Welcome to Hawker Chiropractic
What to Expect at your initial visit?
Prior to your arrival at your initial visit, you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire so that we will be able get a short history form you, and get to now you a bit better.
At your first appointment, a thorough case history will be taken including your current complaint, past medical history, exercise habits, nutrition and lifestyle habits. After your case history is complete, we will perform orthopaedic and neurological tests to come to a diagnosis.
After a physical examination is complete, your first treatment will start. After, we will discuss nutrition and lifestyle changes, and well as exercise and rehab. Referral for X-rays and/or for other tests or to another healthcare practitioner may be required if this is deemed necessary, depending on the condition.
What to expect at your child/baby’s first appointment?
Dr Carmen will extensively go through your Child’s history, including pregnancy, labour and delivery, Time in NICU, feeding history be in bottle or breast, bowel and bladder habits, sleep patterns and your child’s chief complaint. She will then perform a few gentle orthopaedic and musculoskeletal tests, and examine your Child’s nervous system and spine. And lastly offer advice on breastfeeding, burping, reflux, colic, crying, home exercises and treatment.
Paediatric/Baby Chiropractic
Being born is tough work, there are a lot of pressures and forces being exerted onto your baby during their journey into the world. Newborns may suffer birth trauma and associated strain through the neck and cranial areas following birth.
Left uncorrected, this trauma continues to impact your baby’s spinal growth and development, reducing the healthy function of their nervous system. This can cause many health challenges later in life that could easily have been prevented.
A baby’s spine lengthens by 50% by the time they reach one year old! At no other time does this growth happen so rapidly, so you want to make sure your baby is in proper alignment ensuring proper symmetrical growth.
The first year of life is also the time of spinal curvature development. There are curves called “lordosis” present in your neck and lower back, and curves called a “kyphosis” in your mid-back and sacrum. These spinal curves are necessary for movement, balance, upright posture, protection, and shock absorption. Without being in alignment during this crucial time, your baby’s spinal curves may not develop properly, giving them a poor foundation for later in life.
It’s never too soon to see a chiropractor. Treatment involves very gentle spinal/manipulative techniques tailored to the age of baby to help relax stiff joints and stimulate the nervous and immune systems. No treatment will be prescribed without evidence of spinal subluxation or lack of mobility at a particular joint of the spine.
