Children need treatment too. Aside of normal bumps, bangs and strains, children may show signs of lack of concentration, attention problems or being generally unsettled. As they grow older and encounter rapid growth they may require help for “growing pains”, “tension”, stiff muscles, etc. Many children loved being massaged and respond excellently to gentle Children’s Osteopathy.

Growth
When children grow, it is the bones that grow longer. The soft tissues have to all stretch to gain their length. This can cause the well known, 'Growing Pains' that we hear about. The trunk grows at a different time to the limbs. Hence several times during growth a child's proportions change, and with it their centre of gravity. This can cause problems related to balance or coordination. When the spine and trunk are growing the limbs look smaller in proportion. When the child start puberty, it is the turn of the limbs to grow faster than the spine. That is why by the mid teens you often see some teenagers who seem to trip up as their own long 'lanky' legs and arms, that get in the way. Another important point about growth is that the bones gradually change from being cartilaginous to osseous (soft to hard bone). Bones also continue to grow and remodel, often, well in to the twenties. For all these reasons children can be susceptible to pain, problems or mechanical effects of these occurrences.

Moods & Intellectual Performance
Like adults when we are in pain (or discomfort) we can often become a bit grizzly or irritable. Our patience decreases and our ability to focus can become compromised. It is the same for children. Often during a growth or development stage, or following an injury, a child may appear to become moody, less focused, or suddenly start performing poorly at school. Some children who may never have been examined by an osteopath (early in their lives) may carry tensions in their body. This can sometimes be labelled as behavioural problems, concentration problems or attention issues. You may think you child is suffering from 'tension'. By unlocking mechanical tension you can be sure that your child has the best chance of growing, free of pain or discomfort; and that can have great effects on their mental health too.