Trampolines and childhood injuries

Trampolines- are they a good idea?

Many patients ask me my thoughts about trampolines and their pros and cons. I have a very strong opinion about the usage and supervision of children on trampolines, most of them are cons.
We see many trampoline injuries in our clinic from sprains and strains, pelvis injuries, neck injuries, whiplash, knee and hip injuries and even fractures from falling off the trampoline or an impact with other children on the trampoline. Many people have a trampoline in the back yard, some with protective nets and some without. Parents feel the net is the best prevention of injuries, while it may help the best thing is setting guidelines such as only one child on per time, proper adult supervision and limiting time to 5-7 minutes before switching to another childs turn. This prevents several things, the infamous 'double bounce' and prolonged repetative impact on the spine. As a child we think that the double bounce is fun, however it causes jarring on the spine, neck and lowback that may cause trauma and spinal subluxations causing pain or other related issues.

Around 20 percent of injuries to the spinal cord caused by trampoline use are due to jumpers bumping into each other, trying to do stunts, falling off the trampoline or falling onto the frame or springs of the trampoline, reports BrainandSpinalCord.org.
In calendar year 2006, reports the Consumer Product Safety Review, trampolines caused an estimated 109,522 injuries. Of those injuries, children from 4 years old and younger sustained an estimated 15,541; children from 5 to 14, an estimated 71.265; older children and young adults 15 to 24, an estimated 14,571; adults 25 to 64, an estimated 7,836; and adults 65 and older sustained an estimated 309 injuries. About 104,729 of those individuals of all ages who were injured were treated in emergency rooms and released. The rest, an approximately 4,793, were either hospitalized or dead on arrival. SpineUniverse.com reports six trampoline-related deaths since 1990.

If your child has been injured on the trampoline make sure she is checked by a doctor of chiropractic for spinal subluxations and injuries before they become bigger issues. We are located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

CranioSacral therapy

The CranioSacral System

Jeannette Raskin RMT,CST

Each person has a craniosacral rhythm.  This is caused by the increase and decrease of cerebrospinal fluid produced and reabsorbed at a regular rate within and around the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). 

The subtle rhythm can be felt by a practitioner trained in CranioSacral Therapy.  This rhythm (6-12 cycles per minute) can be felt all over the body.  It is similar to the rhythms of the heart (pulse) and lungs (respiration).

The craniosacral rhythm, when felt in different parts of the body, can be used to detect dysfunctions or disturbances in the body.  These disturbances can develop symptoms:  such as back pain, headaches, etc.  A CranioSacral Therapist can usually help the body re-establish balanced motion with gentle, subtle techniques, thus assisting the body to return itself to normal function.

The Bog brought to you by Jeanneatte Raskin RMT, CST located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer,
403-347-3261 to book an appointment
www.family1stchiro.ca

Importance of Adequate Water

Importance of Adequate Water

When faced with a survival situation, clean drinkable water is often the most important consideration. People have survived without food for weeks or even months, but go without water for even just one day and the survivor will be in desperate straights indeed.
Knowing that water is by far the most important nutrient for the human body (besides oxygen) and, in particular, during a survival situation when finding potable water may not be easy, the question becomes – just how long can the human body survive without adequate water?
To maintain a high level of health and efficiency even in ideal environments, a minimum of two quarts of clean water per day per person is the generally accepted rule of thumb. In very hot or cold or very dry environments, or if you are physically active, two quarts of water a day may not be enough to sustain life over a period of days or weeks.Water lost through sweating and normal respiration must be replaced in order to stay healthy and function at top efficiency. Water is also needed to process the food you eat, especially if it is salty or you eat heavy foods like meat.

Environment and Water Needs

In general the higher the temperature the greater your water consumption needs to be. If you are active or exposed to the hot rays of the sun you may need upwards of a gallon of water per day to stay to healthy.
Perhaps surprisingly, very cold environments can be as dry as the driest desert. This is because cold air cannot hold much moisture. This cold dry air serves to dehydrate your body with every breath you take. Cold dry air can also rob your body of moisture via loss from exposed skin. This is one reason why your lips may be prone to chapping. So during cold weather even though you may not be sweating nearly as much as when you are in a hot environment you may still easily become severely dehydrated without even realizing the danger you are in.
Wind can also play a role in the amount of water you need to take in. A dry wind on exposed flesh can suck the water right out of a person. Indeed, the remains of mummified animals and even people are often found in desert regions, their bodies totally dried out.

Effects of Going Without Water

Although two thirds of the human body by weight is composed of water, this water is needed for circulation and other bodily processes including respiration and converting food to energy. If you are losing more water than you are taking in, dehydration will occur.
It has been shown that if you lose just 2.5% of your body weight from water loss, you will loose 25% of your efficiency. For a 175 pound man that is only about two quarts of water. As the survivor dehydrates, his blood becomes thicker and loses volume. This causes the heart to work harder and circulation of blood to be less efficient. In a survival situation, loosing a full one quarter of your physical and mental abilities due to dehydration could mean the end of your life. Bottom line: drink plenty of fluids whether you feel thirsty or not so that you stay a peak efficency.

Survival Times without Water

Ill health, exposure to the elements, shock, and panic can reduce your survival time in any situation. An important additional consideration is whether or not to eat food when there may be an inadequate supply of water. Certainly foods that contain a high proportion of water, such many kinds of fuits and berries may actually aid the survivor in providing water. Meat, dry and salty foods should be avoided as they require water from your body for processing and will serve to dehydrate you further.

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

Fun Things to Do with Dad on Father’s Day

He Enjoys Being with His Kids, No Matter How Old or Young They Are

On Father’s Day we take time to show appreciation for the first, special man in our lives. He was there when we were young, organizing ice cream outings; teaching the fine art of catching a fly ball; wiping away tears; or coaching a kindergarten soccer team. As we grew older, Dad taught us to drive both a car and a golf ball and to manage our money while taking his. He encouraged us to discover the world, while always making sure there would be a home to which we could return.
So whether you’re celebrating your dad or the father of your children, here are activities to plan for the day to build a base of memories that will last a lifetime.

If the Dad You’re Celebrating Has Young Children...
...then you’re probably his wife. If so, plan activities that your husband can enjoy with his children. What are some of the favorite things your children like to do on their own, or with you, but that Dad never gets to share with them?

Get Messy in the Kitchen with Dad: Do the kids enjoy mixing things up in the kitchen? If so, plan a cooking project that dad can do with them. You supply the ingredients, they make the mess, and you do the clean-up when they’re done. If you’re lucky, they may let you sample their creations. Good cooking projects for young children include dipping pretzels in melted chocolate (be sure it’s not too hot); preparing a cookie dough mix and dropping the cookies on a baking sheet; mixing up a batch of pancakes and letting Dad wield the mighty spatula; creating homemade play dough which is a fun project to mix and play with after they’re done.

Life’s a Picnic: If Dad never gets enough of the great outdoors, plan an outing to one of his beloved nature spots. Pack a picnic that includes Dad’s favorite sandwiches and side dishes. Remember to bring along a blanket large enough for the whole gang, and plan a few fun games for when you’re done eating such as catch, frisbee, or simply a good game of tag and tickle.

Take a Stroll Down Memory Lane: Parents take so many photos and videos but unfortunately can never find the time in their busy lives to enjoy these memories. So make the time on Father’s Day to pull out the scrapbooks and home videos. Gather the kids, the popcorn, candy, and juice boxes and Dad can watch his favorite little people in action.

What I Like About Dad: Help the kids to write their own play for Dad, about Dad. Have each child take a turn playing Dad and acting out their favorite things that they most love about him. Remember to take videos of the show to enjoy on future Father’s Days.

If the Children are Tweens or Teens...
...they probably have their own ideas about what they’d like to do with Dad. But this is his day, so make sure that the kids think more about what dad would like to do than how they would choose to spend the day. Here are some ideas.

His Favorite Things: By the time kids are tweens and teens, they’ve learned how to express, very clearly, when they don’t want to join their parents on an outing. But today is the one day when Dad can ask them to join him in his favorite interest and expect to receive no complaints or long faces while doing it. Whether he wants company going to a car show, hiking, or watching a golf match, the cheerful company of his children will make Dad’s day complete.

Arrange a Little Competition: If Dad is just a bit competitive, but does his best to play nicely with the kids, on Father’s Day tell him it’s okay to play to win. Any game is fair play and whether it’s an intense game of checkers, chess, tennis, or bocce, the only requirement is that the kids are good losers when Dad does his victory dance.

Daddy Trivia: No eye rolling allowed with this activity. This is the time to invite Dad to share all of his well worn childhood stories with you. Turn it into a reverse trivia game by making a long list of questions that you ask Dad about himself. Then sit back and enjoy the stories as he enjoys sharing his life with you. This would be a great activity to record on video.

You’re All Grown-Up...
...but you’ll always be his little boy or girl. Spend the day enjoying his company but take the opportunity to repay him just a little for all that he has done for you over the years.

Take Him Out to the Ball Game: He probably brought you to your first baseball game if he is a fan of the sport. This time you buy the tickets and take him out to see his favorite team play. Load him up with plenty of peanuts, hot dogs, and his other favorite ballpark goodies. Of course you’ll be the one making the trips to the concession stands.

Rock and Roll If Dad has always been into rock and roll and still plays a mean air guitar, purchase tickets to take him to see his favorite classic rock band in concert. It doesn’t matter if it’s not your taste in music. He had to listen to your favorite bands for many years.

Be the Handyman: It’s impossible to count the things he built, assembled or repaired for you. But there are probably plenty of jobs he could now use a little help getting done around his house. You could wash the car, change the oil, mow the lawn, repair the screen, or organize his tools. Pull up a chair so that he can watch and chat with you while you get something done for him.

Invite Him to Join You in a Time-Honored Father’s Day Tradition: Inviting Dad to a barbecue is a classic way to spend the day, for good reason. It’s a great way to serve dad his favorite food while you relax together, eat, talk, eat and talk some more. There’s nothing quite like remembering past good times together while creating new memories for the future.

Brought to you by the practitions at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta. www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261

Men And Housework-Avoid at all costs

Men and Housework

Housework can be dangerous to your health. Avoid at all costs!

Some husbands may make this claim however they can do a few things do decrease the risk of injury or excessive strain.

Here are a few helpful hints:

1.      Use Machinery – get creative. Robotic vacuums will allow you to watch as the carpet is cleaned.

2.      Hire a Maid Service – your wife will love you and you won’t have to do a thing!

3.      Don’t Invite Guests Over – If nobody sees the mess, does it matter? Close the door on most rooms if company comes over unexpectedly.

4.      Order In – The kitchen will never need cleaning if you don’t cook.

On the chance that your partner does not agree with the above, here are a few things to remember:

1.      Stretch before doing heavy lifting

2.       Use ladders safely when cleaning higher areas or making repairs.

3.      Avoid prolonged repetitious tasks – do a variety of different chores around the house.

4.      Listen to your Wife!

Happy Wife - Happy Life!

Call us at Family First Chiropractic & Wellness at 403-347-3261 to book your appointment.

www.family1stchiro.ca. We are located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer.

Water and Our Body

• Between 60%-75% of an adult's body weight is water
• Our brain is 75% water, which is why even mild dehydration causes headaches
• Our blood is 92% water
• Our muscles are 75% water

This Blog is brought to you by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261

General Health

• About 8% of the adult population and 5% to 9% of children are affected by serious mental illness
• Ordinary B-vitamins can enhance human mental performance and even increase happiness
• Breast-feeding triggers bone loss in areas prone to fractures later in life, such as the hip, wrist, and spine. But this lost bone is completely replaced with fresh, new bone within two years of having a baby.
• Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
• Bananas works as a natural antacid in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try a banana for soothing relief.
• Nearly one-third of all adults are obese.
• Studies have shown that eating close to bedtime may enhance the storage of fat and promote weight gain.
• Long term use of zinc lozenges for treating colds can temporarily suppress the immune system, just the opposite of what you want when fighting off a cold.

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