Hi Reader

Dad Joke: A tiger went to the chiropractor for pain. The chiropractor touched the tiger's back and asked "Is this the spot?" The tiger said "No, that's a stripe."

Song of the Week: Follow the Sun - Xavier Rudd​

I am writing to you from Hanover airport in northern Germany. A delayed flight has given me time to sit and think about this weekend. I have been in Braunschweig, teaching my Peads in Motion 2: Toddlers to Teens Seminar. And I have to say…I am slowly falling in love with teaching this seminar. Let me tell you why.

When we think paediatrics we think newborns, we picture infants and maybe at a push a toddler or two. But then there’s this black hole of uncertainty until children become young adults. Now I’m not saying that we are not treating these children, but what I am saying is that the unique approach we have for babies and infants is often not there for older children. It gets replaced with “just a bit less than we would do for adults”.

But Toddlers to Teens breaks down the unique neurological and orthopaedic developmental levels of toddlers, young children, tweens and teens and tailors an approach to these populations by creating strategies that support the developing system instead of aiming to squash symptoms.

So why am I becoming so fond of it? It’s because, of all the seminars I teach, this one has by far the most “aha!” moments.

I had a veteran practitioner realizing that they no longer have to just eyeball genu varus and valgus in a 4 year old, there are normal values for each age group and they can plot these out and use them to predict further change.

Another when a new grad realized they could add vestibular challenge to a core exercise after adjusting the cervical spine to increase the effectiveness of the remapping of the motor system. They figured this out themselves after realizing that it’s a developing system and that they can stack inputs to get better outcomes.

But my highlight of the weekend was watching a doc battle with the concept that a child being adaptable is more desirable than having perfect form. She was set on crawling, sitting and gait looking a certain way. But as the weekend progressed, I could see her realizing bit by bit that a child that can vary their motor strategy to match their environment is a more neurologically adept child than one with only one “perfect” option. Sometimes it may not look pretty…but when all things are considered it’s about being able to function in the real world that counts.

Having a system of assessment based on validated testing and developmentally targeted intervention gives you a solid base to create that unique approach for older children that you already have for the little ones. It’s a great weekend.

Chat Soon

Mike

PS. There are a few spots available Toddlers to Teens in Wales on 28th & 29th Feb - don't miss out!

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Connected Paediatrics – Dr Mike Marinus is a registered paediatric chiropractor treating babies and children and helping chiropractors learn effective paediatric techniques that they can use in their practice