Paediatric Chiropractic
Children go through so many changes as they grow. The nervous system is the first to develop and it controls all the other body systems. It is therefore very important to have the nervous system develop according to appropriate age related milestones. Our chiropractors, who work with children, have completed post graduate training to assess babies and children and identify if there is any milestone delay. Importantly, we can determine if a Chiropractic subluxation - a misalignment of the spine which results in irritation and poor function of the nervous system- is a cause. Subluxations may occur very early in life. One of the first and most traumatic things to happen to the spine is the birth process. If the delivery is difficult or requiring assistance, there can be pressure on the mechanics of the babies spine.
The risk of any material adverse event with children is rare (Todd et al, 2015), highlighting that Chiropractic care for babies and children is safe. We use very gentle approaches to help correct any subluxations and modify our techniques to suit the age of the patient. The pressure we apply is equivalent to applying pressure to one's eyeball.
Why do we see babies and children?
Here are some of the reasons why we see children at Bergamo Chiropractic and Nutrition Centre:
1) Check development is appropriate with age and milestones.
2) Assist with breastfeeding issues and uncontrolled crying , if the cause is related to a baby’s spine being subluxated.
3) Assist children with movement pattern problems e.g. when crawling or walking, when this is related to a cervical/shoulder and lumbo-pelvic problem
4) Check BACKchat podcast Episode 6 for more information here with our interview of Dr Genevieve Keating on Positive NeuroDevelopment from baby to a child. https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/backchat/id972497993.
What are the common conditions that are treated?
The most common baby or childhood presentations seen in our practice, that can have a spinal origin, include:
- Feeding Issues, eg. trouble turning the neck to one side
- Excessive crying or irritability if there is a spinal trigger
- Flatness on the side of the skull due to poor turning of the neck
- Difficult rolling over that has a spinal origin
- Difficulty crawling that has a spinal origin
- Difficulty walking that has a spinal origin
How long are the consultations?
Initial consultation is 30 minutes, which includes history taking, a full assessment of your child and treatment, if applicable.
Follow up visits take up to 10 minutes for your child’s treatment and take home advice.
We can email you the initial Paediatric form, upon request or you can download it here.
What is involved in a consultation?
Initial consultation includes a full case history being taken. In history taking, information is gathered relating to your primary concern of your child’s health, and other general questions are asked in relation to their overall health, growth, development, food intake, sleep and posture.
The examination involves a thorough spinal assessment, orthopedic and neurological tests, and if indicated, a chiropractic treatment is also implemented.The examination also includes assessment of primitive reflexes, spinal and extremity function, as well as muscle tone.
How long do I need treatment for?
Your chiropractor will identify the extent of a particular problem and will tailor make a management plan. Every baby and child is different. We integrate a review system to ensure the appropriate treatment frequency is provided.
Will health insurance cover me?
Yes, most private health insurances cover chiropractic care for your child.
We provide on-the-spot claiming with the use of Hicaps for fast processing of your private health insurance claims, as patients simply pay the gap on the consultation.
The rebate varies with different funds and the level of your extras cover. We recommend you speak to your health insurance provider if you want to determine your actual gap payment.
What if my child has a health problem that doesn't respond to chiropractic care?
Chiropractors are primary health care providers and are trained to recognise and diagnose health problems. The chiropractors, in our centre, are happy to collaborate with other health providers with sharing of clinical records, once parental consent is given, if we feel a second opinion is required.The primary obligation is the welfare of your child.