SJ responds to readers’ concerns in the Ponsonby News Healthy Living column.

SARAH–JANE ATTIAS: HEALTHY LIVING

Happy New Year! I would like to ring in the year with best wishes for your good health and in particular for the little ‘pocket rockets’ in our lives.

On holiday, perched under a magnificent pohutukawa tree, I enjoyed time and space to relax and recharge. I found myself reflecting upon all the children we treat at Living Osteopathy Clinic, wondering how they all are and knowing how they will be lovin’ their holidays.

This month I ask our Senior Osteopath James Hutchinson; MOst, MPhil, BAppSc (Human Bio) MONZ., a few specific questions about children: how to optimise their vitality, growth and overall health. James is a dad to three lively kids, which in my eyes, makes him a humble ‘expert’.

How does osteopathy work for children?

Your child’s body is a wonderful thing. However, sometimes everything does not grow at the same rate, for instance bones grow faster than muscles. So there maybe torsions, twists and strains. Specifically during rapid growth spurts and total body development, regular osteopathic checks and treatment, where necessary, are vital.

Gentle, hands-on osteopathic treatment works to rebalance and release tightened muscles and tissues, allowing space within the joint, gaining more movement and healthy growth. Children are very receptive to treatment. They usually find it relaxing, rewarding and relieving. Remember it’s best to resolve issues promptly as they arise. Prevention is the key.

What are the subtle signs that your child may need treatment?

• Some school-age kids may have difficulty concentrating, coping with learning and writing, or with acquiring and mastering motor skills; like hand-eye co-ordination.
• Do you feel that your child is growing ‘bent out of shape’?
• Seem to take longer to recover or do they catch new infections easily?
• Does your child get headaches, growing pains, sore muscles throughout the day?

What should I look for in my child?

A child who is physically uncomfortable may not complain of aches and pains, but they may display some of the following characteristics:

• Behaviour – they may seem volatile, over-reacting emotionally.
• Illnesses – your child may have a depleted immune system and easily succumb to many infections. Learning can be detrimentally affected by both a child feeling unwell and increased time lost from school. Do they seem to fatigue easily?
• Physical signs – your child may be ‘bent out of shape’, holding their head to one side, one shoulder being higher than the other, easier to turn to one side than the other.
• Physical discomforts – your child may complain of headaches, growing pains, stomach aches or other physical aches and pains.
• Clumsiness – your child may fall a lot, often seeming to bump the same part of their body. Their handwriting may seem laborious and often untidy.

Osteopathy is a medical science that looks at the structure of the body and its movement. If a child’s body mechanics are not balanced, this can have an overriding effect on the functioning of all of their body systems, such as hormones, digestion and so on.

Osteopathy is about health and wellbeing, and can help to optimise the body’s natural resources, defences and improve general health in children affected by a vast array of illnesses.

A few extra tips from Sarah-Jane about osteopathy and your child.

• The osteopathic room can be a good ‘neutral’ space to discuss matters between child, guardian and your osteopath.
• Age of consent – 16.
• Approximately 30% of our clients are children.
• A reminder that children are covered by ACC. Treatment offers pain relief, recovering increased mobility and an accelerated healing, increasing blood flow to repair bruised or torn tissue, bones and ligaments.
• We have a strong referral network with pediatric specialists.
• Treatment can be very effective around exam ‘cramming’ time, offering relief for tense shoulders, neck or stress headaches.
• It’s wise to choose an osteopath who has special interest and training in pediatrics – all our Living Osteopaths do.
• We have many family groups that attend clinic over the decades, there is something very special about having grandparent, mother, young ones and the newborn all in the room. It is a very caring, sharing and enlightening time for families.

(SARAH-JANE ATTIAS)