In Australia, chiropractors provide care to approximately 400,000 Australians every week, about 10% of whom are under the age of 18.
Chiropractors are taught a range of techniques to care for patients and modify all care to suit the age, presentation and development of the patient.
All Australian chiropractors are Ahpra registered, and abide by a national Code of Conduct to ensure best practice and maintain the highest level of professional competence and ethics, including:
- Ensuring the needs of the patient are at the forefront of all care;
- Ensuring there is informed consent from the paediatric patient’s parent or guardian;
- Carefully explaining the risks of care and alternatives to care to the parent or guardian; and
- Identifying any ‘red flags’ to the paediatric patient and investigating, managing, co-managing or referring to an appropriate health practitioner.
Manual therapies are valued by parents and form part of a comprehensive approach to paediatric care.
Chiropractors can play an active role in monitoring development, motor skills, and wellbeing through assessments.