Osteopathy for Babies and Children
What an initial consultation with an osteo looks like and the benefits of osteopathy for your baby or child.
Every baby’s birth experience is unique, whether very rapid, long and drawn out, or via caesarean section. Many of our patients bring their newborns in for a ‘once-over’ to address any minor issues or unresolved birth strains that may restrict them from achieving their developmental milestones and to assist their bodies to adapt to growth-related changes.
As a parent, it can be daunting to take your child for an assessment with a new practitioner, especially if you are not yourself familiar with the practice or the types of treatment offered.
Here we breakdown the consultation process specifically for babies and young children and highlight some of the common presenting childhood complaints an osteopath can help with.
What an initial consultation looks like:
Case History
For an osteopath, it’s important to get as much information as possible in the initial appointment to paint a detailed picture of what a child’s body has experienced.
When your osteo starts to create a case history, they may ask you questions about:
Any previous pregnancies and/or labours.
A full pregnancy history for the child being assessed.
A full labour history for the child being assessed, including if it was a c-section or a spontaneous labour, or if there were any complications for mother or baby.
A general medical history for the child, including any big falls or sports injuries, illnesses, surgeries, as well as any known allergies or endocrine and autoimmune problems.
Relevant family history.
Physical Assessment
This head-to-toe assessment includes looking closely at any developmental milestones, as well as checking for spinal and joint range of motion. Your osteo may also carry out an examination of other body systems (such as jaw, ears, throat or breathing) as required, and will engage both the parent and the child throughout, ensuring everyone is feeling informed and at ease.
Essentially, when an osteo examines a baby or child, they’re looking to see how well the body moves. They will be on the lookout for any sign of restricted or altered movement, as as well as tension or asymmetry.
Diagnosis
Having insight into a child’s medical history, coupled with a physical assessment, allows your osteo to have a comprehensive and balanced understanding of your child’s body, including any areas that need attention.
Your osteopath will outline these findings in detail with you, including how this may have impacted on the way your child’s body functions and how it manifests in their daily life.
Treatment
Paediatric treatment is very mild and gentle, usually addressing the whole body, ensuring that the individual child is physically comfortable and balanced. Methods may include gentle massage and stretching, including more subtle techniques aimed at relaxing the muscles and ligaments into positions of ease.
Osteopaths may also use a very indirect treatment known as cranial or biodynamic osteopathy, which is aimed at balancing fluid flow through the tissues and restoring whole body health.
Your osteo will also assist with any relevant exercises or activities to do at home to support your child’s development, growth, and recovery.
Common Complaints
The anatomy and physiology of babies and children is actually quite different to adults, as are the types of conditions and medical issues that commonly occur.
Some common presenting conditions for babies and young children include:
Colic - For some babies, colic or wind may be due to irritation of the nerve that extends from the base of the skull to the stomach, affecting digestion. It could also be a result of a distorted diaphragm or, in some cases, what is referred to as a sensitised gut lining.
Torticollis - This rare condition sees the neck muscles contract, resulting in the head angling to one side. The most common form of Torticollis results in the chin pushing towards the shoulder. While some cases resolve on their own, treatment is often required to aid recovery.
Difficulty feeding - For some babies, feeding can be difficult and tiring due to mechanical stresses throughout the head, face and throat. Affected babies may take longer to feed with little or no gap between feeds. They may also present as very windy feeders.
Recurrent ear/sinus infection - For babies who suffer recurring ear infections, there may be a retention of birth compression in and around the bones of the ear. This retention can impact the drainage of fluid from the ear, affecting the development of the air sinuses and causing complete or partial blocking of the eustachian tube.
Asthma & Recurring Chest Infections - Recurring chest infections and aggravation of asthma can be linked to birth stresses in children with a tendency towards these conditions. Osteopathic treatment to release retained moulding compression from the birth process can be beneficial in reducing both the frequency and the severity of these conditions.
Other conditions that osteopaths help manage in babies and children include developmental dysplasia of the hip, postural imbalances and plagiocephaly (abnormal head shape or flattening of part of the skull) as well as any injuries caused by childhood accidents, sporting injuries and falls.
Do I need a Referral?
While your GP or another practitioner may refer you to an osteopath, you do not need a
referral to obtain an appointment with an osteopathic clinic. Many of our patients are
recommended to us by family and friends.
As part of a holistic approach to healing, your osteo may also work closely with additional
health practitioners, including paediatricians.
About the Author: Dr Marie Lombard
Having grown up in France, Marie graduated from the European School of Osteopathy in England with an Integrated Master’s Degree in Osteopathy.
Marie has had the opportunity to explore many different approaches to osteopathic treatment, which has allowed her to develop a broad spectrum of techniques including cranial, visceral, functional, and structural.
Marie sees a wide range of conditions that can benefit from osteopathic care. With a special clinical interest in helping improve the health of babies and children, she provides osteopathic care for all aspects of women’s health, including treatment and advice for pregnant women and new mums.
For more information on how our experienced osteopaths can assist, call the friendly Motion Osteopathy team on 07 4051 4909.
AUTHOR: Dr. Marie Lombard, (Osteopath)