Chiropractic is a government-registered and regulated healthcare profession. Regulated by the same board that regulates medical doctors ().
Of the 300,000 visits to chiropractors each week in Australia, approximately 30,000 of them are children.
In 2019 the Victorian Health Minister ordered an independent review of the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for children under the age of 12.
The following members were on the Safer Care Victoria review panel:
Paediatrician, Paediatric neurosurgeon, Paediatric orthopaedic surgeon, paediatric physiotherapist, paediatric chiropractor, among others.
This is the largest independent review on the safety of chiropractic for children in world history to date (1 Dec 2019).
Information was gathered from the following sources to be reviewed by the panel on:
Here are the Highlights of the Information Gathered:
In fact there are only three cases published in the world where harm was incurred from spinal manipulation to children; but none of them were performed by chiropractors, and none of them used techniques utilised by chiropractors.
Of note: A small number of children may have mild discomfort for 1-2days after a visit, and normally only after the first few visits. This could be displayed in an infant as increased unsettledness for 1-2 days. This is no different than an adult who is mildly sore after their first few adjustments due to how much tension they are coming in with.
73% of respondents reported having their child had chiropractic care under the age of 2.
50% of respondents reported their child being cared for from infancy through to teenage years.
Note: Regarding the 0.3% of parents who had a negative experience; it was relating to the cost of the visit, not the care received.
Main Reasons for Seeking Chiropractic Care Were:
It is important to remember that chiropractic care is not a cure for the above listed conditions. The sole purpose of chiropractic care is to assess for and remove spinal tension. The result of this is a body with less stress on it’s nervous system. Then the body can function as it was intended to, and some have improvements in conditions listed above as a secondary result.
Evidence of Effectiveness:
Scientific research in pediatric chiropractic is limited compared to that of adults. This is an area that the Australian Chiropractic Association is working hard at improving.
A lack of evidence is not evidence of absence. The fact that there were over 20, 000 respondents from the public with 98% of them indicating improvement in their child is the lowest quality evidence in the scientific world, but it still provides confidence of benefit.
Below are Excerpts from the Safer Care Victoria Report on Some Parents’ Experiences With Chiropractic:
Fairway Chiropractic Centre Google Reviews
We cannot thank Dr. Nikola Dukovac enough for the care and support provided to our toddler, who has been experiencing speech delays. From the very first appointment, Dr.Nikola demonstrated exceptional professionalism, kindness, and a deep understanding of how chiropractic care can support overall development.
The individualized treatment plan was thoughtfully explained, and we noticed gradual improvements in our child’s ability to engage, focus, and vocalize after regular sessions.
We deeply appreciate the compassionate and patient-centered approach at fairway chiropractor It has been encouraging to see the progress, and we are grateful to have found such a skilled practitioner. If you’re looking for a chiropractor who truly understands paediatric needs and takes a collaborative approach to care, we highly recommend Dr.Nikola Dukovac.
Zahra Ahmad
