How Often should Children see A Chiropractor

10 Mar 2022 Healthy Child , , , , ,

Why do children need to see a chiropractor?

Parents often wonder if their children need chiropractic care, because people often associate chiropractic with pain complaints. But chiropractic is most beneficial in preventive care. Thus, children having healthy and growing spines makes them the perfect candidate!
A small spinal curve, developmental delays, and other issues can be easily spotted in a chiropractic exam and quickly addressed. The spine is similar to a young tree that begins to grow crooked. If you do not give it the support to grow straight, you will end up with a tree with a curved trunk. Children are much the same.

What role can chiropractic play in a child’s healthcare?

In addition to a routine spinal assessment, chiropractic can play an important role in your child’s healthcare through many stages of development. Here is a break down of some commonly seen conditions in our clinic.

  • Newborn 0-12 months:  colic, trouble breast feeding, trouble sleeping, failure to thrive, constipation, reflux/stomach upset, and ear infections
  • Toddlers 1-3 years:  low back pain, trouble walking, unusual stride pattern, clumsiness/tripping/frequent falls, failure to start walking, trouble sleeping, night terrors, ear infections, and constipation
  • Start of school 5-7 years:  knee pain, growing pains, trouble adjusting at school, playground injuries, colds, swimmer’s ear, and bed wetting
  • Adolescence 11-15 years:  scoliosis, growing pains, menstrual troubles, and sports injuries
  • High school 15-18 years:  Growing pains (more common in boys at this point), sports injuries, and menstrual troubles
  • College to adult:  At this age, their bodies start responding more like an adult, so regular chiropractic rules apply

Do children enjoy the adjustments?

Most children like getting adjusted and are often excited to come in for their visits.  Infants will frequently sleep through the visit. Many times they smile while being adjusted. We use various techniques on children depending on their health needs, and occasionally, we can we give them a choice of the method they like best. We use techniques such as craniosacral therapy, activator and non-force techniques as well as manual adjustments, which use fingers and hands.

How often should they be seen?

We recommend that children get their spines checked twice a year, much like you would do for a dental check-up. This is helpful in preventing scoliosis and other childhood problems such as ear infections, growing pains, and sleep issues.

Sports rehabilitation for kids

13 Dec 2018 Healthy Child , ,

If  your young athlete gets injured, it can set the stage for pain and growth abnormalities for their lifetime. We want you to look out for these injuries as they can occur during your family holiday football or basketball game.

Sprained ankles; just one can set you up for getting more and more sprains which eventually create weak ankles as an adult.
Getting your ankle adjusted and the muscles and ligaments worked on with hands or a tool will help speed recovery and prevent future injury
Pitching shoulder; can happen due to over-training but can also lead to shoulder pain, lack of range of motion, arthritis and even frozen shoulder as an adult. In severe cases, they may not be able to raise their arms above their head.

Massaging an injured arm by making sure that the arm is moving in its full range of motion and adjusting the spine and shoulder to make sure they are free from joint restriction.

Spine misalignment and pain in the low back can be from falling off the monkey bars or from growing pains. Severe cases such as scoliosis need regular maintenance to help prevent progression causing heart and lung issues. Both are helped by making sure the spine is properly aligned
Children are less likely to have severe growing pains when joint and muscle alignment is more relaxed.

Essential Oils

26 Sep 2016 Healthy Child, Women & Pregnancy ,

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years but are recently a popular natural healing choice for many families. The most common ways they are used is aromatic diffusion, as a topical application, and a dietary consumption.

These methods can help achieve a healthy balance in the body and aid in healing. The following are the essential oils that help us achieve a better state of mind.

Happiness Orange, Rose, Jasmine, Ginger, Cloves, Cinnamon, Geranium
Joy Sandalwood, Frankincense, Lemon, Petitgrain, Orange, Bergamot
Peace Chamomile Roman, Neroli, Juniper, Frankincense, Melissa, Yarrow
Positive Basil, Lemon, Grapefruit, Myrrh, Patchouli, Geranium, Frankincense
Restfulness Lavender, Geranium, Clary sage, Neroli, Sandalwood
Creativity Bergamot, Lemon, Frankincense, Neroli, Rose, Jasmine, Cloves
Contentment Cypress, Lavender, Bergamot, Orange, Sandalwood, Clove, Ylang-Ylang
Alertness Basil, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Grapefruit, Peppermint, Rosemary

There is an overlap for many of the oils. Nature gives us positive side effects rather than negative side effects. Whole Foods has a few choices of Essential oils.

When beginning to combine the oils, do only 2 oils together at a time and work up to a max of 5 oils to create the best blends for you and your family.

Is My Child Too Heavy?

1 Oct 2013 Healthy Child , , , ,

The BMI percentile should give you a good idea. Similar to the BMI index for adults, the BMI percentile charts a child’s weight onto the standard BMI growth chart and then compares the child’s BMI to other children of the same age and gender. The resulting categories are underweight (less than 5th percentile), healthy weight (5th to 85th percentile), overweight (85th to 95th percentile) and obese (95th percentile or higher). You can figure out your child’s BMI percentile with this handy online calculator: apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi

Parents justify their kids weight issues with excuses like being big boned or just waiting for a growth spurt. However, research shows that kids that are overweight before they hit puberty are 20 times more likely to be overweight than after puberty.  Don’t forget that excess weight is a risk factor for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and fatty liver disease. Even in kids. Many doctors believe that in our overweight society we have lost sight of what a healthy weight looks like.

So what is a parent to do?

  • Pay attention to your child’s BMI percentile and don’t make excuses
  • Be a good example of healthy eating
  • Focus on health and not weight in your conversations at home with your child
  • Don’t use the TV as a babysitter. Get out of the house and move!
  • Limit eating to the kitchen table. Unconscious eating in front of the TV leads to extra calories
  • Cook at home. Even the simplest sandwich is healthier than fast food

Keeping the Boo-Boos Out of Halloween

23 Oct 2012 Healthy Child, Tips & Tricks , ,

Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays of the year. But it’s also a time that leaves our little ones vulnerable to all types of injuries.

We want to keep you and your family in good health so watch for these Halloween hazards!

Candles
Candles create that perfect spooky environment but they also create the perfect opportunity for burns. Consider switching to battery-operated candles. You can now find them in all colors and sizes to suit your décor. Before you take your little ones out, make sure that their costumes are fire retardant and that they know and have practiced, “Stop, drop and roll”!

Candy
Razor blades in apples are more of an urban legend than a reality but it’s still important to check your child’s treats. Throw out anything not securely wrapped. Even better, let your trick-or-treater choose a dozen pieces of candy and then trade the rest in for a special outing or treat. This will prevent the Halloween overconsumption that hurts the tummy and the scale (what parent can overlook their favorite childhood candy bar?)!

Cars
Children are four times more likely to be hit on Halloween eve than at any other time of year. Half of these incidents occur at non-intersections when kids dart out between cars. It’s always best to go out with your children to ensure that they stay on sidewalks and cross the street only at cross walks.  Using reflective tape on costumes, wear light-stick as jewelry and carry flashlights will make your goblins more visible to drivers.

Pumpkin Carving
Nothing screams Halloween more than a carved jack ‘o lantern. Knives are not child friendly and it’s not really much fun for kids to be only observers. Instead, grab some poster paints or markers and let the kids at it! No cuts and no soggy pumpkin rotting on your front porch with a painted pumpkin.

Dogs
Animals don’t share our enthusiasm for Halloween costumes. Really. And the constant ringing of the doorbell and children yelling “Trick or Treat” can make even the friendliest pup a bit sassy. Do everyone a favor and leave Rover at home in a quiet room with a special treat. He won’t be disappointed.

Costumes
Costumes should be safe first, and cute/scary second.  Falls are a leading cause of Halloween injury.  Little ones can take a tumble when they, or someone else, step on a long costume. Over-sized or high-heeled shoes create instability compounding that risk. Masks can block vision. Aerosol sprays for hair color or décor can be toxic and give you a headache. Halloween make-up isn’t the same quality as what women typically wear. Make sure to test make-up in a small spot well before Halloween to check for allergic reactions. Then, no matter how tired you both are at the end of the night, make sure your child is clean-faced before heading to bed. For the older kids, set expectations early and draw a line at colored contact lenses which can damage eyes if not prescribed by an eye-care professional.

If your kids are beyond trick or treating age, you can still contribute to a happy and healthy Halloween for your neighbors. Be a trick or treat friendly home by clearing your yard of hazards like hoses and slippery wet leaves and turn on your lights to give kids a big welcome!

Sports Physicals: Checking Your Kids Before the Season Starts

22 Oct 2012 Healthy Child , , , , , ,

As summer winds down, the preparation for school and team sports is heating up!  Before you know it, it will be time to shuttle kids back and forth to practice and games in between school and homework. Back-to-school prep for our young athletes is far more than new shoes, shin guards, athletic bags and water bottles. A Sports Physical should be at the very top of your list!

A PPE (Participation Physical Examination) determines whether it’s safe for your child to play a particular sport and is often required for participation in school or league sports. But even if a PPE isn’t required, it’s still highly recommended.

A Sports Physical consists of collecting a complete medical history as well as a physical exam.

  • Family history of serious disease
  • Childhood illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy
  • Previous hospitalizations or surgeries
  • Allergies (food, insects, seasonal)
  • Past injuries (broken bones, sprains, concussions)
  • Incidents of chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing or fainting
  • Medications, both prescription and over the counter, as well as herbal supplements
  • For female athletes, the regularity and ease of menstrual periods

During the physical portion of the exam, the doctor will:

  • Record height and weight
  • Take a blood pressure and pulse reading
  • Test vision
  • Check the heart and lungs
  • Palpate the abdomen
  • Check ears, nose and throat
  • Evaluate posture, joints, strength and flexibility
  • Make recommendations on how to optimize athletic performance either by seeking treatment or doing specific exercises

A Sports Physical will help diagnose health problems as well as help identify risk factors that are linked to specific sports making for a happier and healthier athletic season!

Call In Health Clinic to schedule an Athlete’s Sports Physical.  Ask for our $40 back-to-school special (a $75 value).

Holistic medicine and diets are a great option to manage an ADD child.

22 Oct 2012 Healthy Child , , , , , , , ,

Currently the diagnosis for ADD and ADHD is becoming more and more common for students and children with extra activity.  The most common form of treatment is to give stimulant type drugs that enable the children to focus and harness their energy.  However we find that stimulants are not only hard on children’s health but also not a good long term fix.  What most parents feel passionate about is what are the healthier and more of the long term options for their child?  The answer is holistic medicine and diets can actually be a really great option to manage an ADD child.

The first option is diet.  Numerous amounts of children with ADD or ADHD have food sensitivities of some kind.  There are two types of immunoglobulin’s IgE and IgG.  IgE antibodies are the ones that cause an immediate allergic reaction.  An example of this is a child that eats a peanut and then has an immediate allergic reaction which can put them in danger of not being able to breathe.  IgG antibodies are a delayed sensitivity that can cause numerous symptoms. The symptoms include but are not limited to: fatigue, behavior modification, headaches, sore-throat, loose stool, constipation, mood changes and decrease in immunity due to body inflammation.

The second option is homeopathy.  Homeopathic medicine is very effective in treating not only ADD but also other childhood behavioral disorders.  This is a type of treatment that is easy for kids to take and produces remarkable results.  Parents love it too since they don’t have to force their kids to take something that doesn’t taste good. An example of Homeopathy is taking a specific symptom or personality and diluting compounds that would enhance that symptom.  By diluting the compound only a mild remnant remains and this stimulates a negative feedback loop causing the body to stop the overactive symptoms of ADD.  This reaction helps the body to teach itself to adapt to its lack of concentration by knowing when it’s time to focus and when there is an appropriate time to be energetic.  This can be very empowering for both the parents and child.

The third option is to modulate their daily activity.  For most of us, it can be very challenging as a parent since it requires you to get your child on a schedule that can sometimes be very strict.  This schedule would include exercise, a set bedtime and scheduled study or homework time.

Our Los Gatos office can help with any and all of these elements. We would love to answer any questions you have.

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