Paediatric Chiropractor Merricks North – Infant & Child Chiropractic Care

For more than 35 years, Mt Eliza Family Chiropractic Clinic has provided Chiropractic care for children and babies to the Merricks North community.

Paediatric chiropractic care is centred on the understanding that children are unique individuals who are in a developmental phase, not just ‘little adults’. A paediatric chiropractor is skilled in providing gentle care to children, with close attention to any clinical signs that would suggest a referral to other health professionals is required.

How Does Chiropractic Care Benefit Infants and Children?

Our chiropractors are able to treat various concerns that babies and children may experience. Conditions we commonly treat include:

Poor Posture

Research indicates that 73% of parents are worried about their child’s posture, especially as increased phone and tablet usage leads to slouching and possible spine and neck concerns.

Mt. Eliza Family Chiropractic employs a technology based postural assessment system which detects even the most subtle postural deviations, generates a report with your child’s individual postural images, and then analyses the data relating the postural distortions to individual spinal biomechanics. We can use this assessment to tailor an individual care plan and track your child’s progress and improvement over time.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis typically appears in children between the ages of 10 and 15, though it can also develop in younger children aged 3 to 10 (juvenile scoliosis) and in babies (infantile scoliosis). The condition may result in poor posture, shoulder humping, muscle weakness, and spinal pain, and it can be more serious in children due to its potential to progress rapidly during growth. Scoliosis can be treated by a children’s chiropractor through various methods to alleviate discomfort and restore proper functionality.

Traumatic Birth Syndrome

Traumatic Birth Syndrome is a condition which describes the potential damage to an infant’s spine which may result from the birth process. This condition has been well documented in medical research and can lead to all types of health problems. Our chiropractors can perform a thorough orthopaedic and neurological assessment of your child to identify and treat any potential issues.

Plagiocephaly

Deformational Plagiocephaly refers to a condition marked by a flat area on the back or one side of an infant’s head, caused by uneven pressure on the skull, which may result in developmental delays.

Our chiropractors are able to offer advice on your baby’s sleep positioning and how to lay them down, while also explaining the management options available, such as using the TinyYears pillow, which was designed by Dr Glenn Maginness.

Neurological Developmental Assessment

Neurological Developmental Screening Tests are used to determine which parts of a child’s brain are functioning at the expected level for his/her age and/or which parts of the child’s brain are not functioning at the expected level. The results will provide us with insight as to whether your child may benefit from treatment and if so what type of treatment would be best suited.

Our chiropractors have specialised training in paediatric neurological assessment and management, focusing on the integration of retained primitive reflexes and vestibular system support.

Paediatric Chiropractor: Dr Glenn Maginness

Dr Glenn Maginness has a strong interest in the health of infants and children, and exclusively treats children as a paediatric chiropractor. He graduated from RMIT University in 1986 as a Doctor of Chiropractic and completed a Masters degree in Chiropractic Paediatrics in 1998. Glenn is one of a select few chiropractors in Australia to have attained this degree.

Glenn frequently receives referrals for infants and young children from other health professionals who acknowledge his expertise and training in chiropractic paediatrics. These referrals come from paediatricians, GPs, maternal health nurses, as well as midwives and obstetricians. Over more than 30 years, Glenn has built a reputation for professionalism and integrity, making him a key figure in the healthcare of many families on the Mornington Peninsula.

A testament to Glenn’s expertise in paediatrics, he is highly sought after as a speaker on chiropractic paediatric healthcare. Since 2002, Glenn has conducted seminars across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and the U.K., educating other chiropractors in the area of Chiropractic Paediatrics.

For more than 40 years, Glenn has lived on the Mornington Peninsula with his family, firmly establishing his roots in the local community.