Babies and Children Cranial Osteopathy

 Osteopaths work with patients in all age ranges including babies and children. Cranial Osteopathy is a gentle form of osteopathic treatment that is often used when treating our younger patients.

There are many reasons why you might wish to have your child checked out by an osteopath, problems may arise because of childhood illness, poor posture or just the bumps and knocks that occur in everyday life. Children who experience aches or pains may benefit from osteopathy as there may be an underlying mechanical reason for their problem.

In the very young problems may even begin because of a prolonged or traumatic brith process.  

Moulding of the head during the birth process

During the birth process your babies head is subjected to enormous forces in order for them to emerge through the birth canal. The bones of the head are soft in infants and are designed to bend and overlap to allow the baby to be born without damage to the internal structures.

This overlapping is called moulding and is why babies heads can be odd shapes when they are first born. This moulding usually resolves naturally when the infant cries and suckles.

However in some cases the tensions that have occurred are not as easily resolved and an infant may be left with areas of tension in the cranial structures or through the abdomen and pelvis. Some babies deal well with this but others may continue to feel discomfort. This may lead to them feeling irritable and may upset sleep or feeding patterns .

School age Children

Children of any age may encounter musculoskeletal based pain.

Poor posture such as slumping during lessons or sitting hunched over the computer can lead to low back or neck and shoulder problems. Carrying heavy bags at school can put pressure on the discs between the vertebrae which can cause long term back pain in small and still-developing bodies and children can suffer muscular pain, headaches, tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. The British osteopathic association advise that children should never carry more than about 15% of their own body weight. Parents can help by packing their children’s rucksacks and making sure that the heavier items are nearer to the child’s back. Heavier items on the outside of the bag tend to throw out the child’s centre of gravity out of balance, which leads to bad posture and increases the chances of them straining their back. The long term effects from carrying heavy bags include strains on the neck and shoulder leading to headaches, fatigue and an early development of poor posture along with strain to arms and wrists

Tips on helping your child to avoid back pain

• A backpack is usually more comfortable than a bag that puts strain on only one shoulder, but even a backpack shouldn’t be overloaded.
• When buying a bag, buy a sturdy, well-designed bag with wide, padded shoulder straps that reduces pressure on the neck and shoulder area. Buy a bag with adjustable straps which can be altered as the child grows.
• Check your child’s posture after he has put the bag on. If you notice your child leaning forward or slouching, check if the bag is too heavy or if it has been packed incorrectly.
• Make sure your child is only carrying the items they need for school that day – remove any unnecessary books and equipment
• Ask your school about provision of child lockers for storing equipment or books so that they can be left at school.
• When studying at home try to ensure that your child sits upright with their low back supported at a table rather than on a sofa or bed.
• Encourage your child to take regular breaks from the computer and get moving in during breaks to boost circulation to help with muscle tension.

Childhood foot problems

Foot health is extremely important, the foot shape and arches change enormously as your child grows, how you child stands walks and runs will have a large impact on their knee, hip and low back health.

One major challenge to children’s foot health are the shoes they wear. Over use of  high heels, thin soled shoes, studded sports shoes or very flat pumps can all contribute to problems.

Wearing high heels (anything over 2”) is especially stressful on the joints of the foot because the whole weight of the body is forced into a narrow, pointed area. High heels can contribute to knee and back problems because of the way wearers are forced to pay attention to their balance and to take shorter strides. Heels also force the thigh muscles to work harder, putting extra strain on the knee joints and tendon that runs from the knee cap to the thigh bone. (Compared with walking barefoot, high heels increase the pressure on the inside of the knee by around 26 percent and over time this increased pressure on the knee can lead to osteoarthritis).

What should I expect and how many treatments will my child need?