Kroner Chiropractic provides gentle chiropractic care for infants, children, and teenagers in Yakima, Washington. Pediatric adjustments use dramatically less force than adult adjustments, often no more pressure than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Parents are present for the entire visit.
Children are not small adults
Kids move constantly, fall regularly, carry heavy backpacks, sit through long school days, and play sports that ask a great deal of a growing body. Their spines are also more flexible and still developing, which means they respond differently to both stress and treatment than adults do.
Parents usually bring a child in for a specific reason: a fall that did not seem to resolve, posture that has changed, complaints about back or neck pain, or a sports injury. Some come because a newborn seems uncomfortable turning their head in one direction.
How pediatric adjustments differ
The most important difference is force. A pediatric adjustment uses a fraction of the pressure used on an adult. For an infant, it is often no more than the pressure you would use to check whether a tomato is ripe, applied with a fingertip.
There is typically no popping sound, because the technique is different. Sessions are short, because children generally do not need or tolerate long appointments.
Parents stay in the room for the entire visit. You will see everything that happens, and we will explain what we are doing as we go.
What parents ask about
We are frequently asked about infants who seem to prefer turning their head to one side, older children with posture changes or backpack-related complaints, teenagers with sports injuries, and kids who report headaches or neck pain.
We want to be straightforward about scope. Chiropractic care addresses the musculoskeletal system. We do not treat childhood illness, and we will refer you to your pediatrician when what you are describing belongs with them. If a child’s symptoms suggest something outside our scope, saying so is part of our job.
Your child’s first visit
- We talk with you about your concern, your child’s history, birth history for infants, and any injuries.
- We examine your child in a way that is appropriate to their age and comfort.
- We tell you what we found and whether we think chiropractic care is appropriate.
- If it is, we explain exactly what the adjustment involves before we do anything.
If your child is anxious, tell us. We can take extra time, and there is no requirement to do everything in one visit.
Common Questions
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Pediatric chiropractic care uses techniques specifically adapted for a child’s size and developmental stage, with far less force than adult adjustments. We examine first and will tell you if we do not believe chiropractic care is appropriate for your child’s situation.
How much force is used on a baby?
Very little. For an infant, the pressure is often comparable to what you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato, applied with a fingertip. There is usually no popping sound.
At what age can a child see a chiropractor?
We see patients from infancy through the teenage years. What changes with age is the technique and the amount of force, not whether care is available.
Can I stay in the room with my child?
Yes, always. Parents are present for the entire visit. You will see everything and we will explain what we are doing as we go.
Why would a child need chiropractic care?
Common reasons include falls and sports injuries, posture concerns, backpack-related back and shoulder complaints, neck pain, and headaches. For infants, parents often come in because their baby seems to favor turning their head to one side.
Do you treat childhood illnesses?
No. Chiropractic care addresses the musculoskeletal system. For illness, fever, or anything outside that scope, your pediatrician is the right provider, and we will tell you when that is the case.
New to Kroner Chiropractic? Read our new patient information.
Request an appointment, or call (509) 972-4000.