Hur vet jag att mitt barn har ett problem som kan behandlas med kiropraktik?

Chiropractic addresses mechanical problems which can occur as a result of different situations. In the infant it can be due to a suboptimal position inutero or a traumatic delivery which resulted in injury. These include among other things, torticollis, plagiocephaly, breech or transverse positioning and among others, facial presentation (ansikts bjudning, sätesbjudning). Some infants who have difficulty breastfeeding have mechanical problems which can be addressed with manual therapy. This infant typically had a position inutero or during delivery where the mouth and jaw were affected. Clues to this can be seen during the first 3 weeks of life. In situations where the infant has pain, sleep will be disturbed and they need to be carried and have body contact, this infant refuses to be put down. Treatment of infants is not at all like in adults. Treatment is gentle, often referred to as *touch and hold* for the infant under 3 months. Treatment is still gentle in older infants and is modified for children until adolescence.

Motor development of the infant is commonly affected when there is a mechanical problem. This affects their ability to find and activate their core strength. This infant is often frustrated and does not like tummy time. Finding how to stabilize muscles is a critical aspect of development as the infant engages and strengthens the core muscles of the neck, the trunk and the low back. The infant motor steps are reviewed and parents learn to train these important steps at home.

In children problems with gait, headaches, growing pains, neck pain, low back pain, hip and leg pain, concussion, scoliosis and sports injuries are problems we commonly evaluate and treat. In those children who suffer a fall or other trauma, it is wise to have a check up to avoid problems further along due to compensation. Injuries suffered in childhood can affect the growing and developing tissues of the musculoskeletal system and be a reason for more serious pain as the child comes in to adolescence. Recognizing early the scope of the injury and how to properly manage it with appropriate exercises is critical for avoiding pain in adolescence and adulthood. Screen use for children today well exceeds recommended guidelines and not uncommonly results in problems with posture, vision and neck pain. An important part of management besides restoring normal function is learning how to engage the core muscles and review “good ergonomics”.