In order to keep your children well and  obtain chiropractic care, encouragement is key for parents that are apprehensive. They should be fully informed of the benefits, the safety factors, and the positive outcomes that come from chiropractic care. It is important to explain how children can be highly vulnerable to long-term injuries from daily activity. As children are constantly growing and adapting to the natural transformations, they become prone to long-term injuries, or developing musculoskeletal disorders that can last for many years.

Regarding Chiropractic and children the Dynamic Chiropractic magazine states: “children’s bones and muscles are more elastic and heal faster. At the peak period of adolescent linear growth, the musculoskeletal system is most vulnerable because of imbalances in strength and flexibility and changes in the biomechanical properties of bone.”[1]

As a chiropractor, I encourage patients to have their children receive treatment. Chiropractic care can help prevent children from developing: Long-term musculoskeletal dysfunctions, imbalances in the body and/or dependencies on medications.  In a To Your Health article, “The same treatments we administer to adults are just as safe for children. Ailments that adults commonly come into our offices with happen to children as well. Chiropractic techniques performed on children are modified so the procedures are gentler for the child’s particular body type.”[2]
Another way a chiropractor can help prevent children from the development of postural and musculoskeletal disorders is by ordering them orthotics. Many children suffer from pronation and the low arches in their feet can disrupt normal gait patterns and create postural imbalances later in life.

In an article concerning children’s foot health, Dr. Brian Jensen states, “Foot problems from childhood can interfere with adolescent (or adult) spinal function, which can result in poor biomechanics and accelerated degenerative changes in the knees, hips, and spine.”[3]
Children that are monitored and treated by a chiropractor can reduce the risk of developing postural disorders and other ailments that typically go unseen. Parents should be encouraged to have their children routinely examined. A few steps towards prevention can make a great difference in long-term postural stability in a child.

If you would like more information regarding children and Chiropractic visit our web site and click on the “Kids and Chiropractic tab.  www.southingtonchiropractor.com

1] Pate, Deborah. (October 21, 2010). Musculoskeletal Development and Sports Injuries in Pediatric Patients. http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?t=34&id=54950

If the greatest player in the history of the National Football League said, “Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game,” do you think Chiropractic care could help you with your back pain and other aches and pains?

Well, that’s exactly what happened.

Jerry Rice, who on November 4, 2010 was named the greatest player in NFL history by NFL Network’s NFL Films production The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players, said:  “I believe in Chiropractic and I know that it works.  You probably know about my long and successful career in football. I’m flattered by the testimonials to my durability.”

“Football is a very rough and vigorous sport. Many of the pass patterns in a game either long or short require a maximum effort.  I took some viscous hits from players nearing twice my size. Thankfully, I had the durability to withstand these tackles – or I never would have succeeded or lasted for as long as I did.”

“Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game.”

“My first experience with Chiropractic care was right before the Bengal were to play the Bengals in Super Bowl 23. A couple of our players were injured and a Chiropractor turned thing around.  I quickly became a believer and very since I have had the benefit of Chiropractic care.”

“Dancing with the stars was every bit as exhausting and challenging – though not nearly as brutal as football – it required many hours of practice… I had aches and pains that I never had before. Again, Chiropractic made the difference and kept me dancing and in the competition.”

The average NFL career is extremely short… lasting only 2-4 years. Injury prematurely ends many young player’s hopes and dreams. Jerry Rice played an astounding 20 years in the NFL.

If Chiropractic can help Jerry Rice play for 20 years in the NFL… just imagine what it can do for you.

If you would like to see Jerry speak about the benefits of Chiropractic… go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CAsGNlQEnI.

No one would claim celebrities have all the answers. However, it would seem that with all the options celebrity affords them, the fact they seek chiropractic care to meet their healthcare needs says something about the value of chiropractic for optimum health!  If you would like to find out if Chiropractic can help you, visit our website at www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

There are 6 areas that I talk to people about as they start walking or running.  Besides recommending specific stretches to my patients, there are other concerns I discuss with them to help support them as they exercise. While these may seem like common sense, these tips are a good reminder to be safe and healthy as you exercise.

Stay hydrated. A safe recommendation is drinking at least 50 percent of your body weight in ounces over a given day. Wear appropriate workout clothing including reflective cloths if you are exercising in dim light. Use adequate sunscreen or wear a hat when appropriate. Have good shoes.

I like to keep most of the focus on what is called the 6 S’s of running/walking. These include stretching, speed, strength, surface, shoes and structure. Paying attention to each of these six points makes a world of difference for patients to stay healthy while exercising.

Even the casual walker should stretch the Gastrocnemius (calf muscle) and Achilles tendon. These are common areas for cramping and as we age become more prone to injury. Stretching should be done before and after exercising. Speed is also important. You should not start out going too fast or too far too soon. Not paying attention to this can result in overuse injuries caused by trying to do too much before the body is ready to handle the pace or distance.

Strength will come as you become more active. Inactivity will only cause you to become weaker. As you start to walk or run, stay on a level and fairly smooth surface. As you become more experienced, adding hills and uneven surfaces can make the walk or run more challenging. I have advised many people to walk in the Mall to start with.

Shoes are incredibly important. Many patients will come in with back pain only to have it significantly reduced by getting new shoes to exercise in. If you are unsure if your shoes are good enough to work out in, feel free to bring them in for an evaluation. We would be happy to look at them for you at no charge. Call our office at 860-620-9523.  And I wouldn’t be a good Chiropractor if I didn’t mention structure. I frequently tell patients that exercising a crooked spine is like banging a bent nail. It can cause problems. And how do you know if your spine is crooked? Look at your posture in the mirror. If one shoulder or one hip is higher than the other, there is a good chance your spine is crooked. And if you exercise that way, more pressure will be put on one pelvis, one hip, one knee and one foot. This could lead to problems down the road.

So before you start and walking or running program, get checked by your Chiropractor or your Physical therapists. Exercise smart and you will be much happier.  You can find out more about us at www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

Leave the High-Heels behind as they are not considered good shoes.  The higher the heel on your shoe, the greater the amount of stress placed on your forefoot. High-heeled shoes can contribute to the collapse of one or more of the foot’s three arches. These shoes also place undue stress on the ankle, which can lead to ankle instability and sprains. Plus, when you wear high-heels your calf muscles shorten. Then, if you alternate between high heels and flat shoes, your calf muscles go through a shorten/lengthen cycle that can lead to pelvic imbalances and low back pain.

Consider Orthotics  to improve the shoes you have.  Many chiropractors do the same that I do which is recommend orthotics. There are two kinds of orthotics: the simple, commercially-made insoles that are available at outdoor sports or shoe stores, and custom orthotics. Custom orthotics are superior since they are tailored to your individual foot and are designed to correct for your particular imbalances. These are created by making an impression of each foot called a cast, and then correcting for specific misalignments. Custom orthotics help to prevent dysfunction of the lower body and legs, and decrease spinal stress.

Avoid the flip flops so you don’t take a flop.  For more information visit www.southingtonchiropractor.com

Gardening can be enjoyable, but developing back pain while doing the yard work isn’t.  I constantly remind my patients how important it is to stretch your muscles before reaching for your gardening tools. The back, upper legs, shoulders, and wrists are all major muscle groups affected when using your green thumb.

I found this great information to help people prevent back pain while doing yard work.  A warm-up and cool-down period is as important in gardening as it is for any other physical activity,” said Dr. Scott Bautch of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. “Performing simple stretches during these periods will help alleviate injuries, pain and stiffness.”

To make gardening as fun and enjoyable as possible, it is important to prepare your body for this type of physical activity. The following stretches will help to alleviate muscle pain after a day spent in your garden.  But remember if your pain persists, call our office to get fast and effective help.  We can be reached at 860-620-9523.

Garden Fitness Stretches

* Before stretching for any activity, breathe in and out, slowly and rhythmically; do not bounce or jerk your body, and stretch as far and as comfortably as you can. Do not follow the no pain, no gain rule. Stretching should not be painful.
* While sitting, prop your heel on a stool or step, keeping the knees straight. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in the back of the thigh, or the hamstring muscle. Hold this position for 15 seconds. Do this once more and repeat with the other leg.
* Stand up, balance yourself, and grab the front of your ankle from behind. Pull your heel towards your buttocks and hold the position for 15 seconds. Do this again and repeat with the other leg.
* While standing, weave your fingers together above your head with the palms up. Lean to one side for 10 seconds, then to the other. Repeat this stretch three times.
* Do the “Hug your best friend.” Wrap your arms around yourself and rotate to one side, stretching as far as you can comfortably go. Hold for 10 seconds and reverse. Repeat two or three times.

Finally, be aware of your body technique, body form and correct posture while gardening. Kneel, don’t bend, and alternate your stance and movements as often as possible to keep the muscles and body balanced.
When the Bulbs Are Planted…

If you already feel muscle aches and pains and did not complete the warm-up and cool-down stretches, there are ways to alleviate the discomfort. Apply a cold pack on the area of pain for the first 48 hours or apply a heat pack after 48 hours, and consider chiropractic care.
Prevention is Key!

The best way to fight the pain, emotional stress, and missed work that may accompany a spinal problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The following tips will help you identify and eliminate “spinal stressors” and incorporate spinal health into your daily routine.

For more information about us visit www.southingtonchiropractor.com

I also tell them that you can protect your back from housework by knowing the right way to go about such activities, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).  Consider lifting. It doesn’t matter whether you’re picking up your child or a heavy bucket of water, you need to do it the proper way to avoid injury.

So what is the proper way to save your back from housework.   Bend from the knees, not the waist. As you lift, hold the item as close to your body as possible. If you have to turn to place it, step in the direction of the turn. That way, you’re not twisting your body and straining your spine.
Back-Saving Tips

The American Chiropractic Association suggest the following do’s and don’ts for chores and relaxation:

* When you wash dishes, open the cabinet beneath the sink, bend one knee and put your foot on the shelf under the sink. Lean against the counter so some of your weight is supported in front.
* When ironing, raise one foot a bit. Place it on a small stool or a book to take some strain off your back.
* To vacuum, use a “fencer’s stance.” Put all your weight on one foot, then step forward and back with the other foot as you push the vacuum forward and back. Use the back foot as a pivot when you turn.
* While talking on the phone, don’t cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder. That can lock up the spinal joints in the neck and upper back, and cause pain. Instead, hold the phone with your hand or use the speakerphone.
* While watching television or relaxing, don’t use the sofa arm as a pillow. The angle is much too sharp for your neck.
* Use a cold pack if your back begins to hurt. Wrap an ice pack in a towel moistened with warm water. The warmth gives way to gradual cold, which likely will alleviate the discomfort. (No ice? Try frozen veggies instead.)
* If pain persists for more than a day or two or if you experience numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs, call our office.  Chiropractors are experts in spinal health and can help identify and treat your problem.

Visit our website as well at www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

It takes years to develop these problems but there is no pain or symptoms until the problem is quite advanced. Yet the person developing these problems are pain free, able to do all the activities they want. But are they healthy? No.

So if pain is not the problem, what is? I can’t answer that for you in this column. It would require a through consultation, examination and even x-rays to determine what the problem is if you have back pain, neck pain or headaches or any number of problems that Chiropractors treat.

Visit our website to find out more about what Chiropractors treat. www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

The objective tools we use to determine what to do are x-rays and a computer program called Myovision. X-rays provide an actual picture of what the spine looks like. It will show me if there are any life threatening problems I should be concerned with.

The Myovision shows me what the muscles are doing. The sensors pick up electrical activity and interpret as a color. I look for balance and the same color on each side. The program shows tight muscle or normal ones or even weak muscles and that helps me make a decision on what to do.

If you would like more information on what other tools we use here at Grant Chiropractic health center, visit our website at www.southingtonchiropractor.com

Chiropractic care can ease your discomfort and address any previous spinal misalignment to allow for an easier delivery. Many Chiropractors see pregnant moms that have been under chiropractic care have great deliveries because it allow the baby to get into the best position for birth.

During pregnancy, the moms nervous system is busy building another human being, so it is important to maintain the health of that nervous system. Many expectant moms who see a chiropractor do so because of back pain. For every 10 pounds of weight gained, 150 pounds of pressure is put onto the low back.

But even if you are not experiencing back pain, Chiropractic care can make sure the loosening joints stay in proper alignment especially if there was a previous problem. And for example, a pelvic misalignment can cause a uterine imbalance, which will affect the baby’s position.

And Chiropractors agree that once the baby is born, follow-up care is important as well to help guide the stretched joints back to the normal position as the ligament re-tighten up.

For more information regarding chiropractic and its safety during pregnancy, visit www.southingtonchiropractor.com.

When wearing skating sneakers on a surface that isn’t for skating,children must walk on their toes. This altered gait forces their posture into unnatural positions.

If the children wear their skating sneakers regularly for walking, this could potentially cause strain o growing bodies. In my Chiropractic office, I frequently see foot, ankle and lower back issues in children that use these shoes.

Visit our website at www.southingtonchiropractor.com for more children’s issues.