Your Personal Army

Your Personal Army

Strengthen your army by making sure you have a powerful king to lead the way.

Every castle, no matter how strong in structure, needs an army of soldiers to help protect and defend it from an invasion.

In this epic battle, the soldiers’ duty is to warn the castle of impending attack and to commence in fighting off the enemy forces. Without these mighty soldiers, the castle and its hosts can fall prey to the invaders.

Protecting Your Castle

This same experience is also true to the health of your body and your immune system.

If your body (the castle) doesn't have a healthy immune system (army of soldiers), your body becomes the host for various germs and microbes that can become an infection or disease.

The immune system is responsible for keeping these germs at bay. When an unwelcome virus or bacteria enter your body, your immune system goes to work, sending out healthy cells to fight back. One example of these healthy cells is the phagocyte.

Phagocyte is from the Greek word phagein, which means, “to eat” or “devour.” Phagocytes protect the body by attacking the germs and bacteria and eating them up. If all goes according to plan, your body comes out victorious and healthy! This happens millions of times each day without a conscious thought from you–if your nervous system is performing as it should.

Your Nervous System Is King

Who sends out the soldiers to attack?

That would be the king and those who work closely with him. Without a healthy nervous system orchestrating every cell, tissue, gland and system of your body, you’ll be more susceptible to invading armies of germs.

Strengthen your army by making sure you have a powerful king to lead the way. Likewise, strengthen your immune system by receiving regular chiropractic care for optimal nervous system health!

Family First Chiropractic is accepting new patients. Call us at 403-347-3261. 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer, AB. www.family1stchiro.ca

CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy is based on the theories of William Sutherland, D.O., an osteopath from the early 1900s. It was further developed by another osteopathic physician John E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University, where he served as a clinical researcher and Professor of Biomechanics. He later founded the Upledger Institute, the national center for CranioSacral Therapy. It is a form of holistic healthcare.

CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Using a soft touch, generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

CranioSacral is named for the cerebrospinal fluid that flows up and down the spinal cord from the cranium (head) to the sacrum (tailbone). As it slowly flows, it creates a rhythm throughout your body. The therapist assists this rhythm to self-correct dysfunctions in your body. Where there is a dysfunction, the rhythm is “stuck” and you feel pain, immobility, tension, etc. This can occur anywhere in the body. The cause is usually the result of a recent or past physical or emotional trauma. The therapist uses a very gentle, non-invasive light touch to locate the “stuck” areas and to assist the return of the healthy rhythm to these areas. As this occurs, there is a deep feeling of relaxation, more freedom of movement, and less pain. It is very quiet and passive. You remain fully clothed for this therapy. This is a very relaxing technique because it works with the fluid that nourishes all the nerves in your spinal cord.

By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, including:

• Migraine Headaches
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• Colic
• Autism
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Orthopedic Problems
• Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
• Scoliosis
• Infantile Disorders
• Learning Disabilities
• Chronic Fatigue
• Emotional Difficulties
• Stress and Tension-Related Problems
• Fibromyalgia and other Connective-Tissue Disorders
• Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
• Neurovascular or Immune Disorders      
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Post-Surgical Dysfunction

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Does your Child have Low Back Pain

Does your Child have low back pain?

Many children complain of low back pain and this should never be shrugged off as ‘growing pains’ or a ‘nothing’ to worry about they will ’outgrow’ it or it will go away. The most common low back complaint in children is a spondylolysis, which may lead to spondylolisthesis.

Often when we are taking a history on an adult patient we discover that many have had the issue and low back pain since childhood or even adolescence. Often when we do an exam and a plain film x-ray we discover that there is a pars defect in the low back vertebra causing a spondylolysis and sometimes a spondylolisthesis (slippage). There is now new research to show that often this defect cannot be found on plain x-ray and a MRI is needed to discover a ‘pending spondylolisthesis’ – which is basically a stress fracture on the pars interarticularis of the vertebra.

The most common cause of low back pain in children and adolescents that can be seen on X-ray is a stress fracture in one of the bones (vertebrae) that make up the spinal column. Technically, this condition is called spondylolysis (spon-dee-low-lye-sis). It usually affects the fifth lumbar l5 vertebra in the lower back and, much less commonly, the fourth lumbar vertebra L4.

If the stress fracture weakens the bone so much that it is unable to maintain its proper position, the vertebra can start to shift out of place. This condition is called spondylolisthesis (spon-dee-low-lis-thee-sis). Growth plays a definite role in the cause of spondylolysis and has a strong prevalence in age 14- younger in females from the earlier adolescent growth. This factor explains the prominence of slippage in girls (listhesis) and more pars defect in boys (lysis). Often congenital defects found on x-ray such as facet orientation, occult spina bifida and/or a longer pars have a higher relevance of spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis can also be caused by a traumatic event such as a bad fall or hit playing sports or otherwise. Often we do not know the specific incident that causes and spondylolysis/listhesis in children and adults.

Treatment for a childhood spondylolisthesis includes chiropractic adjustments to approximate the pars defect, pelvic tilt exercises, as well as possible rehab with a Boston Brace. The Boston Brace holds the pelvis in a pelvic tilt- helping to approximate the pars defect, allow healing in the correct position. Often the brace is recommended for 3-4 months duration. If you suspect this issue in your child get them checked by your chiropractor.

Dr. Joelle Johnson has been a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association for 15 years and has treated many children for low back pain and complaints. She is located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer. T4R 2C3 

www.family1stchiro.ca  403-347-3261

http://www.acatoday.org/press_css.cfm?CID=430

http://www.theamericanchiropractor.com/articles-radiology/4710-spondylolysis-andor-spondylolisthesis-lets-get-it-right-and-stir-things-up.html

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis-and-spondylolisthesis

http://cdn2.perfectpatients.com/childsites/uploads/41/files/spondylolisthesis.pdf

http://www.theamericanchiropractor.com/articles-radiology/8733-pending-spondylolysis-andor-spondylolisthesis-whats-it-all-mean.html

http://books.google.ca/books?id=YmQ3GGGjDhMC&pg=PA463&lpg=PA463&dq=Boston+brace+and++spondylolisthesis&source=bl&ots=5MhLxBEgGt&sig=i30PQHZIVnX-i08HQNhA-QMvnsA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FJFfVOaBHcv5yQTJyIHYCw&ved=0CHQQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Boston%20brace%20and%20%20spondylolisthesis&f=false

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