Why is paediatric chiropractic care so important?
Seeing a chiropractor at a young age—particularly within the first two years of life—is especially important since a child will experience the most physical and neurological growth during that time period. In fact, the spine will develop its primary and secondary spinal curvatures in the first year of life, which will affect future bone growth and function, and the spine will experience its greatest growth by age two. During the same time period, the brain will grow 2.5 to 3 times its birth size in the first year of life and reach 80-90% of its adult volume by age two. This is an incredibly important time period of growth in a child, and paediatric chiropractic care can help support healthy development.
Treatment for a child begins with an extensive examination to understand the issue and the best route for treatment. While babies and children may be unable to express their concerns, Dr. Josée has the skills and training to be able to determine what the issue is before moving forward with treatment if it is determined treatment is needed. Sometimes, education is all that is needed for parents to help their children. When treatment is indicated, gentle, non-invasive adjustments are then made to the spine, release of tissue tension and craniosacral work may all be used. Children will often become relaxed and even fall asleep following treatment, a good sign that it has been effective.
Signs that indicate that an infant or young child could benefit from chiropractic care include:
Torticollis or a noticeable head preference (the tendency for the baby to either tilt or turn their head to one side);
Restricted movement of the head or neck;
Overarching of the back when laying down;
Difficulty nursing on one side;
General fussiness for no apparent reason;
Facial and cranial asymmetries;
Jaw deviation;
High or low tone presentation;
Tethered oral tissues (TOTs);
Delayed developmental milestones.