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CAN CHRONIC EAR INFECTIONS BE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM?

Posted in Uncategorized with tags adhd, allergies, anterior head syndrome, antobiotics, children, children's surgery, CHIROPRACTIC, compressed nerve, correction, ear discharge, ear infections, ear tube, ear tube surgery, ergonomics, eustachain tube, family, health, infants, infections, myringotomy, otitus media, pediatrics, SPINE, Structural Chiropractic on April 14, 2014 by chiropracticdouglasville

Research shows that ear infections (otitus media) are the reason for over 35% of all pediatrician visits. Ear infections are mostly seen in children, however; many adults suffer from chronic ear infections too.

The ear is divided into three parts: the outer ear canal, the middle ear space (where most infections occur), and the inner ear where the balance center and nerves are located. There is a thin, membranous eardrum dividing the outer and middle ear. Inside the middle ear space are small bones that conduct the vibrations of the eardrum to the brain and is connected to the back of the nose via the Eustachian tube.

In infants and young children this tube is much shorter and is angled. Therefore, it is much easier for bacteria to migrate from the nose and throat up into the middle ear space. As the child grows this tube becomes more vertical, so germs have to travel “up-hill” to reach the middle ear, which is one-reason children “outgrow” ear infections.

This is where Structural chiropractic can help. Structural Corrective adjustments remove interference within the nervous system by correcting misalignments in the spinal column, jaw, and possibly cranial bones, without the use of drugs or surgery. Correcting structural misalignments also reduces muscle tension, decreases inflammation, increases mobility, establishes proper blood flow and also allows lymph drainage, all of which can affect the function of the middle ear and Eustachian tube. According to Dr. Joan Fallon, author of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, “Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children, and if they can drain without a buildup of fluid and subsequent infection, they build their own antibodies and recover faster.” Dr. Fallon states that most of the 332 children in the study did not experience another ear infection within a 6-month period. One of the top pediatricians, Dr. Spears, states “I firmly believe that Structural Chiropractic Corrective adjustments can improve ear drainage and decrease ear infections.”

CAN A STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITY CAUSE ASTHMA?

Posted in Uncategorized with tags albuterol, antibiotics, asthma, babies, children, difficulty breathing, ear infections, eczema, infants, inhalers, nebulizer, neck pain, otitis media, respiratory problems, respiratory syncytial virus, rsv, steroids, Structural Chiropractic, structural correction, subluxation on February 14, 2014 by chiropracticdouglasville

First, what is asthma? Asthma is a chronic lung condition that inflames and narrows the airways within the respiratory system, which can cause wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, coughing, and pain. Asthma can occur in all ages, but we are going to focus on the adolescent population.

Studies show that about 1/3 of all asthma patients within the United States are children, it has been shown that parents with asthmatic children lose over $1 billion by staying home from work to care for their children. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), there is no “cure” for this condition. Traditional doctors treat the cause of asthma with medications that the children must be on for life to control the symptoms; these medications are estimated at $1 billion annually. However structural chiropractor’s main focus is on finding the cause of the patient’s asthma.

What we do as structural chiropractors is analyze the spine, checking for any structural abnormalities. Using a series of examinations which includes digital structural radiographs, structural analyzer, and palpation we check the patients spine. It is known that the nerves coming from the mid-back in the spinal column go directly to the lungs and airways, according to Francis Adams, M.D. astructural misalignment present in those areas can be a reason for asthma and breathing difficulties. Also Structural abnormalities in the upper part of the neck cause a back-up of the lymphatics and problems with the tubes draining the middle ear.

So how do structural chiropractors correct these interferences? If the examination shows a structural misalignment in the spine, the structural chiropractor will use corrective adjustments to correct the structural misalignment(s), once these structural corrections are made the nerves leading to the lungs are now free of interference and therefore working at an optimal level. When information optimally flows from the brain to the lungs and airways that were once interfered with, they can now properly function. This leads to a decrease in the inflammation and to the expansion of the narrowed airways, which in turn leads to reduction of the asthma like symptoms. The correction of the child’s spine restores the structural imbalance allowing for the proper drainage in the middle ear.

There have been many case studies in chiropractic dealing with asthma in children. Ages range from 6 months to 10 years old all with positive results. These results include all ofthe following, less asthma attacks, no asthma attacks, reduction in medication use and the complete cure of the condition. In a case study by Dr. Fedorchuk D.C A 6 year-old girl presented to his office with uncontrolled asthma for three years, the patient was on several medications which she took daily with no help. The patient was under structural chiropractic care and after 30 days was off all medications, and x-rays revealed an increase in lung volume.

Another recent study which was published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health in 2011. The research done at Planet Chiropractic in Douglasville, Ga clinic, reported on improvement in a 20 month old girl undergoing structural chiropractic care and revealed that structural chiropractic may play an important role in managing children with respiratory syncytial virus and ear infections.

THE RISE OF THE ‘TEXTING’ EPIDEMIC

Posted in Uncategorized with tags adhd, anterior head syndrome, arms, artirithis, back pain, carpal tunnel, children, compressed disc, degeneration, ergonomics, family, forward head posture, hands, health, hump, neck pain, numbness, posture, SCHOOL, SCOLIOSIS, Structural Chiropractic, structural correction, text, texting, texting neck, tingling on September 9, 2013 by chiropracticdouglasville

Everyone is doing it. Look at a crowd and you can easily see several people looking down at their phones and rapidly moving their thumbs. The newest research is indicating that people are texting more than calling each other. The habit of texting is much higher amongst the newer generations but everybody is texting more and more. A person texting is usually sitting with their phone in their lap. The head is bent forward and down while the eyes focus on the phone. The average person will also roll in their hips and sit in a slouched position.

The recent research by Business News Daily reports that we Americans are spending more than 12 hours a week texting. The position of the body and the time spent in that position is creating an epidemic is our society. The epidemic is ANTERIOR HEAD SYNDROME (AHS). A Structural Chiropractors, concerned with the Human spine being in a normal range of alignment, are having to correct AHS more than ever before.

As science and technology are advancing, we are able to determine normal ranges of many things in the body. There is a normal range for Blood pressure, Heart rate, Liver and kidney function etc. The research and years of clinical data has also determined the ideal norm for the spin and a range within which the human body functions at an optimal level. The normal for the spine is completely straight, looking from the front and having three curves when looking from the side. In Anterior head syndrome the person starts to lose the curve in their neck as the head juts forward. The primary condition of AHS has many secondary conditions that start surfacing over time. One secondary condition is bad posture with the head moving forward causing a hump to develop in the upper back region. Other secondary conditions include pain, numbness, tingling in the neck and going down the arm and the hand. Long periods of looking down and texting causes a rapid degeneration and arthritis.

Imagine a bowling ball weighing about the average weight of the human head, about 15 pounds. If you were holding the ball on top of your shoulders you could balance it easily. Now extend your arms out while holding this ball. What happens within seconds is you feel the pressure from the ball in your entire Spine. You would start to feel that way just by holding the bowling ball for few seconds with texting you would be doing it for much longer periods of time. The body would start to misalign itself into an abnormal range. It is obvious why there is huge concern about the time spent texting, the spine and the health of the person who has developed Anterior head syndrome.

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BACK-PACK TO SCHOOL

Posted in Uncategorized with tags BACKPACK, children, CHIROPRACTIC, KIDS, PAIN, PROPER POSITION, SAFETY, SCHOOL, SCOLIOSIS, SPINE, STRAPS, TEENAGERS on August 6, 2013 by chiropracticdouglasville

The summer is almost over, and although that may be a relief to some of you parents, the kids don’t see it that way! One of the most important aspects of the Back To School season is the BACK PACK! Carrying these packs puts abnormal pressure on the body and damages the spine, and in turn, the nervous systems of our children. Choosing the right backpack may be one of the most important school supplies a parent can purchase for their child in regards to their health and safety. Is your child’s backpack a good fit?

Every September, more than 20 million students go back to school carrying backpacks that are too heavy and pose a serious risk to the wearer’s well being. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), young children today suffer from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and poorly fitted, overly heavy backpacks are key factors. Along with back pain, improper backpack use can result in headaches, poor posture and various other health problems.

Here are some necessary Backpack Safety Tips

Choose It Right — Select a backpack that has wide cushioned straps, which will distribute the weight evenly on the shoulders. In addition, a backpack with a waist strap can help stabilize the load because it does not allow the backpack to flop around.

Pack It Right — The weight of a loade

d backpack should not exceed 15 percent of the body weight of the wearer, particularly in small children. Wearers should pack the heaviest objects first, so they are carried lower and closer to the body. Students should pack only essential items in their backpack and, if necessary, make frequent stops at their lockers to exchange books.

They can also lighten the load by carrying heavy textbooks under their arms rather than in backpacks.

Lift It Right — Before attempting to lift it, check the weight of the backpack. Then, face the backpack, bend at the knees and lift with the legs, not with the back. Always use two hands and slip on one strap at a time.

Wear It Right — Use both shoulder straps, making sure they are snug but not too tight. If the backpack touches the back above the collar line, the straps are too tight.. Also make sure the pack is worn properly using

both straps synched up fairly tight so the

bag is not sagging down to their low back. The bo

ttom of the bag should not go below the child’s waist. If the pack has a waist strap, be sure to use it

Warning Signs for Parents

Parents should look for the following warning signs that indicate a child’s backpack may be causing a problem:

The child cannot take off or put on the backp

ack without struggling.
The child has to lean forward to carry the backpack.
The child is experiencing numbness or

weakness in the arms and/or legs.
The child has one shoulder that is higher than the other.

Though a popular style now, parents should di

scourage the use of messenger-style bags,

which are slung over one shoulder. Messenger-style bags put additional pressure on one shoulder, which can cause misalignment of the spine.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

It’s important for parents to look for the warning signs that backpacks are being worn or used inappropriately. Early interve

ntion can prevent serious injuries, the types of injuries which may result in long-term health problems, especially among young children whose bodies are still developing and growing. If parents notice any of the warning signs listed above, they should immediately speak to or visit a Structural Chiropractor. Here at Planet Chiroprac

tic, we are concerned with maintaining the optimal structure and natural curves of the spine because optimal spinal structure leads to optimal function of the human body.

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LOSS OF STRUCTURE AT BIRTH

Posted in Uncategorized with tags allergies, babies, birth, children, colic, ear infections, family, health, infants, respiratory syncytial virus, rsv, spinal structure, Structural Chiropractic, sudden infant death syndrome on June 12, 2013 by chiropracticdouglasville

Many infants and children suffer from secondary issues caused by mis-alignments in their spinal structure. Most commonly infants suffer misalignments in the upper cervical bones of the neck due to birth trauma. These secondary issues include, but are not limited to: Allergies, colic, crying, depressed immune response, fever, fussing, hyperactivity/ADHD, feeding problems, sleep disruptions, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), reflux, ear infections, depressed respiratory functions, and in unfortunate instances sudden infant death syndrome. Planet Chiropractic’s own Dr. Awais Butt is a nationally published author and researcher regarding infants and children involving misalignments in spinal structure. These secondary issues are caused by the primary problems in structural alignment. These infants do not exhibit the typical secondary symptoms of neck pain and muscle tension seen in adults, yet continue to suffer from secondary symptoms. These secondary issues are due to the primary cause which abnormal spinal structural alignment is creating abnormal nervous system communication between the brain and the rest of the body resulting in abnormal function of the infant’s vital organs (Heart, lungs, digestive organs, immune system, hormone balance, elimination etc.) Sometimes when there is a misalignment infants are comfortable feeding on one side, but not the other side because they can’t turn their head easily in both directions. The technique for adjusting infants is different than the technique used to adjust adults; there is no “popping” associated with the gas release of the joints, instead the technique utilizes a more gentle pressure resembling a light touch. Some babies even sleep through their adjustment! At Planet Chiropractic we treat the entire family, providing optimal structure and performance for a healthier and more fulfilling life!

—
Always Faithful,
AWAIS BUTT : STRUCTURAL CHIROPRACTOR
OPTIMAL STRUCTURE IS OPTIMAL IMMUNITY

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