Why Take My Kids to See an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner?
Early in my career, it was difficult to get people to value the importance of making their health and quality of life a priority. Fast forward to 2023, that thinking has started to shift. People are more in tune with their bodies and are starting to actively work towards keeping themselves healthy and pain free by using manual therapies like osteopathy. Most often, people begin their health journey when they have pain, suffer an injury or start to notice limitations in their bodies. But what if we addressed issues before they had time to settle into our bodies? What if we started to take care of ourselves right from the beginning…. as babies and children?
“As the twig is bent, so it grows” - a quote from Alexander Pope, who accurately depicts an important concept in Pediatric Osteopathy. Children are not nearly as resilient to injury as we think, and structural tensions early in life can put a strain on the growing body.
Pediatric osteopathy is a holistic form of manual therapy that is safe and effective for babies and kids of all ages focusing on the root of the problem. The goal is to remove any tension that may have occurred during pregnancy and delivery and restore balance and alignment of the body to optimize health. Through gentle and subtle techniques, OMP’s (osteopathic manual practitioner) use a therapeutic approach to support physiological development and treatment of a wide range of conditions affecting children.
There are many reasons why you would consider consulting an OMP for your baby or child.
ease the physical stresses from pregnancy & birth
trauma from a difficult delivery (very long or very fast, forceps/ventouse interventions)
breastfeeding challenges like latching issues & preference for feeding on one side
tongue ties
crying, fussiness, unsettled baby
sleep disturbances
colic
digestive issues - reflux, gas, constipation
head shape asymmetries
torticollis
motor development issues - babies need to crawl !
learning and attentional difficulties
chronic immune issues
growing pains
scoliosis
orthodontic and dental issues
sports injuries
It is also beneficial to have your child be assessed by an OMP preventatively to anticipate future dysfunctions.
From what age can my baby or child see an OMP?
There is no minimum age. You can take your baby to an OMP from birth. If you have any particular concern, the sooner the better. The sooner the baby is seen, the easier it will be to release the tensions that are creating the issue. But it’s never too late for your child to have an osteopathic treatment.
What happens during a pediatric osteopathy session?
At your child’s first appointment, we take a detailed health history including asking you questions about your pregnancy and birth story. We will then perform a gentle examination of your baby looking at their joints, muscles, spine and head and also looking at things like tummy time, their ability to roll, sit, crawl and walk all depending on their age. We will discuss our findings with you and refer to your family physician or pediatrician for further screening if needed. Hands-on treatment is pain free and involves gentle myofascial release, visceral manipulation and cranial sacral techniques.
What can I expect after a session?
The goal of the treatment is to rebalance and release the tension in the child's body. They will need some time to integrate the changes, but you will be amazed at how calm and happy your child will feel!
Need more information? Have questions? Contact us to determine if pediatric osteopathy is right for you and your child.
Reference: Miriam V. Mills, May 2021. The use of osteopathic manipulative treatment in the newborn nursery and its effect on health in the first six months of life: A retrospective observational case-control study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 43.
Disclaimer - this blog post is for informative purposes only. It is not intended for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Please seek out a qualified health care professional for assessment.
#pediatricosteopathy #osteopathy #manualosteopathy #craniosacral #colic #baby #toddler
