Chiropractic Care for Children

“Why would I consider chiropractic care for my child?”
This is a question which our patients frequently ask of us.

Children, like adults are prone to typical wear and tear on their bodies as they grow and develop. Periodic spinal checks especially in the pelvic region can help to keep restricted joints moving properly and can prevent injuries to knees and ankles which are common in kids.

Knee and ankle injuries in children and adolescents are common on the side of the body where the pelvic joints are restricted. We frequently observe pelvic (sacroiliac joint) restrictions on the same side where a knee or ankle sprain has occurred. The pelvis will be stuck in a forward or anterior position resulting in a ‘functional short leg’. This means the leg bones are not actually short but that one side is in a forward position causing one leg to look shorter than the other. Having a functional leg length inequality can increase the chances of rolling an ankle or buckling the knee during sport.

The side which has sustained the knee or ankle injury was already in a state of decreased function with sub-optimal biomechanics which has put the joints in the leg and lower limb at increased risk of injury. The good news is that it’s easy to restore normal motion to the pelvis and to remove the effects of a functional short leg. Chiropractors are trained to assess the pelvis and to restore normal motion and function to these stuck joints so that the body can return to its normal function.

By keeping the pelvic, knee and ankle joints moving freely the chances of sustaining serious knee or ankle injuries can be significantly reduced.

Other benefits of chiropractic care for children include decreased growing pain in the leg muscles during growth spurts, improved athletic performance during dance or sport, better sleep and an improved body awareness which can lead to children noticing changes in function before these changes manifest themselves as traumatic injuries.