Dr. Shara Posner is not only an amazing chiropractor based in Alexandria, she’s also an entertaining social personality, who brings charm, wit and expertise when providing tips in video snippets that pack a very useful punch. When I saw her discussing kid’s chiropractic services, it piqued my interest (I have two teenage stepsons and a three-year-old daughter). 

Lucky for me, she’s a Stylebook contributor, so I was able to catch her on a drive back from Bethesda, where I asked her to give me details on what chiropractic services she provides for kids. We also became friends after discovering we hung out at the same clubs in NYC in the late 90s (shhhh…don’t tell anyone.)

“Traditional chiropractic services have been around forever. I believe that if you have a spine and a heartbeat you should get adjusted,” says Dr. Shara. “When I had my kids, I thought I can’t mess around anymore, I need to get certified in pediatrics because now it’s my child.” She enrolled in continuing education classes with coursework specific to becoming a certified pediatric chiropractor.

She laughs, adding, “My child was adjusted as soon as he came out of me. I work with babies up to elderly. My eldest patient was 96.”

So, when does it begin? “From preconception all the way through, and then after. I really enjoy working with this population (the pregnant or post-natal mom), and you also get to work with their kids. This is where my heart is and I see all kinds of different patients.” 

She stresses why it’s important for children to start early–as early as birth. “Babies spend 10 months in a tiny, weeny, living space. Those cramped quarters can sometimes mess with a baby's alignment. I also see a ton of children who are in high school athletics. From track to baseball to football wrestlers…a lot of swimmers. Athletes who swim and play baseball tend to have more shoulder injuries. With football it’s neck or lower back, with wrestling it’s neck injuries.” 

Kids as they’re growing they have immature anatomy. When they hit puberty, their bones start to mature and connect. “Growing bones don't break the same way, they have more hydration and are not fully formed.” She says services for kids are not those of a typical chiropractic visit and the clicking of joints. “I would never want to do that to my child. It’s more like a baby massage, and as they get older, you can use more assertive techniques because their joints are fully formed and stronger.”

Growing pains are definitely a thing. “Bones grow very quickly and kids can feel discomfort from it. Boys get it particularly bad, because they grow so quickly. And this is why it’s so important to have good alignment as you’re growing. The spine grows the most when you’re a child, you go from itty bitty to adult, and your nervous system is pulled along with your growth. Each milestone– being able to roll over, crawl, pull yourself up– builds the pathways in the brain to perform those activities. Poor posture can contribute to sensory challenges.” 

With infants and toddlers, Dr. Shara provides instruction on how to bring a child through certain exercises and build their core strength. As they get older, and especially for those in sports, many children become more dominant on one side and it’s vital to create better balance to prevent injury. 

She says pregnant moms get it. “When they come to my practice they understand that the alignment of their hips is essential to pain relief and makes for easier labor and delivery. The opening of where the baby comes out is at the bottom of hips. When you drive a lot, sit at your desk a lot, it pulls on the ligaments and makes it more difficult for babies to position themselves. If they want a vaginal delivery, they know they have to set themselves up for success.”  

Many of Dr. Shara’s patients are referred by a doula or midwife. “When you're talking to a mom about the importance of how the pelvis is positioned, it’s important to share the stress that may also occur for the baby…all these contractions are really intense for you, but imagine what it’s like for the baby – being ejected from the uterus.”

After the baby is born, her patients come in to check that they’re in good alignment and discuss feeding and if there are any digestive issues. Common challenges include the baby not taking a pacifier, the mom’s nipples being destroyed, tongue-tie, favoring using one side of the head to look. She will make a diagnosis and make referrals. “Sometimes a baby comes to me, and I may make a referral for a helmet to correct the head shape. Sometimes there are allergies. A patient’s child had horrible eczema, the mom went off dairy and it went away. For moms that have babies with constipation, I know the ‘poop button’. When a mom brings a baby, I treat their spine and better alignment, optimizing their nervous system.”

For more tips, follow Dr. Shara, and to find out more about her services, visit Back to Health.