Trampolines are not recommended for your child

Now that spring and summer time has arrived parents want their children to get outside into the fresh air and get exercise. Now, I am not a fan of trampolines and if you are planning on purchasing one I suggest not to and look at other options for exercise for your child.

Many heath professionals will deter parents from purchasing a trampoline. This is a quote from the Canadian Paediatric society. “Health care professionals, including family physicians and paediatricians, should warn parents of the dangers of trampolines as a recreational toy at routine health care visits. Parents should be advised to avoid the purchase of trampolines for the home because enclosures and adequate supervision are no guarantee against injury. “

https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/trampoline-home-use

Recommendations are also made to not allow a child under 6 to use a trampoline.

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2012/09/19/peds.2012-2082.full.pdf

Children are growing and developing and their bones and muscular system are immature and weak and cannot handle the impact and repetitive injury. The bones are soft and can bend and flex causing a higher rate of fractures and ‘bending’ of the bones requiring casting and possibly surgery. The children can also obtain sprain strains and soft tissue injuries in their spine and extremities.

Multiple authors and organizations, including the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and Safe Kids Canada, have called for the elimination of trampolines in the home environment as recreational play equipment or for an outright ban on trampolines under any circumstances for the paediatric age group. There were 4,247 reported cases of trampoline injuries treated in emergency rooms across 15 hospitals between 2005-2006 and 2009-2010.

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-33-no-3-2013/injuries-related-consumer-products-canada-systematic-literature-review.html

Over my 20 years in practice I have seen many trampoline related injuries such as spinal trauma, sprain/strains, neck injuries, low back and mid back injuries and fractures requiring casting and surgery.

Dr. Joelle Johnson BSc, DC practices in Red Deer at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson Drive 403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca

Supportive/ Maintenance Treatment Works!

A paper presented at the European Chiropractors' Union (ECU) convention earlier this year underscores the advantages of regular chiropractic care. The authors, looked at how chiropractic maintenance care (MC) could prevent new episodes of nonspecific low back pain or minimize its impact. The purpose of their study was to "investigate the effect of MC as compared to symptomatic treatment on reducing recurrent and persistent LBP."

The multi-center, randomized clinical trial was conducted in Sweden, with patients provided with either treatment at regular intervals, regardless of symptoms (MC), or symptomatic treatment whereby patients were treated only when consulting for pain. The MC group was provided with chiropractic care at one- to three-month intervals.

This is an altogether familiar scenario, in that most patients only go for chiropractic care when they are in pain or when something is bothering them. Unfortunately, by the time a patient recognizes their pain, the problem may have been there for some time and damage has been done.  If only they would visit their chiropractor periodically, regardless of symptoms, a point study results make glaringly clear:

"The MC group consisted of 163 subjects who reported 19.3 fewer days with bothersome LBP over the 12 month follow-up compared to the 154 subjects in the control group. The MC group had an average of 7 visits during the study, compared to 5 visits in the control group."

Let's Do the Math

So, here's the math for the average patient. Two extra visits to your chiropractor each year will result in almost 20 extra days without back pain. For me, that works out to about $4 per pain-free day ... I'll take it!

While monthly chiropractic care can be very beneficial, it is clear that most people should be seeing their doctor of chiropractic at least every two months or so. We all need to understand a little regular scheduling could significantly improve our quality of life. Imagine how many days of pain could be eliminated if everyone enjoyed chiropractic at least every two months.

For my whole career I have emphasized regular treatments and not chase pain. Don’t wait for small problems to become big ones. The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is supported by these types of studies.

To schedule your first appointment or a maintenance treatment, please contact Family First Chiropractic and Wellness.

Dr. Stephen Kelly is a Chiropractor at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness with over 15 years of experience, located In Red Deer, AB 142 Erickson Dr., www.family1stchiro.ca

403-347-3261 to book an appointment. 

Once you go chiro..

One of the most misunderstood beliefs about chiropractic is that once you start, you have to keep going back forever.  It's true, many Chiropractic clients choose to continue care on a regular wellness care after experiencing great results, but they do so simply because preventative maintenance makes sense - the body functions better without nerve interference.

Here are some other things that you don't have to maintain/prevent for the rest of your Life, but also make good sense... brushing your teeth, going to the gym, taking your vitamins, eating your veggies, changing the oil in your car or saving for retirement.  Somewhere along the road, you discovered on your own accord that these activities ADD to your Life as opposed to subtract from it, and it's the same for clients who choose to get adjusted for maintenance purposes.

No one can make you do something you don't want to.  Just like regular car tune ups or staying physically fit, the choice to keep your spine and nervous system free from damaging stress for the rest of your life is totally your decision... as are the benefits if you do and the consequences if you don't.

 If you have any questions feel free to email Dr. Elton Clemence at the clinic at www.family1stchiro.ca or call us at 403-347-3261 for consultation and to set up a time to have your spine and nervous system checked.

Precious Cargo, Prenatal Chiropractic Care

Precious Cargo, prenatal Chiropractic Care

During your child's first nine months, they will undergo tremendous growth and development as they prepare to enter this world. Your baby's brain and nervous system are the first to develop following conception. The spine and skull, which is the housing that protects this vital master controller, develops later. 

The choices you make before conception and during each stage of your pregnancy will be a factor in your baby's wellness. During your pregnancy, the lack of interference to the baby's development gives them an opportunity for their inborn intelligence to develop their physical, emotional and spiritual nature. 

If you're thinking about becoming pregnant, your Doctor of Chiropractic would encourage you to begin the dialogue six months to even a year before you are ready to have a family. 

Physical, chemical and emotional stressors can affect the quality of your pregnancy and a Family Wellness Chiropractor is as much an educator as they are a healthcare provider. 

For more information or to book an appointment with Dr. Joelle Johnson or Dr. Stephen Kelly please call us at 403-347-3261 Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer www.family1stchiro.ca