Chiroblog

It's a common trend in schools across the country: physical education classes are being cut and recess hours reduced. Young children are increasingly expected to sit still at their desks for entire school days. Even at home kids often spend hours each day in front of a television, computer, or phone. This is happening even as more and more research shows just how important movement is to the developing child, and how development can be stunted when children don't learn to move correctly.

What many parents don't realize is that movement skills and mental skills grow together. Each is affected by, and dependent on, the other. For example, the earliest signs of an autism spectrum disorder are often abnormal movement skills. These often include things like incorrect crawling patterns, and this is why it is so important to make sure your child is meeting their milestones. 

However, movement is a concern even for children who seem to be developing normally. While frequency of physical activity is very important, scientific studies have also linked the quality of movement skills to increased academic performance as well as improved mental health. That's why it is also crucial to have your child's movement patterns evaluated. Kids in our office are always checked to be sure that their movements are progressing normally. When faulty movements are found, exercises can be given to teach your child the proper movements, ensuring that their development continues normally and they develop the skills they need to thrive. This goes for children in school as well as infants who are have trouble rolling, crawling or walking. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31525169 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24290387 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31289454 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31586434 

The Activator Method is a device-assisted form of performing a chiropractic adjustment. The Activator Method is one of the most widely-researched chiropractic techniques, and the only instrument adjusting technique with 23 clinical trials to support its efficacy. Activator Methods has published hundreds of clinical and scientific peer-reviewed papers, worked with major academic research institutions, and received grants from recognized entities like the National Institute of Health. 

Chiropractic adjustments involve applying forces at specific spinal levels to release the tension caused by a misaligned segment. It was shown that the Activator is able to provide 1mm of movement to a spinal segment where as a manual adjustment was shown to only  deliver 2% of the total force to the target tissue. The Activator is able to provide an adjustment up to 300 times faster than a manual adjustment, which results in the ability to deliver a gentler adjustment over a smaller area in order to more properly move the bones to promote healing. 

Dr. Rubin used more manual adjustment techniques for the first 15 years of his practice until he found the Activator Methods in 2001.  Over the next several years, he began taking post doctoral classes in Activator Methods and in 2008 earned the Advanced Proficiency Rating from Activator, which was a grueling written, oral and practical exam.  He has published several research papers on the effectiveness of Activator and enjoys using this adjusting tool on children and adults.  

https://www.activator.com/research/ 

http://bit.ly/2RysVLv 

     In North America, Lyme disease is the most common insect-borne infectious disease with a whopping number of 300,000 cases reported a year [1].  A tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi transfers bacteria through its bite to a human after being attached for 24 hours or more, and initially causes fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans [2].  This is why it is so important to do a ‘tick check’ if your child has been playing in wooded areas, since the quicker you remove the tick, the less likely they are to receive the infection.  If the Lyme is allowed to stay in the body, chronic symptoms such as joint pain, heart issues, stomach and sleep challenges, and multiple other nervous system and behavioral problems can occur.  Lyme disease can be devastating in its attack on a person with a weakened immune system

     Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep, also known as PANDAS for short, is also a condition on the rise and worth paying attention to.  This condition is ultimately caused by Strep bacterial infection, but interestingly the real problem is that the antibodies created by the body become “cross-reactive” and attack normal brain cells.  This may cause Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), tics, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms [3]. 

     Both of these conditions can create serious neuropsychiatric issues for pediatric patients.  Many parents say, “this isn’t my kid” in response to how different they become when affected by Lyme or PANDAS.  So how can chiropractic help patients with these conditions?  Chiropractic adjustments reduce vertebral subluxations, a condition which disturbs one’s nervous system by interrupting communication between the brain and the body. With each corrective adjustment, the brain receives and executes more properly through a “traffic-free” nervous system, and this would be crucial for children with infection-based diseases like PANDAS and Lyme disease.  After antibodies wipe out bacteria from the system, new and correct redirection from the brain can be achieved with chiropractic care helping to rebuild the nervous system. Chiropractic is neuroplasticity in action! 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3548099/ 
2. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html
3. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/pandas/index.shtml

                  Nearly every child will have its vision checked at some point. You’re probably familiar with the traditional test, in which children are asked to read the letters on a poster from across the room. While this is a great way to screen kids for vision problems that might require glasses, you might be surprised to learn that many eye issues can go undetected during this typical screening. This is because many of the issues- such as the ability to focus the eyes on one spot, or to follow moving objects- are not really problems with the eye at all. Often, an imbalance in brain activity is to blame. These imbalances are especially common in children who are struggling developmentally, academically or behaviorally.

                  One of the best examples of this connection is seen in dyslexic children. Dyslexia, which is a difficulty with reading, was once something of a mystery to doctors. Recent research has shown that not only do some kids have trouble processing the words that they read, but often their eyes are actually unable to smoothly follow the words on a page. Instead, their eyes may jerk slightly back and forth, making the words nearly impossible to understand. No wonder so many of these kids tire out and are frustrated when trying to read. But there’s good news: Just like a muscle, “weak” areas of the brain can be strengthened with practice. Often, simple exercises can be performed at home to help strengthen any underactive areas of the brain. That’s why all children in our office are screened for problems with eye movements.

                  And there’s more good news! More research has shown the power of chiropractic care to help kids normalize brain and eye function! Chiropractic adjustments can help remove irritation from the nervous system and provide the stimulation needed to form strong connections in the brain. This is just one more reason that all children should be regularly checked by a chiropractor.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31407599

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31488747

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Carrick+FR%5BAuthor%5D+blind+spot