Pediatric Chiropractor
Most people often think that chiropractic care is only meant for adults. But that’s not the case. Children can also enjoy the benefits of chiropractic. Unlike adults, children cannot recognize when their bodies don’t function normally. And because they’re constantly playing and learning new things, they are more susceptible to trauma.
Techniques used for pediatric patients are always gentle and chosen based on your child’s age and size. Every visit is calm, and we do not perform anything that your child is not comfortable with.
If you have noticed anything concerning about your child’s posture, movement, or comfort, call (703) 373-7113 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gregory Lee.
What is Pediatric Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care for children involves diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders and physiological conditions via non-surgical manipulation of the spine. It is performed by a licensed chiropractor.
The bodies of infants and kids often grow and change at an exciting rate. This allows pediatric chiropractic manipulations to work more effectively in kids. Chiropractic care for kids may support infants and children with certain common conditions, including:
- Colic
- Sports and playing-related injuries
- Tension and headaches
- Mental focus and concentration problems
- Ear infections
- Trouble breastfeeding
- Scoliosis
How a Pediatric Chiropractor Treats Kids
The pediatric chiropractic treatment process mirrors that of an adult. The only difference is that the kid’s parent is always involved in the process. Active Family Wellness will take the child through three stages of treatment: evaluation, treatment, and maintenance.
Evaluation: The chiropractor goes through the child’s health history and collects more details about the source and types of the pain. To better understand a kid’s difficulty, the specialist might order an x-ray scan. Once the professional identifies the problem, he or she will create a treatment plan.
Treatment: Chiropractic care involves spinal manipulation to release subluxation, reduce tension, and help repair damaged muscles. If the problem is muscle-related, the treatment will help to increase blood flow to fibers and tissues, ease inflammation and boost healing. Alternative treatments that specialists might perform include massage, acupuncture, and manual therapy.
Maintenance: The maintenance stage helps to keep the child’s spine and body aligned and healthy.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Children
Chiropractic care benefits kids in several ways.
Promotes good healthy living
Proper spine alignment in kids promotes good neck posture and improves overall health. Pediatric chiropractic helps to align the spine and neck as well as clear neural paths. As a result, the nervous system performance improves.
Chiropractic care is a full-body treatment. It’s the perfect foundation for regular training and healthy eating in children.
Boosts the immune system
Chiropractic treatment can help children with allergies and colds. In addition, it supports the kid’s immunity factors and system, allowing the body to fight off sickness.
Besides that, this type of treatment can address digestive system issues. For example, the adjustment can alleviate acid reflux, improve digestion, and relieve constipation.
Improves sleep
Sleep plays a crucial role in a kid’s overall development. Infants and children require enough sleep to function during the day and to grow emotionally and physically. However, spine misalignment can prevent a kid from having a good night’s sleep.
A shift in spine alignment can increase tension in the muscles and cause pain that disrupts the kid’s sleeping pattern. The misalignment can also result in other issues like bedwetting, which is a cause of concern for older children and their parents.
Proper chiropractic care improves a kid’s sleep by correcting misalignments and nerve disruptions. The treatment can also strengthen pelvic floor muscles to help prevent bedwetting.
Helps with Breastfeeding
New mothers often have difficulty breastfeeding babies since they can’t latch onto the breast during breastfeeding. This is usually a very tough situation for most new families.
The childbirth process can take a toll on the infant’s tiny body. Pediatric chiropractors can help realign the child’s spine, neck, and shoulder to prevent feeding issues. Also, they can help to eliminate the stress resulting from the feeding process.
Watch Now: Dr. Gregory Lee DC Discusses Chiropractic Care for Babies
How Can I Tell If My Child Needs Chiropractic Care?
Infants and children have developing spines that are more delicate than an adult’s. And since they can’t communicate, it’s hard for parents to know if they’re in pain. So most of the time, they just cry.
A child who requires chiropractic care will display the following symptoms:
- Inconsolable crying
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Disinterest in various fun activities
- Irritability
- Bedwetting
If you observe these symptoms in your kids, contact Active Family Wellness. Dr. Gregory Lee DC will evaluate your child and identify the source of the problem.
Professional chiropractic care ensures the child’s immune systems stay strong and boost the body’s natural healing properties with no need for surgery. Visit Active Family Wellness to learn more about chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Care for ADHD, Autism, and Sensory Processing Disorders
At our practice, we specialize in Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care to support children with ADHD, Autism, and Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD). These neurodevelopmental challenges often stem from early-life stressors, including traumatic births, maternal stress during pregnancy, and early nervous system dysfunction.
How Early Stress Affects Development
During pregnancy, high maternal stress levels can impact fetal brain and nervous system development, increasing the likelihood of dysautonomia, an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. Additionally, birth interventions such as C-sections, forceps or vacuum deliveries, and prolonged labor can place significant stress on an infant’s developing nervous system. This may lead to misalignments (subluxations) that disrupt normal neural function.
Our Approach: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
Using state-of-the-art CLA Insight Scanning Technology, we assess the stress stored within a child’s nervous system, helping to identify areas of neurological interference. Our gentle, pediatric-specific chiropractic adjustments focus on:
- Restoring balance to the autonomic nervous system
- Alleviating nervous system stress
- Optimizing vagus nerve function, which plays a crucial role in:
- Emotional regulation
- Sensory integration
- Digestion
- Overall development
A Holistic, Medication-Free Solution
Many families seeking natural, gentle ways to support their child’s wellness have shared that chiropractic care may help support:
- Focus and attention
- Behavior and emotional regulation
- Speech and sensory processing
Whether your child is struggling with hyperactivity, speech delays, sensory sensitivities, or emotional dysregulation, our customized chiropractic approach offers a safe, natural, and effective path to healing.
Pediatric Patient Case Studies
Recovery Of a Toddler From Constipation Through Chiropractic Care
Patient Information
This patient is a 14-month-old boy. His parents brought him in because of ongoing digestive problems.
Symptoms
He had trouble with digestion and strained hard to pass a bowel movement. The straining was strong enough that the veins in his head would stand out from the pressure in his belly. It affected his sleep, his mood, and how he got through the day.
Diagnosis
Dr. Gregory Lee found misalignments in his mid-back and sacrum. These were adding to his digestive problems and constipation.
Treatments
The treatment plan was twice a week for six weeks, followed by a recheck of his overall health, movement, and function. We focused on hands-on adjustments of the lower back and pelvis. We also added neck and mid-back adjustments to support his nervous system as a whole.
Outcome
Once he finished the six weeks, his bowel movements were frequent, and he no longer needed to strain. His parents also saw him sleeping more and in a better mood.
Book an Appointment
Please use the booking tool below to request an appointment. Our patient care coordinator will call you shortly to discuss your symptoms and finalize your appointment.
