Osteopathy for Babies, Children & Teenagers in Plymouth

Gentle, age-appropriate osteopathic care for younger patients.


Children's bodies change considerably as they grow, from infancy through childhood and into the teenage years. They are not just 'mini adults'.


At First Touch Osteopathy, we provide individual osteopathic assessment and care adapted to your child's age, development, symptoms and needs.


We'll take time to listen to your concerns, explain what we're doing and make the appointment as comfortable and relaxed as possible for both you and your child.



A Different Approach For Different Ages

An appointment with a baby will naturally look very different from an appointment with a teenager.


Our approach is adapted to your child's age, stage of development and reason for attending.


For babies and younger children, a parent or carer will be closely involved throughout the appointment. With older children and teenagers, we'll communicate directly with them as well as their parent or carer and involve them in decisions about their care.


Any examination or treatment will be explained beforehand and adapted to your child's comfort.

If we don't think osteopathic care is appropriate, we'll explain why and recommend seeking advice from your GP or another suitable healthcare professional.

Osteopathic appointments for babies

Parents bring babies to osteopaths for a variety of reasons and often have questions about what an appointment involves.


We'll begin by talking with you about your concerns, your baby's medical and birth history and any relevant healthcare they are currently receiving.


Any physical assessment will be gentle and appropriate for your baby's age.


Where osteopathic treatment is considered appropriate, we'll explain the proposed approach and obtain your consent before proceeding.

Osteopathy should not replace routine NHS care or medical assessment for an unwell baby. Evidence that cranial osteopathy treats common infant conditions such as colic is insufficient, and we won't make claims that treatment can resolve conditions where this hasn't been reliably demonstrated.

Osteopathy for children

As children grow, their activity levels and physical demands change.


They may experience musculoskeletal problems associated with everyday activity, sport, injuries or periods of rapid growth.


An appointment may involve discussing the problem with you and your child, observing movement and carrying out an appropriate physical assessment.


If treatment is suitable, we'll explain the options in language your child can understand and adapt our approach to their age and comfort.


Where appropriate, advice or simple exercises may also form part of their care.

Osteopathy for teenagers

Teenagers can experience many of the same musculoskeletal problems as adults, particularly as sport, training, studying and everyday activity place changing demands on their bodies.


We may assess problems involving muscles and joints, sports and exercise-related injuries, or discomfort affecting everyday movement.


We'll involve your teenager in conversations about their symptoms, goals and treatment choices and encourage them to ask questions.


Where appropriate, their care may include hands-on treatment, movement advice and progressive exercise or rehabilitation.

explore sports injury and rehabilitation

What to expect at your child's appointment

We start by listening

Age-appropriate assessment

Age-appropriate assessment

We'll discuss why you've brought your child to see us, their medical history and any relevant information about their health, development or activities.

This is also an opportunity for you and your child to ask questions.

Age-appropriate assessment

Age-appropriate assessment

Age-appropriate assessment

Where appropriate, we'll assess movement and the musculoskeletal system in a way that's suitable for your child's age and reason for attending.

We'll explain what we're doing throughout.

Discussing the options

Age-appropriate assessment

Discussing the options

We'll explain our findings and whether we think osteopathic care is appropriate.

If treatment is suitable, we'll discuss what it may involve and ask for consent before proceeding.

If another healthcare professional would be more appropriate, we'll explain the next steps.

Your child's comfort comes first

We want children and young people to feel comfortable, listened to and involved in their appointment.


We'll explain examinations and treatment in an age-appropriate way and encourage your child to tell us if they're uncomfortable or don't want something to continue.


Parents and carers are involved as appropriate, and we'll discuss consent with you and your child before examination or treatment.


There's never an obligation to continue with a technique or treatment that your child isn't comfortable with.

When medical assessment is more appropriate

Osteopathy isn't a replacement for medical care.


If your baby or child is unwell, has a fever, is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake, has difficulty breathing, has a seizure, develops a rash that doesn't fade when pressed, or you're concerned that something may be seriously wrong, seek appropriate medical advice rather than booking a routine osteopathy appointment.


For urgent concerns, use NHS 111. In a medical emergency, call 999.


If you're unsure whether an osteopathic appointment is appropriate, you're welcome to contact us before booking.

Osteopathy Prices

Our Plymouth Clinic

Our Plymouth Clinic

£85

Initial osteopathy appointment

Includes consultation, assessment and treatment where appropriate.


£50

Follow-up osteopathy appointment

Book an appointment

Our Plymouth Clinic

Our Plymouth Clinic

Our Plymouth Clinic

First Touch Osteopathy

John Moore Dental

51 Houndiscombe Road

Plymouth PL4 6EX


Street parking is available nearby.

Get directions

Osteopathy For Children FAQs

Please reach us at hello@firsttouchosteo.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Yes. Parents or carers can remain with their child during their appointment.

For younger children, we would request a parent or appropriate guardian to be present throughout.

Comfortable clothing that allows easy movement is ideal.

Your osteopath will explain if any clothing needs to be adjusted for an examination and will always consider your child's privacy and comfort.

Treatment should be adapted to your child's age, needs and comfort.

We'll explain what we're proposing and encourage your child to tell us how things feel. Treatment can be changed or stopped at any point.

Cranial techniques are gentle techniques used by some osteopaths and may form part of an osteopathic appointment where appropriate.


Evidence supporting cranial osteopathy as a treatment for specific infant medical conditions is limited, so we don't present it as a treatment for conditions where effectiveness hasn't been reliably established.


A GP referral isn't normally required to see an osteopath.

However, depending on your child's symptoms or medical history, we may recommend medical assessment before or instead of osteopathic treatment.

There isn't a standard treatment course.


Following assessment, we'll discuss whether treatment is appropriate and, if so, whether further appointments may be useful. We'll review progress rather than automatically recommending a predetermined number of sessions.

Osteopathy

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Cranial Osteopathy

Learn more about our general osteopathic assessment and treatment.

Osteopathy

Cranial Osteopathy

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Cranial Osteopathy

Learn more about the gentle cranial techniques that may form part of osteopathic care.

Back & Neck Pain

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Assessment and rehabilitation for sports and exercise-related injuries.

Sports INJURY & REHABILITATION

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