Pediatric chiropractic care uses gentle, age-appropriate techniques to evaluate and support a child’s spine, joints, posture, and movement. It is very different from adult adjusting: light fingertip pressure rather than forceful manipulation, a thorough examination first, and coordination with your pediatrician. Crosby Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centre has cared for St. Charles County families since 1995.
Parents usually arrive with a specific worry: a child who complains of back or neck pain, an athlete with a nagging injury, posture that has changed with a heavy backpack or phone use, or a question about growing pains. This page explains what pediatric chiropractic care is, what it is for, how it differs from adult care, and when a child needs a physician instead.
What is pediatric chiropractic care?
Pediatric chiropractic care is the evaluation and conservative treatment of musculoskeletal problems in infants, children, and teenagers using techniques scaled to a child’s size, age, and comfort. The focus is the spine, joints, and the muscles that move them.
The examination matters more than anything else. Children are not small adults: their bones are still growing, their growth plates are open, and their complaints are often described vaguely. A careful history and physical examination—including posture, gait, flexibility, and neurological screening—tells us whether a problem is mechanical and appropriate for conservative care or needs a physician’s evaluation first.
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
When performed by a trained provider using age-appropriate techniques, chiropractic care for children is considered low risk, and serious adverse events are rare. The techniques used on a child bear little resemblance to adult adjusting. Pressure is light, often no more than you would use to test the ripeness of fruit, and there is no forceful twisting.
Two things make it safe in practice. First, the examination screens for conditions that need medical care rather than manual care. Second, the technique is matched to the child. A teenager with a sports injury is treated differently from a grade-schooler with posture strain, who is treated differently from an infant. We explain what we are doing and why, and a parent is present throughout the visit.
What conditions bring children to a chiropractor?
The conditions with the strongest support for conservative care in children are musculoskeletal. The most common reasons families come to us include:
- Back and neck pain – increasingly common with screen time, heavy backpacks, and long hours spent sitting
- Sports injuries – sprains, strains, and overuse injuries from youth athletics
- Posture problems – forward head position, rounded shoulders, and uneven stance
- Growing pains – leg and joint aches after other causes have been ruled out
- Scoliosis screening – checking spinal curvature and referring for imaging when warranted
- Headaches – particularly those that begin at the base of the skull and occur with neck tension
- Injuries from falls or car accidents
We are direct about the limits of chiropractic care. Chiropractic care does not cure infections, asthma, ear infections, or developmental and behavioral conditions, and we do not claim that it does. When a condition requires medical treatment, we will tell you when your pediatrician is the right provider.
What does a pediatric visit involve?
The first visit consists primarily of conversation and examination. We take a history from the parent and, when age allows, the child. We then examine posture, movement, joint function, and neurological signs. Treatment often begins the same day when the examination supports it, and it is brief and gentle.
Adjustments for children use light, specific pressure, sometimes with a small handheld instrument, and are usually completed in moments. Many visits also include stretches, simple exercises, and practical advice about backpacks, screens, sleep positions, and sports. Children generally find the visits easy, and many look forward to them. A parent stays in the room for every visit.
When should a child see a doctor instead?
Some symptoms in a child require a physician or emergency care rather than conservative care. Seek prompt medical evaluation if your child has:
- Back or neck pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, or nighttime pain that wakes them
- Pain following significant trauma
- Numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in walking
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- A limp or joint pain accompanied by swelling, redness, or warmth
- A severe headache with vomiting, confusion, a stiff neck, or vision changes
We screen for these symptoms during every examination and refer without hesitation. We also coordinate with your child’s pediatrician. We would rather send you to the right provider than treat something outside our scope.
Why families choose Crosby Chiropractic
Crosby Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centre has been a family practice in St. Peters since 1995. Many of the families we see today first came to us a generation ago. Our doctors bring more than 130 years of combined experience, and our approach is conservative: a thorough examination, gentle techniques, honest expectations, and coordination with your pediatrician.
Dr. Jenny Crosby Wiemann’s own path into chiropractic began as a teenager when conservative care helped her manage a spinal condition and avoid surgery. That experience shapes how this practice treats young patients: carefully, patiently, and with the long view in mind.
We are located at 331 Jungermann Road in St. Peters and serve families from O’Fallon, Dardenne Prairie, St. Charles, Cottleville, Weldon Spring, and Wentzville. Call (636) 928-5588 or request an appointment online.
Frequently asked questions about pediatric chiropractic
At what age can a child see a chiropractor?
Children of all ages can be evaluated, with techniques scaled to their age and size. What matters is the reason for the visit and the examination findings, not a minimum age. Call us to discuss your child’s situation before booking.
Does a pediatric adjustment hurt?
No. The pressure is light and specific, and most children describe it as a gentle push or say they do not feel anything at all. There is no forceful twisting. Children who are nervous at first usually relax once they see how gentle the treatment is.
Can chiropractic care help my child’s posture?
Often, yes, as part of a plan that includes exercises and practical changes to backpacks, screen use, and sitting habits. Adjustments restore movement, while exercises and healthy habits help maintain better posture over time.
Do you treat sports injuries in young athletes?
Yes. Sprains, strains, and overuse injuries are among the most common reasons teenagers come to us. We assess the injury, treat it conservatively, and guide a safe return to play. We promptly refer injuries that require imaging or a specialist.
Will you work with my child’s pediatrician?
Yes, when clinically necessary. We coordinate care, share findings when you ask us to, and refer to your pediatrician or a specialist whenever a problem is outside our scope. Conservative care works best as part of a team.
Is pediatric chiropractic care covered by insurance?
Many plans include chiropractic coverage for dependents, although the details vary. We verify your benefits before the first visit so you understand your costs up front. We accept CareCredit and offer in-house payment plans.
Reviewed by Dr. Jenny Crosby Wiemann, DC, President, Crosby Chiropractic & Acupuncture Centre. Read Dr. Crosby’s full bio.
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page is for general education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Chiropractic care for children is conservative musculoskeletal care and does not replace pediatric medical care. If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
