“Being a dad to two very active young boys, I know how hard those early days can be. From sleepless nights, to crying all day, there is a lot of confusing information about how to help out there. My aim is to clarify those issues through gentle, relaxing treatment and by informing you of all the options available to best help you, your child and your family” – Dr Arun Shapleski (osteopath)
Osteopathy is a gentle, whole-body treatment particularly suitable for babies, children and pregnant women. Dr Arun Shapleski (Osteopath) is an experienced Brisbane-based osteopath who uses a very gentle form of treatment called ‘cranial osteopathy’, which despite its name, can be applied anywhere in the body, not just the head. There are no ‘cracks or crunches’ or other forceful movements utilised by other therapies. This makes it a gentler option of treatment for the musculoskeletal components of a wide range of problems affecting babies, children and pregnant women.
How Can Osteopathy Help Babies And Children?
Osteopathy focuses on a whole-body approach to determine the CAUSE of the problem, recognising the important link between the structure of the body and the way it functions. By using skilled palpatory evaluation, diagnosis and a range of hands-on techniques, osteopaths identify and treat dysfunction in your body, positively affecting the body’s nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems.
The birth process can be incredibly demanding on both mother and baby, creating stresses and strains throughout the baby’s head (cranium), spine and pelvis. Difficulties may arise when the baby is unable to adapt to these strains following birth.
What Happens During An Osteopathic Consultation?
A thorough case history covering your pregnancy, childbirth and past medical conditions is covered before an orthopaedic and neurological examination is performed. This includes measurements for head shape (investigating potential plagiocephaly or flat head syndrome), developmental milestones, infantile reflexes and normal orthopaedic development.
Treatment is unique to the individual child’s requirements, aimed at restoring the body’s natural self-healing capacity. At Bardon Osteopathy Brisbane, they only use gentle techniques, such as cranial osteopathy, which often results in a relaxed child!
You can read more about cranial osteopathy for children HERE.
If necessary, advice may be given regarding positioning your baby to prevent head shape abnormalities, as well as how to best manage ‘tummy time’ and other developmentally-appropriate activities.
Osteopath Qualifications And Peace Of Mind
“Osteopaths complete five years of university study culminating in a Master of Health Science (Osteopathy), and are government-registered allied health practitioners. I have undertaken post-graduate studies in paediatrics (treatment of babies and children), obstetrics (pregnancy), visceral (the treatment of organ dysfunction) and cranial osteopathy.”
Osteopaths are recognised by Medicare under the chronic disease management (CDM) plan, and are covered by most major private health funds.
Bardon Osteopathy is located at 151 Boundary Road, Bardon, in Brisbane.
To find out more, please visit the Bardon Osteopathy website, or phone (07) 3368 1300.