Paediatric Osteopathy Melbourne

In Australia, an Advanced Paediatric Osteopath is distinguished by their enhanced expertise in the field of paediatrics. This recognition signifies their advanced scope of Osteopathy practice specifically tailored to paediatrics, ensuring they've met the stringent professional standards required to effectively manage paediatric patients across all age brackets.

Osteopathy Australia acknowledges members who possess clinical proficiencies exceeding general osteopathy.

At Growing Bones, we have a special interest and years of experience working with infants, and we have osteopaths who are recognised as Advanced Paediatric Osteopaths.

If your child has any significant health issues that you believe could be complicated through our treatment, we recommend you check with a health practitioner before booking a session with us. When treating children, your osteopath only needs to use a very light touch and movement. We use a pressure that is comfortable with your child, and continue to check with them to ensure they are comfortable throughout.

Osteopathic treatment aims to facilitate healthy function in all areas of children and growing bodies by freeing up muscles and joints, improving blood flow and maintaining body symmetry for balanced growth.

We can treat a range of injuries and presentations in children. If you’re unsure whether Osteopathy can help your child, please contact us here.

Our osteopaths are trained to identify and treat areas of rib cage restriction and muscular attention often associated with asthma. There is no conclusive evidence that Osteopathy can treat the symptoms of Asthma. Our Osteopaths use massage, stretching and joint articulation applied to the diaphragm and accessory muscles of breathing with the aim of improving chest mechanics, posture & relieving general muscle tension.

Paediatric cranial osteopathy involves gentle manipulation and light massage techniques to a child's body, primarily the head, spine, and torso. It is a more subtle approach, intended to promote alignment and potentially enhance bodily fluid dynamics.

For Children Over 5 Years:
Our osteopaths frequently assess children over 5 years old for conditions such as sporting injuries, ribcage restrictions and muscular tension commonly associated with asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infections, in-toeing and out-toeing, strains that may be related to growing pains, minor strains and sprains, and primary headaches caused by muscular tension.
For Children Under 5 Years:
In younger children, especially those under 5 years old, our osteopaths focus on assessing and addressing issues like developmental milestones, head preference or flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly), and difficulties related to breastfeeding. These early years are crucial for a child’s development, and osteopathy can play a significant role in ensuring they meet their developmental milestones and overcome any early childhood musculoskeletal challenges.

The transition into adolescence brings significant musculoskeletal changes. We strive to identify and potentially manage conditions like posture concerns resulting from extensive screen use and other adolescent-specific conditions, such as scoliosis, which can often progress during puberty.

Given that many teenagers actively engage in sports, our treatments for adolescents aim to relieve muscular tension and address joint/ligament sprains, promoting better body balance.

Our osteopaths use a variety of gentle techniques, always prioritising patient comfort and safety in treating children. These may include soft tissue massage, articulation, biodynamic/cranial-sacral osteopathy, and stretching.

It's important to note that at Growing Bones, we do not practice joint manipulation (commonly known as 'cracking') on children. Our approach is tailored to the unique needs of young patients, ensuring a nurturing environment for their treatment.

Firstly, the osteopath will ask some questions to identify any factors contributing to presenting symptoms and functional concerns expressed by the child’s caregiver. They will then observe the child's whole body posture.

Assessment may include the osteopath gently moving your child’s body and depending on the child's age and ability, asking the child to actively move their body in certain ways.

Any imbalances or restrictions noted are then related to the child’s current function. The goal of osteopathic treatment and exercise prescription is to restore balance in the child’s body, to improve all areas of function.

Yes, we treat babies too. At Growing Bones we have special interest and years of experience working with infants, and have multiple osteopaths who are recognised as advanced paediatric osteopaths with additional training and focus.

For more information visit our Osteopath for Babies page. Alternatively, contact us if you have any questions.

Your child’s first osteopathic consultation will be one full hour to allow ample time for their osteopath to fully understand the history of their condition, thoroughly assess their presenting complaint, and ascertain the best individualised treatment approach.

Subsequent consults at 30 minutes are standard. You have the option of 45 minute subsequent consults for more complex or chronic conditions.

This depends on your child’s condition. Your osteopath will discuss this with you during your consultation.

For Babies and Toddlers: Initial consultations with our Senior Osteopaths are 60 minutes, with subsequent consults being 30 minutes.

For Older Children: Initial consultations are 60 minutes, with subsequent standard consults being 30 minutes and long subsequent consults lasting 45 minutes.

For the most current pricing information, please refer to our online booking page. We keep our booking page updated with the latest pricing to ensure you have the most accurate information when scheduling your appointment.

It’s important that your child feels comfortable, so if they wear a comfortable top and loose pants or bring a pair of shorts to change into.

Bring along any X-rays, scans or test results that you may have.