Pediatric Posture Epidemic Part 2 of 3

Pediatric Posture Epidemic Part 2 of 3

Welcome back to Part 2 of 3 of the pediatric posture epidemic. Now more than ever we need to move. We have a decline in healthy posture at the speed of technology. Children and adults are showing poorer posture. This posture is the forward head tilt with an increased mid-back curve called a hyperkyphosis.

Most hyperkyphosis posture is postural; however, some are structural. When your trunk flexes forward you have poor balance; this imbalance decreases your ability to regulate movement properly. You will have a slower gait and a wider stance causing poor coordination and balance. I strongly recommend no tech under two and school-age children a maximum of 1 hour per day. Our children are developing their nervous system and spines with technology and are the first generation to have this from birth. Previous generations have developed their posture and nervous system before technology. We need children to spend at least 2 hours a day physically playing, which activates their vestibular and nervous system.

Posture Rehabilitation Exercises:

1. Stand Straight with your back against the wall with your heels buttocks, shoulder blades, and head against the wall. Have your head in a neutral position, not tipped up or down. Press you head straight into the wall hold for 10 seconds and five reps per day

2. Posture Angels: Stand with your back against the wall with your heels, buttocks, shoulder blades, and head against the wall. Have your head in a neutral position, not tipped up or down. Move your arms from your sides, to over your head without taking them off the wall. Do 10 per day.

3. The 'Titanic': Stand straight extend your arms behind you contracting your shoulder blades, extend your hear up and back looking at the ceiling, hold for 30 seconds. Do this for every 45 min to an hour that you are as a computer or device

4. Superman Extensions: Lay on your stomach, raise your head, raise your arms in front and raise your legs at the same time, hold for 30 sec 5 reps per day

5. Backward Ball Stretch: Lay backward over a gym ball with arms up over the head, hold and breathe into it.

Here is the link to the Blog 1 LINK TO PART ONE:

https://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=229172

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

Pediatric Posture epidemic Part 1 of 3

Pediatric Posture epidemic

Part 1 of 3

I have decided to break this blog into 3 separate parts, the first to discuss the issue, the following 2 will be the exercises and rehabilitation for improving your posture.

We have a decline in healthy posture at the speed of technology. Children and adults are showing poorer posture. This posture is the forward head tilt with an increased midback curve called a hyperkyphosis. Most hyperkyphosis posture is postural; however some are structural. When you trunk flexes forward you have poor balance; this imbalance decreases your ability to regulate movement properly. You will have a slower gait and a wider stance causing poor coordination and balance.

50.5% of school-age children have poor posture! Over 50%! We have an epidemic!

Poor posture decreases balance, coordination, self-confidence, and results in a poor cognitive and emotional state. Posture distortion is unfortunately the new normal, and we need to reverse this in the ‘digital age.’

Tech neck posture at a 60-degree angle causes 60 pounds of force to the neck and upper back! Tech neck causes digital dementia

Digital dementia is defined as non-Alzheimers dementia-like symptoms form the overstimulation of devices and poor lifestyle habits.

It causes

1.    Understimulation of the Parietal lobe

2.    Overstimulation of the occipital lobe

3.    Understimulation of the cerebellum

4.    Understimulation of the PMRF

5.    Understimulation of the frontal lobe

I strongly recommend no tech under two and school-age children a maximum of 1 hour per day. Our children are developing their nervous system and spines with technology and are the first generation to have this from birth. Previous generations have developed their posture and nervous system before technology.  We need children to spend at least 2 hours a day physically playing, which activates their vestibular and nervous system.

Increased screen time causes the following

1.    Thinning of the brain cortex

2.    Decreased GPA with increased screen time

3.    Increased in ADHD

4.    Decreases in working memory

5.    Lower quality of life with increased screen time

How do we help these children and adolescents?

•    Spinal alignment, chiropractic adjustments  to stimulate the spine and the nervous system to function optimally

•    Posture rehabilitation

•    Posture habit re-education

Watch for the next blog part 2 by Dr. Joelle Johnson Bsc, D.C.,  from Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer T4R3B3 www.family1stchiro.ca

403-347-3261

Craniosacral Therapy and Mouth Work

I have been practicing CranioSacral therapy since 2002 and it has helped me and many of my clients.  When most people talk about this therapy they talk about headaches, birth trauma, or chronic pain.  CranioSacral therapy helps all these things.  But I would like to share my experience with CranioSacral therapy and mouth work.  It has changed me.

I should start with a little history.  Now, I did not have any serious mouth or jaw problems growing up that I can remember.  My biggest problem with my jaw was probably stress clenching.  I know that is not a scientific word but I am sure many people know what I am talking about.  As my stress would increase so would my jaw tension.  When I started taking CranioSacral therapy and receiving treatments is when I noticed a significant difference.  After my first mouth work treatment that I received I could not believe the difference.  My mouth felt bigger and much more relaxed.  I started raving about this to my clients and trying the techniques out on them.  From chronic headache sufferers to clients with braces, the results have been amazing.

Another benefit of mouth work, for me at least, has been the ability to speak more freely.  When we have increased tension in and around our mouths it may unknowingly inhibit our ability to speak.  When even some of our tension is released that allows us to speak.

Mouth work in CranioSacral Therapy is something I practice on most of my clients, especially the infants.  I often see children with birth trauma, tongue ties, etc. and I find that mouth work is essential for them to get the results that they need.  While treating infants I am constantly reassuring, explaining and sometimes even showing the parents how much pressure I am using on their children. 

When practicing CranioSacral therapy in the mouth it just as gentle as when you work outside the mouth.  Sometimes even more gentle.  The practitioner uses gloves and can better access some of the bones of the mouth, the teeth, and even some of the muscles.

Jeannette Raskin practices at Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta.  403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca. 

Job Description of a Pediatric Chiropractor

  

Job Description of a Pediatric Chiropractor

I have been a Pediatric Chiropractor for the past 15 years, I am a mother of 3 boys and I LOVE everyday of it. Oftern we will have some unique experience dealing with the toddler, kids babies , and parents that make each day unique and amazing. Patients comment often they are not sure how I deal with all the chaos each day, but honestly I love every minute of it. Seeing these little tiny humans grow, learn, develop and blossom into little people is a daily blessing. Seeing how their little minds work, and grow is a miracle. Here is a little spoof on my daily life at our clinic Family First Chiropractic and Wellness:

1.      Must know how to baby and toddler wrangle/wrestle while adjusting them often in awkward positions on the floor or table

2.      Be able to speak toddle-ease – aka toddler language fluently- the garbled words make sense to them!

3.      Can adjust while stepping on toys, trains, trucks, sippy cups, crackers, treats , dollies and 4 (or more)children playing etc at your feet

4.      Be comfortable with wiping noses, fingers, hands  and other areas of children other than mine

5.      I often do not leave work with clean clothes or hair- I often have baby or toddler “schmutz” somewhere on my clothing

6.      Has a ‘Bachelor of Science Degree’ in toddler negotiations

7.      Has a massive supplies of stickers in all cartoon categories- including Frozen, Sponge Bob, Deigo, Dora, Thomas the train, Minions, Cars, Princess and many many more

8.      Know all of the Disney movies by heart- and are able to quote them

9.      Know every superhero, caped avenger and turtle out there!

10.  Know and name all the Disney princess characters

11.  Have a direct phone line to Santa in the back office

12.  Answer to many different names- Dr. Bones, Dr. Tickles, Dr. Popcorn, Dr. Wiggles and giggles

13.  Know how to adjust the sleep, poop, and attitude ‘buttons’

14.  Have the pleasure of baby cuddles, toddler hugs, blown kisses and fist pumps daily

Dr. Joelle Johnson practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer. www.family1stchiro.ca

403-347-3261