|
Weber
Family Chiropractic - Weekly Health Tip December
9, 2019 |
Dear
patient and friend,
In
the journals I read I often come across new developments in the science of
chiropractic. However, people like you never
become aware of these important ideas since the media reports so little of it.
Therefore
I’ve taken yet upon myself to keep you informed of crucial breakthroughs
because I know how important they can be to you, your family and friends. As your doctor, I believe it is part of my
sacred trust. So for your information
and consideration, here are these unique and revolutionary developments.
A
healthy spine is essential for good overall health. Like adults, a child's neck
and spine need to be in proper alignment to facilitate good posture, movement
and functionality. Understand the fundamentals of child spinal development and
you'll quickly understand why your child can benefit from chiropractic care.
As a chiropractor
treating patients every day, I get asked a lot of questions. One of the most
common questions posed to me is, "Why do children need to go to the
chiropractor? They are so young. They don't need to be adjusted, do they?"
The answer to this question is a resounding "Yes!" Let me take you on
a journey of understanding so you can see why kids and chiropractic go hand in
hand.
I remember when
6-year-old Tucker (name has been changed for privacy) came in to see me for the
first time as a patient. I had been treating his mother for over five years,
and I had met him when he accompanied her on occasion. Tucker had been playing
with one of his friends when he fell and hurt his neck. His neck was stiff and
in so much spasm, he could not turn his head to the right. He was scared and
his mother was concerned about whether he needed to go to the pediatrician.
After assessing his
neck, I determined that his neck muscles were so tight that they had misaligned
his neck vertebrae. I explained what was happening to him and then used very
gentle methods to realign his spine. He was relieved to feel much better after
we worked with him. The next day, he was almost back to normal.
Basics of Child Postural and Spinal Development
When babies are born,
their bones are mostly cartilage, which is strong and flexible. Their muscles
are underdeveloped, so they can't hold up their own head. Over the first few
months of life, their muscles strengthen and they develop the ability to
coordinate movement.
By three months of age,
most babies can lift their head while lying on their stomach. At around six
months of age, they can roll from their stomach onto their back, and by nine
months they can sit unassisted. Babies then begin to crawl, and by their first
birthday most are able to stand. As their spine and muscles develop - along
with their confidence - they begin to walk.
When a baby is born,
the spine is "C shaped." This changes at around the age of three
months, when the curve in the neck develops and the baby gains control of head
movement. The bones, ligaments, discs and muscles around the spine gradually
become stronger and more coordinated, protecting the spinal cord and nerves
within.
The curve in the baby's
lower back develops as the baby starts to crawl, and is further developed as
the baby begins to stand and walk. The C-shaped spine eventually changes into
an "S shape" that will form the adult spine. This S shape gives the
spine its flexibility and allows a greater range of movement, helping
children's bodies to cope with the slips, jolts and falls that are part of
growing up.
In most cases, the
spine develops as a straight, upward structure. At times, there can be a
side-to-side curvature called scoliosis. Scoliosis can vary from mild
to severe. The more severe a scoliosis, the more likely internal organs and
other structures can be stressed or compromised.
When we are born, our
feet have no arches. As we go through our stages of development and begin to
stand and then walk, the arches begin to form. We have three arches of the feet
that eventually develop; they are fully formed by the time we reach 6-7 years
old. Once a child has reached 7 years old, the feet are done developing and
will grow accordingly with the rest of the body.
How do you know if your
child is on track developmentally? To help determine your child's spinal
health, perform this simple test. Look at your child and see how the spine
looks when they are standing (facing away from you) with their shirt off.
Does the spine
appear straight or mostly straight? If you see a curve either to the right or
the left, make a note of how it looks to you. Then, have the child bend forward
and see if the curve disappears. This is helpful information to tell your
chiropractor when you bring your child in to see them. Early detection of
spinal health concerns will likely offer more effective treatment options.
Also, look at your
child's feet. Do they seem to walk with one foot turning outward? Do they
appear to have flat arches? As a parent, you can help identify any "interesting"
ways your child might be walking, standing or running. How do you know what to
look for? You can always compare them to their siblings and other children
their age. Then talk to your chiropractor, who is trained to know what to look
for and can help you make sense of your observations.
Why Chiropractic Care During Childhood Is Beneficial
Remember that children
have a spine, just like you and I do as adults. Kids go through their daily
activities of playing, running, riding their bikes, playing sports, falling
down and roughhousing with their friends. Their spines and the bones that make
up their joints can move out of alignment, just like adults; sometimes even
more so, since they are so active and often "throw caution to the
wind" in terms of personal safety.
Just as you believe in
getting regular tune-ups from your dentist, medical doctor and your
optometrist, make sure your children benefit from that type of thinking as
well. Most of the aches and pains that we go through as children (and as
adults) can be greatly helped by getting adjustments from a doctor of
chiropractic.
The youngest patients
could see the biggest benefit from chiropractic care. Think of an infant who,
during birth, has their head, shoulders or neck pushed against the mom's pelvic
bones. Or perhaps the child had a difficult birth and was stuck in the birth
canal at an odd angle. There is spinal stress associated with those scenarios,
and the baby can be born with their spine out of alignment as a consequence.
Babies respond quickly
to adjustments. Often common infant/toddler conditions like ear infections,
colic and irritability can be improved with adjustments to their spine. Start
them off right while they are young and they will keep those good habits into
adulthood.
Straightening Up America
"Straighten Up
America" is a bold and innovative health promotion initiative designed to
empower the American people toward better spinal health and an improved quality
of life. This national program also serves as the prototype for an
international health promotion initiative.
The vision driving
Straighten Up America is very simple. It envisions a time when every American
will take two or three minutes every day to care for their spinal health, just
as they care for their dental health. The need for spinal health promotion is
great, as evidenced by the billions of dollars that are spent each year related
to disability from low back pain alone.
Before the creation of
this initiative, there was no short, simple, engaging spinal exercise program
specifically designed to promote the public's spinal health. But now, you can
apply the Straighten Up America initiative to your life and that of your family
by performing spinal health exercises and getting your spine checked by your
chiropractor on a regular basis.
Our children are truly
amazing beings; as we watch them grow from infancy to adulthood, the wonders
never cease. Their bodies are constantly changing, and it is often challenging
to keep them functioning in a healthy, happy manner. Take the time to establish
good health patterns, including spinal health, for your whole family. Talk to
your chiropractor for more information.
Dr.
Scott Weber
Weber
Family Chiropractic
217.243.5438
P.S. Have you tried Bio-Freeze yet??? If not, ask us for a FREE sample on your next
visit.
P.S.S. Have you visited our web site lately. Check it out at jvillechiro.com. Please forward this message to anyone you
know who might be interested in health or chiropractic.
When
I first came to Dr. Weber I was in excruciating pain and I limped. I had so
much pain in my knees I just wanted to scream and cry. I could hardly stand the trip up. Now I have very little discomfort, and can
live a normal life and do anything I want.
Mary Kay
N.
White
Hall, IL.
When
I first saw Dr. Weber, I was having severe dizziness and lightheadedness so bad
I could hardly walk across the room. Dr.
Weber said a misalignment in my neck was causing the dizziness. After my first adjustment, I felt almost
immediate improvement. I had been to see
my family medical doctor and he said "it would go away" and did
nothing. Two weeks later and no
improvement, I saw Dr. Weber. The
treatments were pain free and results were almost immediate. The staff was friendly and helpful, and Dr.
Weber was empathetic, professional but friendly. My son, daughter, granddaughter and sister
are all regular patients of Dr. Weber - He is always there when I need him!
Hazel H.
Meredosia