A baby’s spine also differs from an adult in proportion to the head. A baby’s head tends to be oversized and needs spinal and muscle growth to enable better support and bracing capabilities. Instability in the spine requires underdeveloped neck muscles to carry a greater load when supporting the oversized head. These factors do not represent a flaw in development, but a design and function more sophisticated than the world’s most advanced supercomputers. The infant spine began successfully supporting and protecting newborns thousands of years ago. Modern science simply developed into an academic understanding of the importance of spinal health and alignment from birth into adulthood.

A child’s neck represents the most common location of spinal injury. Chiropractors locate and correct small neck injuries in children caused by falls, sports, accidents, and general rambunctious play. The most predominant type of neck injury occurs to a baby’s neck and spine through the trauma of the birthing process. Labor, delivery, and pregnancy factors also play into the risk and cause of neck trauma as an infant’s transition from the cramped womb and birth canal into mother’s arms.

A 2015 study found a variety of factors which led to higher risk of injury during birth. Factors include maternal pelvic mobility (the mother’s pelvic alignment and movement), type of labor, number of births for the mother, fetal head delivery, labor augmentation, caesarean delivery, and duration of labor. The most startling finding from the study correlated the duration of labor to an increased risk of spinal dysfunction in newborns. Longer labor and delivery revealed more areas of injury to the baby’s spine. The upper neck represents the most commonly compromised location of spinal birth trauma. Even normal labor and deliveries assumed to be without complication still result in neck problems for newborns.

Chiropractors specialize in the detection and correction of subtle, yet significant injuries related to birth trauma. Most birth trauma and injuries go undiscovered and unaddressed by pediatricians and delivery specialists because babies cannot express a source of pain, irritation, or discomfort. Neck problems within a fragile and flexible infant do not usually manifest as pain. The spinal stress usually presents through altered neurological function which develops in the form of ear infections, colic, or nursing challenges. The study made very clear that the identification and treatment of altered spinal and neurological dysfunction led to improved health in newborns.

Chiropractors specialize in detecting and correcting areas of misalignment and reduced motion in the spine for all ages – infants to adults. A baby’s spinal size certainly measures smaller than that of an adult, but an incredible number of similarities also exist between these precious bundles of nerves. Regular Chiropractic care for the whole family improves spinal and neurological function, mobility, and whole-body health. An optimally functioning spine represents an invaluable source of life and vitality for infants, children, and adults. Chiropractic works for the entire family.

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It is the end of summer and children returning to school represents a time for check-ups and annual measurements. Children usually take an annual trip to a physician for baseline monitoring of blood pressure, heart, and physical wellness. Older student-athletes undergo mandatory physicals to participate in athletics and activities.  They also receive guidance on nutrition, training, exercise, and sport-specific issues.

What about Chiropractic as the kids go back to school?

These annual exams represent the same reasons a parent would take their children to a Chiropractor for an evaluation. The health and wellness of the family begins with preventative measures. Prevention is designed to maintain health through proactive measures which actively prevent the onset of sickness, disease, and injury. The same parents who invest such care in pediatric and athletic exams often overlook the importance of spine and nervous system care. Preventative care plans begin with Chiropractic.

How does chiropractic help children and how does it pertain to back to school?

The spine intimately connects to the function of the brain and nervous system. Also it regulates the overall health of the body. A misaligned spine that does not move appropriately alters feedback in the central nervous system. This will set off a cascade of hormones that lead to or contribute to unwanted symptoms that present as sickness and disease. A compromised nervous system decreases function and performance in the brain and body.

Spine and postural health remain as important to health, function, and quality of life as good nutrition and exercise.

Research done by medical doctors and published in the reputable Spine medical journal revealed the influence of posture on overall body health and well-being. Studies evaluated spine and postural health using x-rays and plumb-line measurements along with other health measurements and recorded subjective data. Patients listed specific, unwelcome symptoms or ailments that went along with objective measurements of blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Research authors found that every recorded aspect of health deteriorated as measurements of posture deviations (shifts in posture) got worse.

This study further details the importance of healthy posture, spinal alignment, and spinal movement. Abnormal posture or small shifts in the spine referred to as a subluxation, operate like cavities in the teeth. They slowly and painlessly form in the back and neck and take root before ever festering with symptoms that declare a problem exists. The intimate relationship between the spine and nervous system makes subluxations a critical component in altering mood, hormones, and function. Poor alignment results in loss of focus, inability to concentrate, less energy, and issues with immunity and digestion. This is because the central nervous system regulates organs and functions. Maintaining a healthy spine serves to only enhance the health and well-being of every member of the family.

Annual checkups to the physician and athletic staff represent routine landmarks on the path to a healthy year. Chiropractic care provides a key element that enhances the physical, mental, and emotional health potential of the entire family. The start of a new school year offers new possibilities and new beginnings. Chiropractic offers the beginning of a healthier future.

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Wait Until She’s Ready for Visitors

Everyone is so excited to see, snuggle and ‘ooh and ahh’ over the latest family addition, however, it’s critical to take cues from the new parents on when to visit. Some parents want space, i.e., no visitors for a bit, while others are ready to show off their pride and joy almost right away. Even if you’re a close family member, be sure to ask the mother when she feels up to having visitors. Don’t be offended if she’s not ready for others to hold the newborn, her top priority is the health and safety of her child, and she just might not feel comfortable yet.

Offer to Help and Leave the Baby to Her

In the days and weeks following birth, for many women, one of the best things to hear is, “how can I help?” Many people are anxious to see and take the baby off the momma’s hands so she can get a break, however, those first days and weeks are a critical time of bonding for the baby and new mother, especially if she is establishing breastfeeding. What the exhausted new parent(s) often need is help with all the other stuff. You could offer to:

• Pick up groceries
• Bring by some freezer meals
• Do some laundry
• Mow the lawn
• Take the older kids out for an afternoon
• Drop off a gift card to a local food delivery spot

If you’re really comfortable and close with the new mom, and you know she wouldn’t mind, take things into your own hands: Tidy up the kitchen, clean out the fridge, fold the pile of laundry in the family room, wipe down the bathroom, etc. And, if the mama tells you she needs a break from the baby to take a nap, shower or eat something, by all means, snuggle up!

Many people have a hard time saying yes to help, so a great way to word it is: “It would make me feel wonderful to be able to help you, may I [pick up some groceries or diapers? drop off a dinner? do a few chores around the house]?” Depending on how close you are to the family and their comfort level, sometimes a card or a gift card is perfect.

It truly does take a village—to raise a child and raise up a mother! Those weeks and months after a baby arrives can be some of the toughest, and most beautiful, in a woman’s life. Kudos to you for giving her your love and friendship.

The post Ways to Help a New Mom first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

I see too many 10-year-old kids in the line at Starbucks before school grabbing their iced coffee cooler or mocha lattes. I am always shocked that any parent would allow their kid to eat something like this-EVER. It is especially shocking considering that this is supposed to fuel them until lunchtime and they are expected to concentrate and behave throughout the day.

For kids to concentrate they need good quality whole foods, a balance of carbohydrates and protein and very little sugar. Here are a few do’s and don’t for breakfast with your kids.

Do Try to get some protein in them before they leave their house in the morning. If they like yogurt, try mixing a scoop of protein powder into the yogurt. A good quality protein powder makes the yogurt taste like pudding. Lots of kids like it.

Do Get creative and try to make they a fruit smoothie with the protein powder as well. If you leave it with just fruit it is very sugary so adding the protein powder to balance it is virtually tasteless, helps make it a bit thicker and shake like and is healthier.

Do Use whole foods. While these ideas with protein powder added are better than their average breakfast, whole foods are better. How about a vegetable omelet? Cut up veggies they like ahead of time and add them to the eggs each morning. It won’t take more than 5-7 minutes to make and your kid is out the door with a healthy breakfast. If you can’t find veggies they like, you need to start improving your cooking skills now and model healthy eating for them. Kids usually won’t eat what parents themselves don’t enjoy.

Don’t Start the day with a sugary cereal or really any kind of cereal. Most are very high in sugar, take minutes to break down in their bodies and send their blood sugar spiking and then dropping very quickly. Also-they have very little protein and….the vitamin-fortified cereals….hate to break it to you…I’d love to test the bioavailability of the vitamins added to the cereal. I’m guessing there isn’t a lot of nutritional value coming through. Empty calories.

Don’t Allow them to start their day with a pop or coffee or any other sugar and caffeine-laden beverage. Adding all those chemicals to their little bodies at a young age isn’t good for them.

Don’t This should go without saying but the energy drinks that are so prevalent today…not good for you…not good for your kids. This is just good common sense. The amount of sugar and caffeine and chemicals in these beverages make the kids in the line at Starbucks look like they are getting healthy food.

Listen, I’m a parent and it’s not easy to get your kids to eat what you want them to eat.  That being said, you owe it to them to make quality decisions regarding their diet.  During childhood, you are setting the stage and creating eating habits that will last a lifetime.  Don’t sell your kids short and don’t let them get away with sub-par nutrition.  You’ll thank me later :-).

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the health of your family, please give us a call at 918-940-4630.  We would be happy to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Travis Ring of Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to help you uncover that which is limiting your health.  Thank you for allowing us to be your chiropractor.

The post What Should My Child Eat for Breakfast? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

We’ve all been taught that “normal” body temperature is 98.6 F, right?  WRONG!!  98.6 F only represents an average of the “normal” body temperature.  When you look at the population, you quickly realize that what is normal for you or your child may not be what is normal for everybody.  In fact, your child’s temperature can hover anywhere between 97 and 100 F and still be considered “normal”.

Fever is simply an increase in heat.  Normal body heat, aka “fever” is the result of your child’s body working as it was designed and programmed to function under the perfect control of the nervous system. So the question remains, “What should I do about my child’s fever”?

To answer that question appropriately, let’s first take a step back and see what is actually happening inside your body.  To help your child recover when they are fighting a flu bug or other infection, two things happen.

First, the nervous system commands an increase in heat production in order to literally “burn” the invading germ, which can only survive at a “normal” body temperature.  Therefore, any increase in heat above body temperature kills the invading germs… This is a good thing!!

Second, as a result of orders from the nervous system, many-body activities speed up.  Respiration increases, the heart rate rises in order to pump blood faster, breathing quickens, the skin becomes moist and clammy and the child begins to shiver.  The extra work produces heat which we diagnose as a fever.

All this activity has a purpose: to eliminate the invading germ.  This does not necessarily mean that your child is “sick”.  While we view fever as a symptom of sickness, it is actually a function of a healthy individual.  The body is doing exactly what it has been naturally programmed to do.  I’d even go as far as saying that fever is an expression of health.

But as a loving parent, it is at this point that you feel you have to do something.  Not necessarily.  The most important things to do in the event of a “fever” is to understand why it is happening, provide supportive care and allow your child’s body to do what it needs to do with no interference.

Oftentimes parents will ask their doctor, “how high do you let the fever get, or how high is too high?”  There has been mounting evidence that suggests that the “height” of fever has no bearing on the seriousness of their condition and there is absolutely no clinical evidence to suggest that high fevers cause convulsions or brain damage.  I mean think about that for a second… Why would the nervous system increase the temperature to a level that will injure itself?

On its own, a high fever is not critical.  However, when there are other signs of sickness, it could be an indicator of a developing serious condition that warrants your attention.

If your child is less than one year old and has a fever with the presence of any of the following signs, you should seek the advice of your health care provider:

1. The child is in severe pain and cannot be comforted

2. The child is anxious or lethargic

3. The child whines continuously

4. The child cannot retain fluids and/or has diarrhea

5. Has difficulty breathing, urinating, or swallowing

6. Has an unexplained rash and a pulse rate of over 120 beats per minute

So why do you have to take a child’s temperature when he is feverish?  You don’t!!  In fact, an increasing number of physicians now feel that taking a child’s temperature is an unnecessary ritual.  So why do we do it?  Many trace this action back to a cleverly crafted marketing campaign by the makers of fever-reducing drugs.  If they can train a parent to fear the fever and think of it as something that must be treated from the very beginning, the sales of the medications would skyrocket!!

Many are beginning to lean more to the stance that lowering the child’s body temperature during a fever episode is neither necessary nor wise.  Fever is not the problem, in fact, it’s the body’s beautiful attempt at a solution.  Embrace the fever and comfort your child but try not to jump the gun on the administration of medication to reduce the temperature.  Let the body do its thing and more times than not, the episode will be shorter than it would have been if it was treated.

At our practice, we see so many children and love educating the parents on health.  Dr. Ring firmly believes that every human being on the planet would be able to live a healthier life if they were under the care of a chiropractor to ensure your body was functioning optimally.

While chiropractors have great success treating pain and other symptoms, an often overlooked benefit to chiropractic adjustments is the increased function of the immune system by increasing the function of the nervous system.  We believe that every child should be checked by a chiropractor at birth and throughout childhood to ensure the proper development of the nervous system.

If you have any questions about chiropractic for your family, please give us a call at 918-940-4630 to schedule your complimentary consultation.  We would love to answer the questions you have regarding chiropractic care for your family.   We hope you will give Dr. Ring and Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic a chance to help you along your health journey.

The post What should I do about my child’s fever? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Why do kids have so much back pain?  Let’s start with their big heavy backpacks that don’t quite fit that they sling over one shoulder.  While I frequently recommend smaller backpacks, keeping more in your locker and roller bags, that isn’t always realistic.  At the very least, be sure to wear a backpack with adjustable straps over both shoulders and the best scenario would be to use a waist strap too.  Where do you get something like that?  Try Dick’s or another sporting goods store.

Just like any office worker, if you sit all day, it will cause back pain.  My office chair has lumbar support and a butt cushion.  Most school desks I have seen have hard resin chairs with no padding. How can anyone be expected to sit quietly and calmly on that?

That is one of the many reasons that varied physical activity is important for keeping your kids healthy and free of back pain.  This doesn’t mean three hours of soccer practice every night year-round.  Variety in sports is important.  The kids that do best and have the least pain and injuries are the ones that don’t get so focused on one sport.  If your child is happy to settle for the B team because they are enjoying a variety of sports, be happy for them.  Be proud that they are making a decision that will cause them less pain and injury in the future.

Chiropractic care has been shown over and over to be effective and safe for kids.  If your child is struggling with back pain give a chiropractor a call.  We are honored and excited if you choose us for your family’s chiropractic care.

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 918-940-4630 and schedule your initial visit with Dr. Travis Ring with Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic.  We are located conveniently off the Broken Arrow Expressway at 61st and Aspen across from the world’s largest QT (that may be an exaggeration but that place is huge!!)  Thank you in advance for allowing us to care for your child.

The post Why does my child have back pain? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

In this issue, we will take a look at the reasons why chiropractors have been able to correct this problem when other treatments have failed. We will also look at the conflicting evidence presented in the scientific literature relating to the effectiveness of the chiropractor adjusting the child’s spine to correct this problem.

Most children wet the bed for the first few years of life, but by the age of 4 to 5 years old, most children should be able to establish proper bladder control. Enuresis refers to the inability of a child to establish this proper bladder control resulting in either daytime or nocturnal involuntary urination.

Primary enuresis occurs in a child over five years of age, who has never been able to establish proper bladder control. Secondary enuresis is the diagnosis for the child who has been able to establish proper bladder control, but who has since lapsed back to wetting the bed. Occasionally a pathological mechanism such as neurogenic bladder may be responsible, but usually, no such cause can be identified.

In most cases, bed-wetting is considered as just an unfortunate childhood problem, and no outside treatment is sought. The parents are frequently prepared to simply wait until the child grows out of it, and in most cases, these problems go untreated.  The thing that many outsiders do not realize is that it is taxing on the parents and very embarrassing to the child.

The traditional chiropractic approach to treating the child who is a bed-wetter is to adjust the spine, usually in the area of the lumbar spine or sacrum. A review of the anatomy and physiology of the bladder may help us understand why these areas are chosen as the prime target.

Bladder Anatomy and Physiology

Emptying of the urinary bladder is controlled by the detrusor and trigone muscles. The nerve supply to these muscles is via the sacral parasympathetic nerves from S2 to S4.

Appropriate bladder function is also controlled by the urogenital diaphragm which derives its nerve supply from the L2 spinal nerve.

Development of the Sacrum

The sacrum (or tailbone) develops as five separate segments. These segments remain separated until a child reaches puberty, at which time fusion of one sacral segment to another commences. Eventually, the sacrum will be one single bone with all five segments fused together, but this does not occur until the mid-20s.

Because the sacrum consists of separate segments during the early years of life, it is possible that misalignment of these segments can cause nerve irritation or facilitation. This nerve facilitation, especially to the area of the bladder, maybe the cause of the inappropriate bladder function associated with bed-wetting.

As we have seen, the developing sacrum in the early childhood years remains highly mobile, existing as separate spinal segments. During this period, the sacrum can be subjected to repeated trauma from childhood falls and early attempts at walking. This early trauma to the sacrum may be the major reason why bed-wetting in some patients ceases after the spine is adjusted.

Is the Spine the Cause of all Enuresis?

Adjustment of the sacral segments in the bed-wetter has an anecdotal history of effectiveness throughout the years. Recent studies, however, would appear to disagree with such claims. One such study from Australia concluded that spinal adjusting offered little help for enuresis, while another study suggested that good results could be obtained. This apparent disagreement may suggest nothing more than bed-wetting is due to several causes, one of which is spine related. Children with a spinal cause respond while those with other causes of bed-wetting do not.

The conclusion would therefore appear to be to have all children who are bed-wetters evaluated for the possibility of spinal problems as the underlying cause.  Coming from experience, the solution may not always be the most obvious but it is important to exhaust all efforts when caring for your children.

If you have any questions regarding your children, please give us a call at 918-940-4630 and Dr Ring would be happy to sit down to discuss the options of your particular case.  This is a condition that is very difficult to handle as a parent and a child, but it is one that often has a solution rooted in the spine.  Thank you for allowing us to be your chiropractor.

The post Is there anything chiropractic can do for bed-wetting? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Aspartame has been shown to change brain chemistry and has been responsible for neurological problems such as seizures, manic depression, rage, and violence.  If your child has been suffering from fibromyalgia-like symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in the legs, cramping, dizziness, headaches, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, or memory loss, they may be suffering from aspartame toxicity.  Aspartame has been widely marketed to the masses and promoted to children as a “healthy” weight-loss sweetener but in actuality, nothing could be further from the truth.  Research has recently shown that consumption of diet soda and other artificially sweetened beverages actually leads to weight gain because it makes the body crave carbohydrates.

Once you look at the research and see the damaging effects of aspartame, it’s fairly easy to see why we believe it has no business being consumed by any living creature.  We suggest that you search out and consume natural sweeteners (in moderation).  When in doubt, go to the source of the product but remember that our number one source of hydration and liquid consumption should come from clean water.  Thank you for your time in reading this blog and please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns related to this or any other health care need.  Our kids are our highest priority and since health is our greatest asset, let’s do all we can to take care of our kids!!  Remember that we are just a phone call away at 918-940-4630.

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