Chiropractic care for kids in Yuba City Gentle care sized to a growing body.
Dr. Kalay provides pediatric chiropractic care for children of every age, babies through teens, with far lighter pressure than an adult adjustment and only after a thorough exam. Kids bounce back fast, at least in how they feel. A growing spine still takes a lot from falls, sports and heavy backpacks, and children don’t always say when something hurts, so you’ll know what’s going on at every step.
- Every age
- From babies learning to crawl to teens with sports and first jobs.
- You decide
- You hear what the exam finds, and the options, before any care starts.
- Often for
- back painneck painsports injury
When is it worth a visit?
Kids don’t always say when something is sore, so parents usually notice first. If one of these sounds familiar, an exam gives you a clear picture, and it never commits you to a care plan.
Common reasons parents come in
- 01A hard fall, or a knock in play or practice.
- 02A car accident, even a small one, and even if they say they feel fine.
- 03Aches from a heavy backpack, or from long hours bent over a phone or tablet.
- 04Soreness or a strain from sport, especially during a growth spurt.
- 05Something off in how they walk, sit or stand, even without a complaint.
- 06Simply wanting a check, and a clear explanation, before deciding anything.
See your pediatrician first if
- Symptoms are severe, or getting worse.
- The concern is an illness, rather than muscles, joints or movement.
- The concern is developmental or neurological.
Chiropractic care doesn’t replace your child’s medical care. If something needs a medical look first, Dr. Kalay will tell you.
Care that changes as they grow.
Every age puts something new on a growing spine, and the exam and the way care is given change with it. Here’s what each stage tends to bring, and what to watch for at home.
Babies and toddlers
Birth through the toddler years
Months curled up before birth, then the push and pull of delivery. Learning to crawl and walk brings plenty of straining, twisting and tumbles.
- Watch for
- A head that tilts to one side, nursing from one side only, or a limp or wobble once they’re walking.
- How care adapts
- Steady fingertip pressure, about what you’d use to test a tomato for ripeness. They can’t say what hurts yet, so what you’ve seen at home guides the exam.
School age
Preschool through middle school
Kids this age play hard and without limits. It’s also when posture habits form: heads tipped down over tablets, and backpacks too heavy or slung over one shoulder.
- Watch for
- Uneven shoulders, a head that juts forward, or an arched lower back once the pack is on.
- The backpack check
- Weigh it on the bathroom scale. Keep it to about 10% of their body weight, so 7.5 lb for a 75 lb child, with both padded straps on, snug, and the pack no bigger than their back.
Teens
High school, sports and first jobs
In a growth spurt, bones lengthen faster than muscles and tendons can keep up, which can leave a teen briefly clumsy and prone to strains. One-sided sports like pitching or serving add a steady pull, and many teens start physical first jobs.
- Watch for
- One shoulder or hip higher than the other, “growing pains” that don’t ease with rest, one shoe wearing out faster, or a sudden dip in coordination.
- How care adapts
- Planned around their sport and season. Pre-season exams are a separate visit: see sports physicals.
What a first visit is like.
Most parents picture an adult adjustment. Care for kids is far gentler than that, and your child hears what’s coming before it happens.
Before you come
Jot down what you’ve noticed.
When it started and how it affects their day, plus health history, medicines, past injuries and any findings from other doctors. Loose, comfy clothes make the exam easier.
First
Talk it through.
Dr. Kalay asks about your concerns and your child’s daily habits, from how they sleep to how they play. You know your child best, so what you’ve seen matters.
The exam
A careful exam.
Posture, movement and balance are checked thoroughly, so even a child too young or too shy to say what hurts gets a clear picture.
If care fits
Light, steady pressure.
You hear the findings and options first, and nothing starts until you agree. Adjustments use gentle, sustained pressure, not the quick thrust used for adults. For older kids, a small handheld instrument may be used.
Questions parents ask
Reviewed by
Dr. Gurj Kalay, DC
Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic West (2014)
General information, not medical advice. Your own exam decides your care.
At what age can a child start chiropractic care?
Children of all ages are seen, babies included. Whether care makes sense depends on your child’s age, health history and the reason you’re asking, so it always starts with an exam and a conversation. For a baby, it’s worth involving your pediatrician too.
Is chiropractic care safe for children?
Care for children is adapted to their size and stage, with far less force than an adult adjustment and softer methods for a spine that is still growing. No treatment is completely risk-free, so before anything starts, Dr. Kalay explains what he’d suggest, and you can ask about alternatives and any signs that would mean stopping.
How do I explain the visit to a young child?
Keep it simple and positive: the doctor is going to check their back and neck and help their body stay strong. Each step is explained to them as it happens, and little ones may be shown the gentle pressure on a stuffed animal first.
How many visits will my child need?
That depends on your child and what brought you in. After the exam, Dr. Kalay suggests a plan. Some children need a short run of visits for one problem, others come in for occasional check-ins as they grow, and young athletes may come more often during their season. You can take time to think it over before saying yes.
Should I talk to my child’s pediatrician first?
It can help, especially if your child has a health condition or symptoms that are getting worse. A pediatrician and a chiropractor play different roles, and your family can have input from both. Bring any findings from other doctors to the first visit.
Can my child go back to sports after an adjustment?
Usually, yes, after a standard adjustment. If a particular injury needs rest first, Dr. Kalay will tell you how long to hold off.
Chiropractic care for kids in Yuba City, close to home.
Dr. Kalay sees children of every age on Century Park Drive, babies included, with Saturday morning hours for school-week schedules. The clinic serves Yuba City, Marysville, Live Oak, Gridley, Plumas Lake, Olivehurst, Wheatland and Colusa.
Yuba City, CA 95991
(530) 441-2225
- Tue – Fri
- 9:00 am – 12:00 pm2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Saturday
- 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Sun & Mon
- Closed
Bring your questions first. Decide on care when you’re ready.
Call or book online. Your child’s first consultation with Dr. Kalay is complimentary, and an exam never commits you to a care plan.
New patient? Send the new patient form and the team will contact you to set up your first visit.
New patient special437 Century Park Dr Ste A · Yuba City, CA