What is Osteopathy for Babies & Children?
Every parent’s priority is to provide the best environment to support their child’s health as they develop and grow. Osteopathic practice is safe and effective. Research has shown that people trust their osteopath and are extremely satisfied by their experience of osteopathic care. This provides parents confidence in the level of care their children can expect to receive.
Children’s requirements differ depending on the stage of their development. As they grow from infants, toddlers, children to teenagers, your osteopath will consider your child’s individual needs, age and stage of development, and adapt their advice and treatment accordingly. You do not need to consult your GP before you visit an osteopath, although you may wish to do so.
When you first visit an osteopath, you’ll be asked about the reason you have brought your child and their medical history. For babies and young children, this may include information about their birth. Your osteopath will complete a thorough examination to determine if osteopathic care can support your child’s health.
Babies
Laura is our Paediatric Osteopath here at Carshalton. During her undergraduate training she developed a keen interest in this area, which led to her further developing her skills undertaking further postgraduate training working with newborns and paediatric musculoskeletal complaints.
Laura uses very gentle hands-on techniques which are particularly suitable for babies and young children including cranial, articulations, massage and stretches. Cranial techniques are safe and very gentle. The techniques Laura uses help soothe and relax, plus release areas of tension to help improve movement. Appointments for children aged 0-6 years are with Laura. We have seen babies as young as a few days old but do recommend your babies newborn examination check with a midwife or nurse is done before coming in.
Children
All our Osteopath’s here at Carshalton work with children age 6+. Children, like adults, can experience general joint and muscle issues, which is one of the reasons they visit an osteopath. Parents may also take their children to visit an osteopath to help with headaches, sports injuries, and for general tensions that may benefit from osteopathic care.
O care is based on the individual needs of the patient, so it will vary depending on your child’s age and diagnosis. Osteopaths generally use a wide range of gentle hands-on techniques that focus on releasing tension, improving mobility and optimising function. This is often used together with exercise and helpful advice.
Common causes of pain in children include:
- Growing pains due to growth spurts
- Osgood-Schlatters disease - pain just below the knee especially common in sporty children.
- Sever’s Disease - pain at the heel growth plate, especially common in sporty children.
- Flat feet - can be normal in young children and usually resolve with age but can cause discomfort.
- Scoliosis - curvature of the spine which can sometimes cause back pain. - Patellofemoral pain - pain around the knee cap often caused by muscular imbalance.
- Back pain - acute and chronic which may be caused by changes in posture, heavy rucksacks and sports activities.
- Hypermobility - joints that move beyond the normal range which may cause pain and can increase injury risk.
We see a number of young sports people here at Carshalton. Jessica & Colette both found their love for Osteopathy when they were patients here at Carshalton for sports-related pain; both competing in football & gymnastics respectively at elite level.
Colette works with sports teams outside of clinic, supporting many young players in elite pathways. Over the years many of these have gone on to become professional players, and some have been selected to represent teams at county, national and international level.
Children under 16 must have a parent/guardian attend appointments with them.
How can Osteopathy Help?
Osteopathy can be very effective in helping to manage pain experienced by children through manual therapy and exercise prescription. We take a holistic approach and will look at the whole body to determine if there are any other contributing factors to the pain. It’s important for individuals to have a treatment plan tailored to their specific needs.
Osteopathy focuses on the musculoskeletal system, using manual techniques to promote overall health and alleviate pain. Once a working diagnosis for the pain is established, your osteopath will discuss a treatment plan with you – with the aim to help pain management, reducing inflammation and improving mobility and function.
Osteopathic treatment uses gentle hands-on manual therapy techniques – these may include soft tissue massage, stretching, and gentle joint manipulation.
Pain can often interfere with children’s daily activities, school life, and recreational activities. Your osteopath may provide recommendations for these to help management of symptoms and support overall health. Managing pain often requires a combination of treatments and lifestyle adjustments, and your osteopath may provide specific exercises to strengthen muscles around the joints, improve range of motion, and enhance overall function and stability.
Osteopaths are trained to screen for medical conditions. If the cause of pain is not musculoskeletal, your child may need to be referred to another healthcare practitioner.
Pricing
£55 (30 minutes)
Initial Consultation & Treatment
£55 (30 minutes)
Follow up Appointments
