Parents want their children to feel comfortable, stay active, and develop healthy habits as they grow. When a child starts complaining about back pain, neck stiffness, headaches, or discomfort after sports, it can be difficult to know whether the problem is temporary or needs to be evaluated.
At Zurek Chiropractic, Dr. Bruce Zurek provides chiropractic care for children, teens, and adults in West Omaha and nearby communities. Pediatric care is adjusted for the child’s age, size, health history, and reason for visiting.
This guide explains when families may consider chiropractic care, what happens during a pediatric visit, and how care differs for children and adults.
Why Parents Bring Their Children to a Chiropractor
Children and teenagers can develop muscle and joint discomfort for many of the same reasons adults do.
Common reasons parents may schedule an evaluation include:
- Back pain
- Neck stiffness
- Headaches
- Sports-related soreness
- Muscle or joint discomfort
- Limited range of motion
- Posture concerns
- Discomfort after a fall or minor injury
- Repetitive strain from school, sports, or activities
An evaluation does not automatically mean a child needs treatment. The first step is understanding what is causing the symptoms and whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Chiropractic Care for Growing Children
Children are not simply smaller adults.
Their bodies are still developing, which means examination and treatment should be adapted to their age and physical needs.
Dr. Zurek considers factors such as:
- Age
- Size
- Symptoms
- Previous injuries
- Activity level
- Sports participation
- Medical history
- Comfort with treatment
If chiropractic care is recommended, the amount of force and technique used can be modified for the child.
Parents should always understand what is being recommended and have an opportunity to ask questions before treatment begins.
What Happens During a Child’s First Visit?
A pediatric chiropractic appointment starts with a conversation.
Dr. Zurek may ask both the parent and child about:
- Where discomfort is located
- When it began
- Activities that make it better or worse
- Recent falls or injuries
- Sports participation
- Previous medical treatment
- Changes in movement or activity
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness
The examination will depend on why the child is being evaluated.
It may include checking:
- Posture
- Range of motion
- Muscle strength
- Balance
- Joint movement
- Areas of tenderness
- Movements that reproduce symptoms
The goal is to determine what may be contributing to the problem before recommending care.
Are Pediatric Chiropractic Adjustments Different?
They can be.
Techniques used with children may involve less force than techniques commonly used with adults.
Dr. Zurek chooses from different chiropractic techniques depending on the child’s age, examination findings, symptoms, and comfort level.
Some care may involve gentle manual techniques or instrument-assisted methods.
Parents should feel comfortable asking:
- What technique will be used?
- Why is it being recommended?
- How much force is involved?
- What should my child expect?
- Are there other options?
A child should never feel pressured or frightened during treatment.
School, Backpacks, and Screen Time
Sports are not the only source of physical strain for children.
Students may spend hours sitting in classrooms, doing homework, using computers, or looking down at phones and tablets.
These habits can contribute to neck, shoulder, and back discomfort, especially when a child remains in the same position for long periods.
Backpack Tips
A few simple habits may make backpacks more comfortable:
- Use both shoulder straps
- Adjust straps so the backpack stays close to the body
- Remove unnecessary books and items
- Avoid carrying the bag over one shoulder
- Let a parent know if the backpack causes pain or numbness
A backpack should not regularly cause pain.
Encourage Regular Movement
Children do not need perfect posture throughout the day.
Changing positions is more realistic and often more comfortable than trying to sit completely straight for hours.
Encourage students to:
- Take breaks from screens
- Stand and move regularly
- Change sitting positions
- Stay physically active
- Avoid spending long periods looking down at a device
These habits can benefit the entire family.
Chiropractic Care for Student Athletes
Sports place additional demands on growing bodies.
Running, jumping, throwing, tackling, serving, and weight training all place stress on muscles and joints.
Young athletes may experience:
- Muscle strains
- Joint stiffness
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder discomfort
- Hip or leg pain
- Reduced range of motion
- Soreness that does not resolve normally
Dr. Zurek can evaluate certain sports injuries and determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate.
You can also read more about chiropractic care for student athletes in Omaha.
When Sports Soreness Needs More Attention
Some muscle soreness after practice or competition is normal.
Parents should pay closer attention when a child has:
- Pain that continues for several days
- Recurring pain in the same area
- Swelling
- Limping
- Reduced movement
- Weakness
- Numbness or tingling
- Pain that interferes with sleep
- Pain that changes how the child runs, throws, or moves
These symptoms should not simply be dismissed as “growing pains.”
An evaluation can help determine whether additional care is needed.
Scoliosis and Growing Children
Scoliosis often becomes noticeable during periods of growth.
Parents may notice signs such as:
- Uneven shoulders
- One shoulder blade appearing more prominent
- An uneven waist
- One hip appearing higher
- Changes in posture
These signs do not necessarily mean a child has scoliosis, but they are a reason to speak with a healthcare provider.
You can learn more about scoliosis evaluation and care.
When a Child Should See Another Healthcare Provider
Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every childhood injury or health problem.
Seek prompt medical care if a child experiences:
- A suspected concussion
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe headache after an injury
- Significant swelling or deformity
- Sudden weakness
- Numbness or tingling that continues
- Difficulty walking
- Severe neck or back pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Fever with severe pain
- Symptoms that rapidly get worse
Dr. Zurek may also recommend another healthcare provider when a condition requires testing or treatment outside the scope of chiropractic care.
Family Chiropractic Care
Children are only one part of the practice.
Parents may also seek chiropractic care for problems such as:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Sciatica
- Work-related strain
- Sports injuries
- Car accident injuries
- Joint stiffness
Each family member should be evaluated individually.
A parent with long-term lower-back pain may need a very different approach from a teenager with shoulder discomfort or a child experiencing stiffness after an injury.
A Comfortable Approach for Parents and Children
Parents should feel involved in their child’s care.
Dr. Zurek takes time to explain what he finds, what treatment may involve, and whether another type of care may be more appropriate.
If you have questions, ask them.
You should understand:
- What was found during the examination
- Why treatment is being recommended
- What technique will be used
- What progress should look like
- When the treatment plan will be reviewed
There should not be pressure to commit to a long treatment plan before you understand what your child needs.
Healthy Habits for the Whole Family
Chiropractic care is only one part of musculoskeletal health.
Simple habits can make a difference for children and adults alike:
- Stay physically active
- Get enough sleep
- Drink enough water
- Take breaks from screens
- Change positions regularly
- Use safe lifting techniques
- Warm up before sports
- Allow time to recover after activity
- Speak up when something hurts
Helping children learn these habits early can make it easier for them to take care of their bodies as they grow.
Pediatric and Family Chiropractic Care in West Omaha
Every child and every family is different.
Dr. Bruce Zurek provides chiropractic evaluations for children, teens, and adults based on their symptoms, health history, activity level, and individual needs.
Zurek Chiropractic serves families from West Omaha, Millard, Papillion, La Vista, Ralston, Chalco, and surrounding communities.
If your child is dealing with recurring discomfort, a sports-related problem, or changes in movement, contact Zurek Chiropractic to schedule an evaluation and find out whether chiropractic care may be appropriate.
Article by
Dr. Bruce Zurek