Chiropractic for Children

Chiropractic for Children

Common Questions from parents:

• How early should Children be adjusted? 

• Is it safe? 

• Aren't their bones still soft?            

• Why so they need adjustments? 

• What is they cry? 

• How can we afford it?

All of these questions and more go through the minds of parents who are considering Chiropractic care for their Children. Some parents are hesitant about getting their Children adjusted even though they are under care themselves.

Our Children are so special to us that sometimes, in effort to protect them we become overprotective and deprive them of necessary and valuable experiences.

If Chiropractic care is necessary to your good health, then it logically follows that it is even more necessary for a child! After all, they have nerve systems that control and co-ordinate all of their body functions just as you do. And, just like you, they can get spinal dysfunction.

The only difference is that they still have an entire lifetime ahead of them in which to manifest the results of what they do today.

It's never to soon... 

Spinal dysfunction can occur at any time. The first one may very well have occurred at your baby's birth. That is why parents who understand the importance of having a healthy spine have their new-borns examined by their Chiropractor as soon after birth as possible. Many people who come into a Chiropractor's office for the first time as adults would have had far greater potential for regaining their health if they had received regular Chiropractic care as Children.

 

Children make great patients!

Adjusting a child is not a difficult procedure. in fact, in most cases, a child's spine is much easier to adjust than an adults. They have not had the long-standing areas of dysfunction, their muscles are usually not as tense and they are usually more relaxed in general than adults.

Not only are kids easier to adjust, but also in most cases, they hold there adjustments for longer periods of time and their corrective adjustment plans are almost always significantly shorted than the average adult. However, with the falls, accidents and the generally active lives most Children experience, regular check-ups are vital.

It's worth the effort

Chiropractic adjustments are generally painless. Children may, on the first visit or two, be somewhat reluctant. However, they rarely hesitate to get on the table to be adjusted, especially when they see that visiting the Chiropractor is a family affair. When they see Mum, Dad and their brothers and sisters getting adjusted, they are usually more than willing to be checked too.

We will work with you so that your Children will become accustomed to their adjustments. In fact, in a very short period of time most Children really look forward to their regular Chiropractic visits. They will be climbing onto the adjusting table in no time!

We have a Family Plan that makes it affordable for most families to receive the care they need. The money saved on treatments for illness is often enough to convince most parents of the benefits of family care. The peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have provided your Children with the best possible chance to perform at their best is the greatest benefit of all.

If you have any questions or queries regarding Chiropractic treatment for your Children, please feel free to contact the clinic to speak with one of our Chiropractors.

All our Chiropractors at The Fitzwilliam Health Clinic are full members of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland and treatments are covered by Health Insurers, please contact you insurance company for further details.

Fitzwilliam Health Clinic,

19 Fitzwilliam Square South,

Dublin 2 

Tel: 01 6618949/52

Email: info@fitzwilliamhealth.ie

Lightening the Load ; Five Things You Can Do to Help Maintain a Healthy Back

Lightening the Load ; Five Things You Can Do to Help Maintain a Healthy Back

Understanding of low back pain has undergone a more recent change in management including treatments, preventative techniques and advice.

Low back pain has many different causes, repetitive strain, posture, trauma or the normal wear and tear that comes with aging. While you can't turn back the clock or prevent every type of painful back disorder, in most cases there are things you can do to help keep your back healthy.

1. Stay fit

Weak back and abdominal muscles - due to deconditioning or age - cause or exacerbate many cases of low back pain. That's why stretching and strengthening both your back and abdominal muscles is important not only for treating low back pain, but also for helping prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Exercise strengthens and stretches the muscles that support the spine. A stretching and strengthening regimen should target the back, abdominal and buttock muscles. Strong abdominal or flexor muscles, for example, help people maintain an upright posture, as do strong extensor muscles, which run the full length of the back and maintain alignment of the vertebrae.

Stretching is a valuable component of any treatment plan for a person plagued by back problems. Most experts believe that supple, well-stretched muscles are less prone to injury. Indeed, shorter, less flexible muscle and connective tissues restrict joint mobility, which increases the likelihood of sprains and strains.

Certain aerobic activities are safer for your back than others. For instance, bicycling (either stationary or regular), swimming and walking lead the list of low-risk, high-benefit activities for most people's backs. All are low- or minimal-impact exercises that strengthen muscles which support the back. None involve awkward or stressful actions that are detrimental to back muscles.

Sports and activities such as football, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, weight lifting, rowing (crew), running, aerobic dance and ballet involve a relatively high risk for back injury because of the extension, lifting or impacts involved. Other unnatural motions that could induce pain include back arching (during gymnastics and diving), twisting (while hitting a golf ball, swinging at a baseball, or bowling), vertical jolting (while riding a horse), and stretching your legs strenuously (when hiking or when balancing a sailboat during a race).

2. Maintain a healthy weight

Although carrying too much weight per se has not been proven to be a primary cause of back pain disorders, being overweight or obese can slow your recovery. Those extra pounds also increase the risk that back pain will return.

The heavier you are, the greater the load your spine must carry. To make matters worse, if the bulk of your weight comes in the form of abdominal fat, rather than muscle, your center of gravity can shift forward -- a condition that puts added pressure on your back. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can ease the burden on your spine.

To see if you are at a healthy (normal) weight, calculate your body mass index (BMI), which takes both your height and weight into consideration. Not only will you help your back if you maintain a normal BMI (in the range of 19-25), but you'll also lower your risk for many diseases, including heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

3. Kick the habit

You've undoubtedly heard this message before: Smoking harms your health. Not only does this habit raise your risk for lung cancer, heart disease, hypertension and a plethora of other health problems, but it also jeopardizes your back.

Research shows that smokers have more frequent episodes of back pain than non-smokers, and the more people smoke, the higher the risk of such episodes, according to one study.

Scientists believe that the nicotine in cigarettes contributes to low back pain in two ways. First, nicotine hampers the flow of blood to the vertebrae and disks. This impairs their function and may trigger a bout of back pain. Second, smokers tend to lose bone faster than non-smokers, putting them at greater risk for osteoporosis, another common cause of back pain.

4. Lighten your load

Backpacks have become ubiquitous - at school, at work, at play. But an overstuffed backpack can be a harbinger of back pain.

Most orthopaedic doctors have long recognized that backpacks increase the risk of certain types of back pain, especially in students. A survey by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that nearly 60 percent of the doctors responding had treated school-age patients complaining of back and shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks. Hauling an overloaded backpack can also cause muscle fatigue and strain and encourage the wearer to bend forward unnaturally.

If you use a backpack, you can take steps to protect yourself. For starters, use both of the pack's straps instead of slinging one strap over a shoulder. Try to carry only the essentials, and lighten your load whenever possible. Opt for backpacks that have different-sized compartments to help distribute weight evenly. And look for wide, padded straps and a padded back.

When carrying a heavy load, put the heaviest items as close as possible to the centre of your back, and use the hip strap for support. For very heavy loads, use a backpack with wheels. Above all, remember to bend from your knees when picking up your pack.

5. Develop back-healthy habits

Those with good postures and good backs are aware of reducing and minimising the daily stress being placed on their backs by maintaining good postures and minimising the stress placed upon them when doing daily activities or the working day.

 

Dr Patrick Ryder

Masters in Chiro

Full member of The Chiropractic Association of Ireland

Chiropractic treatment is covered by health insurers; please contact your insurance company for further details.

Fitzwilliam Health Clinic

19 Fitzwilliam Square South,

Dublin 2.

Tel: 01 6618949/52

Email: info@fitzwilliamhealth.ie

www.fitzwilliamhealth.ie