Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Kids? A Parent’s Guide
As a parent, it's natural to have questions before taking your child to any new health care provider. If you're considering chiropractic care, one of the first questions you may have is: Is chiropractic care safe for kids?
Chiropractic care is used by some children and adolescents, particularly for musculoskeletal concerns such as back or neck discomfort. However, pediatric chiropractic isn't simply adult chiropractic performed on a smaller patient. A child's age, size, development, symptoms, health history, and reason for seeking care all matter.
At Shubert Natural Health Care and Chiropractic in Wichita, KS, Dr. Melody Shubert, D.C. takes an individualized approach to patients of different ages.
Here's what parents should understand when deciding whether chiropractic care is appropriate for their child.
Can Children See a Chiropractor?
Yes. Chiropractors may provide care to children and adolescents when the patient's needs fall within the chiropractor's scope of practice.
Children sometimes see chiropractors for musculoskeletal concerns involving the back, neck, joints, posture, or discomfort associated with physical activity.
However, not every symptom is appropriate for chiropractic treatment. A careful history and age-appropriate examination are particularly important in children because pain or other symptoms can sometimes indicate a condition that requires evaluation by a pediatrician or another medical professional. The American Academy of Pediatrics has specifically emphasized the importance of identifying underlying conditions before manual or manipulative treatment is performed on children.
Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care Safe?
No health care treatment is completely without risk.
Research evaluating the safety of chiropractic manipulation in children is more limited than research involving adults. Published reviews have reported both minor and serious adverse events, although serious complications appear to be uncommon and the available evidence does not allow researchers to determine a precise incidence rate.
This is one reason parents should choose a qualified chiropractor who is comfortable evaluating children and who recognizes when a child's symptoms warrant referral to a pediatrician or another health care professional.
Parents should also feel comfortable asking exactly what technique is being recommended, why it is being recommended, what evidence supports it, and what potential risks or alternatives exist.
Is Chiropractic Care Different for Children Than Adults?
It should be individualized.
A chiropractor should consider the child's age, physical development, size, health history, symptoms, and reason for the visit when deciding whether treatment is appropriate and what technique to use.
The type and amount of force used should therefore not simply be based on an adult treatment protocol.
Before treatment, parents should understand what the chiropractor intends to do and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Why Do Parents Take Their Kids to a Chiropractor?
Children and teenagers may experience many of the same types of musculoskeletal complaints adults do.
Depending on the child's age and circumstances, parents may seek an evaluation for concerns such as:
Back discomfort
Neck discomfort
Muscle or joint complaints
Sports-related aches and strains
Posture-related concerns
Mobility issues
Musculoskeletal discomfort associated with activity
The important distinction is that chiropractic care should not be presented as a treatment for every childhood health problem.
Research supporting spinal manipulation for non-musculoskeletal conditions in infants and children is limited.
What Happens at a Child's Chiropractic Appointment?
A pediatric chiropractic visit should begin with information gathering rather than treatment.
The chiropractor may ask about the child's symptoms, when they began, activities or injuries that may be related, medical history, previous treatment, medications, and other relevant health information.
An examination may then be performed based on the child's symptoms and age.
The purpose is partly to determine whether the child's complaint appears appropriate for chiropractic care or whether another health care provider should evaluate the child.
Parents should be encouraged to ask questions throughout the process.
When Should a Child See a Pediatrician Instead?
Some symptoms require medical evaluation rather than, or before, chiropractic care.
Contact your child's pediatrician or seek appropriate medical attention for symptoms such as significant trauma, severe or rapidly worsening pain, weakness or numbness, difficulty walking, unexplained fever, loss of bladder or bowel control, persistent nighttime pain, unexplained weight loss, or other concerning or unusual symptoms.
The appropriate response depends on the child's symptoms and circumstances.
A responsible chiropractor should recognize when a complaint falls outside chiropractic care and recommend medical evaluation when appropriate. Delayed diagnosis of an underlying medical condition is one of the safety concerns identified in reviews of pediatric spinal manipulation.
What Should Parents Ask a Chiropractor?
You should feel comfortable asking questions before agreeing to treatment.
Consider asking:
What is your experience working with children?
What do you think is causing my child's symptoms?
What technique are you recommending?
Why are you recommending it?
What are the potential benefits and risks?
Are there other treatment options?
How will treatment differ because of my child's age?
When would you refer my child to a pediatrician or specialist?
How will we determine whether treatment is helping?
A good health care relationship should leave parents informed, not pressured.
How Many Chiropractic Visits Will My Child Need?
There isn't one appropriate number of visits for every child.
The answer depends on the child's complaint, examination findings, response to treatment, and whether chiropractic care is appropriate in the first place.
Parents should understand the proposed treatment plan and how progress will be evaluated. If symptoms aren't improving as expected, the treatment plan should be reconsidered rather than automatically continuing indefinitely.
Can Teenagers See a Chiropractor?
Teenagers may seek chiropractic care for musculoskeletal complaints, particularly as sports, exercise, school activities, prolonged sitting, and everyday injuries place different physical demands on their bodies.
As with younger children, care should be based on the teenager's individual symptoms and examination rather than assumptions about what chiropractic treatment they need.
Persistent pain, significant injuries, neurological symptoms, or other concerning symptoms may require evaluation by a pediatrician, sports medicine physician, orthopedist, or another appropriate medical professional.
Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Wichita, KS
If you're considering pediatric chiropractic care in Wichita, Dr. Melody Shubert at Shubert Natural Health Care and Chiropractic can discuss your child's symptoms, health history, and whether chiropractic evaluation may be appropriate.
Parents are encouraged to ask questions and understand the proposed approach before beginning care.
Learn more about our pediatric chiropractic services in Wichita.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care for Kids
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Chiropractic care is used in pediatric patients, but it isn't completely risk-free. Research on pediatric chiropractic safety is limited, and rare serious adverse events have been reported. Parents should choose an appropriately qualified provider and make sure their child receives an age-appropriate evaluation before treatment.
Are chiropractic adjustments painful for kids?
A child should not simply receive an adult treatment without consideration of their age and physical development. Parents should ask the chiropractor what technique will be used, what the child may feel, and why that particular approach is appropriate.
What age can a child start seeing a chiropractor?
There isn't a single age at which every child should begin chiropractic care. Whether care is appropriate depends on the child's age, health, symptoms, and reason for seeking treatment.
Can chiropractic care replace my child's pediatrician?
No. Chiropractic care should not replace routine pediatric medical care, vaccinations, diagnosis or treatment of illness, or medically necessary specialty care. A chiropractor and pediatrician have different roles in a child's health care.
Should I tell my pediatrician that my child is seeing a chiropractor?
Keeping your child's health care providers informed about the treatments and therapies your child receives can help coordinate care, particularly if your child has an existing medical condition or is being treated for an injury.
Schedule a Pediatric Chiropractic Consultation in Wichita
Parents deserve clear information when making health care decisions for their children.
If your child is experiencing a musculoskeletal concern and you're wondering whether chiropractic care may be appropriate, contact Shubert Natural Health Care and Chiropractic in Wichita, KS to discuss your questions and schedule an evaluation with Dr. Melody Shubert: https://www.wichitachiropractor.net/chiropractor-near-me-wichita
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every child or every condition. Consult your child's pediatrician or another qualified health care professional about symptoms, medical conditions, or concerns about your child's health.
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