ACC PROVIDER
Osteopathy for Children

Why do children need treatment?

Many young children suffer from:
• Recurrent infections such as colds, and chest infections
• Ear infections and glue ear
• Asthma and wheeziness
• Dyspraxia or clumsiness,
• Growing pains and growth problems
• Spinal and/or joint pains
• Headaches
• Sports injuries
• Behavioral problems
• Learning difficulties
• Autism and ADHD
• Sleep disturbances

Osteopathy can have a powerful role to play in all of these conditions.

How early can a child be treated?
Children can be treated from birth and indeed the earlier that a child is treated with osteopathy the better the prognosis. However it is never too late to start treatment. Some children may not experience problems until they are older. It is common for children at the age of seven to experience headaches for example. This is because this is a time of rapid growth and development and as the bones of the cranium become less accommodating to the strains that may have existed from birth, the child can start to experience symptoms.

What does an osteopath do?
The osteopath first takes a comprehensive case history including birth history and general health.

A range of techniques are used to treat children all - of them very gentle.

Cranial osteopathy is the name of one of these techniques. In this case the osteopath uses highly developed palpation skills to diagnose any areas of the body that are not functioning well. By applying very gentle and yet very specific pressure to the parts of the body that feel disturbed, any obstructions to healing can be removed and the body can return to a more normal health state.

Blood flow to and from all the involved tissues will improve as will nerve function and tissue mobility. This will result in improved general health, more optimal nervous system functioning and less pain.

For example in the case of glue ear the child may have retained moulding in the bones around the ear. This can impede drainage from the middle ear leading to recurrent ear infections and glue ear. Treatment to correct this moulding will improve the drainage and help to relieve the glue ear.
"My child won't lie still. for treatment".
It is not necessary for your child to lie still during the treatment. Children between the ages of 9 months and 3 years are better treated sitting on their parent's lap and playing with toys to distract them


Will it hurt?
No, the treatment doesn’t hurt. Some children will report that their body feels a little uncomfortable but most will enjoy the treatment. - some will even fall asleep.
Can I expect any reactions to treatment?
Your child may be very tired or occasionally irritable after a treatment. If they have been treated for a joint strain they may experience some discomfort for a short period after the treatment.  

How many treatment will it take?
This depends on the problem that the child is presenting with. A simple spinal strain can often improve with only 2-3 sessions. A child with severe learning difficulties may need fortnightly or monthly treatments over a long period.
Copyright © 2009 Waiake Osteopathic Healthcare. All rights reserved. Designed by Web Management
Search New Zealand