Chiropractic Care for Children is Safe and Effective

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s (ICPA) ground breaking study, “The Safety and Effectiveness of Pediatric Chiropractic: A Survey of Chiropractors and Parents in a Practice-Based Research Network,” was published in October 2009 in the prestigious, biomedical journal, Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. The objective of this study was to describe the practice of pediatric chiropractic, including its safety and effectiveness.

 The results of the study determined that the indicated primary reason for chiropractic care of children was “wellness care.” The most common reasons for parents seeking symptom relief care were muscles conditions, ear, nose, throat, respiratory and digestive disorders. Out of 577 children, doctors reported only 3 adverse events. Out of 239 children, parents reported only two adverse events. These events were minor discomfort after the adjustment and were readily resolved with continued adjustments. All children remained under chiropractic care. Both parents and doctors indicated a high rate of improvement with respect to the children’s presenting complaints. In addition to these improvements, respondents reported better sleeping patterns, improvements in behaviour and improved immune system function while under chiropractic care.

 Dr. Joel Alcantara, ICPA Research Director and presenting author said, “This paper shows the preliminary results of the ICPA’s Children’s PBRN – Phase One. Phase two is well under way and we have initiated similar research pertinent to pregnancy. We are pleased that a major CAM Journal respects the importance of chiropractic care for children and we foresee greater collaboration with the CAM community on the importance of chiropractic care for children.”

Dr. Jeanne Ohm Executive Director of the ICPA says, “I am pleased to be affiliated with an organization dedicated to chiropractic family wellness research. It is wonderful to see research substantiating the safety of chiropractic care for children and the overwhelming satisfaction of parents with children under care.”

The ICPA is the oldest and largest pediatric organization in the chiropractic profession. Their mission is Research, Training and Public Education on behalf of family wellness. To find out more about chiropractic and children or to locate a doctor who cares for children visit www.icpa4kids.org

Reproduced with permission from: http://www.icpa4kids.com/Press_Releases/2009_Sept_Childrens_Phase_1_Press_Release_.html

Copyright © 2009 International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) all rights reserved. All or part of this message may be retransmitted for information purposes, but may not be used for any communal purpose, posted on a website, or used in any non-ICPA publication (other than that of an ICPA affiliate) without the permission of the ICPA.

Chiropractic Table Modification for Pregnancy

Short answer – yes! Chiropractic techniques need to be modified for comfort and to accommodate the growing belly. Additionally, certain techniques should be avoided so you should see a chiropractor trained in the techniques that address in utero constraint or mal-presentations, who will check for misalignment of the pelvic bones, pubic bones, misalignment of the sacrum and vertebrae, and spasm of the ligaments that support the uterus and help hold the pelvis together (such as Webster Technique or Bagnell Pregnancy Technique).*

How can visiting a Chiropractor be beneficial to a pregnant woman?

Labour Helper Technique

Chiropractic care during pregnancy helps with the typical pregnancy backache, it ensures the pelvis is working and moving properly prior to and during labour. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the common discomforts experienced in pregnancy. Specific adjustments eliminate these stresses in your spine, restore balance to your pelvis and result in greater comfort and lifestyle improvements. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy restores balance to your pelvic muscles and ligaments and therefore leads to safer and easier deliveries for you and your baby. Additionally, the chiropractic adjustment removes interference to the nervous system allowing your uterus to function at its maximum potential. Published studies have indicated that chiropractic care does in fact reduce labour time. According to recent studies, chiropractic care may result in easier pregnancy including increased comfort during the third trimester and delivery, and reduced need for analgesics (pain medication). In one study, women receiving chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had twenty-four per cent shorter labour times [than average] and subjects giving birth for the second or third time reported thirty-nine per cent shorter labour times. In another study, the need for analgesics was reduced by fifty per cent in the patients who received adjustments. In addition, eighty-four per cent of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy with chiropractic care! And because the sacroiliac joints of the pelvis function better, there is significantly less likelihood of back labour (contractions and sharp pain felt in the lower back during labour) and dystocia when receiving chiropractic care through pregnancy. Chiropractic care has also been shown to increase breast milk production and breastfeeding comfort.

What common aliments do you see most when working with pregnant women?

The preventative check-ups, typical pregnancy backache, lower ribcage discomfort, pubic bone discomfort, upper back ache from increased breast size, breech presentation, in utero constraint, and delayed maturity (past due date).

At what age can children start seeing a Chiropractor?

My children were both checked within one hour of delivery. And even with their natural, non-invasive, midwife-delivered births, both had small misalignments in the upper neck area. Studies show that infants showed signs of nervous system injury and birth trauma in up to 40% of natural, non-traumatic births. A German physician (M.D.) found upper cervical (neck) misalignments and dysfunction in over 90% of neonates (newborns).

“The birth process and eager hands pulling and twisting can put a great deal of pressure on the spinal nerves and muscles of the infant’s neck (up to eighty pounds in some studies). In a difficult delivery, damage to the delicate tissues of the spine may occur, especially when vacuum extraction or forceps are used. While forceps injuries may be less common today, vacuum extraction can do just as much damage—up to 120 pounds of pressure goes through the baby’s head and neck to literally suck the baby out of the mother (decapitation can occur at 140 pounds of pressure, to give you an idea of the high forces involved).

Changing diapers may also place undue stress on the baby’s mid-back (thoracic spine). Raising the infant’s legs with one hand to place the diaper underneath can cause repetitive stress to these spinal joints. Spinal problems can also occur as a result of the frequent falls suffered by young infants in the first months of life. A fall from a bed, a sudden stop in an automobile, or any significant unsupported movement of the head and neck in an infant can induce excessive movement in the spine causing subluxations. At the other end of the spine, the act of learning to walk, and the number of simple falls encountered in this way, can induce trauma to the lower spinal segments and to the large sacroiliac joints of the pelvis.”*

NB: Adjustments for children and babies are safe and take into account the delicate nature of the pediatric spine. The amount of pressure used to check and adjust a child’s spine is very small, approximately the same as you would use to check a tomato for ripeness.

How could seeing a Chiropractor be beneficial to a child?

Unless a child has an obvious problem, it can be difficult for parents to recognize when a child has spinal subluxations (misalignments causing nerve interference). There are some signs, however, which parents may look for which can be an indicator of an infant with a spinal problem including: the child’s head consistently being tilted to one side; restricted head or neck motion to one side; disturbed sleeping patterns where the child sleeps for only an hour or two at a time; feeding difficulties in the young infant, for example, the infant may have difficulty nursing at the breast on one particular side; and the presence of any of the symptoms of ill-health mentioned previously. Nerve interference from subluxations is implicated in many common childhood health problems such as: sucking dysfunction, colic, irritability, reflux, unexplained crying, recurrent ear infections, frequent colds, headaches, asthma, lack of appetite, poor digestion, constipation , stomach aches, so called ‘growing pains ‘, back aches, bed-wetting , poor general health, and fatigue.*

*(From Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts)

[This article was originally posted in the October-November 2008 edition of Coastparents.ca Online Newsletter Parent Profile of Dr. Rosenberg]

Benefits

You don’t need to become a member of an expensive gym to go walking. And except for a good pair of walking shoes, it requires virtually no equipment.

A sedentary lifestyle has debilitating influence on people’s health as they age. Exercise is imperative or as the old saying goes: “if you don’t use it, you lose it!” Walking accomplishes all of the following and more:

• Improves cardiovascular endurance
• Tones muscles of the lower body
• Burns calories:  about 80 if walking 2 miles per hour, and about 107 if walking 4 1/2 miles per hour
• Reduces risk of heart disease

Shoes

The first item of business when beginning your walking program is to select the right pair of shoes. I recommend the following tips: Make sure the shoes you purchase fit properly. The balls of your feet should rest exactly at the point where the toe end of the shoe bends during walking. Avoid high-top shoes that often cover the entire ankle, limiting your foot’s ability to move freely and naturally. Opt instead for shoes that offer your ankle a fuller range of motion. Select shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of your walking. If you suffer from excessive pronation, fallen arches or other biomechanical problems with your feet, consider getting custom-made orthotic supports. Pregnancy can make the arches stretch and drop more from the effects of the hormone Relaxin, as well as from the weight gain and altered biomechanics (the classic ‘pregnancy waddle’) so it is extra important to ensure you are wearing proper, supportive footware when you are exercising while pregnant.

Getting Started

Walking just 12 minutes every other day can offer important health benefits. Walking 20 minutes every other day is even better. In order to increase your longevity, try to eventually work up to 30 minutes, five days per week. The following tips should help you get started safely and smoothly:

• Move your arms freely, in coordination with the opposite leg.
• Don’t stoop your head or look down as you walk. This will challenge the normal forward curve of your neck, which, in turn, will cause you to carry your weight improperly.
• Don’t carry weights or dumbbells while walking. They’re better used as a separate part of your exercise regimen. If you do carry weights while walking, be sure that they are light enough that they do not interfere with the “rhythm” of your arms and legs; in order to counterbalance the body, when your right arm moves forward, the left leg should be moving forward, etc.
• Expect a little soreness in the thighs and calves for the first week or two. If you experience more than minor soreness, check with your Doctor of Chiropractic.
• Walk briskly, with “purpose.” Simply “sauntering,” while relaxing and enjoyable, is not an effective form of cardiovascular exercise.

Keep in mind that, if you have not previously been physically active, you should consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise program. Begin slowly with a walk of perhaps half of a mile at a pace that does not cause discomfort. Continue this for about two weeks, then start to increase the pace and length of time walking. Eventually – depending on your age – you can build your “target” heart rate/pulse to either 120 beats per minute or, if younger, as many as 140 beats per minute. For the average adult, a heart rate of 120 beats per minute would require walking at about 2 miles per hour, while a heart rate of 140 beats per minute would require a pace of 4 ½ miles per hour. Click here for more pregnancy exercise tips.

Surfaces

Some walking surfaces are better than others on your musculoskeletal system. Walking on a cushioned or rubberized track is ideal, because the cushioning of this type of track absorbs most of the impact of your walking. Many recreation centers offer this type of track free of charge.

Grass is another good surface, but watch out for hidden dips or holes in the ground. Walking on a surface with no give, such as concrete or a mall floor, is not your best choice, because this type of surface will not absorb much of the impact your body will experience. If you do choose to walk on such a surface, be extra careful to select highly cushioned shoes.

Strollers

Strollers are great for giving your back a break from carrying your little one – when you use them properly. As you walk behind the stroller, your elbows should be slightly bent, back straight. Imagine a fishing line pulling you up from your sternal notch (the bump on the upper part of your breastbone). This will make your chest come up and your shoulders come down with your chin tucked in. Ideally, your stroller should have adjustable handles so that you, your spouse and other caregivers can easily raise or lower the handles to waist level – the optimal position for ergonomic ease. In case you’ve inherited a stroller with fixed handles that are too low for your comfort, check your favourite baby supply store for handle extenders.

Now that you’ve nailed the stroller walk, don’t blow it by bending over to transfer baby in and out. Instead of hunching your back, kneel on one knee to get down to baby’s level, and then straighten your legs to stand up. When you need to free up your arms, front carriers or slings come in handy. As with everything else, just be sure not to overdo as this can cause neck and shoulder strain.

Hydration

Drink 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day to help keep the kidneys active, dilute and remove toxins from the body, and replace lost fluids. (Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are diuretics (dehydrators) – don’t substitute them for water,  especially when you are pregnant). If you perspire during walking, you may need to drink even more.

Pain and Injury

While you may experience pain or injury in a particular area, such as a knee or a hip, the root of the problem may lie somewhere else. Injuries of this nature are not regional, or isolated, but often systemic. A problem in the foot or ankle can create an imbalance in every step, leading to discomfort or injury that moves to the knees, hips, low back, or elsewhere. If you suffer from pain beyond typical muscle soreness, your Doctor of Chiropractic can diagnose and treat your pain or injury and get you back into the swing of your walking routine.

Your Doctor of Chiropractic can also help customize a wellness program that is right for you and has the expertise to help keep you in the mainstream of life.

Dr. Stacey Rosenberg

Meet Dr. Stacey Rosenberg. Chiropractor, wife and mother of 2 busy children. Dr. Stacey can now add author to her many accomplishments as she published her first book entitled, Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts.

“Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby” is 150+ pages of prevention, tips, techniques, remedies, and resources to help ease the common complaints of pregnancy, birth and the post-partum period. It includes nutrition, pre-natal bonding, comfort measures, herbs, homeopathy, ergonomics, chiropractic, acupressure, yoga, breast-feeding advice, Hypnobirthing® and much more!

Dr. Stacey and her staff have been providing chiropractic care in Gibsons, BC since March 2001. While pregnant with her second child in 2006, she also expanded her practice into an integrated health clinic called the Gibsons Health and Wellness Centre®. But balancing a busy life in itself is a full time job. Dr. Rosenberg has some simple strategies for keeping ‘all the balls in the air at once.’ “I try to make sure that work stays at work and I am present at home when I am home. I have a wonderful husband who takes care of the children while I am at work; also, I use a coach to help with time management, business planning, reminding me to exercise, relax/meditate and breathe, eat well and take care of myself and my family. Whew!”

You may be wondering where a busy Mom with a thriving Chiropractic practice finds time to write a book… Dr. Stacey credits her “work-a-holic, stick-it-out-until-you-finish personality and third trimester nesting instinct! (And a great family and support network!)” Dr. Stacey was pregnant with her second child, and feeling the third trimester “nesting urge.” This being her second child, she didn’t need to shop for baby essentials so she decided to channel the energy into re-organising and re-vamping a few handouts on herbs and homeopathy used in pregnancy and labour that she had received from Bellies and Babies Group and her midwives. “I had a file folder about 3 inches thick full of photocopied sections from pregnancy books and herb books, chiropractic technique and obstetrics textbooks as well as the Hypnobirthing® course notes but a lot of it was bits and pieces from here and there and no one source had all the information that I found personally helpful all together in one place,” explains Dr. Stacey. “So as I finished the re-doing the herbs handout, I decided that it looked more like a chapter than a brochure so I added the homeopathy and chiropractic and from there it just grew and grew…”

Click here to read an exerpt from Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts. 

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions contained in this book have been compiled by many hours of research and years of hands-on experience. This information is believed to be accurate using the best research and clinical experience available. This information is not meant to diagnose or treat and should be considered for educational purposes only. Anyone who utilizes the information and opinions contained herein agrees and understands that they are assuming all responsibility and risk for doing so.

Reviews:

“Dr Stacey has compiled essential information for a woman´s safe and effective health needs throughout pregnancy. It is an ideal resource for both practitioners and parents. I love it!” - Jeanne Ohm, DC ICPA Executive Coordinator and family wellness practitioner

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“Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby” is a well thought out compendium for the expectant mother, put together by an author who has first hand knowledge of the process and can back it up with the right dose of research and scientific background thus allowing the reader to critically sort through the advice and opinions available whether or not they choose a natural pregnancy.

One can read the book from front to cover or simply pluck out the passages or chapters most relevant to ones situation. From getting a recipe using herbs to counter iron deficiency or clarifying the nutritional supplementation guidelines, to describing & illustrating exercises to facilitate the birth process, Dr Rosenberg’s book shines a light on the myriad of alternatives and empowers the reader to not only enjoy the fruits of ones ‘labour’ but to savor the ride as well.

The pleasant bonus of this book is that its audience, in addition to those involved in welcoming a baby and their caretakers, expands to all individuals who have an interest in preventative and natural care or merely wish to use complementary methods to enhance their own health and wellbeing. - Ingrid Ferrer, BSc., BSc.(clinical), DC.

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Thank you so much for your book. It really puts a lot of amazing tips and relevant information at one’s fingers. I read it in a night — easy, accessible, understandable — what health should be! - Keira Collins, BSc., BAppSci.(Clinical) /BChiroSci., DC

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“Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby’ is an excellent reference book that enriches the positive experience of natural pregnancy and childbirth.  This is an engaging read with valuable and practical information.  I highly recommend this book.”  -Dr. Penelope Seuren. Chiropractor.  B.App.Sc (H Biol); B.App.Sc (Clinical)/B.Chiro Sc., Mother of 1, soon to be 2

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Click here to purchase Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby – Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Birth and Post-Partum Discomforts.

Natural Pregnancy Natural Baby Book Cover