Your body is designed to work well and take care of itself, as long as you take care of it. In part, this means eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting the right amount of sleep. But sometimes you do need outside help to keep your body working at peak efficiency. Chiropractic care serves as an excellent example. Your chiropractic visits�do more than crack your back. Your treatment sessions can help improve your overall body structure and health.
1. Better Posture
If you work in an office or over a machine during the day, you likely develop a slump in your workplace. Your back starts to curve, your shoulders droop forward, and soon you start feeling a bit of an ache to your torso at the end of every day. If you let it go for long, you soon discover you don�t stand or sit as tall as you used to. You can almost feel your body deteriorate around you, from your spine out to your arms and legs.
Chiropractic care helps head this off at the pass. You stretch your body out and stretch and straighten your�back. The small curves that start to set in on you unfurl, and you soon feel your whole body relaxing as a result. The treatment soon has you standing taller, working more comfortably and moving into your evening feeling stronger than ever.
2. Better Body Movement
As you stand straighter and move through your day with your back set more correctly, you begin to see the benefits extend into other areas. One is your overall range of motion. A straighter, better aligned back gives your arms and legs a better base from which to move. You can move more comfortably and freely through your day and your whole body responds, adjusting to your centered, realigned core.�Your body is meant to be flexible;�designed to bounce back and recover quickly and freely from exertion.
Stiffness in the center stifles this natural state throughout the body and chiropractic care brings you back to where you should remain. Instead of movements beginning out of place, you can move your arms and legs with a fuller range of motion. Your body no longer fights itself for you to move. Everything flows in concert, and you feel better with every step and arm swing.
Football & Chiropractic
3. Greater Strength
Beyond flexibility, you also generate strength from your core. Personal trainers and fitness gurus explain this theory from their perspective of toning stomach and back muscles- and they are correct. However,�strength runs deeper than even the muscle groups, extending to your skeletal structure underneath it all. Your spinal column and hips underlie and support the movements you make at a basic, foundational level. When your spine is misaligned, the system of bones and muscles cannot create and work in the harmony with which they were designed to act.
A chiropractic alignment returns the natural order and base of your strength. It allows your vertebrae to work together, each bone supporting and adding to the strength of the next. The result? A body working as one powerful unit, creating and building strength from the center, rather than relying on a less complete support system. You work less to do more, and have more power to use when you need to use it.
�A Healthier You
4. More Effective Nervous System
The body needs a straight, free spine for more than just physical support. Your spine protects the spinal cord, the center (with your brain) from which all communication through your nervous system emanates. If the bones contract or move out of place, that communication system works less efficiently. You cannot react as quickly or respond as well to the world around you.
A chiropractic realignment helps return your body to peak functional capacity. The nerves no longer get pinched off or otherwise interrupted in the process of moving impulses and stimuli though the body. Your senses sharpen and work better, resulting in an improved reaction time. Your internal safety systems and mechanisms work better, and your whole body functions more smoothly. You start to heal yourself more quickly, from physical aches and pains to infections because your signaling mechanisms and pathways are more clear. You can respond to issues inside your body more quickly, and fight off issues more readily.
Whole Body Wellness
5. Pain Relief
In the midst of all of this, some of the symptoms that may initially drive you to a chiropractor can start to diminish. Pain does not come directly when you are not aligned properly. The body has a remarkable tolerance to small changes, and at times,�big changes. This generally works to your advantage, but it has the downside of masking smaller problems and concerns until they become bigger ones. Your body starts to cover up alignment issues with shifts in posture and resilience. By the time you feel the discomfort, you have likely shifted dramatically out of place.
Because of this, expecting immediate relief from chiropractic treatment may be setting yourself up for disappointment. You sometimes do feel instantaneous improvement, but the more likely scenario is to feel your physical symptoms gradually improve. With the help from your body, time heals. Maintaining your body to help�it do its job more effectively goes a long way toward making your life more comfortable.
Your body can do amazing things for you if you let it. Unfortunately, the stress and the wear and tear we put it through over time can diminish its effectiveness in handling everyday experiences and events. When you take the time and effort to maintain your physical condition, you free your body up to do the things it was meant to do: support, protect, and take care of itself. We are remarkable beings, designed to achieve incredible things both mentally and physically.�Chiropractic care�helps you maintain your body, as a support system and a base for everything else that you do.
Sometimes you need outside help to keep your body working at peak efficiency. Chiropractic care serves as an excellent example. Chiropractic �does more than crack your back and treatment can help improve your overall body structure and health.
are impairments in detecting, modulating, interpreting, or responding to sensory stimuli. One study estimates that 5 percent of elementary aged children met the criteria for SPD. These conditions are closely related to other neurodevelopmental disorders and often overlap with autism and ADHD. Recent studies have shown the benefits of chiropractic in enhancing the functionality of individuals with SPD and Autism.
In 2011, we have more children and young adults affected by neurodevelopmental disorders than ever before in history. There are many factors involved in this such as birth and/or early childhood trauma, environmental toxins, food allergens, the avoidance of breast feeding and heavy vaccination. These are all areas that show promise as causative factors in the formation of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Birth trauma can come in the form of a forceps or vacuum extraction delivery. Even normal vaginal or cesarean birth processes can be particularly traumatic. The most vulnerable area of the infant�s body is the upper cervical spine. This also happens to be the area where the brain stem ties into the top of the spinal cord. Birth trauma can significantly damage this region andcreate a neurological insult that is referred to as subluxation.
Subluxation alters neurological processing
Subluxation is a term used to describe mechanical compression and irritation to spinal joints and nerves. Subluxation scrambles the neurological feedback loop by causing altered rhythms of neurological flow. Subluxation insults the neurology of the infant and affects normal development and maturation. This can often create an environment conducive to the formation of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD andSPD.
Many chiropractors specialize in the location, diagnosis and correction of subluxation patterns in infants and young children. These chiropractors often have unique training with digital technology that uses thermographic and surface electromyography to calibrate the function of the nervous system and identify areas of neurological insult. They are also gifted with palpation, posture and body motion observations to locate specific biomechanical and neurological imbalances in the young child.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Two recent studies published in the 2011 edition of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health showed the benefits of chiropractic on SPD and Autism. In both cases the children were diagnosed with upper cervical subluxation patterns that were thought to have occurred from early childhood traumas. The children also showed signs of neurological imbalance and subluxation in other regions of the spine. Results of their care were startling and would naturally be considered major breakthroughs in the medical model.
The children�s care consisted of specific chiropractic adjustments for a period of weeks to remove subluxation and balance the neurology. They also followed an anti-inflammatory nutritional program that involved a gluten-free, casein-free diet and nutritional supplements such as probiotics and digestive enzymes.Most natural health practitioners would agree that the majority of children with neurodevelopmental disorders have neurological and digestive damage. The digestive issues typically involve leaky gut syndrome, gut dysbiosis, Candida infections and chronic food allergens. These problems typically present together and can be remedied with an anti-inflammatory diet and nutritional supplements.
There are 10 other case studies of children with similar neurodevelopmental issues who have seen significant improvements through chiropractic care. This is evidence of the role that subluxation plays in affecting normal sensory system maturation and development.
Hopefully these recent studies will shine a light on the impact of subluxation correction on healthy neurological balance. This can range from immune system disorders, chronic disease and neurodevelopmental problems. More research dollars should be spent on inexpensive, low risk, non-invasive modalities such as chiropractic care for childhood health problems and normal brain and immune system maturation processes.
Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) are impairments in detecting, modulating, interpreting, or responding to sensory stimuli. One study estimates that 5 percent of elementary aged children met the criteria for SPD.
Women often seek out chiropractic care during their pregnancies. One of the main reasons for this is that if they are having musculoskeletal pain, their Obstetrician or Midwife generally has very limited options for conventional medical treatment. They are less likely to prescribe medication, which presents an amazing opportunity for us as chiropractors. What initially began as a strange combination of a sports certification and a prenatal/pediatric certification has created a successful and in-demand niche for us. For the most part, I cannot imagine treating prenatal patients without having the sports background. First, most women at some point in their lives have been or currently are an athlete. And second, one of the most common complaints women have during pregnancy is myofascial pain, and who better to treat that than a sports chiropractor? Here are 5 common and easy-to-treat complaints during pregnancy:
One: Pubic Bone Pain
This pain is very common during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Women will often describe it as exquisitely tender, worse with rolling over in bed at night, walking or climbing stairs. Conventional medical opinion is that the ligaments during pregnancy are much more relaxed (due to the hormone, relaxin) causing separation of the pubic symphysis and thus inflammation and pain. Sports chiropractors are uniquely qualified to assess this joint, and the common causes of pain can include:
1. Adductor hypertonicity easily addressed with myofascial release or techniques such as Graston, which can be done over leggings or on skin.
2. SI Joint fixation or Pubic Symphysis fixation. While I am generally a diversified adjuster, an activator adjustment to the superior or more-tender pubic rami will go a long way in terms of providing relief. I strongly discourage any audible manipulation of the pubic symphysis.
3.�Kinesiology taping�of a �RockTape Baby Belt� or modified version of this can provide significant relief and is much more comfortable than a pelvic support belt.
4. Using an ice pack for 15 minutes prior to going to bed at night will decrease pain and inflammation while sleeping.
Two: Rib Pain
Rib pain, especially in the lower and floating ribs, is common as the weight of the abdomen is pulling on the oblique abdominal muscles and their attachments at the ribs. Adjusting the ribs at the thoracic spine and incorporating myofascial release or Graston Technique will work quickly (often in just 1 treatment). Finish up with a few strips of kinesiology tape and your patient will feel significantly better.
Three: Upper Abdominal Numbness
Upper abdominal numbness is a common symptom during the later stage of pregnancy. It often presents as numbness but can also be painful and worse with sitting. One of the easiest ways to provide relief is with one simple strip of kinesiology tape over the top of the abdomen directly under the rib cage.
Four: Swelling in the arms and legs
Swelling in the arms and legs is very common and can lead to numbness, tingling or pain. Before beginning treatment, be sure to assess if the swelling in the feet is significant and test for pitting edema which can be a warning sign of preeclampsia. This can be corroborated with a high blood pressure reading and is very dangerous. Two very effective sports techniques for use with lower extremity swelling include 1.�NormaTec PULSE Recovery System�which is not contraindicated in pregnancy. Patients can do a few 20-30 minutes sessions per week to promote circulation and decrease swelling. 2. Kinesiology taping for edema on the ankles.
Five: Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain in pregnancy is very common. Evaluating a pregnant patient prone is very easy if you have pregnancy cushion that sits on top of your table. If you do not, you can evaluate the lower back in the seated or side lying position. Lower back pain can generally be addressed with diversified adjustments (without any rotation as to not stress the abdomen). In addition, the Webster Technique for pregnancy is a valuable tool for assessing and treating lower back pain during all stages of pregnancy. There are also valuable kinesiology tape applications for lower back pain,�RockTape features a pregnancy taping pdf online. In addition, there are no contraindications to using the Graston Technique to address myofascial pain in the lower back.�
Most of the taping techniques discussed above can be done by patients themselves after a one-time demonstration. Have an assistant or patient�s family member take a video of the application for reference at home. Many sports chiropractic techniques can be used very effectively on prenatal patients.
The goals of the chiropractic treatment of a thoracic disc herniation are to reduce pain and dysfunction while the body heals itself.
Since most disc extrusions naturally regress in a few months, chiropractors will attempt to reduce the pain and pressure caused by the disc herniation. Chiropractic treatment of a thoracic disc herniation may include one or a combination of the following:
Some chiropractors will recommend nutritional support, such as proteolytic enzymes, to reduce the pain and swelling associated with a disc herniation.
More Chiropractic Treatments for Upper Back Problems
In addition to joint dysfunction, myofascial pain syndrome, and thoracic herniated disc, which have already been reviewed in this article, chiropractic care may be a treatment option for additional upper back problems, such as thoracic joint dysfunction, thoracic outlet syndrome, and shoulder dysfunction related to the upper spine.
Will your back pain become chronic?
Joint dysfunction
The thoracic spine is a marvel of joint interaction and complex motion patterns. Composed of a total of 220 separate joints,1 it makes up the lion�s share of the 313 total joints in the entire spine. With this many interactive articulations it is easy to see that maintaining normal joint function, motion, and position is important. Chiropractors treat thoracic joint dysfunction with chiropractic adjustments.
There are a variety of chiropractic-adjustment techniques that can be used to adjust a dysfunctional joint:
Most chiropractors employ manual adjusting techniques that utilize precise thrusting adjustments to help normalize joint function.
Chiropractors can also use softer directional adjusting techniques or adjusting instruments to accommodate the needs of the patient.
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a disorder in which the nerves of the brachial plexus and blood vessels are compressed. This compression can cause great pain and altered sensations such as a �pins and needles� sensation in the hands.
Treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome can include stretching, manual trigger-point therapy, and myofascial anchor-and-stretch release techniques to the affected muscles. Chiropractors may also include adjustments and postural instruction.
Thoracic/shoulder dysfunction
The function of the shoulder and the upper back are interrelated. Studies have shown that thrusting manipulations applied to the thoracic spine and ribs have reduced shoulder pain and dysfunction. Chiropractic adjustments to the thoracic region can be beneficial to certain types of shoulder dysfunction.
There are many causes and treatment options for thoracic spine disorders. Chiropractors have a wide range of treatment options for treating these conditions. Chiropractors are increasingly joining collaborative spinal care teams as a drug-free option for treating spinal and musculoskeletal conditions.
The thoracic spine is a marvel of joint interaction and complex motion patterns. Composed of a total of 220 separate joints, it makes up the lion�s share of the 313 total joints in the entire spine. �It’s easy to see that maintaining normal joint function, motion, and position is important. Chiropractors treat thoracic joint dysfunction with chiropractic adjustments.
When an individual has experienced an injury or developed a condition as a result of trauma from an accident or due to the natural process of degeneration over time, deciding on the best healthcare provider to receive treatment from is an essential choice. If you’ve been harmed, it’s in your best interest to find the most effective form of treatment according to your special needs, and choosing the right doctor can greatly affect your overall improvement.
Not all medical services are right for everyone. In addition, the individual’s health plan may or may not provide coverage for all forms of care. It’s important to understand your financial responsibilities before using any medical services. Educating yourself with the proper information regarding the various types of care that different healthcare specialists can provide and asking providers the most convenient questions about their treatment methods can help individuals make informed decisions when choosing the best healthcare professional.
Choosing the Best Chiropractor
Chiropractic care is one of the most popular alternative treatments utilized to treat common symptoms, such as neck and back pain. Doctors of chiropractic, abbreviated as DCs, focus on diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders associated with the musculoskeletal and the nervous system. Primarily specializing in the structure and function of the spine and other tissues surrounding the spinal bones, a chiropractor can restore the original health and wellness of the body naturally, without the use of medications and/or surgery. Chiropractic treatment consists of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to cure injuries or conditions that may have altered the spine’s alignment.
Choosing a chiropractor is a personal choice. There are many chiropractic offices in the United States, and every one of them can provide the essential treatment and care you will need to recover from an injury or condition. However, each individual may be looking to have their specific; personal needs met depending on their type of complication. To start, you may want to ask for recommendations from several friends or loved ones who’ve received treatment from a chiropractor before. Finding the right healthcare professional at that point can make a huge difference in their overall recovery experience.
Also, you can ask your primary healthcare physician for the names of chiropractors that offer high-quality chiropractic treatment services. Furthermore, asking questions can help people make an informed choice. You may want to meet with more than one chiropractor before choosing the right chiropractor for you.
Before asking the important questions, it’s fundamental to know whether the chiropractor you are visiting is licensed to practice in your state of residence. Then, make sure to find out if the doctor of chiropractic, or DC, has any area of specialty and inform yourself on what that is. Several chiropractors, for instance, specialize in automobile accident injuries, while others may specialize in sports injuries. Likewise, you can ask the chiropractor how many years of experience they have working in their specific field. More years of experience can often make a difference in their whole treatment performance.
Important Points to Consider
Chiropractic care is a conservative form of treatment, meaning it does not involve the prescription of drugs, nor are surgeries performed to cure patients either. Chiropractic treatment commonly utilizes spinal adjustments, manipulative procedures, and other therapeutic methods to restore the original structure and function of the spine and its surrounding tissues.
On your first visit to a chiropractor’s office, the doctor will begin by performing a full evaluation to determine the source of the individual’s symptoms. The healthcare specialist may also look at your medical history to identify whether past issues could be causing the current complications. The use of X-rays is not necessarily required to begin treatment. However, the chiropractor may either provide one or refer you to another facility to have one taken for you to rule out the possibility of a more serious injury or condition, such as a fracture, dislocation, or another form of bone disease.
Chiropractic is frequently utilized to correct spinal misalignments, or subluxations, which could be affecting the health of the spine. This treatment is also utilized to decrease pain and discomfort; reduce nerve irritation and inflammation; increase blood flow; diminish muscle spasms; and improve strength, flexibility, and mobility. Chiropractors may also recommend a series of stretches or exercises and lifestyle changes to promote a faster recovery.
After the health assessment, a chiropractor will outline an appropriate course of treatment for the individual and establish certain recovery goals for their health issue. The chiropractor should discuss with you the full details of treatment and how long it should take for the treatment to work for you. Your chiropractor will change your treatment plan as needed to help you heal as soon as possible. Whichever treatment the chiropractor suggests, they should also inform you about the benefits and risks.
If your injury or condition requires additional treatment, the chiropractor should be able to refer you to other health care professionals.
Other Points to Consider
Finally, when choosing the best chiropractor, you should expect the chiropractor’s office staff to treat their patients with courtesy. Both the doctor and the staff alike should be prompt and professional, and they should be able to answer your questions and doubts. Be sure to pay special attention to how the office staff treats you. Be sure to pay attention to how the office staff treats you. After asking yourself the questions listed above and meeting the chiropractor and office staff, think about your answers before choosing the right chiropractor for you. Once you feel comfortable with all the information you have gathered about the doctor of chiropractic, it’ll be easier to make an educated choice for treatment.
As you can see, there are plenty of things to think about when choosing a chiropractor. Because you deserve the best care possible, it’s ultimately essential to do the most research you can do before making a choice. In addition, be sure to talk to different doctors. Most of all, take the time you need to make a choice you feel good about; after all, it’s your overall health and wellness you have to worry about to regain your original well-being.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Chiropractors who provide care for children � and families � can attest to the many benefits of a healthy spine to a growing child. However, this relatively new area of focus for chiropractic is susceptible to many misconceptions, among the public and the health-care community.
Many of the public perceptions about chiropractic care for children, however, are far from the truth. We explore these misconceptions and spoke to the experts to get the real facts about this thriving chiropractic focus area.
Myth #1 Chiropractic care of children is new.
When some individuals first learn that DCs treat children as well as adults, they may get the wrong idea that chiropractic for kids is new � which is to say untested, experimental and dangerous.
That isn�t the case. Sure, the modern era of this field dates only as far back as the 1980s. But the fact is, the practice actually has much older and stronger roots. �If you go back to 1910, [founder of chiropractic] D.D. Palmer indicated how important it is to check a child�s spine from birth and throughout life,� notes Jeanne Ohm, CEO of the International Chiropractic Pediatrics Association (ICPA), a non-profit organization in Philadelphia.�
By the 1980s, many DCs had developed their practices to treat adults specifically. In 1986, Dr. Larry Webster in the U.S. helped re-establish chiropractic care for children as a legitimate area of focus. He started teaching his child-friendly techniques, and he created the ICPA to further help chiropractors treat children.
Webster passed away in 1997, but his legacy continues. The ICPA now has more than 4,000 members and hundreds of DCs are studying to become chiropractors with a special focus on kids.
Myth #2 Children don�t need chiropractic care.
DCs who treat kids often hear questions along these lines: Why in the world would a child need to see a chiropractor? What good does chiropractic do for a toddler, or even a newborn?
Chiropractors have a few good answers.
�We may see a one-week-old child who is already showing signs of favoring, turning her head to one side versus the other,� says Dr. Judy Forrester, owner of Synergea Family Health Centre, a multidisciplinary clinic in Calgary, Alta. �That may seem minimal� but if we can determine any imbalances or asymmetry with the muscular function or the joint alignment, and we address it early, it�s better. Once those postural patterns and habits develop as they grow, they can be much more difficult to change.�
Dr. Liz Anderson-Peacock is a Barrie, Ont., chiropractor who focuses on care for children. She notes the link between the central nervous systems and various childhood afflictions.
�Children may have symptoms like ear infections, difficulty breathing, colic, attention deficit. We do not treat those things per se. We see those as expressions of the body not interpreting the world properly,� explains Anderson-Peacock, who also serves in the editorial board for the Journal of Maternal, Pediatric and Family Health.
�The organizing system for us to respond to the world is the nervous system. The questions we ask are: if there is something going on with the nervous system, what is it, and can chiropractic care help?�
Anderson-Peacock now spends most of her time travelling around the world doing lectures and other speaking engagements. She also conducts seminars for the ICPA about chiropractic care for children and families.
Ohm from the ICPA links chiropractic to the very moment a child emerges from the womb. �Birth can be traumatic,� she says. The event could cause physical damage that leads to difficulties later. So if a baby develops breathing trouble, �the real cause may simply be a misalignment to the spine from the birth process. Parents who get that will stop at the clinic on the way home from the birth centre to make sure everything is OK.�
Chiropractic & Children
Myth #3 Chiropractors use the same techniques on children as adults.
�That�s what terrifies a lot of chiropractors about adjusting children, as well as parents,� Anderson-Peacock says. �They think we�re going to adjust them like an adult.�
But DCs who treat children do not apply heavy pressure. �Often, it�s a matter of moving the child into a position of ease, holding that position and things will reset quite nicely on their own,� Anderson-Peacock says. Care, she points out, is nowhere near as forceful as it may be for adults.
�That�s why extra training is so crucial. These children are not like miniature adults. For example, spines are primarily cartilaginous until the age of six, and we know cartilage will deform when we have abnormal function. So we want to make sure that function is restored normally. And since the bones are immature, the alignment issues are different. We want to minimize rotations and traction, because children have different needs, due to the immaturity of their musculoskeletal and ligamentous structures.�
The ICPA aims to validate techniques for chiropractic care for children, particularly to help dispel the idea that DCs use the same pressure on kids as they do on adults, Ohm notes. The organization is working with Walter Herzog, co-director of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Calgary, to study the pressure required when caring for children. The report should be out by the end of 2015.
Chiropractic & Children with Chronic Conditions
Myth #4 There are no real experts in chiropractic care for children.
In Canada, chiropractic care for children is not a recognized area of specialty, which leads some people to think there are no genuine experts in the field. But that isn�t true.
Many DCs follow accredited courses to develop child-specific skills. Anderson-Peacock spent three years studying at the International Chiropractors Association�s Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE)-accredited program in pediatric chiropractic. She achieved her Diplomate in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (DICCP) in 1996.
Dr. Stacey Hornick is owner of Market Mall Family Chiropractic in Saskatoon, Sask. She attended McTimoney College of Chiropractic, operated by BPP University � a post-secondary institution in London, England. Over three years, she took courses by correspondence and traveled to Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia to complete the residency portion of the program. Having succeeded in her studies last year, she was granted a master�s degree in Chiropractic Paediatrics.
Hundreds of DCs have taken the ICPA�s programs. The ICPA Diplomate Program involves a total of 400 hours of learning and achieved through the successful completion of two levels of study.
The first part � a 200-hour certification program � involves 14 classroom modules, participation in two ICPA Practice Based Research Network projects, and successful completion of the comprehensive certification� final exam.
The second part is a 200-hour advanced competency program. It requires 200 hours of work with more emphasis on research, including either a published research case study or a publishable thesis, as well as clinic work. Enrollment in the first level (200-hour certification program) is a prerequisite to enroll in part two.
Chiropractic care for kids may not be a recognized specialty in Canada, but chiropractic associations recognize it as a legitimate area of focus.
In a statement, the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors (ACAC) has acknowledged, �chiropractic treatment is as beneficial to children as it is to adults and that the efficacy and benefits of the delivery of chiropractic care to individuals 18 years of age and under are well supported by a body of ongoing research and documented case histories.�
Chiropractic & Teens with Back Pain
Myth #5 Chiropractors don�t collaborate with pediatricians and medical doctors.
Hornick says this simply isn�t the case.
�I often refer pediatric patients to their medical doctors and to medical specialists, and we communicate clearly in the best interests of the child. I see our roles as complementary.�
Forrester also says she has good ties with medical doctors. �The majority of them are very much in favor of working together. Every once in a while you run into someone who thinks we�re all a bunch of quacks and they�re not up to date with the sorts of things we do. But by far the relationship with pediatricians is healthy and puts the patients� best interests first.�
Reality recap
Chiropractic care for kids is not new. Children benefit from chiropractic care. Techniques for children are safe and nowhere near as forceful as they may be for adults. Many DCs are qualified experts, and many child-focused chiropractors establish strong connections with medical doctors. The truth is, DCs can and do share the benefits of their profession with patients across the entire age spectrum.
Mastering pediatrics
Late last year, Dr. Stacey Hornick, a Saskatoon, Sask.-based DC focused on chiropractic care for children became one of the first Canadians to attain a Master�s of Science in Chiropractic Paediatrics.She studied at McTimoney College of Chiropractic, operated by BPP University, a post-secondary institution in London, England. The McTimoney program is the only pediatric chiropractic program that meets the academic requirements for entry into doctoral studies (PhD) in the specific content area of chiropractic pediatrics, an opportunity never before afforded the chiropractic profession, she says.
�For me, it was important to seek out a highly respected qualification in pediatric care,� Hornick says. �There were no university-accredited courses in pediatrics in North America that I was aware of at the time. I liked the idea of studying abroad and at the same time becoming an expert in pediatric-specific assessment, and adjusting techniques that were gentle yet neurologically precise.�
It takes stamina and smarts to get into and complete this tough three-year course. Read on for the requirements. Do you have what it takes?
To enter the program, a candidate must have: a professional qualification in chiropractic and registration with a relevant chiropractic governing body
In each of the first two years of the program, the student must complete:
Work at two residential schools � Hornick explains that usually, students complete their residencies at U.K. chiropractic facilities, but McTimoney also gives students the chance to practice outside of the U.K. For her part, Hornick completed her first-year residency in Thailand, which was memorable. �We stayed at the Children of the Golden Triangle Training Center. It�s a safe haven when kids can go to school and avoid the whole child-trafficking danger, which is a heart-wrenching reality in that part of the world. Many of the children at the facility were orphans � 450 of them. We got to stay with them, and between five chiropractors, we adjusted all of them in three days.�
Online course work � Subjects range from the fundamentals of chiropractic pediatrics to specific requisite topics. Hornick says first-year courses include substrates of chiropractic pediatrics, physical assessment in chiropractic skills and pediatric neurology. �The second year is more application of knowledge.� Courses include normal and variant radiology anatomy in pediatrics, clinical research methodology, and four clinical pediatrics programs.
Structured clinical education, directed and self-directed
Objective structured clinical exam
In the third year of the program, students must complete a research project, including project design, implementation and report at a publishable standard. Hornick�s dissertation: The Effect of Chiropractic on Cortisol Levels in Infants with Colic. The investigation aimed to help doctors understand why chiropractic adjustment has a positive influence on colicky infants. Hornick found that infants with colic who receive chiropractic care demonstrate salivary cortisol release patterns similar to those seen in infants with no colic.
Public�Perceptions about chiropractic care for children are far from the truth. Let’s�explore these misconceptions and speak to experts in order to get the real facts about chiropractic care for children.
It�s obvious that Posture has become the new buzzword surrounding physical health and wellbeing over the past few years. We don�t have to look very far to understand why. Though there are many potential causes for poor posture, there�s no doubt the most widespread cause of our current posture dilemma is a direct result of our obsession with and our dependence on mobile devices. Tablets, smartphones and other technologies are not only a luxury but a necessity in our day-to-day lives.
It�s nearly impossible to avoid the onslaught of news articles and video segments cautioning the public of the harmful effects of long-term mobile device use on spinal health. As a result, our patients (and potential patients) are becoming increasingly aware of this issue as well.
This is great awareness, right?
The media is doing the hard work for us by effectively and efficiently reaching millions of people currently affected �by this epidemic. Arming them with information and questions they need to ask their healthcare providers in order to work towards finding a solution to their problem.
Perfect. That�s us, right?
Now, all we have to do is deliver the correct treatment regimen and the patient walks out of our office with perfect posture, a smile and the quality of life they�ve always dreamed of. Well� Not so fast�
Where do I go from here? Spinal function or spinal structure?
Unfortunately, like most of you are probably thinking at this very moment, it�s not that simple. But, why not? Shouldn�t it be? At one point in our careers, likely as na�ve chiropractic students in our first few trimesters, fixing spines was the ideal we were all hoping to achieve when we became doctors. Then, something changed.
Let�s reflect for a moment on the core principle our great profession is built upon;
bone(s) out of place ? nerve interference ? dis-ease and dys-function
From a global spinal perspective, it looks like this;
cervical curve loss & forward head posture ? nerve interference
? dis-ease and dys-function
As a young student this principle offered our analytical minds an objective means of measuring our success as a future spine care specialist;
correct the abnormal structure ? improve nerve function ? maximize health potential
Unfortunately, we were never taught how to correct abnormal structure and as we continued through the �clinical� trimesters in school we heard less and less about the importance of spinal structure and the overwhelming focus began to land on spinal function. Confused, conflicted, yet anxiously awaiting our release into the real world, we then began to put less and less importance on spinal structure as well and we carried that philosophy with us to our clinical practices. Likely thinking, structural spinal correction was merely for theoretical discussion and not practical application in a clinical setting.
Herein lies a major conflict. The very principle we were taught as the foundation of our careers is now something most of us have been encouraged to disregard because it�s too difficult to achieve, it�s too time consuming, it�s not possible, etc., etc.
Putting more focus towards structural spinal correction is the way forward.
Fortunately for our patients and ourselves, the structure dictates function principle is still very alive and well within us and I believe the latest advancements in traction technology will allow us to incorporate this principle with each of our patients like never before.
Throughout the next 10 months I, along with a few special guest contributors, will be engaging and challenging doctors around the world to take the lead in their communities to begin changing people�s lives by integrating cervical curve remodeling and posture correction into their existing treatment protocols.
We will be using a variety of information disseminating platforms such as blogs, infographics and ebooks to share case studies. Also, treatment protocols and latest advancements in cervical spine remodeling devices will be put in place to demonstrate how quickly and easily cervical curve remodeling and posture correction can be integrated into your existing clinic(s).
We care about posture. We care about quality of life.
Our goal is to create a collaborative, productive discussion. We are taking the lead and fighting this posture epidemic in the communities we serve. I encourage you to reach out and share your questions and ideas with us.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Doctors of Chiropractic Offer Tips for Good Posture
Proper Posture has become a passing thing that is�no longer paid attention to. However, through proper posture people would not be in�pain or in some form of disablement. The time has come to bring proper posture awareness.
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
�We may see a one-week-old child who is already showing signs of favoring, turning her head to one side versus the other,� says Dr. Judy Forrester, owner of Synergea Family Health Centre, a multidisciplinary clinic in Calgary, Alta. �That may seem minimal� but if we can determine any imbalances or asymmetry with the muscular function or the joint alignment, and we address it early, it�s better. Once those postural patterns and habits develop as they grow, they can be much more difficult to change.�
