OUR EXPERTISE IN PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY
Our pediatric osteopaths have the expertise and knowledge to treat your child’s musculoskeletal problems.
WHAT IS PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY FOR BABIES AND CHILDREN?
Pediatric osteopathy is essentially osteopathy tailored to infants and children. Just as in treatments for adults, the primary aim of the pediatric osteopath is to enhance overall body mobility while addressing the specific concerns of the baby or child being seen. With a deep understanding of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics, the pediatric osteopath can effectively address the needs of young patients, including toddlers.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY
- WHY CONSULT AN OSTEOPATH FOR BABY AND CHILD ?
- HOW TO CALM BABY’S COLIC WITH AN OSTEOPATH ?
- CAN OSTEOPATHY HELP BABY’S MOTOR DEVELOPMENT?
- HOW DOES A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY SESSION TAKE PLACE?
- AT WHAT AGE CAN YOU TAKE YOUR BABY TO SEE AN OSTEOPATH ?
- HOW LONG DOES A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY CONSULTATION AT PHYSIO-OSTÉO GLOBALITÉ LAST?
- HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE NEEDED TO GET RESULTS?
- WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND OF A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATH AT PHYSIO-OSTÉO GLOBALITÉ?
1. WHY CONSULT AN OSTEOPATH FOR BABY AND CHILD?
There are several important reasons to consider osteopathic care for infants and children. Here’s an overview of various issues your pediatric osteopath can provide assistance on:
1. Assessing the Baby’s Mobility and Well-being at Birth
During childbirth, the baby’s head and shoulders undergo significant compression, particularly when passing through the mother’s pelvis. Complications such as:
- prolonged labour
- breech presentation
- emergency caesarean section
- the use of forceps or suction cups can further affect the baby’s body alignment.
In such instances, some healthcare professionals recommend consulting an osteopath to ensure the baby’s overall mobility is preserved. Even if not explicitly recommended, a visit to a pediatric osteopath can help prevent various musculoskeletal issues. This ensures that the baby’s overall mobility and well-being are maintained after birth, promoting their healthy development.
2. Checking the baby’s or child’s health in case of pain or mobility problems
Beyond the effects of childbirth, infants and children may experience various symptoms that raise concerns. Seeking consultation with a pediatric osteopath can be beneficial for the following issues:
- Baby Torticollis
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Suction problems
- Temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ, jaw)
- Otitis and sinusitis
- Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly (flat head)
- Digestive problems (colic, regurgitation, constipation)
- Stress
- Motor development issues
If your child is struggling with any of these problems or any other musculoskeletal issue, consider scheduling a consultation with a pediatric osteopath today.
3. Following a Doctor’s Recommendation
In some cases, parents choose to seek the expertise of a pediatric osteopath for their child. However, there are instances where children are referred by a medical doctor for specific issues, such as torticollis-plagiocephaly, breastfeeding difficulties, or recurrent ear infections. Our osteopaths can liaise with the baby’s family doctor, if necessary, to ensure optimal follow-up.
4. Making Preventive Visits
Our osteopathic professionals recommend that parents schedule preventive visits with their baby. Even if no apparent symptoms are present, a simple consultation can help prevent certain issues by detecting hidden symptoms.
3. CAN OSTEOPATHY HELP WITH AIDER A BABY’S MOTOR DEVELOPMENT ?
During the first months of life, babies will develop several motor skills. They will eventually learn to turn from their back to their stomach and vice versa, develop mobility while on their stomach, crawl, stand up, and eventually walk.
For some babies, development occurs gradually, while for others, there may be delays at certain stages. It is important to note that each child has their own pace of development, and the osteopath can play a key role throughout their journey. The osteopath will assess whether there are specific tensions or regions lacking mobility that could hinder their development and progression. The osteopath can also intervene to support and facilitate the child’s development.
4. HOW DOES A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY SESSION OCCUR ?
As a first step, the osteopath will ask parents to fill out a questionnaire to collect the necessary information and gain an overall understanding of the situation. The questions will focus on pregnancy, childbirth, the baby’s lifestyle habits, breastfeeding, and the baby’s needs.
The osteopath will then conduct a comprehensive assessment to analyze the mobility of different parts of the baby’s body.
Following this evaluation, the osteopath will share their observations and begin treatment using techniques adapted for the baby to optimize the mobility of the targeted areas.
5. AT WHAT AGE CAN YOU TAKE YOUR BABY TO SEE AN OSTEOPATH ?
If your baby is experiencing issues such as breastfeeding difficulties, torticollis, plagiocephaly, or other concerns, our osteopaths can provide care from the very first days of life. In fact, we have successfully treated a baby as young as four days old for severe torticollis. However, even in the absence of specific problems, it is advisable to schedule an initial consultation after the baby reaches three weeks of age. This initial assessment aims to comprehensively evaluate the baby’s development and address any residual tension or compression resulting from the pregnancy and childbirth experience. A visit to the pediatric osteopath can effectively release these tensions, promoting the baby’s well-being and development.
6. HOW LONG DOES A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATHY CONSULTATION AT PHYSIO-OSTÉO GLOBALITÉ LAST ?
Treatment times may vary depending on the child’s tolerance. Usually, the session lasts 45 to 60 minutes and includes a discussion period, treatment, and a question period.
7. HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE NEEDED TO GET RESULTS ?
The number of sessions required varies according to the problem and the individual’s response to treatment. Usually, we achieve good results within one to five sessions.
8. WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND OF A PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATH AT PHYSIO-OSTÉO GLOBALITÉ ?
The osteopaths at Physio-Ostéo Globalité are all graduates of the Collège d’études ostéopathiques de Montréal (CEOM). . Founded in 1981, the Collège d’études ostéopathiques is the first osteopathic school in Canada and trains approximately 70% of osteopaths in Quebec. The program teaches best practices in osteopathy and adheres to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
Our osteopaths regularly undergo high-quality training to stay updated on new therapeutic trends and scientific advances in the various fields related to the profession
2. HOW TO CALM A BABY’S COLIC WITH AN OSTEOPATH?
Colic is defined as a period of intense and unexplained crying and restlessness that lasts more than three hours a day and occurs more than three days a week, for over three weeks. To date, there is no evidence that colic is caused by abdominal or intestinal disorders. However, parents of babies suffering from colic can consult an osteopath.
During these preventive visits, the pediatric osteopath will conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify any areas in the infant’s abdomen that may exhibit tension. Subsequently, they will share their observations and provide treatment to alleviate this tension, with the aim of restoring mobility to the specific areas of concern.