Pediatric Chiropractic
Dr. Alyssa Price is our Pediatric Specialist. She was trained by one of the top Diplomate in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (DICCP) in the country, Dr Brad Waters. As a DICCP, doctors complete more than 360 hours of training over a three year period. This training included pre-natal, birth, post-partum, infant care, toddler care, school age-adolescents, neurology, nutrition, pediatric orthopedics, radiology, sports injuries, and wellness care.
Dr. Alyssa Price treats patients during each stage of pregnancy and child hood.
Patients have reported success with a variety of issues such as scoliosis, autism, delayed growth development, sports injuries, torticollis, constipation, reflux, tongue tie and latching difficulties, and gait challenges.
Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Lake Forest, 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 Go Greenlight Chiropractic, we provide gentle and safe pediatric chiropractic care in Lake Forest & Spring Valley for infants, toddlers, children, and teens.
Dr. Jordan Ziegler, DC, and Dr. Ron Merriel, DC, use 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, contact us to schedule an evaluation.
What Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care?
Pediatric chiropractic care focuses on the spine, joints, and nervous system of infants, children, and teens. It looks at how the body moves and how well it adapts to daily stress.
Unlike adult care, techniques for children are much gentler and more specific. Evaluations consider posture, development, movement patterns, and activity levels, not just pain.
The goal is to support healthy growth by improving mobility and reducing tension in the body. This can help children move more comfortably, maintain better posture, and stay active. Care may also support common concerns related to growth, minor injuries, sports strain, or daily activity.
Why Kids Need Chiropractic Care
Kids should not have any diagnosable pain. When they do come in with pain, it is extremely abnormal. A lot of kids come in saying things like “I have some upper back aching after my soccer game.” Getting that checked early makes a difference.
Some parents also bring their kids in just to get checked regularly, not only when they are in pain. This fits into the same philosophy of maintenance care that applies to adults. It is easier to correct restrictions when they are caught early.
Chiropractic has also been known to help with certain conditions like colic and asthma. Parents find that their kids have much fewer of those types of symptoms under regular chiropractic care.
How We Diagnose
For kids, diagnostics is mostly palpation. The goal is to identify areas in the spine that feel restricted. There are no heavy diagnostic steps involved. It is straightforward and gentle from the very first visit.
If X-rays are needed, they will be taken. For example, if a young athlete takes a fall and lands on their head and has nerve-related symptoms like numbness and tingling, X-rays help identify what is going on in the cervical spine before treatment begins.
Our Approach to Treating Kids
Treatment for kids is very gentle. Nothing heavy-handed is done to kids that is done to adults. The younger the child, the more often the Activator is used. Kids respond really well because they are resilient. Light force adjustments are all they need in most cases.
Kids have a lot more pliability and flexibility than adults and bounce back from injuries a lot quicker. So treatment plans for kids tend to be shorter, and results tend to come faster.
Pediatric Chiropractic Patient Case Studies
Young Gymnast with Neck Injury and Nerve Involvement
Patient Info: A young girl in gymnastics.
Symptoms: She took a fall and landed on her head. She had significant compression in her neck, numbness and tingling into the arm, and headaches.
Diagnosis: Dr. Merriel took X-rays. There was nerve involvement from cervical compression caused by the impact of the fall. Because the spine was inflamed and there was impingement on the nerve coming out of the spine, treatment took longer than a straightforward neck pain case without nerve involvement.
Treatment: Dr. Merriel started treating her three times a week. He also made sure she was sleeping properly, as sleep position plays a role in how the spine heals. Because of the nerve involvement, more time was needed to get the pressure off the nerve compared to a case with just neck pain alone.
Outcome: She healed nicely throughout the treatment period. She ultimately had a full recovery with no more numbness, tingling, or headaches, and was back to gymnastics within about a month.
Management of Lower Back Injury in a Young Football Player
Patient Info: A young male football player.
Symptoms: He took a hit and got tackled during a football game and injured his lower back. He came in with limited range of motion initially.
Diagnosis: Lower back injury from impact. There was muscle strain involved along with spinal joint involvement.
Treatment: Dr. Merriel put him through his typical course of treatment. He addressed both the spinal joints and the muscles involved. When there are muscle strains, Dr. Merriel works on those to help them repair and heal, just as much as the joints of the spine. He was given stretching exercises to do at home right away. Within about two weeks, Dr. Merriel had him doing strengthening exercises as well.
Outcome: After a couple of weeks of care, he was almost back to 100%. Because he was athletic and young, he bounced back quickly and was back to playing shortly after that. Dr. Merriel noted that younger, athletic patients tend to have a lot more pliability and flexibility and bounce back from injuries much faster than adults.
Youth Basketball Player with Upper Back Pain
Patient Info: A young boy who played basketball.
Symptoms: He would get really achy in his upper back after games. He did not have much extension in his spine. He could flex forward really well, but bending back was difficult. This was because he had misalignments and restrictions in his upper back.
Treatment: Dr. Jordan performed a diversified adjustment in his upper back.
Outcome: After adjusting, his flexibility got a lot better, and that helped his pain at the end of games.
Pediatric Chiropractic Patient Testimonials & Reviews
Andy Santos
After over a year of doctor visits and physical therapy, I hit a plateau and was still in a lot of daily pain. Dr. McDonald’s treatment plan, combined with Natalie’s effective massage therapy...
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Bryn DenHeyer
I originally came here to have my infant daughter treated by Dr. Waters for torticollis. He was a miracle worker! I started having pain and asked if he worked on adults- he did! I saw him a few times...
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Divya Kapoor
Best massage place ever!! Melina's neck and back massages are lifesavers, especially after long hours hunched over a computer. She really knows how to target those tight spots to ease tension...
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Nancy Clinkerbeard
Greenlight Chiropractic is fantastic. From the moment you walk in and they know you by name, Jeremy is an awesome manager, facilitator of your visit and needs. Next get time for Natalie to work on you...
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Sabina Uskenova
I really liked it there!! It’s very calm and nice atmosphere that you can trust. Dr, Waters was very patient and explained everything. He didn’t try to sell me a thousand adjustments as you...
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Sylvia Mireles
Hi!!! I just had my last adjustment with Dr. Waters. He has been a gem, his expertise- his sincerity and super genuineness, has been a bright star as part of my overall healing and amazing experience on this...
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Scheduling your visit with Greenlight Chiropractic & Wellness Lab is simple. You can call our office directly or visit our Contact Us page to connect with the location nearest you and request an appointment.
Our team can help answer questions, guide you through the scheduling process, and help you find a visit time that works best for your schedule.
Pedriatic 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.
Children may also be evaluated for neck discomfort, back discomfort, upper back aching, shoulder discomfort, and sports-related movement strain.
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.
