Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Gentle, age-specific care that supports growing bodies—from newborns to student-athletes.

At Form & Function Chiropractic, pediatric care follows our clinic philosophy: chiropractic adjustments first, supported by movement-based physiotherapy, targeted exercises, low-level laser, and light muscle work when appropriate. We keep it natural, age specific, comfortable, and tailored to each child’s stage of growth.

---

Why Pediatric Chiropractic?

Kids don’t have “mini-adult” spines. They grow, adapt, fall, and play through rapid developmental milestones. Gentle chiropractic care aims to help:

• Reduce excessive sympathetic tension so kids can rest, digest, learn, and recover.
• Improve segmental mobility and alignment to support posture, balance, and motor patterns.
• Support optimal function after the routine bumps of life—tumbles, sports, backpacks, screens, and growth spurts.

We stay adjustment-forward and drug-free, layering in simple home strategies and light supplementation only when requested.

---

How We Treat (Our Method)

1. Chiropractic Adjustments (age-appropriate)

• Very gentle, low-force methods for infants and toddlers (sustained contacts, Activator/Instrument, cranial and SOT-style contacts, drop-assist where appropriate for older kids).
• Diversified/Palmer/Activator/Torque Release/SOT style options tailored to the child.

2. Physiotherapy (movement-oriented)

• Low-tech, high-touch tools: yoga balls, physio neck balls, stretching bands, balance discs.
• Neuromuscular re-education: balance, coordination, posture drills; age-appropriate play-based movement.

3. Targeted Exercises

• Simple home routines for mobility, core and scapular stability, hip/knee/ankle control, and screen-time posture resets.

4. Low-Level Laser (class 2)

• Gentle, non-thermal laser options to support localized tissue recovery in older children/teens, when indicated.

5. Light Muscle Work

• Brief soft-tissue techniques to calm overactive areas and reinforce adjustments.

---

Age-Specific Care

Newborns & Infants (0–12 months)

Common reasons parents ask us to check their baby:

• Latching challenges, side preference, difficulty turning the head, or postural asymmetry.
• Irritability related to stiffness or tension after birth.
• Tummy time frustration or head-shape asymmetries from positional habits.

Clinical focus:

• Upper neck glide and cranial mobility to support comfortable turning and feeding mechanics.
• Gentle contacts to restore motion at key segments influencing jaw, tongue, and swallowing patterns.
• Support for latching—even when there is a tongue-tie or tight frenulum—by helping the neck and cranial system move freely.

Adjuncts & home tips:

• Side-lying and football holds, tummy-time progression, positional variety, and parent-guided calm breathing/relaxation strategies.

Toddlers (1–3 years)

Why we see them:

• Frequent drops, bumps, and falls as gait and climbing skills explode.
• Early postural habits, sleep position patterns, car seats/strollers.

Clinical focus:

• Restoring segmental motion after little tumbles; pelvis and upper cervical balance for coordination.
• Play-based balance and midline crossing drills; gentle core activation via games.
  Adjuncts & home tips:
• Short, fun posture and balance activities; floor time; push-pull carry play to build reflexive strength.

Early Childhood (4–7 years)

Why we see them:

• Playground spills, beginning organized sports, backpack loads, screen-time posture.

Clinical focus:

• Thoracic mobility for breathing and posture, pelvis/hip alignment for running and jumping, cervical mechanics for reading and screens.

Adjuncts & home tips:

• Backpack fits, movement breaks (every 20–30 minutes), crawl-to-stand flows, basic squat/hinge patterns.

Preteens (8–12 years)

Why we see them:

• Growth spurts, overuse from early sport specialization, expanding school load and sitting time.

Clinical focus:

• Spine and extremity balance for knees/ankles/hips/shoulders; motor control for cutting, landing, and sprint mechanics.
• Posture endurance and breathing mechanics for longer study sessions.

Adjuncts & home tips:

• Simple strength circuits, band work for scapular control, balance-disc drills, daily mobility “micro-sets.”

Teens (13–18 years)

Why we see them:

• Sports impacts (running, cycling, skateboarding, soccer, football, volleyball, etc.), weight training form, exam-season stiffness.
• New independence with driving, screens, and stress.

Clinical focus:

• Adjustments for spine and extremities; return-to-play progressions; load management.
• Hip/ankle/foot mechanics for running and cutting; shoulder care for overhead sports.

Adjuncts & home tips:

• Warm-up/activation checklists, mobility flows, recovery strategies (sleep hygiene, breath work, hydration basics).
• Laser and light muscle work for localized recovery when appropriate.

---

Conditions & Concerns We Commonly Support

• Latching/feeding discomfort linked to neck tightness (including cases with tongue-tie or tight frenulum).
• Torticollis tendencies, side-favoring, head-turn asymmetries.
• Postural strain from backpacks and screens; tech-neck patterns.
• Sprains/strains, growing pains, flat feet/ankle collapse, knee tracking issues.
• Minor sports injuries and overuse (running, biking, skating, field/court sports).
• General wellness to foster easier sleep, calmer bodies, and resilient movement habits.

Note: We keep care chiropractic-focused and natural. If we believe another provider’s input would be helpful, we’ll discuss options with you.

---

What to Expect on the First Visit

1. Conversation about goals, history, birth details (for infants), daily activities, and current concerns.

2. Age-appropriate exam: gentle orthopedic/neurologic screens, movement assessment, and specific spinal/extremity checks.

3. Report of findings in plain language with our recommended plan (frequency, duration, and home strategies).

4. First adjustment (when appropriate) using gentle, age-specific techniques.

5. Home plan: simple movements, positioning tips, and when to check back in.

---

Care Plans & Benchmarks

• Relief Phase: ease tension, restore motion, and calm irritated areas.
• Stability Phase: build coordination, balance, and strength through play-based drills and micro-exercises.
• Wellness Phase: periodic tune-ups to keep kids moving well through growth, seasons, and sport cycles.

We reassess progress regularly and adjust visit frequency as your child improves.

---

Safety & Comfort

• Techniques are matched to your child’s size, stage, and comfort.
• For babies, forces are light and sustained—often the pressure you’d use to test a tomato’s ripeness.
• Parents are welcome to be hands-on during care (holding, positioning, calming).

---

Home Care & Lifestyle

• Short movement snacks, posture breaks, and simple breathing help bodies reset.
• Sleep routines support recovery; we can share sleep-hygiene coaching that fits your family.
• Foot and ankle mechanics matter—shoes, insoles, and terrain play a role in growing bodies.

---

Ready to Get Your Child Checked?

We’d love to meet you and your child. Whether it’s newborn latching discomfort, a toddler’s tumbles, a skater’s sore wrist, or a teen athlete gearing up for playoffs—we start with gentle chiropractic care and build from there.

Scheduling note: We offer family-friendly appointment times and can coordinate siblings back-to-back to make visits easy.