When parents bring their children to us
- Back or neck pain that has lasted more than a couple of weeks, or keeps returning.
- Sports injuries from rugby, netball, football, gymnastics, dance and everything else, including the overuse injuries that come with training several times a week.
- Posture concerns, often noticed by a parent or a teacher, or a question about whether one shoulder sits higher than the other.
- Headaches that seem to start in the neck, especially in teenagers who spend long hours on devices.
- Unsettled babies. If you have questions about an unsettled baby, please contact us before booking, so we can make sure you see the right person in our team.
What happens at the first appointment
Choose the under-18 first appointment when you book. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes, and follows the same steps as an adult first appointment without the posture scans:
- The history, taken from the young person and the parent together: what hurts, when it started, sport and activity, school bag, screens and sleep.
- A gentle physical examination of how the spine, hips and limbs move, and neurological checks where relevant.
- A plain explanation to both of you, with the young person included in the conversation.
- First treatment, when clinically appropriate, using low-force techniques.
A parent or guardian comes along to the appointment, and nothing is done without your agreement and the young person's. If the examination suggests a problem that needs a doctor's assessment, we refer first.
How we treat young people
- Low-force techniques, such as instrument-assisted adjusting, rather than the firmer manual techniques used with adults.
- Soft tissue work and simple stretches for tight muscles.
- Age-appropriate exercises, kept short so they actually get done.
- Practical advice on bags, desks, screens, sleep and training load, which is often where the answer lies.
Courses of care for young people are usually short. Growing bodies recover quickly, and we review progress at every visit.
When to get a child's back or neck looked at
Back pain in children is less common than in adults, so persistent pain (more than a couple of weeks), pain that wakes them at night, or pain with a limp or a fever should be assessed, and some of it should go to a GP first.
If you have been searching for a chiropractor near me for your child, both clinics see children and teenagers: Remuera and Henderson. Choose the under-18 first appointment when you book.
- Back or neck pain with a fever, feeling unwell, or unexplained weight loss.
- Pain that wakes them at night, or a limp that is not explained by an injury.
- Any head injury, or neck pain after a significant fall or collision.
- Weakness, numbness, difficulty walking, or changes in bladder or bowel control.
- A rapid change in the shape of the spine.
What the research says
The evidence for chiropractic care in children is limited, with few good-quality trials. For musculoskeletal pain in young people, care follows the same principles as for adults: assessment, reassurance, gentle treatment, exercise and advice on activity. We are honest with parents about this, and we do not make claims about development, immunity, sleep or behaviour. See the research we rely on.
ACC and children
Children are covered by ACC for injuries in the same way adults are. If your child hurt themselves playing sport, at school or in a fall, we can lodge a claim at the first appointment.