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If you’re considering taking your child to a chiropractor, it’s understandable to have questions about safety. One of the most common questions parents ask is: “Is chiropractic care safe for children?”
Chiropractic care for children is different from simply performing an adult adjustment on a smaller person. A child’s age, size, stage of development, health history and reason for seeking care all need to be considered before treatment begins.
I’ve been providing chiropractic care for babies, children and teenagers in Edmonton for more than 30 years. In my practice, safety begins with assessing the child first and adapting care specifically to their individual needs.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe for Children?
Research on pediatric chiropractic care is more limited than research involving adults, so it’s important not to suggest that any healthcare treatment is completely without risk.
However, studies examining chiropractic and manual therapy in children have generally found that reported treatment-related adverse effects are uncommon and are most often mild and temporary. These may include temporary soreness, stiffness, irritability or increased crying in younger children.
Serious adverse events have been reported in the broader pediatric manual-therapy literature, but they appear to be rare. Some reported cases have also involved underlying medical conditions, which highlights why a careful history and examination are important before treatment.
Chiropractic Care Is Adapted for Children
One of the biggest misconceptions parents may have is that a chiropractor treats a baby or young child with the same amount of force used to adjust an adult.
That isn’t how I approach pediatric chiropractic care.
The techniques and amount of force I use are adapted to the child’s age, size, stage of development, comfort and individual needs. Care for a baby, for example, is very different from care for a 15-year-old hockey or soccer player.
Children are also treated for different reasons. Some may be assessed for back or neck pain, posture concerns, headaches or a sports-related injury. Others may be brought in because a parent has noticed a change in posture, movement or function.
Safety Starts Before the Adjustment
An important part of pediatric chiropractic safety happens before treatment even begins.
I take a health history and examine the child to determine what may be causing the problem and whether chiropractic care is appropriate. If something suggests that the child requires medical assessment, diagnostic imaging or another healthcare provider, referral may be the appropriate next step.
Parents should also understand what I have found, what treatment I am recommending and why. I encourage parents – and older children themselves – to ask questions. Treatment should only proceed once the parent understands the proposed care and provides consent.
What About the “Cracking” Sound?
Some parents worry about the popping or cracking sound sometimes associated with chiropractic adjustments.
The sound itself does not mean that bones are rubbing together or being damaged. It can occur when pressure changes within a joint cause gas to be released.
More importantly, not every chiropractic technique produces a popping sound. There are lighter manual techniques and instrument-assisted approaches that can be used when appropriate.
This is something I discussed more broadly in my article “Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe? What Patients in Edmonton Should Know.” If you’re concerned about chiropractic adjustments in general, that article provides additional information about treatment safety, temporary soreness and alternatives to traditional manual adjustments.
Children Aren’t Just Smaller Adults
This is probably the most important point for parents to understand.
A growing child needs to be assessed and treated as a child.
Whether I’m seeing a young child with a neuromusculoskeletal concern or a teenager who has been injured playing hockey, soccer, dance or another sport, treatment is individualized to what I find during the examination.
That includes knowing when not to adjust and when another type of assessment or treatment would be more appropriate.
Choosing a Chiropractor for Your Child
If you’re considering chiropractic care for your child, ask questions. Find out whether the chiropractor regularly treats children, how they assess pediatric patients, how treatment is modified for different ages and what they do when a problem falls outside their scope of care.
Parents should feel comfortable discussing any concerns before treatment begins.
At Collins Chiropractic Health & Wellness Centre, I’ve been caring for children, teenagers and families in Edmonton for more than 30 years. My approach is to provide personalized, age-appropriate care based on each child’s history, examination findings and individual needs.
If you’re wondering whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for your child, contact our Edmonton chiropractic clinic to book a consultation and examination.
About Dr. Dean Collins
Dr. Dean Collins has been helping Edmonton patients improve their health through chiropractic care since 1998. With over 30 years of clinical experience, he has worked with patients of all ages, helping them reduce pain, improve mobility, and maintain healthier, more active lives. At Collins Chiropractic Health & Wellness Centre, Dr. Collins focuses on identifying the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction while providing personalized care, education, and practical strategies to support long-term health and wellness.
Learn more about Dr. Collins or book an appointment today.
For more information on how chiropractic care could help you, your family, or friend read our complete guide to chiropractic care.
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