Who is on your healthcare team

A team effort in healthcare is very important, the chiropractors, massage therapists and craniosacral therapists At Family First Chiropractic and Wellness work together to help people acheive their healthcare goals.

Therapeutic massage is increasingly being promoted by healthcare providers to their patients

• Almost one in five adult Americans (19%) report discussing massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers.
• Of those 19 %, more than half (58%) said their doctor strongly recommended or encouraged it.
• More than half of massage therapists (63%) receive referrals from healthcare professionals.

We are located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, T4R 2X3

www.family1stchiro.ca

403.347.3261

Why do you need a massge?

Therapeutic massage is increasingly being promoted by healthcare providers to their patients

• Almost one in five adult Americans (19%) report discussing massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers.
• Of those 19 %, more than half (58%) said their doctor strongly recommended or encouraged it.
• More than half of massage therapists (63%) receive referrals from healthcare professionals.

Massage is beneficial for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly

• Babies fall asleep faster when massaged than when rocked, and they stay asleep rather than waking the moment Mom tiptoes away.
• When massaged regularly, children suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and autism showed improvement in their symptoms from decreased pain, decreased anxiety, and decreased inattentiveness.
• Massage therapy can help to partially restore mobility to the elderly afflicted with Parkinson’s disease and arthritis, as well as reduce levels of anxiety, depression, and the effects of loneliness

Call us a Family First Chiropractic and Wellness,403.347.3261  142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, T4R 2C3

www.family1stchiro.ca

What to sound smart?Ancient massage facts you may not know!

Interesting Facts About Massage You May Not Know

Brought to you by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, AB T4R2X3 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

• Massage is depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings.
• It is mentioned in ancient Chinese, Japanese, and Indian texts.
• The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates describes the practice of anatripis or “rubbing up.”

Massage for Healing Before and After Having Surgery

Massage for Healing Before and After Having Surgery

When your doctor mentions that you need to start preparing for surgery, I will venture a guess that you will not think of massage as one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself. Well... you are not alone in this thinking and that is unfortunate because the healing benefits of massage are vast.

Massage therapy is useful for endless conditions including insomnia, muscle pain, anxiety, circulatory problems, and recovery from injury or before and after having surgery.

Even self-massage techniques that target reflexology points in the hands and feet, affect the head, neck, sinuses, in addition to many other parts of the body and organs that are beneficially affected. Massage is particularly effective when used as part of preparing for surgery and the recovery from surgery, particularly bone or muscle reconstructive surgery.

Before surgery, massage can relieve much of the anxiety and tension associated with the anticipation of having surgery. Massage helps the patient feel less stressed and lowers the patient's expectations for pain. This lowering of stress promotes a general sense of well-being that enhances the patient's ability to heal quicker and with fewer complications.

After surgery, massage therapy is a great addition to or even a substitute for other pain and recovery treatments, such as pain medication, which can sometimes cause unpleasant side effects. There are several reasons why massage is beneficial after surgery. For one, massage improves the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body, allowing for increased oxygenation of the body's tissues and organs and reduction of swelling and stiffness. Additionally, the simple fact that human touch, something we all need and benefit from, is involved in massage therapy and accounts for much of its physical and mental healing qualities.

Listed below are some of the most valuable health benefits and effects of massage as it applies to surgery.
Helps to reduce edema or fluid accumulation

Reduces swelling

Reduces or relieves pain

Increases flexibility of tissues

Increases mobility

Reduces stress and tension

Increases body awareness

Promotes relaxation

Enhances immune functions and improved cell functions

Lowers the production of the hormone Cortisol (also known as the stress-hormone)

Even though the benefits of massage are immense, there are a couple of main reasons why massage therapy is not widely used or recommended by doctors. One reason is many insurance plans do not cover the cost of massage therapy. Another is because massage is often regarded as an unsophisticated, insufficiently researched treatment.

However, people have benefited greatly from massage before and after having surgery and practitioners of massage therapy endorse it as one of the most effective and pleasant healing modalities available to modern medicine.

With benefits like the ones listed above, you may want to consider incorporating therapeutic massage into your preparing for surgery plans
Author: Mary Edison

Brought to you by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 erickson Dr. Red Deer, Alberta, T4R2C3 www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261

Knee pain and chiropractic

Knee pain affects many individuals due to several reasons including injuries, sports, weight, work, repetitive bending over time or some types of arthritis. Pain may also be referred from the lower back, hip joints, feet or sacroiliac joints. This may be caused by nerve compression (subluxation) in your back, thighs or pelvis or there may be biomechanical problems such as flat feet or dysfunction of the hips or pelvis.

Chiropractic adjustments can help to align the knee, foot, back, pelvic and hip joints to improve mobility, function, and stability and reduce pain in the knees. The use of ice on the knees will help to reduce pain and inflammation of the knee joint. An exercise program will also help to lose weight while improving strength and endurance of your knees and stengthen the muscles involved as well. Orthotics for your shoes may also help to improve stability and reduce of your knees.

Call us at Family First Chiropractic & Wellness at 403-347-3261 to book your appointment. We are located at 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer T4R 2X3

www.family1stchiro.ca

What is Lymphatic Drainage?

It is a specialized therapy, which is designed to improve the functioning of the lymphatic system. This is primarily achieved through gentle, rhythmical circling movements of the skin, which stimulate the contractions of the lymphatic vessels. Techniques are performed with hands and fingers using a light-touch, which is simulating, gentle, through a wave-like movement. The subtle manual maneuvers activate lymph and interstitial fluid circulation as well as stimulate the functioning of the immune and parasympathetic nervous systems. A well functioning lymph system contributes to healthy body tissue and plays an important part in the body's immune system responses. 

In a nutshell having a Lymphatic Drainage can be compared to using a plunger on a slow or stopped up drain. If there is a clog in a drain, the water may go through the drain but it may not be draining to it’s full draining capacity, if at all. But after using a plunger the drain, drains to it’s full capacity.

What is the Importance of Lymph Drainage for good health?The predominant fluid in your body is lymphatic fluid. This fluid carries nutrients from the food you eat and oxygen from the air you breathe. It also carries toxic poisons, bacteria, cholesterol and viruses away from the cells in your body. Our lymphatic system is primarily responsible for carrying disease-fighting material to cells. When the lymphatic system is blocked, we become defenseless against attacks by virus, fungi, and bacteria.Many immune processes occur in the lymph nodes. If the pathways become congested, blocked, damaged or severed, then fluids can build up in the connective tissue leading to edema and swelling. This can lead to abnormalities in the cells and tissues. If there are any abnormalities in the tissues, then it is the role of the lymphatic system to transport the damaged cells, inflammatory products and toxins away from the area. The quicker this happens, the faster recovery will be. This is where Lymphatic Drainage can make a difference, the gentle technique enhances and stimulates the lymphatic system to drain stagnant fluids, detoxify, regenerate tissues, filter out toxins and foreign substances. Lymphatic Drainage is recommended for both the face and body.

Some Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage

¨ Detoxification of the entire body

¨ Relief of chronic pain

¨ Minimizes lines and wrinkles

¨ Restores hydration of the skin and Stimulates the overall skin

¨ Promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains, and lessens pain.

¨ Reduction in fluid retention and edemas (swelling) of various origins

¨ Helps with post-cancer treatments including Radiation therapy

¨ Regeneration of tissue, including burns and wounds

¨ Enhances body contouring and reduces cellulite

¨ Reduces swollen ankles and legs during pregnancy.

¨ Aids in stress reduction by causing deep relaxation

¨ Aids in the reduction of insomnia

¨ Relieves congestion, for those who suffer sinus and allergies

¨ Helps with some forms of constipation

¨ Reduces puffy eyes and “bags” under the eyes

¨ Before and after facial surgery (including cosmetic surgery)

¨ Builds and strengthen collagen fibers and increases tone and enhance facial contouring

¨ Rids the face or body of excess fluids and/or toxins

Brought to you be Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca