Gentle Chiropractic Care for Children of Every Age
As parents ourselves, we understand that choosing a healthcare provider for your child is one of the most important decisions you make. At Back Specialists, we see children of all ages — from infants and toddlers through school-age kids and teenagers — and we take the responsibility that comes with that trust seriously.
What sets Back Specialists apart for pediatric care is the same thing that sets us apart for every patient: we practice exclusively with the Activator Method. No twisting. No cracking. No high-velocity force of any kind. Just precise, gentle, instrument-assisted adjustments that are appropriate and safe for children's developing spines.
Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen and Dr. Sean C. Hagen are both Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator practitioners — the highest credential available through Activator Methods International. When your child comes to Back Specialists, they are in the hands of two of the most credentialed Activator chiropractors in the entire Sioux Empire.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Children?
This is the first question most parents ask, and it deserves a direct answer: yes, chiropractic care is safe for children when delivered by a qualified, experienced provider using an appropriate technique.
The Activator Method is particularly well-suited for pediatric patients for one fundamental reason. The adjustment force used for a child is a fraction of what would be used for an adult. The instrument delivers a precise, low-force impulse calibrated to the size and sensitivity of the patient. For an infant, that means a level of pressure comparable to the touch of a fingertip. For a school-age child, it is still far gentler than anything involved in traditional manual chiropractic adjustments.
Children also tend to respond to chiropractic care more quickly than adults. Their nervous systems are more adaptive, their spinal structures are more flexible, and they haven't had years of accumulated stress and compensation patterns built up in their muscles and joints. Many pediatric patients see meaningful improvement in just a few visits.
Why Children Come to Back Specialists
Children's spines are under more stress than most parents realize. From the physical demands of birth itself to the cumulative impact of heavy backpacks, sports, screen time posture, and the general roughhousing of childhood, the developing spine takes a surprising amount of strain.
Common reasons parents bring their children to Back Specialists include:
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Back and neck pain from heavy backpacks or prolonged device use
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Sports injuries and growing pains
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Postural concerns from extended sitting or forward head posture
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Headaches with a spinal or muscular component
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Recovery from a fall or minor accident
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General spinal wellness and preventive care
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Scoliosis monitoring and spinal health support
If you are unsure whether your child's specific concern is something chiropractic can help with, we encourage you to call us or bring them in for an evaluation. Dr. Hagen will give you an honest assessment — and if chiropractic isn't the right fit, he will tell you that directly and point you in the right direction.
What a Pediatric Chiropractic Visit Looks Like at Back Specialists
Many children — and their parents — are nervous before the first visit because they don't know what to expect. Here's exactly what happens.
The Consultation
Dr. Hagen starts by talking with you about your child's health history, current symptoms or concerns, any sports or activities they participate in, and what you're hoping to address. If your child is old enough, he involves them in the conversation too. Understanding the whole picture before examining anything is how we ensure care is appropriate from the start.
The Examination
A gentle physical examination assesses your child's posture, range of motion, and spinal alignment. For younger children, this is a straightforward and comfortable process. No imaging is taken unless there is a specific clinical reason that warrants it.
The Activator Adjustment
The Activator instrument delivers a precise, low-force impulse to the specific joints identified during the examination. Most children are surprised by how gentle it is. The adjustment produces no cracking sound and requires no forceful contact. Many kids are so at ease that they ask when the adjustment is going to happen — even after it already has.
After the Visit
Dr. Hagen will explain what he found, what was adjusted, and what to expect going forward. For most children with straightforward concerns, improvements are noticeable within just a few visits. He will give you a clear, honest picture of what an appropriate course of care looks like for your child's specific situation.
Why the Activator Method Is the Right Choice for Children
Parents who have experienced traditional chiropractic care themselves often come to us specifically because they don't want their child to go through the manual twisting and cracking they remember from their own adjustments. That concern is completely understandable — and with the Activator Method, it's also completely unnecessary.
The Activator instrument fires faster than the nervous system can register a protective response. This means the targeted joint moves into proper alignment without any muscle guarding, resistance, or post-treatment soreness. For a child who may already be anxious about a new healthcare experience, a gentle, quiet, instrument-assisted adjustment is a very different introduction to chiropractic than what many adults grew up associating with the profession.
Beyond comfort, the precision of the Activator Method means adjustments are specifically targeted to the joints that need correction — not a generalized manipulation of the surrounding area. For a child's developing spine, that level of control matters.
A Practice Built for the Whole Family
Back Specialists has been serving Sioux Falls families for nearly 50 years. Many of our current pediatric patients are the children and grandchildren of adults who have been coming to see Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen for decades. That generational continuity is something we take genuine pride in.
Dr. Sean Hagen's arrival as a fourth-generation chiropractor has added a new dimension to our family care. Having two Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator practitioners on staff means more availability for families scheduling multiple members, and continuity of care when schedules shift.
Whether you're bringing in a toddler for their first spinal check, a teenager dealing with sports-related back pain, or the whole family for ongoing wellness care, Back Specialists is equipped to see you all under one roof with the same gentle, precise approach.
Schedule Your Child's First Visit
Bringing your child to a chiropractor for the first time is a big step, and we don't take that lightly. At Back Specialists, every pediatric visit begins with a thorough conversation, continues with a gentle and comfortable examination, and ends with an honest assessment of what we found and what we recommend.
No pressure. No obligation. Just an experienced, credentialed team that genuinely cares about getting your child's spine off to a healthy start.
Call or text 605-361-1700 or schedule online today.
FAQs About Pediatric Chiropractic Care in Sioux Falls
At what age can a child start chiropractic care?
Children can receive chiropractic care at any age, including infancy. At Back Specialists, the Activator Method allows us to work safely and gently with patients at every stage of development. The adjustment for a young infant uses a very light touch calibrated specifically to their size and sensitivity. If you have a specific concern about your infant or very young child, call us and we'll discuss whether an evaluation makes sense.
Will my child be nervous about the adjustment?
Most children relax very quickly once they realize how gentle the Activator Method is. Because there is no cracking, no twisting, and no forceful contact, the experience is completely different from what many children fear when they hear the word "chiropractic." Dr. Hagen takes time with younger patients to explain what he's doing in age-appropriate terms and moves at a pace the child is comfortable with.
How many visits will my child need?
It depends on the nature and severity of the concern. Many children with acute or straightforward issues see significant improvement within three to five visits. Children coming in for wellness monitoring or postural support may visit on a less frequent, ongoing basis. Dr. Hagen will give you a clear estimate at the first visit based on what he finds during the examination.
Does insurance cover pediatric chiropractic care?
Most major insurance plans that cover chiropractic care cover it for children as well as adults. We are in-network providers for Avera, Sanford, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DakotaCare, Wellmark, and Medicare Part B. We recommend calling our office at 605-361-1700 before your child's first visit so we can verify your specific benefits and let you know exactly what to expect.