Articles - Chiropractic and cranial
Paediatric Chiropractic and Podiatry
A helping hand to make children move better!
Does your child have difficulty with walking, running or tripping over? Do they suffer with leg pains after sports day or back pain from sitting too long? Your child may need to see a Paediatric Chiropractor or Podiatrist to get some help with postural alignment from top to toe.
How do our bodies get out of alignment?
Well, many find it is inherited from parents and other family members. Lately, many talk about the birth process as being one of the causes of body mal alignment, but it may also have occurred in the womb. Sometimes babies lie restricted in the womb either in the breech position or sideways in the transverse position. Sometimes a tight and rotated pelvis may cause less space for the baby to lie comfortably with the head or even the feet. This may create less available space for the growing baby to develop and stretch.
Babies need space for moving around while growing and restriction in the womb may affect their ability to move sufficiently. A sign that your baby might have been restricted in the womb is when they have difficulty moving their head and neck, which sometimes also can affect the feeding process. They may dislike lying on their backs and having their nappies changed. We call them “banana babies” from their inability to lie straight. Interestingly some of these babies are also unable to burp well due to restriction of the diaphragm.
In Paediatric Chiropractic and Podiatry clinics we also see toddlers who are between 18 months to two years, struggling with climbing up stairs and furniture. When they walk, they may rotate their whole leg in or just turn their foot in ward. This will affect their gait and make them fall over easily. They may not even learn to run and usually hate walking for any distance. When they do run, it’s a little like a scare crow using their whole bodies and arms trying to create a balance. These children are often shy in situations such a tumble tot’s, as they are worried of falling and hurting themselves.
Later on, as children grow older we may see them walking on their tiptoes, or like a “duck”, with their bottoms sticking out. They often get leg pains too, after PE in School. In Paediatric Chiropractic clinics we see children on a weekly basis who also frequently suffers from headaches and back ache due to spinal-joint and body asymmetry.
Paediatric Chiropractors and Podiatrists are primary health care professionals who are trained in assessing and treating these problems.
Chiropractic is aimed at getting your joints, cranium and skeletal structure properly aligned and moving well. The treatment is gentle and suitable for newborns and children of all ages. Chiropractors feel it is essential to get their bodies straight from the start to allow them to develop as well as possible.
Podiatry focuses on the alignment of the lower limbs such as the hips, knees and feet. They see children as young as 18-24 months and can either advice on proper footwear and exercises or treat them by issuing insoles. The emphasis is on prevention and helping the child to move well in all situations.
It is helpful to attend a clinic where these practitioners work in integration together so they can give your child the best possible treatment and advice.
How do I know if my child needs to see a Chiropractor or a Podiatrist?
Here is a quick postural scan to do a home:
Stand your child with their back to you:
- Is the head looking straight and held upright?
- Are the shoulders and shoulder blades even?
- Are the hip and pelvic bones even?
- The feet should be pointing forward and the knees evenly positioned.
Stand your child side ways:
Imagine a plumb line going from the ear to the ankles.The plumb line should go through the ears, shoulders, hips, knees and feet.
- Is the head and neck too far forward?
- Are the feet too far back or in front?
- Does the lower back curve in or out noticeably?
“Tone helped our daughter at the age of 4. Mia had a slight limp when walking and running. Tone, over a period of 6 months or so, helped to realign her. The difference happened quickly and now Mia aged 7 runs freely, naturally, and has won two races at School”
Mrs. Cooper, mother of a young Chiropractic patient.