Kids Chiropractor in Perth: Babies, Children and Teens
Your teenager spends hours hunched over a phone and a laptop. Their school bag weighs a tonne. They come home from footy, netball or water polo complaining their back or neck hurts.
Maybe you've got a back problem yourself, or scoliosis or a rounded upper back runs in the family, and you want to know if your child is heading the same way.
At Vitality Chiropractic in Yokine, we take a proper look, gently and honestly. A parent or guardian is always present, and we'll tell you straight whether your child needs care, or doesn't.
- Since 2005
- HICAPS on the spot
- X-rays bulk billed with Medicare
- Private client parking
New client online special
Chiropractic or massage, $85 for your first visit when you book online. Plus our first chiropractic visit guarantee.
New client online special
$85first visit
Chiropractic or massage
Before HICAPS rebate
Our First Chiro Visit Guarantee
Not happy with your first chiropractic visit? You don't pay.
We guarantee a thorough chiropractic investigation into your child's aches and pains, a clear explanation, and a team that genuinely wants to help. If you're not happy, you don't pay. No questions asked, no follow-up calls, no obligation.
How the guarantee worksWhat is back and neck pain in children?
Back and neck pain in children is more common than many parents expect, especially in teenagers. It usually comes from the muscles, joints and posture, rather than anything serious.
The most common reasons we see children and teenagers are musculoskeletal, such as:
- Back or neck pain from sport, dance or training
- Neck and shoulder pain from screens, phones and study
- Posture concerns
- Sports niggles and minor injuries
- Checking a curve after a scoliosis screening
Why it happens
There's an old saying: as the twig is bent, so grows the tree. In my experience, many of the back and neck problems I see in adults started in childhood.
A growing body doesn't put itself back the way it was. It adapts. It follows the stresses and loads it's put under: heavy school bags, hours slumped over screens, sport injuries from a young age, and posture habits that set in during the teenage years. Screen habits in particular are pulling children's heads forward at a younger and younger age.
The real cost: you
When your child is sore, the whole family feels it. They sit out of sport. They struggle to concentrate at school. They come home grumpy and tired, and you feel helpless.
And there's the bigger worry: the habits and strains of these years can follow them into adult life. You want them to grow up strong, active and confident in their own body.
Childhood goes fast. Don't let pain hold them back from it. Get it looked at. Live alive. Live you.
A note from Geoff
Most families bring their kids in after a sports injury, or because a back problem, a rounded upper back or scoliosis runs in the family, or just for a general check. There's no right or wrong. How you raise your family is entirely up to you, and I'll never push chiropractic on anyone.
I'm a parent too. My son surfs and my daughter plays water polo at a high level, and I want them to have strong, healthy spines and stay active for life. So I understand why you're here.
With children, I keep things gentle and conservative. I don't over-adjust. I find what needs attention, do only what's needed, and let their body do the rest. I explain every step to you and your child before we do it, and use only low-force techniques suited to their age and size. For babies and toddlers under two, we don't use spinal manipulation, in line with Chiropractic Board of Australia policy.
If your child needs more support, or care from someone else, I'll tell you when and where. My job is to guide, not to interfere: to help a young person move well and live an active life. That's the Vitality Method for kids.
Try this right now
Weigh your child's school bag. A common guide is that it shouldn't be more than about 10% of their body weight. Then watch them on their phone or tablet for a minute. Is their head dropped right forward?
Those are clues, and they tell us where to start looking. We'd love to help.
How we assess children
A parent or guardian is present for every appointment. We take a full history from you and your child, then do a gentle, age-appropriate examination of posture, movement, strength and the nervous system.
We screen carefully for anything that needs a GP or paediatrician, and we'll refer you if that's the right step. We'll explain what we find in language your child understands too.
What your plan will include
Here's exactly what happens when you bring your child to Vitality:
- A detailed consultation with you and your child, with a parent or guardian present the whole time
- A gentle, age-appropriate assessment of posture, movement, strength and the nervous system
- X-rays only if clinically required, bulk billed with a valid Medicare card
- Gentle, low-force techniques to assess whether change is possible
- If change is possible, and it's what you want, a plan that fits around school and sport
- Simple, fun exercises, plus school bag, study set-up and screen advice
My promise to you
We keep care for children gentle and conservative. I won't promise a set outcome or number of visits.
What I do promise is gentle care, honest advice for you as a parent, and never more visits than I think your child needs.
How to get started
Book online
Pick a time that suits you. New clients pay $85 for the first visit when booking online. No referral needed.
Bring what you have
Any scans, X-rays or reports, your health fund card, and a list of any medications. Wear comfortable clothes.
Your first visit
A detailed consultation, a thorough examination, and X-rays only if clinically required, bulk billed with a valid Medicare card.
Park and walk in
Six private client bays at our Swanston Street entrance, 32 Flinders St, Yokine. Plus verge and street parking on Swanston Street and Collins Street.
Meet your chiropractors
Every chiropractor at Vitality is trained in the Vitality Method, so you get the same thorough approach whoever you see.
Dr Geoff Cowie (Chiropractor)
Founder and Principal Chiropractor
Dr James Stout (Chiropractor)
Chiropractor
Dr Hamish McLeod (Chiropractor)
Chiropractor
Simple tips for school and study
- Use both shoulder straps on the school bag and keep it as light as possible.
- Set up a study space with the screen at eye level, not a laptop on the bed.
- Encourage a movement break every 30 minutes of homework or gaming.
- Hold phones up at eye level rather than looking down.
- Keep them active with sport, play and time outdoors.
When to see someone
See your GP or go to emergency first if your child has:
See a GP or go to emergency first if you have:
- Back or neck pain after a fall or accident
- Pain with fever, weight loss or feeling unwell
- Pain at night that wakes them and doesn't settle
- Weakness, numbness, or trouble walking
- Any concern about a baby or toddler's health
Book an assessment if:
- Your child or teen has back or neck pain from sport, study or screens
- You have questions about their posture
- You'd like a check after a scoliosis screening
Frequently asked questions
Can a chiropractor help with children's back and neck pain?
Chiropractic care, exercise and advice may help some children and teenagers with back and neck pain from sport, study and screens. We assess first, with a parent present, and tell you honestly whether it's a good fit.
What causes children's back and neck pain?
Common contributors include heavy school bags, long hours on devices, sport and training loads, growth spurts and posture habits at a desk or on the couch.
What age do you see children from?
We see children of all ages, from babies to teenagers. Care is gentle and adapted to your child's age and size, and a parent or guardian is always present. For babies and toddlers under two, we don't use spinal manipulation, in line with Chiropractic Board of Australia policy. If you have questions before booking, call us on (08) 9201 0566.
How much is a first visit for a child?
New clients who book online pay $85, including children. Booked by phone, a first visit for a child under 16 is $100.
Do I need to be in the room?
Yes. A parent or guardian is present for every appointment with a child.
Does my child need regular chiropractic check-ups?
Not necessarily. We'll only recommend care if we find something that needs it, and we'll tell you honestly if we don't. Many families come in after a sports injury, or because of a family history of back problems, and that's a good reason for a one-off assessment.
How many visits will I need?
Everyone is different, so we can't promise a set number of visits. We set goals with you at the start, review your progress regularly, and change the plan if it isn't helping.
Should I see a chiropractor or a physio for children's back and neck pain?
Both are registered health professionals who can assess and manage children's back and neck pain. Chiropractors focus on how the spine, joints and nervous system work together. Physiotherapists focus on rehabilitation and exercise. Many people see both. What matters most is a thorough assessment and a clear plan.
Can I treat children's back and neck pain myself at home?
There's a lot you can do yourself. Keep moving gently, take regular breaks from sitting, and try the self-test and tips on this page. If it isn't settling after a week or two, keeps coming back, or you have any of the warning signs on this page, get it assessed.
What happens after my first visit?
You'll leave with a clear explanation of what we found, and what you can do at home straight away. If chiropractic care is a good fit and it's what you want, we'll talk you through a care plan. There's no pressure.
Can I get an appointment today?
Check our online booking for the next available time, or call (08) 9201 0566. We're open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and we'll fit you in as soon as we can.
Is chiropractic safe for children?
For most children, gentle, age-appropriate care from a registered chiropractor after a proper assessment is low risk. We use low-force techniques suited to the child's age and size, and a parent or guardian is always present.
Do I need X-rays or a referral?
No referral is needed. X-rays are only recommended when they're clinically justified, and we'll explain why first. When they are needed, they're bulk billed with a valid Medicare card.
When should I see a GP instead?
See a GP or go to emergency first if you have any of the warning signs listed on this page. If we find anything during your assessment that needs medical care, we'll refer you.
Find us in Yokine
Vitality Chiropractic, 32 Flinders St, Yokine WA 6060
Private client parking: 6 bays at our Swanston Street entrance. Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Phone (08) 9201 0566
Close to
Yokine, Dianella, Tuart Hill, Nollamara, Menora, Coolbinia, Joondanna, Morley, Osborne Park, Mount Hawthorn.
Book OnlineBook your first visit
$85 new client online special. No referral needed.
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Ready to book?
Book your appointment online or call us to speak with our friendly reception team.