Exercise of the week!

Chiropractic: Keeping Kids & Teens Active and Vital

Chiropractors treat children and teenagers for a wide variety of health problems, from back and neck pain to posture imbalances to acute musculoskeletal injuries. Children and adolescents
constitute a significant number of patients in chiropractic offices. A 2000 study published in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine states that approximately 420,000
pediatric chiropractic visits were made in one year (1998) in the Boston metropolitan area alone. Because of the family-oriented nature of many chiropractic clinics, chiropractors are in
an excellent position to provide appropriate care throughout the lifespan, including during those formative years of childhood and adolescence.

Back and Neck Pain in Children

Back and neck pain are common health complaints among children and adolescents. According to a 2002 study published in the British Medical Journal, 8 percent of girls and 7 percent of boys in Finland (both age 14) experience low back pain, and neck
and shoulder pain affects 24 percent of girls and 12 percent of boys 14 years of age. This study also notes that low back and neck pain is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents, which suggests an increase in degenerative musculoskeletal conditions in future adults.

Another study published in the journal Spine notes that the prevalence of low back pain increases sharply in the early teen years and that by the age of 18 (girls) and 20 (boys) over 50
percent experience at least one bout of low back pain.3 The author of this study states that an examination of the causes and prevention of low back pain should focus on childhood and adolescence. There is a clear role for chiropractic in reducing or preventing back and neck pain in children and teens through targeted treatment approaches and education about the importance of posture and other musculoskeletal health topics.

Establishing Lifelong Health Habits

It is important for children to establish beneficial health habits at an early age, as lasting health habits public health throughout the lifespan are usually solidified during youth. A 2012 article published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological
Therapeutics states that encouraging a healthy level of physical activity in children and teens is crucial for improving public health and that optimizing musculoskeletal health is essential for achieving lifelong health of an individual.4 Ensuring that your
child’s injuries are dealt with swiftly and appropriately is one of the most effective ways to reduce their likelihood of developing musculoskeletal problems as adults, improve their quality of life and give them the confidence they need to pursue the physical activities of their choosing.

Breaking Down Barriers to Physical Activity

Children may experience physical activity-related injuries at school, during community organized sports events, or through other active leisure activities. A 2006 study published in the journal Pediatrics states that a significant percentage of childhood
injuries happen while children are participating in physical activity. These injuries may become a barrier to future participation in physical activities and the development of healthy exercise habits. Decreased physical activity levels can have a profound effect on health over time, and sedentary living may lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other lifestyle conditions. Your chiropractor understands the importance of eliminating this common - and powerful - barrier to physical activity and he or she will work with your child to keep him or her active and vital.

Important Action Steps

Reducing musculoskeletal injuries in children and adolescents is a public health challenge that chiropractors are well-suited to handle, though additional help from parents, researchers and politicians may be helpful in improving outcomes. Three key action steps, notes Lise Hestbaek, DC, PhD, are necessary to prevent musculoskeletal injuries in youth and keep them active and vital, including improving public awareness (especially among parents) about the urgency and seriousness of children’s musculoskeletal complaints, creating an evidence base for optimal treatment approaches to pediatric musculoskeletal problems and establishing screening tests to identify youth most at risk for musculoskeletal injuries. Talk with your chiropractor to
learn more about how you can identify and prevent common musculoskeletal ailments in your children.

Thank you!

Every year we hold our annual Toy Drive where we offer free photos with Santa (the best Santa around) in exchange for an unwrapped gift.  And every year, we are humbly reminded by the amazing and generous patients we have at our clinic. 

Thank you!   It’s because of you that this is a success year after year. 

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Santa is coming to town!

Annual Santa photos and Toy Drive

When: SATURDAY, December 8th

Where: Children’s Village – 3500 SE 196th Ave, Camas WA.

Time: 10am – 1pm

Pictures with Santa! We’ll be celebrating the season with Christmas activities and holiday goodies!  Bring a new unwrapped toy or monetary donation and receive your professional picture with Santa for FREE!

All gifts go to families in need.

Exercise of the Week~ Strengthen Hips & Core

Are you Sleeping?

Getting a restful night’s sleep is one of the most important ways to reduce stress and ensure optimal health.
Without adequate sleep, you may be more likely to experience weight gain, elevated blood pressure and decreased immune function. According to Harvard Medical School, sleep difficulties are common, affecting about 75 percent of people at least a few nights every week.1 In this Wellness Express newsletter, we will discuss the top things you can do to build a sleep sanctuary to promote healthy and restorative sleep.

Improve Sleep Hygiene & Pre-Sleep Routine

Sleep hygiene encompasses the many different practices you can perform to experience normal, quality nighttime sleep and optimal daytime alertness.
The National Sleep Foundation states that the following practices can improve your sleep hygiene and overall health: Avoiding excessive daytime napping, avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine and food consumption too close to bedtime, getting sufficient exercise (especially in the morning) and eating your largest meal around midday. Creating a relaxing bedtime routine is another important aspect of sleep hygiene. Reading for only short periods before bed, banishing television sets, computers, smart phones, and other electronic devices from your bedroom, and avoiding emotionally charged conversations before turning in are helpful strategies to promote healthful sleep. Another important pre-sleep ritual you may find helpful and refreshing is foot washing. Washing your feet before bed feels great and helps keep your sheets clean.

Update Your Mattress and Pillows

If your mattress and pillows are getting on in age, consider updating them with newer versions. You spend about one-third of your life in bed, so choosing a healthy and comfortable mattress and pillow are among the most important long-term health investments you can make. Your chiropractor can council you on the most beneficial mattresses and pillows for your specific health situation. For optimal health, and to enhance the quality of your
sleep sanctuary, consider mattresses and pillows constructed from natural materials. Certain materials, such as natural latex and wool, do not off-gas (unlike petrochemical products) and are
resistant to dust mites.

Banish Streetlight & Noise

Banishing streetlight and noise is another important strategy in building your sleep sanctuary. Light-proof window coverings can help keep light out, but it is also important to find a way to allow natural light into your bedroom in the early morning - to help maintain a healthy sleep and wake cycle. Removing all sources of indoor light (blinking phones, continuously lit
alarm clocks, etc.) is important, too. A 2009 article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives states that light pollution can disrupt your circadian rhythms and have
long-term adverse effects on your health.
Reducing your exposure to street noise when sleeping is also important.
According to a 2006 study published in the Croatian Medical
Journal, urban dwellers living in noisy areas have a greater risk for sleep disturbances than people living in quieter areas.  Also there may be an association between residential road traffic noise exposure and hypertension (high blood pressure) notes a 2007 study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Optimize Room Temperature

Find a room temperature that works well for you or you and your partner and select bedding that helps with thermoregulation. Certain sheets, such as bamboo sheets, are absorbent, breathable, and thermoregulating, due to the structure and the expanding and contracting nature of the fibers with varying temperatures.
Consider Room Design
Room design is a crucial part of building a comfortable and serene sleep sanctuary. Consider keeping your bedroom free of clutter, as clothes and nonessential bedroom items may distract you from resting. Use lamps for lighting instead of overhead lights.
Warm, dim light, which mimics nighttime, is best. Rugs and wall hangings can help soften your bedroom’s acoustics and soothing colors or patterns can help you achieve feng shui balance in your bedroom. Feng shui principles also suggest keeping the area underneath your bed open and clutter-free.

GMO Candy?

The more we learn about where our food comes from, the more we’re learning about GMO foods. (genetically modified organisms)

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that GMO’s can’t be good for your body.

With Halloween tomorrow, we found this great graphic from The Give Project.

We also found some basic information about GMO’s if you’re new to the term.   8 Reasons GMOs are BAD for you.