Healthy Mind and Body: How to tell if an infant might be helped by chiropractic care

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How to tell if an infant might be helped by chiropractic care

People sometimes look at me like I'm from another planet when I suggest they have their newborn or infant checked by a chiropractor. There are many misconceptions about chiropractic care. For one, many think it's only for neck or back pain, and what could an infant know about either of those problems. Another question people have is if it's gentle for newborns. Any chiropractor that has done post-graduate work in special techniques for newborns and infants can tell you that it is very gentle. In most cases, the chiropractor will apply very gentle pressure to the areas of the spine that are "stuck". With babies, those areas release quite easily.

So, how would a Chiropractor (or parent) know if Chiropractic can help their young child? Here are some ideas.

First, if you were to bring your infant in and your baby has obvious symptoms, the baby might have what chiropractors call "subluxations". A subluxation is an area of the spine with abnormal motion, which causes interference to the nervous system (abnormal function). This interference can cause an organ to not work as effectively as it would normally. (For more information about the subluxation, go to http://www.tarlowchiropractic.com). Some of the symptoms your child might have as a result of subluxations are: colic, ear infections, difficulty swallowing, difficulty latching on, restlessness, and excessive fussiness.

It's not unusual for parents to think that these problems are “normal”. Constipation, when your child is supposed to be pooping 3 - 5 times per day (newborns), is not normal. When your baby screams with colic, that is not normal. Your baby is trying to tell you that they are in pain. If your baby is biting down really hard when latching on, it is usually because of a minor problem with the jaw that is easily resolved. Many moms think that their child who doesn't want to sleep more than a couple of hours at a time is just fussy.

Here's the good news. These difficulties that many newborns and infants have can usually be resolved easily with chiropractic care. It's amazing how most parents see a difference in just one visit. Within 4 to 6 visits, a lot of these problems are usually, totally resolved. Your chiropractor will most likely also make some dietary suggestions if your baby is having digestive problems.

When evaluating an infant for spinal subluxations, the chiropractor will usually look at the following things. Please keep in mind that you can do this as well. While your baby is lying down, check out the following:

1. When looking at your baby's face, is there symmetry side-to-side at the levels of the eyebrows, cheeks and lips?
2. Does your baby’s head tend to tilt or turn to primarily one side?
3. Is your baby’s hip higher on one side forming a “C” shape?
4. Does your baby’s torso look twisted?

You can also gently move the face or torso to one side or the other and see if your baby tends to resume the prior position. If you have answered yes to any of these questions, your child, most likely, has subluxations.

Another way your Chiropractor might evaluate for spinal subluxations are by gently palpating the spine and the musculature surrounding the spine. Also, it's not unusual for subluxations to show as a baby that is very sensitive to light, sound or touch. I had one momma who would tell me that her child did not want to be picked up. That she appeared to be uncomfortable while being held and would sometimes fling her arms or head back. After a few adjustments, the baby loved being held and the mom was grateful to have her child resting comfortably in her arms.

You might ask what can cause these subluxations. Most likely, they are caused by birth. If you consider how difficult birth (even an easy birth) can be on the baby, particularly cesareans, it's easy to see how it can cause subluxations. Another cause might be if the baby was not lying in your belly in a good position. This can put a lot of pressure on the cranial bones and upper neck, where the nerves originate from that go to your entire body. A fall or even sitting too long in a car seat can also cause subluxations. I recently had a mom to come to me with an "easy" birth with a baby who was severely constipated with gas and bloating. After just a few adjustments, the baby was pooping like a champ. With each day and some minor diet modifications, the gas and bloating resolved as well.

It truly is amazing that when you resolve the underlying problem, which in most cases is the subluxation, how all of these problems disappear. When baby is happy, the whole family is much happier. The stress that a parent can feel when they see their baby in obvious pain and feeling helpless is incredible. When you feel that you are doing something, and your baby is improving, will make all the difference in the world.

Most family or pediatric chiropractors will take the time in person or on the phone to explain to you any concerns you might have about having your newborn or infant adjusted. I've seen hundreds of babies over the years helped with these problems. Take that step and check it out.

Healthy Mind and Body: Natural and Effective Ways to Help Plantar Fasciitis

Healthy Mind and Body: Natural and Effective Ways to Help Plantar Fasciitis

Natural and Effective Ways to Help Plantar Fasciitis

Over my many years in practice, I've had the opportunity to work with patients that have been previously diagnosed with plantar fasciitis or a neuroma. Frustrated by ineffective treatments, they are usually living with a daily dose of an analgesic. I have found this problem particularly easy and wish to share some secrets with you.

The best way to get relief from this problem is to take an integrated approach. Since the area is normally inflamed, I recommend decreasing inflammatory foods and increasing Omega 3's in one's diet. The common culprits of inflammation are: grains (including corn, rice and pasta), beans, potato chips, trans fats, dairy and coffee. It is not unusual in the American diet to eat 4 to 6 servings of grains per day, so cutting back your grain intake is a great start.

Foods that will help decrease inflammation fall in the Omega-3 category and include: olives and olive oil, vegetables (but green, leafy are best), avocados, certain nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), fish and grass-fed meats (cold water fish is best), and eggs rich in Omega 3's (from free-range hens, not grain fed). Many people choose to supplement with Omega 3's either with Fish Oil, Hemp seeds or Hemp Oil, or Ground Flaxseeds. Ginger, tumeric and arnica are other favorites of mine to decrease inflammation.

In my experience, the primary cause of foot problems are fixations of joints of the bones of the foot (tarsals and metatarsals). When you consider the number of hours that are spent on your feet combined with old injuries, poor shoes and inadequate arches, it's very likely that these joints are not moving properly or are fixated. Getting the joints to move properly through chiropractic adjustments can help immediately. The adjustments can be done through a hands-on approach or with instrument adjusting. It just depends on your chiropractor's preference. Fixated joints of the feet left untreated, might lead to knee, hip and/or low back problems.

After I've adjusted the feet and ankles I will frequently do some soft tissue massage starting at the bottom of the heel and move my thumbs to the base of the toes. When I find a spot that is tight (and usually tender), I'll spend some time working to release the tight area of the muscle.

Teaching foot self-care is important too. I'll demonstrate how to increase the space between the toes and metatarsals, massaging the foot, and an exercise to strengthen the arches of the feet. I've learned these self care measures from two of my yoga teachers, and while it might be uncomfortable when you first start doing these, over time you'll love how your feet feel.

Orthotics are great for someone whose feet pronate (fallen arches), have a very low arch or a very high arch. While you can learn to create better arches in your feet with Anusara yoga, (and I do recommend that), it can take some time. Having your feet supported in the meantime with custom orthotics is a fantastic measure, particularly if you like to participate in activities that are hard on the feet, such as hiking, skiing, playing tennis (or other sports), and walking on concrete.

This it the approach I've used over the years to effectively help my patients who have come to me with these type of problems.

2010. A Healthy new year

It's been a year since my last post and I can't believe it. So many transitions in 2009 including moving to a new home across town, a new job for my husband, two new schools for my daughter, and moving to a home office for myself. Plus, I've had health issues I've been working on resolving. While all of these changes have been challenging, they appear to be for the best.

Working out of my home offers many advantages. First, if there is an emergency and it's at a time that I'm watching my daughter, she can play with all of her toys and I can see the patient. That's a huge plus as it makes me more available to those in need. The home does not offer a private entrance for my patients, so at some point I will either have to find a new home/office combo or move to an office. For now, though, it seems to be working.

A few months ago I started taking my portable adjusting table to the set of a TV show being filmed in New Mexico called, "Breaking Bad". It's been really terrific adjusting the crew who really seem to need the care. After all, most of the crew puts in very long days...12-14 hours in not unusual. They seem to appreciate having the chiropractic care available to them.

While I've enjoyed this immensely, I've also had a chance to adjust some little ones in need. The health problems have ranged from constipation to high fevers, vomiting and chronic cough. I've learned over my many years as a family chiropractor that when a child is suffering, so are the parents. The stress this causes in a family dynamic is immense.

The baby with severe constipation (also bloating and gas) has responded fantastically. After just 3 adjustments, baby, mom and dad are so much happier, it gives me such joy. The parents of the 6 week old had tried a variety of natural therapies including dietary changes and cranio-sacral therapy. None of these therapies had helped as it appears there was a strong neurological connection. The baby had birth trauma and the main thing chiropractic care does is help restore the nervous system to balance.

Just last month I also had the opportunity to adjust a 4 year old who was very ill. She had a high fever and was vomiting. Her mom called me as I had helped her daughter previously with a chronic and constant cough. Within minutes of being adjusted, her temperature dropped a full degree. Within about 15 minutes, her temperature was normal. She stopped vomiting immediately. By that evening, she had regained her appetite and the next morning was totally fine.

These experiences just renew my passion for chiropractic and to spread the word as to how it can help make you healthier. Drugs only treat the symptoms, they don't treat the underlying cause.

I urge you if you know of someone with chronic health problems, have them check out Chiropractic. While I've discussed a few types of health problems I've seen resolved, Chiropractic can help with almost any health problem. It's not invasive, safe with none of the side effects you see with medications. To find a gentle pediatric chiropractor near you go to: http://www.icpa4kids.com.