At Spine & Joint Center Fort Lauderdale, a pediatric chiropractor provides gentle, low-force care for infants and children, using the Activator method and light fingertip adjustments. These age-appropriate techniques apply only a small fraction of the pressure used with adults — an approach designed to support healthy spinal development and help children rest and move more comfortably.
A child’s spine grows and changes rapidly from birth through adolescence. The birth process itself — particularly assisted deliveries involving forceps, vacuum extraction, or significant traction — can place strain on an infant’s delicate cervical spine. As children begin crawling, walking, and later carrying backpacks or playing sports, their developing spinal joints adapt to constant new demands.
Chiropractors describe areas of restricted joint movement as subluxations. In children, gentle care aims to address these restrictions and support proper alignment during key developmental stages. The force involved is minimal: a pediatric adjustment uses roughly the pressure you would apply to test the ripeness of a tomato. At Spine & Joint Center, every contact is tailored to a child’s age and size. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and research published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health both emphasize that pediatric care should rely on modified, low-force techniques rather than the methods used for adults.
Spine & Joint Center is located at 410 NE 44th St in Oakland Park, just minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale, serving patients across Broward County. Caring for Fort Lauderdale families at the same location since 1979, the practice welcomes parents seeking gentle, conservative chiropractic care for their children.
Children are not small adults, and their growing spines respond differently to stress, activity, and injury. Many families first come to Spine & Joint Center for prenatal and postpartum care and later bring their children in for gentle support. Below are common reasons parents across Broward County ask about pediatric chiropractic.
Colic and Digestive Discomfort in Infants
Some parents bring colicky or unsettled infants for gentle care, hoping to ease discomfort. Research on infant chiropractic care for colic is limited and the findings are mixed, so care at Spine & Joint Center focuses on a thorough evaluation and very light, low-force contacts rather than promises. Your Doctor of Chiropractic will discuss honest, realistic expectations with you and encourage you to keep your pediatrician closely involved, since ongoing feeding or digestive concerns always need medical review.
Growing Pains and Developmental Issues
Growing pains — aching legs or muscles, often felt in the evening — are common in active, growing children. Spine & Joint Center evaluates posture, gait, and joint movement to identify mechanical factors that may add to a child’s discomfort. Gentle chiropractic care, combined with simple guidance on stretching and activity, may help children feel more comfortable as they grow. Any sudden, severe, or one-sided pain should be checked by a pediatrician first.
Childhood Posture Problems
Heavy backpacks, long hours on tablets and phones, and extended sitting at school can all affect a child’s posture. Over time, forward head position and rounded shoulders may place added strain on a developing spine. Gentle adjustments, along with practical advice on screen habits and backpack weight, can help support healthier alignment. Addressing posture early is also a natural part of long-term wellness and maintenance care for the whole family.
Sports Injuries in Young Athletes
From soccer and gymnastics to football, baseball, and dance, youth sports place real, repeated demands on growing bodies. Minor strains, overuse irritation, and small joint restrictions are common in active children. Spine & Joint Center provides gentle, age-appropriate care to help young athletes recover comfortably and return to the activities they enjoy. For families focused on this area, our youth sports injury care explains the approach in more detail.
Ready to Book Your Child’s First Visit?
Schedule an appointment online and find out whether gentle pediatric chiropractic care at Spine & Joint Center is right for your family — no pressure, no commitment.
Yes — when performed by a trained chiropractor using techniques modified for a child’s age and size, pediatric chiropractic care is widely considered low-risk. Spine & Joint Center uses gentle, low-force methods such as the Activator instrument and light fingertip pressure, never the firmer manual adjustments used for adults.
The American Chiropractic Association recognizes that chiropractic care is provided to children and emphasizes age-appropriate, conservative techniques along with careful evaluation. Before any care begins, your Doctor of Chiropractic performs an examination suited to your child’s stage of development, explains the findings in plain language, and answers your questions fully.
Parents stay involved at every step. When a child’s symptoms point to something outside the scope of chiropractic care, Spine & Joint Center will recommend medical evaluation and is glad to coordinate with your pediatrician.
You are welcome to remain with your child throughout the entire visit.
Care is always provided with your informed consent — you decide together what feels right.
Examination and technique are matched to your child’s age, size, and stage of development.
Common Questions
Pediatric Chiropractor in Fort Lauderdale: FAQ
Is chiropractic safe for babies?
Chiropractic care for babies is considered low-risk when an experienced chiropractor uses gentle, low-force techniques. At Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale, infants receive only light fingertip pressure — roughly the force used to test a ripe tomato — and every visit begins with a careful, age-appropriate evaluation.
Why would an infant need chiropractic care?
Parents often seek infant chiropractic care after a difficult delivery, or when a baby seems unsettled, favors turning the head to one side, or has trouble getting comfortable. Spine & Joint Center gently checks the spine and neck for restricted movement using very light contacts. Any medical concern should also be reviewed by your pediatrician.
What conditions do pediatric chiropractors treat?
Pediatric chiropractors in Fort Lauderdale commonly provide gentle care for posture problems, growing pains, sports-related strains, and concerns about spinal development. At Spine & Joint Center, care focuses on supporting comfortable movement and healthy alignment. Chiropractic care does not replace medical treatment, and concerns outside its scope are referred to the appropriate provider.
What is the Activator method for children?
The Activator method uses a small handheld instrument to deliver a quick, gentle, low-force impulse to a specific joint. For children, this avoids the firmer manual pressure used in adult adjustments. Spine & Joint Center often chooses the Activator method for young children because it is precise, controlled, and well tolerated.
How often should children be adjusted?
Visit frequency depends entirely on your child’s age, the reason for care, and how they respond. Some children need only a few visits, while others benefit from occasional check-ins during growth spurts or busy sports seasons. Spine & Joint Center creates an individualized recommendation for your child — there is no one-size-fits-all schedule.
Can chiropractic help with colic?
Some parents bring colicky infants to a chiropractor hoping gentle care will ease discomfort. Research on chiropractic and colic is limited and the findings are mixed, so Spine & Joint Center is honest about realistic expectations. Only soft, low-force contacts are used, and you are encouraged to keep your pediatrician involved, since persistent colic should always be medically evaluated.
At what age can children start chiropractic?
Children can be evaluated for chiropractic care at any age, including the newborn stage — some families visit Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale within the first weeks after birth. The technique and amount of force are always matched to the child’s size and development, from infants through the teenage years.
Do you work with pediatricians?
Spine & Joint Center views chiropractic care as one part of a child’s overall health, not a replacement for medical care. The practice is glad to communicate with your pediatrician and will refer your child for medical evaluation whenever symptoms fall outside the scope of chiropractic care. Coordinated care helps families make well-informed decisions.
Choosing chiropractic care for your child is a personal decision, and it should begin with a conversation — not a commitment. Spine & Joint Center is glad to answer your questions, explain exactly what a gentle pediatric adjustment involves, and help you decide whether care is a good fit for your family, with no pressure either way.
Spine & Joint Center has cared for Fort Lauderdale families at the same Oakland Park location since 1979. Schedule an appointment online, or call (954) 561-4700 to talk through your child’s needs.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any treatment program.
