Why would my baby benefit from seeing a Chiropractor?
In the first year of their life, your baby will undergo an extensive amount of development and transformation; physically, mentally, and neurologically. Your baby’s brain and spinal cord, as well as their muscles and joints will triple in size within this period. This is why routine neuro-musculoskeletal check-ups, as early as possible after their birth are important for your child.
The birthing process can be both exciting and traumatic for mother and baby; hence an early examination of both can reduce mechanical compromise and pressure resulting from childbirth.
During this examination the chiropractor will take a thorough history from the mother about the pregnancy, labour, and delivery; as well as the current feeding, sleeping and movement habits of the child. Following this a very comprehensive examination of vital signs, the nervous system, muscles, and joints will be performed in order to identify any asymmetries or hypo functioning areas.
Common complaints that babies present with at our chiropractic clinic:
Feeding/ latching issues, head positioning preference, delayed developmental milestones.
Common areas of compromise:
Cranial bones, jaw, cervical spine (neck), thoracic, lower back and hips.
As soon as the chiropractor finishes their examination, ruling out any serious pathology, and establishing no contraindications to treatment; you will receive a report of findings, explaining in detail the reason for the examination findings and correlating these to the initial history. You will have ample time to discuss all of your concerns with your chiropractor.
Treatment is adapted towards the age and development of each child consists of very gentle techniques. These use the child’s natural movements to help improve the function and mobility of the specific section in the body and nervous system. The treatment is comfortable, and the parents are always present and involved as a lot of the care can be delivered with the baby/ child in their parents’ arms. In addition, you will also receive relevant advice to help you at home and if required some exercises to reinforce the outcome of the treatment at home.
References:
1. Hawk, Cheryl et al. “Best practices for chiropractic care of children: a consensus update.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 39.3 (2016): 158-168.
2. Marchand, Aurelie M. “Chiropractic care of children from birth to adolescence and classification of reported conditions: and internet cross-sectional survey of 956European chiropractors.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 35.5 (2012): 372-380.
3. 2014 ACA Paediatrics council lecture by Elise Hewitt, DC CST DICCP.
Why would my newborn and myself benefit from seeing a Physiotherapist?
Physiotherapists play a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of newborns, paediatric children, and pregnant women. For newborns and infants, physiotherapists address developmental delays, congenital conditions, or birth-related issues like torticollis or brachial plexus injuries. They use gentle techniques and exercises to promote motor skills, improve muscle tone, and enhance movement patterns. In paediatric care, they manage conditions such as cerebral palsy, scoliosis, or respiratory challenges by tailoring treatments to each child's developmental stage.
For pregnant women, physiotherapists help alleviate pregnancy-related discomforts like back pain, pelvic pain, and postural changes. They also guide safe exercise routines to maintain strength and flexibility, prepare for labour, and assist with postpartum recovery by addressing concerns such as diastasis recti or pelvic floor dysfunction. Through education, hands-on therapy, and personalised plans, physiotherapists ensure optimal care for both mother and child.
Common areas of conditions/Injuries
- Lumbar/Thoracic spine, Pelvis, Hips, Knee and Ankles
References
1. Mistry, K., Yonezawa, E. and Milne, N. (2019). Paediatric Physiotherapy curriculum: an audit and survey of Australian entry-level Physiotherapy programs. BMC medical education, 19, pp.1-18.
2. Drapeau-Zgoralski, V., Beauséjour, M., Painchaud, A.S., Sarda, M. and Nault, M.L. (2022). Advanced practice physiotherapy in paediatrics: Implementation results. Paediatrics & Child Health, 27(4), pp.206-212.
3. Khorasani, F., Ghaderi, F., Sarbakhsh, P., Ahadi, P., Khorasani, E., Ansari, F. and Vahed, N. (2020). Physiotherapy and pelvic floor muscle exercises for the prevention and treatment of pregnancy-related pelvic floor dysfunctions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Womens Health Reprod Sci, 8(2), pp.125-132.
For more information please contact our clinic on 07407050156
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