Chiropractic Care
Pediatric Chiropractic Care: When Should Your Child See a Chiropractor?
By Dr. Tim Coykendall, D.C. · May 26, 2026 · Updated May 26, 2026
Most kids do not need chiropractic care, and that is fine. The ones who do benefit most are children dealing with sports injuries, postural pain from devices and backpacks, scoliosis monitoring, adolescent low back or neck pain, and recovery from falls. When pediatric chiropractic is the right fit, it is safe, gentle, and resolves the issue in a small number of visits.
I am Dr. Tim Coykendall. I founded Valley Chiropractic Center in Tracy in 2000 and have treated thousands of pediatric patients across San Joaquin County. This post explains when chiropractic genuinely helps kids, when it does not, and what an honest pediatric chiropractor looks like.
The most common reasons Tracy parents bring kids in
A typical month at our four offices includes around 80 to 120 pediatric visits. The most common reasons:
| Reason | Typical age | What we usually find |
|---|---|---|
| Sports injury | 10 to 17 | Strain, sprain, postural compensation |
| Backpack and posture pain | 7 to 17 | Upper back and neck strain |
| Phone and gaming neck | 10 to 17 | Forward head posture, neck tightness |
| Scoliosis screening or monitoring | 9 to 16 | Mild to moderate curves, postural |
| Fall or trampoline injury | 5 to 15 | Mechanical pain, sometimes whiplash |
| Growing pains | 6 to 12 | Postural and mechanical strain |
| Headaches | 10 to 17 | Mostly cervicogenic and tension type |
These are the cases where chiropractic has the strongest clinical track record. They are also the cases where the trajectory is shortest. Most resolve in 4 to 8 visits.
What the research actually supports
I want to be honest with parents about what is and is not well-established.
Strong evidence base:
- Adolescent low back and neck pain
- Sports-related musculoskeletal injuries
- Tension and cervicogenic headaches in older children
- Postural complaints
- Recovery from minor falls and trauma
Mixed or limited evidence:
- Infant colic
- Ear infection frequency
- Bedwetting (enuresis)
- ADHD and behavioral concerns
I do not turn families away who want to try chiropractic for colic or other infant concerns. I do tell them honestly that the research is mixed and that we should set a clear expectation: if we are not seeing meaningful improvement in 2 to 4 visits, we stop and refer back to the pediatrician.
The American Chiropractic Association and the ICPA both publish position papers on pediatric care that emphasize evidence-based practice and clear communication with parents.
How pediatric adjustments differ from adult adjustments
Pediatric chiropractic is not just a smaller version of adult care. The technique is fundamentally different.
For infants and toddlers (newborn to 2 years), we use fingertip pressure that is comparable to checking the ripeness of a tomato. There is no popping or cracking. Visits are short, often 10 to 15 minutes total. Many infants sleep through the adjustment.
For young children (2 to 7 years), we use low-force tools like an Activator instrument or careful drop-table technique. The adjustment is brief and gentle. Children rarely notice it as anything more than the doctor pressing on their back for a few seconds.
For older children and adolescents (8 to 17 years), the technique is closer to adult adjustments but still calibrated for developing bone and soft tissue. We use less force, lower amplitude, and adjust based on the child’s response.
In all cases, parents are in the room. We explain everything before doing it. If a child is afraid or uncomfortable, we stop and try a different approach.
Backpacks, phones, and the new pediatric posture problem
Two big drivers of pediatric musculoskeletal pain have emerged in the last 15 years.
Heavy backpacks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 15% of body weight. Most backpacks we see in our Tracy and Mountain House offices weigh well above that. Repeated daily overload produces upper back, shoulder, and neck strain.
Practical fixes:
- Use both straps, every time
- Tighten straps so the pack rides high on the back
- Pack heaviest items closest to the spine
- Weigh the backpack monthly
Phones, tablets, and gaming. Forward-head posture from looking down at screens loads the cervical spine in a way that previous generations did not experience. A head held 60 degrees forward effectively puts 60 pounds of load on the neck instead of the normal 10 to 12 pounds.
Practical fixes:
- Hold devices at eye level when possible
- Set time limits for sustained device use
- Build in stretch breaks every 20 to 30 minutes
- Treat existing pain early before patterns set in
For the underlying mechanics, see our neck pain in Tracy guide, which applies to adolescents as much as adults.
Scoliosis monitoring
Roughly 2 to 3% of adolescents have some degree of scoliosis. Most curves are mild and do not need active treatment, but they do need monitoring through the growth spurt years (10 to 16). Pediatric chiropractors are well-positioned to do this monitoring.
What we offer:
- Postural assessment with Adam’s forward bend test
- Scoliometer measurement
- Coordination with orthopedic specialists for curves above 20 degrees
- Postural exercises and adjustments for mild curves
Severe scoliosis (Cobb angle above 40 degrees) usually requires orthopedic referral for bracing or surgical consultation. We are clear with families about when we are the right provider and when we are not.
What a first visit looks like for a pediatric patient
Plan for 30 to 45 minutes. We:
- Take a full history, including pregnancy and birth history for younger children
- Perform an age-appropriate exam (range of motion, palpation, gait)
- Test reflexes and basic neurologic function
- Sometimes do a posture screen with the parent in the room
- Explain what we found and what we recommend
- Treat if appropriate, gently and briefly
For a deeper walkthrough of new patient visits, see our first chiropractic visit post. For specific pediatric service detail, see our pediatric chiropractic service page.
When to skip the chiropractor and call your pediatrician
Pediatric chiropractic is for mechanical musculoskeletal problems. Take your child to the pediatrician or ER first if any of these apply:
- Fever with neck stiffness
- Acute injury with deformity, severe swelling, or inability to bear weight
- Sudden severe headache
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in arms or legs
- Loss of consciousness, even briefly, after a head injury
- Persistent vomiting after a fall
- Any concern about a non-musculoskeletal illness
We work closely with pediatricians in Tracy, Mountain House, Manteca, and Ripon. Ask your pediatrician if they have a chiropractor they refer to. Many do.
A typical pediatric patient story
“Mason,” age 13, came in after a soccer game in Tracy with neck pain and a stiff lower back. He had collided with another player, hit the ground hard, and had been sore for three days. His parents had taken him to urgent care, where he was cleared of fracture and given ibuprofen.
Exam showed reduced cervical and lumbar range of motion, palpable trigger points in the upper traps and lumbar paraspinals, and no neurologic deficit. We treated with a gentle drop-table adjustment, light soft-tissue work, and three home exercises.
He returned at 4 days and 10 days for follow-up. By visit 3, he was symptom-free and back to soccer. Total visits: 3.
This is a typical pediatric sports-injury trajectory.
Book your child’s evaluation
Our Tracy HQ at 438 W Beverly Pl #101 has multiple pediatric-experienced doctors on staff. We also see pediatric patients at our Mountain House, Manteca, and Ripon offices. Request an appointment online, or learn more about our doctors on the meet the doctors page.
If your child is dealing with sports injury, posture pain, or unexplained back or neck pain, an evaluation is a low-risk, high-information starting point. We will tell you honestly whether chiropractic is the right tool and, if not, who else to call.