How Are Pediatric Chiropractic Adjustments Different From Adult Adjustments?

How Are Pediatric Chiropractic Adjustments Different From Adult Adjustments?

One of the most common questions parents ask when considering chiropractic care for their child is:

“Is a child adjusted the same way as an adult?”

The short answer is no.

Pediatric chiropractic care is adapted to a child’s age, size, stage of development, examination findings, and individual needs. The techniques used with an infant or young child can look and feel very different from those used with an adult.

At New Journey Chiropractic, we want parents to understand exactly what pediatric chiropractic care looks like before their child is adjusted. Here’s how pediatric and adult chiropractic adjustments differ.

Children Aren’t Just Smaller Adults

A baby’s body is not simply a miniature version of an adult’s.

Children are continually growing and developing. Their bones, joints, muscles, and nervous systems change significantly from infancy through adolescence.

That’s why a chiropractic examination and adjustment should be appropriate for the child’s age and stage of development.

The amount of force, technique, positioning, and approach used for a baby can be very different from what might be appropriate for an older child, teenager, or adult.

Pediatric Chiropractic Adjustments Use Age-Appropriate Techniques

When people picture a chiropractic adjustment, they sometimes imagine the type of adjustment they have personally experienced as an adult.

That isn’t necessarily what pediatric chiropractic care looks like.

With babies and young children, chiropractors may use very gentle, specific techniques that require considerably less force than techniques commonly associated with adult chiropractic care.

As children grow, techniques can be modified based on their size, development, examination findings, and comfort.

There isn’t one adjustment that is appropriate for every child.

What Does an Infant Chiropractic Adjustment Look Like?

Infant chiropractic care is especially gentle.

Rather than treating a baby like a very small adult, the chiropractor modifies the examination, positioning, and technique for the baby’s size and development.

An adjustment may involve light, specific pressure applied to a particular area rather than the faster movements that some people associate with adult chiropractic adjustments.

Parents are welcome to ask what we’re checking, where we’re applying pressure, and why we’re using a particular technique.

We want you to understand what is happening throughout your baby’s visit.

What About Toddlers and Young Children?

Anyone who has spent time with a toddler knows that asking them to lie perfectly still isn’t always realistic!

Pediatric chiropractic care needs to account for that.

A young child may be examined or adjusted in a position that helps them feel comfortable. Depending on the child and the technique being used, that may mean lying down, sitting, standing, or staying close to a parent.

We work with the child rather than expecting the child to adapt to an adult-style appointment.

Some children are immediately comfortable in the office. Others want to watch, ask questions, or become familiar with what we’re doing first.

Building trust is part of caring for children.

How Are Older Children and Teenagers Adjusted?

As children get older, their chiropractic care may begin to look somewhat more like adult care but it is still individualized.

An older child’s size, development, activities, sports participation, previous injuries, health history, and examination findings can all influence the techniques selected.

A technique that is appropriate for a 16-year-old athlete may not be appropriate for a 6-year-old or a 6-month-old baby.

Age alone doesn’t determine how someone is adjusted.

The examination helps us determine what is appropriate for the individual patient.

Do Pediatric Adjustments Use Less Force?

Generally, techniques used for infants and young children involve substantially less force than techniques commonly used with adults.

The amount of force and the technique selected should be appropriate for the child’s size, age, development, and clinical findings.

This is one reason specialized knowledge of pediatric chiropractic care matters.

The goal isn’t to take an adult adjustment and simply “do it softer.” The entire approach including the examination, positioning, technique, and clinical decision-making should take the child’s development into consideration.

Do Children’s Backs Need to “Crack” for an Adjustment to Work?

No.

The sound sometimes associated with an adult chiropractic adjustment is not what determines whether an adjustment occurred.

With gentle pediatric techniques, parents may hear little or no sound at all.

This can surprise parents who have experienced chiropractic care themselves and expect their child’s adjustment to look or sound similar.

An adjustment does not need to make a popping sound to be an adjustment.

How Do We Know Where to Adjust?

We don’t want to guess.

Before recommending chiropractic care, we first take the time to understand your child’s history and perform an age-appropriate examination.

At New Journey Chiropractic, that process may also include INSiGHT Scans when appropriate. These non-invasive scans provide objective information about different aspects of nervous system and physiological function.

X-rays may also be considered when clinically necessary. Not every child requires X-rays, and we’ll explain why imaging is being recommended if we believe it is appropriate.

The information gathered during the consultation and examination helps us determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate and which techniques may be suitable for your child.

What If My Child Doesn’t Like Being Adjusted?

We don’t expect every child to walk into a new environment and immediately feel comfortable.

Some children want to know exactly what’s going to happen. Others want to watch a sibling or parent first. Some may need additional time to become comfortable with the doctor, the table, or the examination.

We respect that.

Children should be treated like active participants in their care whenever developmentally appropriate.

If your child is uncomfortable, we can slow down, explain what we’re doing, change positions, or modify our approach when appropriate.

Creating a positive relationship with healthcare matters especially for children.

Are Pediatric Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?

Parents should ask questions about the safety of any healthcare intervention being considered for their child.

Pediatric chiropractic techniques are modified for a child’s age, size, development, and individual clinical findings. Before care is recommended, we take a health history and perform an appropriate examination to identify whether chiropractic care is appropriate and whether additional evaluation or referral may be necessary.

Like any healthcare intervention, chiropractic care is not appropriate for every child or every situation.

If something in your child’s history or examination indicates that another healthcare provider should be involved, we’ll discuss that with you.

Pediatric Chiropractic Care Is Individualized

Perhaps the biggest difference between pediatric and adult chiropractic care is that the adjustment should meet the patient where they are developmentally.

A newborn, toddler, elementary-aged child, teenager, and adult shouldn’t automatically receive the same examination or the same adjustment.

At New Journey Chiropractic, we consider your child’s:

• Age and size
• Stage of development
• Health history
• Examination findings
• Comfort level
• Reason for visiting
• Individual needs

Those factors help guide our recommendations and the techniques we use.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Chiropractic Adjustments

Are pediatric chiropractic adjustments gentle?

Pediatric chiropractic adjustments are modified for a child’s age, size, stage of development, examination findings, and individual needs. For infants and young children, chiropractors may use gentle, specific techniques that involve considerably less force than techniques commonly associated with adult chiropractic care.

How much pressure is used to adjust a baby?

The amount of pressure used depends on the technique, the area being addressed, and the individual baby. Infant chiropractic techniques are specifically modified for a baby’s small size and developing body and may involve light, specific pressure rather than the faster movements people often associate with adult chiropractic adjustments.

Do pediatric chiropractic adjustments make a popping sound?

Not necessarily. Many gentle pediatric chiropractic techniques produce little or no sound at all. The popping sound sometimes heard during an adult adjustment is not required for a chiropractic adjustment to occur.

Are babies adjusted the same way as older children?

No. Chiropractic techniques should change as a child grows and develops. An adjustment appropriate for an infant may look very different from one used with a toddler, school-aged child, or teenager.

Does my child have to lie still during an adjustment?

Not always. We understand that expecting a toddler or young child to lie perfectly still may not be realistic. Depending on the child’s age, comfort, and technique being used, an adjustment may be performed in different positions. We work with your child and adapt the visit when appropriate.

Are teenagers adjusted the same way as adults?

Sometimes techniques used with teenagers may look more similar to those used with adults, but care is still individualized. A teenager’s size, development, health history, activities, previous injuries, examination findings, and comfort level are considered when determining which techniques are appropriate.

How does a chiropractor know where to adjust a child?

We don’t want to guess. Before recommending care, we review your child’s health history and perform an age-appropriate examination. At New Journey Chiropractic, this may also include INSiGHT Scans and, when clinically necessary, X-rays. The information gathered helps us determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate and which techniques may be suitable for your child.

Does my child need X-rays before being adjusted?

Not every child needs X-rays. Whether imaging is appropriate depends on factors such as your child’s age, health history, reason for visiting, and examination findings. If we recommend X-rays, we’ll explain why we believe they are clinically necessary before moving forward.

What if my child is nervous about being adjusted?

That’s okay. Some children are comfortable immediately, while others need more time to become familiar with the office, doctor, or chiropractic table. We explain what we’re doing in age-appropriate language, answer questions, involve parents, and modify our approach when appropriate. Building trust is an important part of caring for children.

Can I ask questions before my child is adjusted?

Absolutely. We want parents to understand what we’re recommending and why. You’re welcome to ask about the technique, where we’ll be adjusting, what the adjustment will feel like, or anything else you’re concerned about before your child’s care begins.

Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Ormond Beach, FL

At New Journey Chiropractic, we provide neurologically focused chiropractic care for infants, children, teenagers, and families in Ormond Beach and the surrounding communities.

We believe parents should understand what is being recommended for their child and why.

If you’ve wondered whether pediatric chiropractic adjustments are different from adult adjustments, the most important thing to remember is this:

Your child’s chiropractic care should be designed for your child—not simply adapted from an adult appointment.

Have questions about pediatric chiropractic care or what your child’s adjustment might look like? Contact New Journey Chiropractic to learn more or schedule your child’s first visit.