2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
The newborn, the baby and the child, as patients, are subject to a different medical approach from the adult. In this sense, pediatric medicine is taught and practiced to meet the specific needs of this clientele.
These young patients deserve attention and skills in the context of preventive and effective medicine at a crucial stage in their lives.
Competence in pediatrics is based on in-depth knowledge of a child's development during the first weeks, months and years of life. The different he alth conditions that can arise during these stages are known and mastered by the pediatrician, the general practitioner and the nurse practitioners who have a specialization in pediatrics. The skills of these workers who provide pediatric follow-up therefore allow them to assess, diagnose and establish a specific treatment plan related to the he alth problems of their patients.
As in the practice of pediatric medicine, the osteopath specializing in pediatrics may be exposed to complex he alth problems in newborns, babies, and children. In this sense, he masters the knowledgeto intervene effectively in the treatment plan and to be able to refer as needed. Newborn he alth problems when diagnosed early often prevent complications that can alter the baby's clinical condition and development.
After birth, during the first days and weeks of the baby's life, the osteopath specialized in pediatrics is particularly competent to diagnose and treat problems such as:
- Congenital torticollis
- The brachial plexus
- The cephalohematoma, the sero-blood bump
- Sucking disorders
- Flat head (plagiocephaly and brachycephaly)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Colic
For he alth conditions that can occur between the age of 6 months to 24 months, osteopathy can treat:
- Motor development delays
- Constipation
- ENT infections (acute otitis, serous otitis) to avoid myringotomy (tube in the ears)
- Respiratory conditions (asthma and persistent cough)
Between the start of walking and the age of 2 to 7 years old, it is useful to consult an osteopath for the following problems:
- Asymmetries in the position of the feet (endogyrism), knees (valgum and varum) and flat foot (partially formed plantar arch)
- Growing pains
- Prevention of spinal scoliosis
- Constipation
As an osteopath specializing in pediatrics, my long clinical experience has allowed me to realize the importance of the role of parents in the treatment of children. I believe it is important to make parents "competent" in the dynamics of treating their child, taking into account their abilities and availability.
My role is to explain to them what they can do to participate in their child's treatment plan, between meetings, in their daily lives at home. This clinical approach to my practice as an osteopath specializing in pediatrics is appreciated by the parents who consult me and the doctors, pediatricians and nurses who refer patients to me. Parents who put my recommendations into practice are able to quickly and concretely see the progress made in their child's condition. This parental involvement also reduces the number of osteopathic treatments.
The practice of pediatric osteopathy is increasingly in demand, because the benefits of treatments to correct the he alth problems of babies and children are unanimous among parents. The specialization in pediatric osteopathy certainly contributes to the recognition of this alternative medicine among the traditional professional community. In fact, he alth workers are able to observe in the follow-up of the child who has been referred to an osteopath specializing in pediatrics, a significant normalization of his condition.he alth.
References
Vekemans, G., The ABCs of children's he alth, Les Éditions La Presse, 2013
Turgeon J., Weber Pediatric Therapeutic Dictionary, 2nd edition, Gaëtan Morin, 2017
Beers, M. H., The Merck Manual, French translation of the 18th edition, Merck Research Laboratories, 2006
Laugier, J., newborns, 2nd edition, Masson, 2006
Sergueef N., Pediatric Osteopathy, Elsevier, 2007
Frymann MV., Osteopathy in homage to children, Éditions Spirales, 2000
Bernard C., Qualitative research on the specificity of clinical practice in osteopathy for infants, CEO, 2008Bernard, C., Severity parameters of cranial asymmetries requiring specialized monitoring, CEO, 2016
