Chiroblog

Pregnancy is an exciting time for mom and dad and with approximately four million births in the United States each year, according to the CDC.  Ensuring a healthy birth and delivery is a most important goal. Key components of this include proper nutrition, adequate movement and exercise, and chiropractic care. During pregnancy, hormonal changes along with increased weight to the abdominal area often result in changes to the spine, causing a variety of new challenges to mom. Chiropractic care addresses this by looking to areas of nervous system interference caused by these spinal misalignments. In addition, paying close attention to the mom’s pelvis as baby is growing and developing rapidly inside this small space helps to ensure that both mom and baby are comfortable.

In the United States, approximately four percent of pregnancies involve the baby in a breech presentation and 13 percent of these result in cesarean section delivery. There are three types of breech, all involving the baby in an abnormal position in the uterus. The most optimal position for delivery of the baby is head down. This ideal positioning allows for a potentially safer delivery and is beneficial for the baby’s neurological development.

The Webster technique is utilized in pregnant moms to ensure proper alignment of the pelvis, thus allowing for increased space for the baby to grow and move. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association describes this as, “a specific chiropractic sacral analysis,” with the goal of the adjustment being, “to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/SI joint dysfunction, in doing so, neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated.”

We have patients describe that their best pregnancies and most ideal births came when they were under chiropractic care in addition to their prenatal providers. If you haven’t tried chiropractic during pregnancy, you may be missing out on an improved experience.  Dr. Rubin is a board certified pediatric and pregnancy chiropractor and has had 30 years experience taking care of kids and pregnant moms.  

1. Pistolese RA. The Webster technique: a chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002;25(6):1-9.

2. About the webster technique [Internet]. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. 2018 [cited 3 October 2018]. Available from: http://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/

3. Births and natality [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2017 [cited 3 October 2018]. Available from: https//www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/births.htm

Our brains have 2 sides; left and right.  BJ Palmer argued that our brains are also polarized as Innate vs. Educated.  Part of our brain's function is to use feelings, hunches, and intuition to guide us in making best decisions.  He called that Above-down, inside-out. The other part of our brain is designed to download information from outside in.  Both are necessary to succeed, but don't let one get in the way of the other.

https://soundcloud.com/dr-drew-rubin/episode-213-innate-brain-vs-educated-brain 

Are you really seeing what you think you are seeing? What is behind your vision is your interpretation of what you are looking at. That makes up a lot of filters. How you look at things does make a difference. Listen to Dr. Rubin in the 2nd of 8 installments regarding building your visual abilities.  Click the link below!

https://soundcloud.com/dr-drew-rubin/episode-206-eyesight-vs-vision 

Honored to be asked to be the graduation speaker for Life University's March 2018 class, Dr. Rubin shares 5 lessons from an early experience with a challenging pediatric case and relates that to what the new graduates might be facing in their practices.  Some of the lessons came from mentors like Dr. Sid Williams and Dr. Larry Webster, others from almost 30 years of experience.

https://soundcloud.com/dr-drew-rubin/life-university-graduation-speech-32218 

There's a shift that has to occur when you go from student to doctor, from employee to employer, from worker to manager or supervisor. You've got to shift 'hats.' This is not an easy shift, since you might be so used to and so conditioned to be a student or employee or worker that switching roles is uncomfortable. To get past that, start trying on the 2nd hat while still wearing the first. Think like a doctor when you are a student. Think like an employer when you are an employee. Think like a supervisor when you are a worker. This way you are preparing yourself for the ultimate role you want. Just like the old saying, "to be, act as if!"

https://soundcloud.com/dr-drew-rubin/episode-199a-student-hat-doctor-hat 

Couldn't make the Family Wellness Summit in Washington DC this past weekend?  Or was there but missed Dr Rubin's 2 presentations?  Listen to how Dr Rubin asks: Is Humanity De-evolving?  Maybe we are supposed to de-evolve to re-evolve?  Is the new health revolution a re-evolution?  Check us out at www.theadjustment.com or on Facebook at rubinfamilychiropractic.

https://soundcloud.com/dr-drew-rubin/episode-196-icpa-summit-2018 

The connection between a mother and her child is truly fascinating. The process of bonding occurs both during pregnancy and after delivery. While in the womb, immune cells travel from the mother to her baby through the placenta which boosts the baby’s immune system to protect the baby against bacteria and viruses. After birth, immune cells are transmitted through breastmilk!  What a brilliant idea!

Did you know that breast milk is customized according to the sex of the baby? Furthermore, did you know your breastmilk is specially formulated to be exactly what the baby needs ALL THE TIME? Breast milk is a complete food for the baby and the benefits of breast milk extend way beyond nutrition. Most people don't know that breast milk changes every day based on signals from the baby. So the mother will make the immune cells that provide the baby with natural immunity to exactly what illnesses the mom has been exposed to. 

-    Studies have shown that breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing ear infections, pneumonia, diarrhea and have a lower incidence of chronic conditions later in life such as diabetes, Crohn´s disease and asthma.

-    Mothers who breastfeed have a lower incidence of postpartum depression and are more likely to get back to their pre-baby weight. Studies also show a lower incidence of women who develop breast and ovarian cancers later in life

-    How about the cost? breastfeeding is completely FREE!! On average, families who use formula spend around $1,700 every year on formula alone. Nutrition plus immune system boosting plus bonding between mom and baby.  Cost: $0.  Value: Priceless.

The activities you do daily have a remarkable affect on your posture. Posture is just as important as eating healthy, exercising, and sleeping! Your posture is an essential aspect of your well being. Having good posture decreases your chances for neck and back pain.  With the correct positioning of your spine, you are likely to have less stress on your body. With the less pressure on your spine, you are also likely to breathe a lot better!

So what are some everyday things you can improve on? Sitting is one. We are always asked to sit up straight since we were kids, but slouching was just so much more comfortable. Over time we realize the effects it has on us. Sitting at a desk, for example, incorporates the posture of every part of your body. An average human head weighs about 12 pounds! So if you are sitting at a desk looking down at a computer or book, your neck also bends, and the weight on your spine increases! This posture leads to rounded shoulders. To improve this posture, try sitting up straight, with your feet flat on the floor and have what you are working on elevated to eye level!

When poor posture leads to having rounded shoulders, it also decreases your ability to breathe properly. You may not notice this immediately because the change in your posture occurs gradually and your body tries to do its best to adapt to it. Before you know it, restricted breathing becomes part of everyday occurrence without it being evident. If you bring your shoulder blades back together and sit up straight, your ribcage will be able to expand more, giving your lungs a higher capacity to move. Practice this every day and you will be on your way to a better posture!

There are many things that can affect your posture day to day, but improving the way you sit will get you a step closer to a proper posture and a better you.

Many people believe that chiropractic is about neck pain, back pain and headaches.  However, here at RFC we know that chiropractic is so much more!

Here at RFC we see a lot of children and from the outside, this may seem a little extraordinary to some people.  These kids aren’t coming in because they are in pain, but rather to have their nervous system’s checked for what we call Subluxation!

Subluxations are misalignments in the spine that affect the nerves exiting those between those bones, causing decreased communication from the brain to the body.  These subluxations are often painless, but may cause a dysfunction in the body, not allowing the brain to communicate with the rest of the body as well as it possibly could!

Let’s look at this model of subluxation to help us understand!

When a spinal bone has moved out of alignment, causing the nerve exiting the spine to work less than 100%.  The interesting thing is,the nerve exiting the spine sends messages to glands, tissues and organs in the body.  Depending on the area this nerve may go to, the heart, the digestive track or even the immune system can be affected.  This is why it is essential to get your entire family checked for vertebral subluxation.  Here at RFC we want your brain and your nervous system functioning at 100% so the rest of your body is at it’s best!  We call this the safety pin cycle!  Thanks Dr. Anette Sorensen for the great drawing!  

Bongiorno!  This is the awe inspiring Trevi Fountain in Rome. There's something very magical about this place, that is indescribable. Even though there were hundreds of people surrounding this fountain, the aura around it was like being enveloped in the sweet sound of the ocean. Listen to the brief video and experience it yourself!

Now a little history about why this place is so perfect through a chiropractic perspective!  In the picture above the video, notice the 2 figures in the wall to the left and right of Oceanus.  The figure to the left of Oceanus is Abundance, with the vase overflowing at her feet.  The right figure is Health, holding a spear pointing upwards.   Water flows continuously, abundantly, all the time, never stopping.  The ocean waves that crash each morning do so in the afternoon, evening and night too.  We need to tap into this strength, this abundance, to exhibit the best version of ourselves.   

The central figure, Oceanus, represents Wisdom and Power.  So at the Trevi Fountain you have Wisdom and Power flanked by Abundance and Health.  No wonder so many find Trevi so peaceful and rejuvenating!  Having just returned from speaking in Italy and seeing this magnificent fountain, we were reminded about how grateful we are, and appreciate that the holiday of Thanksgiving is this Thursday.  Grazie!