The Australian Medical Association’s Victorian president, Dr. Jill Tomlinson, has expressed concern over the practice of spinal manipulation on children by chiropractors, describing it as “manifestly unsafe.” She has treated patients who have suffered disc prolapses and strokes following chiropractic work and will raise her concerns with Safer Care Victoria and the Victorian health minister. The Chiropractic Board of Australia had previously implemented an interim ban on spinal manipulation of children under two in response to public outrage over a video of a Melbourne chiropractor performing the procedure on a two-week-old baby.
The Chiropractic Board of Australia had previously commissioned a review by Cochrane Australia, which found a lack of evidence supporting spinal manipulation of children. Despite this, the board released a statement allowing a range of care to be provided to children, including manual therapy, soft-tissue therapy, and manipulation, as long as practitioners understand how children’s needs differ from adults. The board aims to ensure safe and appropriate care based on the latest evidence and information, by chiropractors who treat children under 12, and have indicated they will respond to the concerns raised by the Victorian health minister.
University of Sydney health law expert Dr. Christopher Rudge has suggested that the federal government could potentially change the national law governing chiropractors to ban spinal manipulation of children, but believes it is unlikely given the low-risk profile of the treatment. He suggests it would be more straightforward for the board to change its policy instead. Rudge also warns that practitioners should not perform treatments without a clear benefit, as it could give false hope to parents and patients and potentially be a waste of money.
One senior chiropractor, speaking anonymously, highlighted that chiropractors receive no hands-on training for treating babies and young children. While he does not believe spinal manipulation of babies is unsafe, he notes that chiropractors lack the training to properly assess babies and determine if treatment is necessary. It is important for chiropractors to understand the specific needs of children and modify their care appropriately to ensure the safety and well-being of their young patients.
Overall, the debate surrounding the safety and effectiveness of spinal manipulation on children by chiropractors continues, with concerns raised by medical professionals and experts in the field. While some believe that the practice is unsafe and lacks evidence to support its benefits, others argue that proper training and assessment protocols are necessary to ensure the safety of children receiving chiropractic care. It remains to be seen how the Chiropractic Board of Australia and relevant authorities will address these concerns and potentially revise their policies to safeguard the well-being of young patients.
