Osteopathy for Babies and Children
Osteopathy is a safe and natural approach to health care for all life stages. For example osteopaths are increasingly being asked to treat babies and young children for complaints attributable to mechanical strains acquired before birth or during the birth process.As children grow older, problems arising from earlier strains may become more apparent. During puberty the body undergoes many changes. Osteopathy can help young bodies adjust to the stresses and strains, allowing them to heal and flourish naturally.
For babies
The small tolerances of movement which exist in the infant skull permit a baby's head to adapt to the forces of labour, but when birth is complicated by being unduly slow or fast, or when other complications occur, such as the need for forceps delivery, the infant head may not fully recover from the distortion. This may result in subtle changes in function leading to problems such as feeding difficulties, colic and disturbed sleep patterns.
The gentle, skilful application of osteopathic treatment by an osteopath experienced in treating babies can often bring about a significant improvement in these distressing cases and is increasingly being considered as the treatment of choice for some conditions caused by difficult or traumatic birth.
For children
As children grow older problems may become apparent which may have arisen because of earlier strains or as a result of trauma such as knocks on the head or falls. Recurrent infections in the nose and ears (glue ear) may be due in part to restrictions in the small yet important tolerances or movement in the growing skull.
Many osteopaths experienced in this field also consider that mechanical stresses on the body can be an important factor in cases of developmental delay such as delayed speech, educational difficulties and problems with co-ordination and physical development that have no particular medical diagnosis. Such children often make better progress once osteopathic treatment has been started.
For teenagers
As young people grow up the body frame undergoes a great number of changes. Osteopaths with their highly developed sense of touch can help the body framework adjust to the postural demands made upon it. This may simply be due to lack of compensation for a scoliosis or due to mechanical changes that occur in conditions such as osteochondritis. If these minor problems are left undiagnosed and untreated they may lead to problems later in life.
By analysing, treating and managing problems associated with growth, osteopaths make a major contribution to ensuring that young people become and stay fit and healthy.
Teenagers also become much more active and take part in many sporting and recreational activities which carry the risk of sprains and strains. Skilful diagnosis and treatment by the osteopath can prevent lesions developing and allow the body's framework to heal naturally and adjust to the stresses and strains put upon it.
Why Osteopathy?
The practice of osteopathy involves the careful and specific application of a highly developed sense of touch in both the diagnosis and the treatment of mechanical problems affecting any part of the body.
This, combined with a detailed understanding of human anatomy, physiology and pathological processes and a thorough working knowledge of classical clinical examination methods, allows the osteopath to treat patients by facilitating and promoting the body's self healing mechanisms.