CranioSacral Therapy for Moms and Babies

I see many women come to me for CranioSacral Therapy while they are pregnant. Some women come to me to relieve pain or discomfort they experience; while others come just to support their bonding with baby and for wellness. All are good reasons for treatment. CranioSacral therapy can help relieve or decrease your pain as your body is transitioning and preparing for the baby. It can also help you decrease stress and increase bonding with your baby.

What do you do after baby is born though? I always encourage moms to bring in their babies after they are born as soon as they are able. The birth process can often be quite traumatic and even when it is not baby does have to transition to being out of the womb. Baby’s body needs to learn how to digest, deal with outside stimulation, and a host of other things we no longer think about. CranioSacral Therapy can help that transition.  Moms often can use therapy as well to help them recover from giving birth.

How does that look? Well I would recommend a half an hour for your baby and that will give me enough time to check their whole CranioSacral system and help correct problems they may have. I do encourage mom to book in as well, even if it is just for half an hour to help her transition after birth. I have had moms get treated with baby in a car seat beside the table and I have treated moms while they are holding their baby.  We work with whatever the situation requires.  It is beautiful to see and mother and baby leave the treatment room calmer and more content than they came in.

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

Massage Benefits

                Regular massages are an effective stress management technique. Stress is often caused by being over-committed and overwhelmed with daily tasks at home, work and family obligations where we often forget about our well-being. A weekly or bi-weekly massage forces you to take time out for yourself for a pleasurable, relaxing activity. Even if it is once a month, make sure to prebook and have it on a day where you can calm your mind and shut everything out for the time of your treatment. Your body will thank you.

                We are constantly over worked and may not realize it. During your massage treatment you will find in your body where you are holding stress. You become more in-tuned with your body as the therapist works in the tissue as he or she will lessen and break up the scar tissue or decrease inflammation in your body. The Parasympathetic nervous system will kick in and it will be at its best state to allow the healing to occur in your body. When we are stressed or always on the go, our adrenals are overworking and we are constantly in that state of taking flight..When getting regular massages it will allow the body to come back to balance and restore or reset the body, which will allow better digestion, gain clarity, reduce inflammation, lessen headaches , improve range of motion and reduce anxiety, depression and improves circulation.

               Try your massage today if you haven't booked in, you wont know what you will be missing until you try yours today.

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

Importance of Your Cervical Curve

How many times have you been told to sit up straight? It turns out your parents were right. Sitting up straight is good advice indeed. Hunching your shoulders and keeping your head down while working, studying, or texting isn’t just bad for posture, it can actually reduce the healthy curve in your cervical spine. Here is some information you need to get in the loop about why the body has, and needs this important curve.

What is the Cervical Curve?

The cervical curve is the length of your neck, and contains the first seven vertebrae of your spine. It begins directly below your skull at the atlas vertebrae and ends above the thoracic spine. A healthy cervical curve resembles a wide, backward “C” shape and studies show the ideal cervical curve is approximately 42 degrees when standing upright.

Cervical Curvature Starts with Tummy Time

Infants are born with spines curved like the letter “C” and this makes sense when you think about how babies are positioned in utero. At a few months old, the cervical curve starts to form due to that important “tummy time”—the period when infants begin holding their heads up while lying on their stomachs and crawling. This leads to the development of the lumbar curve. Lumbar curve further develops as infants start to walk. These two critical curves slightly resemble an “S” shape in healthy adult spines.

How Do Cervical Curves Reduce?

Cervical spine can lose its curvature due to both major and minor traumas to the body. Physical stresses like car accidents, slips, falls and sports injuries can reduce spinal curvatures. Micro traumas, such as sitting with poor posture for prolonged period of time. Poor sleeping habits. Such as sleeping on your stomach or using unsupportive pillows or too many pillows put our spines in a compromised position.”

What You Can Do 

Get checked by a doctor of chiropractic for cervical curve loss and its severity, or osteoarthritis. Your chiropractor will create a customized plan for correcting, reversing or preventing the continued degeneration. Like a crooked tooth Cervical curve reduction is due to structural changes. Where muscles, ligaments has shortened or lengthened, and adhesions formed. In addition, every inch of forward head posture, the weight of the head on the spine increases by an additional 10 pounds. Research also indicates that continuous forward head posture leads to long-term muscle strain, disc herniation, arthritis and pinched nerves.

Dr. Elton Clemence is a Chiropractor at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located in Red Deer, AB 142 Erickson Drive, www.family1stchiro.ca

Massage Therapy & Pain Management

The purpose of massage therapy is to target the source of the body’s pain via eliminating tense muscles, increasing flexibility, and providing relaxation to the affected muscles as well as the body as a whole. Massage also promotes circulation to the affected or injured muscles, which increases nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues. In turn, this increased activity to the affected sites reduces stiffness and edema (swelling) in the muscles and joints, as well as increases flexibility to help reduce pain. 

Moreover, this form of therapy also releases endorphins (pain-killing hormones), which boost the dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. These hormones assist the body in many ways–physically as well as emotionally. Case in point, they promote healing, pain management, and feelings of euphoria, as well as help to calm the nerves.

Guy Lacoursiere, RMT practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive. Call 403-347-3261 to book an appointment or visit us online.

CranioSacral Therapy and Stress

The Christmas season is often a very stressful time of year for everyone.  With all the late nights, overindulging, and running around getting ready we often do not have or make enough time for ourselves.  CranioSacral therapy is a wonderful idea to help yourself distress in the middle or even after all the stress of the holidays. 

When most people think about CranioSacral therapy they think about helping headaches, chronic pain, or birth trauma.  But it can be used for so much more.  Often we just need time to relax and take some time for ourselves.  The bonus with CranioSacral therapy is that not only does it relax us but it also helps our body to heal itself as well.  CranioSacral therapy gets our parasympathetic system working.  Most of us spend most of our time in our sympathetic system (or fight and flight system).  This makes our body work that much more every day and stresses our whole body.  One or two CranioSacral treatments can help get your body work more effectively and at the same time relieve much of your stress.  We all deserve to take some time for ourselves.  Our bodies will thank us for it.    

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

Things to do in Red Deer

Looking for some fun events with low cost and a short drive for your Red Deer staycation this summer? 

Here are a few ideas for you. Brought to you by Dr. Joelle Johnson and staff at Family First Chiropractic and wellness 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer

T4R3B3 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

THINGS TO DO IN RED DEER

SUMMER

Old MacDonald Farm- http://www.olmacdonalds.com/index.html

Discovery Wildlife Park- http://www.discoverywildlifepark.com/

FB- https://www.facebook.com/discoverywildlifepark/

Ellis Bird Farm- http://www.ellisbirdfarm.ca/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/EllisBirdFarm/

Bird Sanctuary- http://www.waskasoopark.ca/gaetz-lake.html

Wibit Aquasplash at Sylvan Lake  

http://www.familyfuncanada.com/calgary/wibit-sylvan-lake/

Kin Kanyon- http://www.ehcanadatravel.com/alberta/red-deer/parks-trails/2177-kin-kanyon.html
FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kin-Kanyon/152039361531352

3 Mile Bend- http://www.reddeer.ca/recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/parks/three-mile-bend-recreation-area---off-leash-park/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/3-Mile-Bend/128953600489617

Tennis- http://www.reddeertennis.com/
FB- http://www.reddeertennis.com/

Farmers Market- http://downtownreddeer.com/about/downtown-market/
FB- http://downtownreddeer.com/about/downtown-market/

Downtown Splash Park- http://www.reddeer.ca/recreation-and-culture/outdoor-facilities/blue-grass-sod-farm-central-spray-and-play/

FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Grass-Sod-Farm-Spray-and-Play-Central-Park/304701203008081

Bard on Bower- http://visitreddeer.com/event/bard-bower-2/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bard-On-Bower/480589041968568

Discovery Canyon- http://www.reddeer.ca/recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/parks/discovery-canyon/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Discovery-Canyon/158156380915589

Sunnybrooke Farm- http://www.sunnybrookfarmmuseum.ca/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/sunnybrookfarmAB/

Shake the Lake- http://shakethelake.ca/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/shakethelake/

Gull Lake- http://www.albertaparks.ca/aspen-beach/information-facilities/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aspen-Beach-Provincial-Park/105787369453613

Kerrywood Nature Centre- http://www.waskasoopark.ca/Kerry-Wood-Nature-Center.html
FB- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kerry-Wood-Nature-Centre/115224355208249

Berry picking at the Jungle Farm- http://www.thejunglefarm.com/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/thejunglefarm/

Kraay Family Farms-  https://www.kraayfamilyfarm.com/
FB- https://www.facebook.com/kraayfamilyfarm

How does CranioSacral Therapy Complement other Medical Interventions

How Does CranioSacral Therapy Complement other Medical Interventions?

Because most Medical and Healthcare practitioners see CranioSacral Therapy as a gentle and non-invasive Complementary Therapy - it is considered as suitable for the co-treatment of a number of conditions.

Many medical professionals criteria for recommending therapies is that if it is doing no harm, makes you feel good and does not cost too much then go ahead.

To answer the question more directly, I often receive new clients in the following situations:

They have been through formal medical channels.

Often in the case of back pain, stress related illness etc. clients feel they have exhausted all that formal medicine has to offer. This is ideal from my point of view as a full medical history has been built up and the individual's condition has been pre-checked by a medical practitioner.

 The client wishes to complement formal medical treatment with another therapy.

Many of my pregnant clients and moms with infants and children are receiving formal medical care for their conditions and related complications. They typically continue with this care as they attend CranioSacral Therapy to further relieve symptoms or to reach the parts that they feel formal medical interventions cannot reach.

In summary, in my experience the answer is yes - CranioSacral Therapy can be used alongside formal medical interventions.

As always, first check with your Healthcare practitioner.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Jeannette, call Family First Chiropractic 403-347-3261. 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer.

www.family1stchiro.ca

Brain Cleansing During Sleep

                                                                                                      

Brain Cleansing During Sleep

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Tad Wanveer a CranioSacral Therapist and instructor for the Upledger Institute.

Why do we sleep?

Recent research by Maiken Nedergaard and colleagues at the University of Rochester in New York shows that a major purpose of sleep is to help the brain cleanse itself of harmful materials.

How does the brain cleanse itself?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a nourishing and cleansing brain fluid.  CSF carries essential nutrients into the brain, and transports waste and toxic material out of the brain.

How does CSF flow into and out of the brain?

The brain is comprised of two cell types: “neurons” and “glia.”  Glia have a multitude of important tasks and one is to control the flow of CSF.  One sort of glial cell is called an “astrocyte” because it looks similar to a radiating star.  The tips of some of these star-shaped cells create channels in which CSF flows into and out of the brain.  For CSF to actually enter or exit the brain it passes through little holes in the astrocyte tips called “aquaporins.”

What controls the flow of CSF inside the brain?

Astrocytes and other glial cells help control the size of the space through which CSF and other substances flow inside the brain (extracellular space).  The extracellular space becomes smaller during wakefulness and larger during sleep.  The larger extracellular space allows more CSF to flow inside the brain.

What happens if CSF doesn’t flow well?

When CSF flow is hindered then brain cells can’t receive essential nutrients nor cleanse themselves well.  This can cause cell stress that may lead to cell dysfunction.  For instance neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are associated with a build-up of toxic material in the brain.

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) may help CSF flow.

One primary intent of CST, a gentle hands-on therapy, is to encourage the flow of CSF.  CST clients often fall asleep during treatment.  Perhaps this is the body’s way of boosting the effect of CST by optimizing the size of the space through which CSF flows.

Sleep opens the brain-cleansing pathways.

In summary during sleep the brain’s extracellular space enlarges.  This allows more CSF to flow throughout the brain.  CSF helps carry essential nutrients to brain cells and helps cleanse the brain of toxic material.  This is a very important reason why we need to sleep.

Jeannette Raskin is at Family First Chiropractic on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 
To book an appointment call 403-347-3261. 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer.  www.family1stchiro.ca

Caesarean Section and CranioSacral Therapy

Caesarean Section. 

Ensure your health following a C-section or other birth intervention.

Caesarean Sections (or C-sections) are becoming more numerous every year among my clients.
You may have planned and hoped for a natural vaginal delivery but what happens if complications arise during birth? These complications during labour may result in your baby being delivered by:

·         Caesarean-section (C-section).

·         With the help of vacuum pump or suction.

·         With the help of Forceps.

Interventions such as these, when necessary, often save lives. In my experience with Craniosacral Therapy - it helps to eliminate, or minimise, complications that arise as a result of these types of deliveries.

With CranioSacral Therapy, I work on the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect a person's brain and spinal cord, extending from the bones of the skull (which make up the cranium) down to the tailbone area (or sacrum).

The role of this system in the development and performance of the brain and spinal cord is so vital that an imbalance or dysfunction in it can cause sensory, motor and/or neurological disabilities.

A CranioSacral Therapist uses a touch generally no heavier than the weight of a nickel. Skilled practitioners can monitor this rhythm at key body points to pinpoint the source of an obstruction or stress. Once a source has been determined, they can assist the natural movement of the fluid and related soft tissue to help the body self-correct.

I have noticed that most babies (and moms too!) often need assistance following the effects of a difficult labour. One of the reasons for this is that in the ideal birth situation, nature has designed a baby's skull to be compressed as it travels through the birth canal during a vaginal birth.

Babies born by C-section miss out on this vital compression (which helps balance the cranial bones) through the birth canal. Babies born with the use of forceps or vacuum often experience undue stress on the head and face and strain patterns can often develop in their bodies. The euphoria of your baby's safe arrival can mask the stress that your baby has experienced. But soon problems can arise.

You may notice your baby has problems with:

·         Sleeping.

·         Feeding.

·         Breastfeeding.

·         Excess crying.

·         Constipation and straining while going to the toilet.

·         Flat spots or bulges on the head.

·         Ear infection.

·         Uneven ear or eye positions.

·         Infant colic.

·         Prefers feeding on one of their sides.

·         Prefers lying on one side rather than another.

With Craniosacral Therapy I use specific, gentle touch techniques to assess, resolve and eliminate the restrictions that cause these problems. The light pressure creates deep change - releasing restrictions in the baby's tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This intervention encourages the infant's body toward a natural alignment.

During the treatment the baby often naturally needs to cuddle, feed or cry as balance is restored and emotion is released in the body. Moms and Dads often feel a sense of relaxation as the baby's CranioSacral system returns to optimum function.

I have found that treatment with CranioSacral therapy benefits all babies following birth - but it is highly recommended for babies who have had birth complications - including Caesarean Sections

Runner's Knee

Runner’s Knee

Runner's knee happens when the kneecap (patella) tracks incorrectly over a groove in the thighbone (femur) known as the femoral groove when you bend and straighten your knee. In healthy knees, the patella rests in the femoral groove and slides easily up and down when you use your knee. But when the patella is out of place, it can irritate the femoral groove and wear away the cartilage beneath the patella, leading to knee pain.

What Are the Symptoms of Runner's Knee?

•        Direct trauma to the knee.
•    Excessive training or overuse. 
• Misalignment of the patella. 
•  Tight or weak leg muscles. 
•  Foot problems.

How Can I Prevent Runner's Knee?

If you're going to be doing an activity that puts a lot of stress on your knees, follow these tips:

       Warm up and stretch before running or doing any other knee-intensive activity, and be sure to stretch again after you're done.

       Keep yourself in good shape.

       Use proper running gear.

       Try to run on soft, flat surfaces. Increase the intensity of your workouts slowly.

How Should I Treat Runner's Knee?

Treatment for runner's knee depends on the specific problem that is causing the pain. Fortunately, runner's knee rarely requires surgery, and most cases heal in time. Regardless of the cause of your particular case of runner's knee, here are some things you should do at the first sign of pain:

       Stop doing activities that hurt your knee. This means no running, cycling, or skiing until the pain goes away and you can resume your activities without pain.

       Use the RICE formula as soon as you can:

o    Rest. Try to avoid putting weight on your knee as much as you can.

o    Ice. Use a bag of ice or cold compress to help reduce swelling.

o    Compress. Wear an elastic bandage or snug-fitting knee sleeve with the kneecap cut out.

o    Elevate. Lie down and keep your knee raised higher than your heart.

       Do stretching and strengthening exercises. Once the pain and swelling subside, talk with your chiropractor about an exercise program to improve your knee's strength and flexibility.

       Get arch supports for your shoes.

       Trigger Point Massage Therapy

Do you have Runners Knee? Book an appointment today with Guy Lacoursiere RMT TPT at 403-347-3261. Family First Chiropractic, Red Deer. www.family1stchiro.ca

Why Fix it if it's Not Broken?

Many health problems  fester without serious symptoms, making correction more difficult later.
This is the “Let sleeping dogs lie” approach to health care. I feel fine, Why do I need to see a doctor?
That’s the problem with the lifestyle-induced health problems facing our culture. They quietly fester in the background, slowly worsening, often without any obvious symptom. Arterial plaque builds up. Blood pressure rises. Certain foods now cause heartburn. Every morning you get out of bed a little bit slower and stiffer. You hardly notice the incremental change.
Ironically, these are often the same folks who religiously change their oil and do other preventive maintenance to lengthen the life, appearance and performance of their car!
If you like being your very best, you’ll love visiting our practice. No shots. No yucky medicine. No “healthier-than-thou” attitude. No preaching.

Our three doctors are located at Family First Chiropractic. 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer, AB. To schedule an appointment call 403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca