Why is osteopathy essential for your child's well-being?

This article was written by Karine Gagnon, pediatric osteopath.

What is osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a gentle manual approach that restores mobility to all structures of the body to improve their function. The osteopath assesses the movement capacity of all elements of the musculoskeletal system (joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, fascia, etc.), the visceral system (organ environment), and the craniosacral system (cranial sutures, pelvic joints, deep fascia, etc.).

What are the benefits of pediatric osteopathy?

For babies and children, osteopathic treatments can:

• Facilitate breastfeeding
• Reduce swallowing difficulties
• Prevent and improve digestive issues
• Reduce the recurrence of ENT infections
• Prevent and improve respiratory disorders
• Decrease eye tearing and prevent conjunctivitis
• Prevent and improve facial or head deformities
• Prevent and improve issues with occlusion, chewing, or dental asymmetries
• Increase mobility and reduce discomfort in the head, neck, back, pelvis, arms, or legs
• Improve posture
• Support motor development
• Optimize language development
• Reduce irritability
• Improve sleep
• Prevent complications after surgery, fractures, major infections, inflammatory diseases, falls, or car accidents
• And more.

When should you consult an osteopath for your child?

Birth is a traumatic event that often leaves lasting traces. Babies' bones are more flexible and undergo significant stress during delivery. Additionally, certain intrauterine positions can cause fascial tensions, joint mobility restrictions, and asymmetries (in the face, skull, chest, pelvis, feet, etc.).

To prevent many conditions, it is recommended to consult an osteopath as soon as possible after birth or after a traumatic event (surgery, major infection, significant fall, car accident, etc.).

Moreover, if your child experiences discomfort, has sucking, chewing, or occlusion issues, movement restrictions, visible head deformities, a positional preference (e.g., your baby always turns their head to one side), an asymmetrical posture (e.g., torticollis, scoliosis, walking with one foot turned inward, etc.), a chronic or recurring ENT condition (e.g., chronic nasal congestion, recurrent ear infections, etc.), digestive issues (abdominal discomfort, reflux, regurgitation, constipation, etc.), motor or language development delays, sleep disorders, or is easily irritable, osteopathic follow-up could help.

What are the main reasons for pediatric osteopathy consultations in Quebec?

A survey realized by osteopaths helped rank the main reasons for consultations in Quebec. Although this study is 10 years old, the results still seem relevant today.

(Morin et Aubin, 2014) ⁽²²⁾

Is pediatric osteopathy effective?

Recent research has shown that osteopathic follow-up is effective for:

• Reducing cranial and facial asymmetries (1,4,16,23) and postural asymmetries (24)
• Improving breastfeeding difficulties (14,21)
• Reducing crying time related to infant digestive issues (3,5,6,9,12,20)
• Alleviating spinal discomfort (10,24)
• Reducing hospitalization time for premature infants (7,15,26,27)
• Decreasing heart rate variability in full-term newborns (18,29)
• Lowering heart rate, increasing oxygen saturation, and enhancing central nervous and digestive system activity in premature infants (17-19)

No serious side effects have been reported in systematic literature reviews. (2,3,8,11,13,15,24,28)

Osteopathy is a gentle, effective, and safe manual approach that helps prevent and improve many conditions affecting babies and children.

Karine has 17 years of experience as an osteopath with a focus on perinatal care. She has experience working with children ages 0 to 4 and has a degree in physiotherapy from the University of Montreal.
She divides her time between the clinic, teaching osteopathy both in regular training (osteopathy students) and continuing education (postgraduate courses for osteopaths), as well as overseeing the educational direction of the Osteopathic Center of Quebec

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