development. On the other hand it often leads to bumps and falls that can cause muscle tension and general body soreness. I always recommend bringing kids in after a fall to ensure everything is moving well and they don’t end up with residual soreness.
3: Pain. Yes, kids have pain too. Just like adults they can experience symptoms such as neck pain from sleeping in an awkward position, headaches from being on their devices and looking down for long durations of time, pain due to sports injuries and so much more.
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Chiropractic care for children is safe and effective. Treatments are tailored to what each parent and child is comfortable with. The force used to create motion in the spine is much more gentle than what is necessary for adult patients. I always have a conversation with the parents and the child to discuss what they feel comfortable with when it comes to adjustments. If the parent or the child is wanting a more gentle approach that is what we will do. There is great therapeutic benefit in even the most gentle adjustments. It is important to seek chiropractic care from a chiropractor specializing in pediatric chiropractic as they will be the best trained to assess your child and determine the most suitable treatment plan.
How do I know if my child needs to see the chiropractor?
Children are great communicators if we know what to listen for. The easiest of course is they will tell you directly that they are in pain. Some more indirect signs might be a change in temperament. Much like adults, when children are hurting they will become more easily irritable or just not seem quite like themselves. Other signs include sleep disturbance, both having trouble falling asleep as well as struggling to stay asleep. Another important indicator is you have noticed your child has seemed a little more “clumsy”, this can be an indicator of muscular imbalance which is important to address sooner than later.
What does a chiropractic treatment for children look like?
A chiropractic treatment for children at Untamed Wellness has a similar flow to that of an adult patient. New patients undergo a review of their current and past medical history followed by a physical exam to determine if it is safe to adjust the patient and determine a working diagnosis. Once this has been established treatment consists of chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work and discussion on how to help maintain mobility between appointments.
If you’re still not sure pediatric chiropractic care in Littleton, CO is right for you and your kiddo and are looking for more information, you can request a complimentary consultation with me, Dr. Perkins. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have so you feel totally confident before you bring your kiddo to the office.