Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Murrieta, CA
Children grow and develop quickly, and their spine and nervous system play a key role in how they move, sleep, and respond to their environment.
At California Oaks Chiropractic, we provide gentle and safe pediatric chiropractic care in Murrieta for infants, toddlers, and children.
Dr. Phillip Vournazos, D.C., uses age-appropriate techniques designed to support comfort, development, and overall well-being. Care focuses on helping children move better and feel more at ease in their daily activities. Each visit is calm, safe, and tailored to your child’s needs.
If you have concerns about your child’s posture, movement, or comfort, call (951) 698-2511 to schedule an evaluation.
What Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care?
A chiropractic treatment for a child begins with an extensive examination to determine the exact issue and the best route for treatment. Even if your child is too young to communicate or too shy, a chiropractor has the skills to work with them to find out exactly what is going on before proceeding with treatment. Gentle and non-invasive adjustments are then made to the spine.
Children will often become relaxed and even fall asleep following treatment, a good sign that it has been effective.
When to Consider Pediatric Chiropractic Care?
A child’s spine can become quite misaligned without any awareness on their part of pain or discomfort. Children have not always developed enough awareness of their bodies to identify a subtle chronic issue developing.
Even when a child is experiencing pain, they may not be able to communicate it to you, and it can come across as grumpiness, acting out, or incessant crying. Issues with the spine can also be the source of many other childhood issues.
How Do We Diagnose Pediatric Patients?
Diagnosing pediatric patients depends on the age of the child. We do not use imaging due to radiation exposure, unless there is an absolute fracture or something specific that needs to be seen. For most cases, diagnosis is mainly clinical history-based.
For infants, it is primarily palpation, meaning we feel the spine and joints to identify subluxations (misalignments) and any other issues.
How Does Chiropractic Care Help With Infants
It may be difficult to imagine that a child would need chiropractic care. They seldom complain of chronic pain the way adults do, and their bodies appear to be made of rubber in the way they bounce back from injury. The truth is, children’s bodies are under a lot of stress while they are in a state of development, and keeping them healthy requires maintenance.
Stress and trauma to the body and spine commonly begin with the birthing process. Infants’ spines can easily become misaligned from the intense pressure involved in both natural and Cesarean births. Unfortunately, other than crying, they have no way of communicating their pain and its source to us. Throughout infancy, they may sleep in awkward positions and occasionally take a tumble.
As children, they grow into toddlers who strain, twist, and fall, while learning to crawl and walk. Luckily, they are very resilient and can take a lot of impact, but it is not uncommon for these injuries to develop into patterns of movement that will pull a child’s bones out of alignment over time. They may start to develop bad posture. Sitting in front of a computer or TV can have serious repercussions on the spine. Playing contact sports, wearing heavy backpacks (most likely the wrong way), and even sitting at desks can all cause issues.
As teenagers, they begin to deal with the stress of more daily responsibilities, like becoming part of the workforce, and use their bodies to perform physical labor such as painting houses and serving tables.
There are plenty of opportunities throughout development for a child’s body, and particularly their spine, to become out of alignment, which will affect other aspects of their healthy nervous system function and development.
Pediatric Chiropractic Treatment Plan
Treatment for pediatric patients differs from that for adults.
For infants and newborns, their joints are not fully solidified, so we use mobilization rather than the standard cavitation adjustment.
For teenagers, treatment is more similar to standard chiropractic adjustments used for adults.
At California Oaks Chiropractic, we offer gentle, non-invasive therapy for both infants and children. Dr. Phillip works to correct underlying issues before they become hard-wired in during development, providing support for a pain-free and successful childhood.
Pediatric Patient Case Studies
Newborn Latching Difficulty Resolved with Neck Mobilization
Patient Information: A newborn baby girl.
Symptoms: She was having difficulty latching after birth.
Diagnosis: The neck was identified as the source of the issue, affecting her ability to latch and limiting her range of motion.
Treatments: We performed a series of neck mobilizations to address the restriction and allow more range of motion.
Outcome: The mobilizations allowed her neck to function with a greater range of motion.
Infant GERD and Colic Improved with Neck and Thoracic Adjustments
Patient Information: A young infant
Symptoms: The baby was experiencing GERD, meaning stomach acid issues, which was causing the baby to become colicky.
Diagnosis: The issue was linked to spinal function. The neck and thoracic spine were affecting the nervous system, which in turn was affecting the baby’s digestive function.
Treatments: We performed adjustments to the neck and thoracic spine to allow the spine to function correctly and support normal nervous system function.
Outcome: After treatment, the baby’s digestive function improved, and the colic and GERD symptoms were no longer present.
Patient Testimonials & Reviews
Jasmine K Saleh
I was in need of a serious adjustment & Dr. K and his staff were absolutely wonderful to work with. They took me in the same day I called, within 10 min I was booked and, in the office...
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Denise
Just WOW! Everyone at California Oaks Chiropractic in Murrieta was just professional and very nice. I felt immediately comfortable. Dr. K was very easy to talk to and made me feel at ease...
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Abby Ngo
I had a great experience with Dr. K. This is top-notch chiropractic care! From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed, listened to, and well taken care of. Dr. K combines strong knowledge...
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Rick Scherer
My family and I have been seeing Dr. K for over 20 years, and I can't imagine going anywhere else. From the moment you walk in, you're treated like family. The office staff is incredibly friendly...
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Sandra Guzman
If you are looking for a chiropractor with a lot of knowledge, friendly staff who feels like family, and an overall welcoming environment, this is your place! Dr. K has been vital in helping my husband and I...
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Lorretta Marcum
This morning I was lucky enough to see a Daphne! Oh my heavens do I feel 1000 x better!! Then I saw Dr. Chris for an adjustment and boy does he know his stuff got rid of my sciatica pain instantly...
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Dr. Phillip Vournazos, D.C., at California Oaks Chiropractic, provides gentle pediatric chiropractic care tailored to your child’s needs, along with clear guidance and a care plan to support healthy growth and well-being.
If you are concerned about your child’s spinal health, contact us to discuss your concerns.
Call (951) 698-2511 or book online using the booking tool below.
Pediatric Chiropractic Patient FAQs
Is chiropractic care safe for babies and children?
Yes. Pediatric chiropractic uses extremely gentle, low-force techniques adapted to a child’s size and age. Care is conservative and coordinated with your pediatrician when needed.
How early can my baby see a chiropractor?
Babies can be evaluated shortly after birth if parents have concerns. Techniques are light and carefully modified for newborns and infants.
What conditions do you commonly see in children?
We often evaluate colic, torticollis, posture concerns, growing pains, sports strains, and unusual movement patterns after medical causes are ruled out.
Will the adjustment hurt my child?
No. Adjustments for children are extremely gentle and often use light fingertip pressure or a small instrument. Most children tolerate care comfortably.
How many visits will my child need?
It depends on the concern and findings. Some children respond quickly, while others may need short-term follow-up visits based on progress.
Do you replace my child’s pediatrician?
No. Chiropractic care complements medical care. We encourage regular pediatric checkups and collaborate with other providers when appropriate.
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