Pediatric Chiropractic in Gastonia
Kids’ bodies are constantly growing, moving, and adapting. From those first movements as infants to playground adventures, sports, school, backpacks, and increasing amounts of screen time, each stage of childhood brings different physical demands.
At Bannon Clinic of Chiropractic, P.A., Dr. Bannon and Dr. Katro provide gentle, age-appropriate chiropractic care for children and teenagers. We take the time to understand what’s going on, evaluate how your child is moving, and tailor care to their age, size, comfort level, and individual needs.
Why Children May Visit a Chiropractor
Kids are resilient, but that doesn’t mean they never experience musculoskeletal discomfort or movement concerns.
Learning to walk comes with plenty of tumbles. Older children run, climb, play, and participate in sports. As school becomes a bigger part of their day, prolonged sitting, backpacks, computers, and phones can place different demands on their growing bodies.
Parents may bring their children to us for concerns such as:
- Neck or back discomfort
- Headaches
- Posture concerns
- Backpack-related discomfort
- Sports-related injuries
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Joint stiffness or reduced mobility
- Discomfort associated with prolonged sitting or screen use
Chiropractic Care From Infancy Through the Teen Years
A child’s physical needs change considerably as they grow, which is why pediatric chiropractic care should never take a one-size-fits-all approach.
Infants and toddlers
The early years bring rapid changes in strength, coordination, and movement. As babies become toddlers, crawling, standing, walking, running, and climbing introduce new physical demands, and plenty of everyday bumps and falls.
School-age children
School, playground activities, sports, prolonged sitting, and backpacks can all affect how children move and feel. Posture and mobility may also become more noticeable concerns during these years.
Pre-teens and teenagers
Growing bodies combined with school, technology, sports, training, and other activities can contribute to new musculoskeletal concerns. Active teens may also experience strains, overuse issues, sports injuries, and posture-related discomfort.
Less Force for Growing Bodies
Kids are not simply smaller adults, and their chiropractic care shouldn’t be exactly the same.
Dr. Bannon and Dr. Katro use the same basic chiropractic principles they use with adults while modifying the amount of force based on a child’s size, age, ligament structure, and comfort level.
Because children’s bodies are generally more flexible, pediatric adjustments use considerably less force. We’ll explain what we’re doing and adapt our approach to your child rather than expecting them to adapt to us.
What to Expect at the First Visit
We’ll then perform an examination to better understand how your child is moving. At Bannon Clinic of Chiropractic, P.A., the initial assessment may include orthopedic and range-of-motion testing along with other appropriate evaluations.
After the examination, we’ll explain what we found, discuss our recommendations, and answer your questions. If additional evaluation or referral to another healthcare professional is appropriate, we’ll discuss that with you as well.
Helping Kids Feel Comfortable With Chiropractic Care
Visiting a chiropractor for the first time can feel unfamiliar, especially for a child. We don’t want kids to feel rushed or nervous about what’s going to happen.
One way Dr. Bannon and Dr. Katro help children become more comfortable is by letting them watch a parent receive an adjustment first. Seeing Mom or Dad go through the process can make it feel much less intimidating.
We may also explain what an adjustment could feel or sound like in terms a child can understand, or gently take them through a range of motion before proceeding. Giving kids the chance to see, ask questions, and understand what’s happening can make their first experience much more comfortable.
Backpacks, Posture, and Everyday Habits
Sometimes seemingly small everyday habits can contribute to discomfort.
Backpacks are a good example. Wearing a backpack over one shoulder, carrying unnecessary weight, or using a poorly fitted bag can place additional demands on a child’s back and shoulders.
We can talk with parents and children about practical changes such as wearing both straps, checking the fit, and reducing unnecessary backpack weight when possible.
The same principle applies to other daily habits. Schoolwork, prolonged sitting, sports, and time spent using phones or computers can all influence posture and movement. Understanding those everyday factors can be an important part of addressing a child’s concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are kids adjusted the same way as adults?
Does my child need X-rays before receiving chiropractic care?
What if my child is nervous about being adjusted?
Do you see infants as well as older children?
Can you help with sports-related concerns?
Personalized Chiropractic Care for Growing Kids
From first steps and playground tumbles to backpacks, sports, and busy teenage schedules, kids’ bodies encounter plenty of physical demands as they grow.
If your child is experiencing back or neck discomfort, headaches, posture concerns, sports-related pain, stiffness, or changes in how they move, Bannon Clinic of Chiropractic, P.A. is here to help you better understand what may be going on.
Contact our Gastonia office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bannon or Dr. Katro and learn more about pediatric chiropractic care.
