International Children's Day

Today June 1st, is International Children’s Day! Children often need support during their growth and development. Gymna took the opportunity to speak to Sofie Roelandt, as an Osteopath specialising in the treatment of babies and children. We asked about her vision.

Sofie Roelandt, Osteopath D.O. M.R.O:

“First of all: children are not simply small adults and should therefore not be treated as such. After almost 20 years of working as an osteopath I still consider it important to keep training in children’s embryology, physiology, neurology, pathology and osteopathy, in order to offer osteopathic treatment to babies, children and adolescents!

Parents consciously or subconsciously guide their children in co-regulating stimulus on a daily basis. Personally I am lucky, and I believe it is important, to have close contact with the consultation office, lactation specialist, obstetrician, dentist, physiotherapist, psychologist and general practitioner, in order to be able to discuss the different angles of the child’s development and therefore also the treatment provided.

How can osteopathy help children?

Physical complaints (such as bed-wetting, stomach aches, headaches, eye complaints, back pain, jaw ache, sports injuries, motor-skill issues), emotional complaints or troublesome behaviour can all be reasons to consult an osteopath.

An osteopath listens to the help request from the child and parent. The osteopathic examination is carried out and an individual treatment strategy is determined for your child. In addition, exercises, lifestyle advice and nutritional advice are often suggested. The same complaint, but in a different child, will often require a different approach. The child’s full picture is considered, rather than a symptom alone.

The treatment can consist of techniques focused on biomechanics, or techniques focusing on neurology, vascularisation, the psyche or the metabolism.

That’s the beauty of osteopathy. Every child is unique, which also means that the osteopathic approach for each child is different. Of course, they will always be referred, if support is required from another discipline." 

Courtesy of Sofie Roelandt, Osteopaat D.O. M.R.O Follow Sofie Roelandt, Osteopath on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/osteopaatsofie Photo: © Bart van Hattem https://www.zakelijke-portretfoto.nl