The cervical spine, or the baby’s neck vertebrae, may become subluxated due to an injury during birth. The process of birth is one of the most traumatic experiences many humans ever experience. According to research, 75% of irritable neonates have cervical strain due to birth trauma. Birth injury can be caused by prolonged labor (greater than 24 hours), precipitous labor (less than 3 hours), assisted extraction (such as forceps), and poor delivery position or presentation (such as sunny side up).

In addition to birth trauma, cervical subluxations can result from the baby struggling to hold up their head as part of normal development. The heaviness of the infant head also results in falls drawing the baby head first. Falls from a height are the most common pediatric injury peaking between 3 and 47 months. Any falls, regardless how mild, can affect the babies spinal alignment.

Thoracic Spine – the Upper and Middle back

Subluxations in the upper and mid back often show up when the baby is learning to roll over. Their muscles are not yet strong enough to hold their bones in place. They may also become subluxated in the thoracic spine due to straining during coughing, vomiting, or even sneezing. Infants with reflux problems often have concurrent thoracic subluxations. Another cause of misalignment in this area of the back is forced sitting – which is the result of using infant positioning chairs before the child is able to hold their head up independently.

Lumbar Spine – the Low back

According to studies, 50% of children experience low back pain. Subluxation to the lumbar spine, or low back, often comes about when the baby is learning to sit, crawl, and walk. This change in weight bearing and use of new joints causes the baby to struggle with alignment and challenge their anatomy. It is a completely natural process, but just how activities of daily living can affect the spines of adults, so can the normal developmental activities of babies.

Gentle Infant Adjustment Techniques

When McCarron Lake Chiropractic Doctors adjust infants, our chiropractors use a very different approach then they do with adults. This is because the infant bones are mainly cartilage and require a lot less pressure to move. The chiropractor will gently apply a constant light pressure over the misaligned segment until the bone slides back into position easily. The chiropractor may also apply some therapeutic infant massage to help release tight muscles surrounding the joint. If you or your infant are experience the above problems see our Chiropractic Services in St. Paul MN

A child who receives chiropractic care is a healthier individual because they are aware of their health and have a healthy diet. Having a child adjusted helps keeps the immune system functioning at its optimum – this is because the nervous system is not being interfered with and the signals are able to get through. When the spine becomes misaligned these signals may not be able to get through which could cause a decrease in the immune system causing a child to get sick more easily. Children who are adjusted on a regular base have fewer colds, ear infections, and allergies compared to children who don’t get adjusted.

Sports, especially contact sports, like football, soccer, hockey, or lacrosse can cause back or neck pain for children. Heading the ball when playing soccer, sliding into the boards head first in hockey, being hit by the ball or by other players in baseball can all cause misalignments in a child’s spine. Chiropractors can make the most difference the earlier they treat a child who has injured their neck or back.

Children can suffer from neck and low back pain if their backpacks are worn improperly or if they are carrying too much weight for their body size. If a child is going to carry a backpack it is very important that is fits properly. Making sure the straps are even on both sides and the bottom of the backpack sits at the base of the low back. If the backpack does not fit properly the child may complain of back pain as well as neck pain due to the weight of the backpack.

Every sport puts some type of stress on your body or puts your body in danger of sports injury. When your body becomes weak or run down it is more likely to become injured. This is when you may have sprained ankles, wrists or start experiencing pain. By keeping the spine and other joints in place your body can run at its optimum and you can play at your best.

It is very important for athletes to stretch before and after they start practice, a game or just going to work out. Chiropractic services can take you through various stretches that will help prevent a sprain/strain type of injury and prevent your muscles from becoming tight or weak. This will prevent soreness in the future and will keep you in shape so you can score that winning goal.

Chiropractors can also help you eat right. It is important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as consume lots of water. This is important to maintain energy and focus. It is also important to consume protein throughout the day to keep your muscles and bones healthy. It is also important to eat something about 10 to 15 minutes after exercising to replenish your body. Make sure this is a healthy choice such as an apple, banana, or a handful of nuts.

Eating right, stretching, proper warm ups and being adjusted will help you perform to your optimum potential on the field or court. Doing these things will help keep your body healthy and keep you focused and energized so you will be the best you can be.

Benefits to the Mother

Research shows that anywhere from 76 – 100% of pregnant women experience low back pain. The chiropractic adjustment improves low back pain in up to 91% of pregnant patients! Quite simply, pregnant women experience huge biomechanical changes as their abdomen grows and they find they are better able to manage those changes with chiropractic care. Studies also show that chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy result in decreased length of labor for women. Anyone who has had a baby can attest to the benefit of that!
Benefits to the Baby

Breech presentation increases the risk of torticollis, hip dysplasia, scoliosis, and cerebral palsy and often results in the necessity of a c-section. Chiropractic adjustments are especially helpful in making room for baby and keeping the baby in the right position for delivery. A specific technique called “the Webster Technique” has proven to turn babies from breech presentations to the preferred vertex presentation 82% of the time, resulting in normal, vaginal delivery. This makes for a much easier birth process for neonates. It is also hypothesized that infants who are born of chiropractic patients exhibit better neck control and strength upon arrival. This is likely due to the positive influence of the adjustment on the mother’s nervous system during pregnancy.

60% of children will have at least 1 ear infection by age 3. And what you may not know is that 80% of ear infections improve with no treatment at all. Unfortunately, many children are put on antibiotics prematurely and this is proven to increase the likelihood of ear infection recurrence as well as the spontaneous development of antibiotic resistant strains of organisms.

The chiropractic adjustment, along with cranial techniques, sinus/lymphatic stripping, oral sweeping, and homeopathic remedies are very helpful in the treatment of ear infections and have NO SIDE EFFECTS. Chiropractors are able to use their large toolbox of techniques to both shorten the duration of ear infections and lessen the symptoms.

The following is an excerpt from the American Chiropractic Association website:

Dr. Joan Fallon, a chiropractor who practices in Yonkers, New York, has published research showing that, after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, nearly 80 percent of the children treated were free of ear infections for at least the six-month period following their initial visits (a period that also included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks).

“Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children, and if they can continue to drain without a buildup of fluid and subsequent infection, they build up their own antibodies and recover more quickly,” explains Dr. Fallon. She’d like to see her pilot study used as a basis for larger-scale trials of chiropractic as a therapeutic modality for otitis media.

Dr. Fallon uses primarily upper-cervical manipulation on children with otitis media, focusing particularly on the occiput, or back of the skull, and atlas, or the first vertebra in the neck. “Adjusting the occiput, in particular, will get the middle ear to drain. Depending on how chronic it’s been and on where they are in their cycle of antibiotics, children generally need to get through one bout of fluid and fight it off themselves.” That means, for the average child, between six and eight treatments. If a child’s case is acute, Dr. Fallon will check the ear every day, using a tympanogram to measure the ear and track the movement of the eardrum to make sure that it’s draining. “I’ll do adjustments every day or every other day for a couple of days if they’re acute, and then decrease frequency over time.”

Dr. Fallon, whose research garnered her the acclaim of childrearing magazines like Parenting and Baby Talk, often sees great success when she treats a child for otitis media. “Once they fight it themselves, my kids tend to do very well and stay away from ear infections completely. Unless there are environmental factors like smoking in the house, an abnormally shaped Eustachian tube, or something like that, they do very well,” she says.

“I have two large pediatric groups that refer to me on a regular basis. In the winter, when otitis is most prevalent, I see five or six new children each week from each group,” says Dr. Fallon. “It’s safe and effective and something that parents should try, certainly before inserting tubes in their children’s ears.”

There are three main causes of golf injuries: poor posture, lack of flexibility and poor swing mechanics. The root cause of poor mechanics is often a result of a physical restriction or mechanical dysfunction, which may be alleviated through chiropractic care. Lack of flexibility can also be addressed by treatment and a stretching program can be designed around each patient’s restrictions. Sports Chiropractic Care is ideally suited to deal with poor posture and poor mechanics.

On the golf course, physical exertion is intermittent. A golfer will attempt approximately 50-70 violent swings every five minutes or so while playing 18 holes. The average golfer will swing there club at 80-100 miles per hour. On the driving range, the pounding is rapid and relentless. A golfer will do this for hours and continue injuring there body over and over again. These repetitive motions can cause injury to your wrist, elbow, shoulder, arm, head and spine. The next day after golfing you may feel sore but with proper stretching before hand and the use of proper posture this soreness could be erased.

The golf swing requires the spine to rotate, bend laterally and extend. This requires flexibility that is golf-specific. Chiropractors have extensive training in the biomechanics of human movement. It is important to maintain movement in your spine so you are able to bend properly and make the movements necessary to have the perfect swing on the course. A Chiropractor can take you through correct posture and how to maintain it while swinging a golf club. They may give you stretches to do before you start playing for the day, these stretches will help you warm up and will help prevent a sprain/strain injury; these may also improve your golf swing. It is also important to walk from hole to hole because this gives you a cardio work out and may help you lose a couple pounds.

The normal healthy spine should have three curves creating a gentle S-shape to it. When addressing a golf ball poor posture can easily create flattened or exaggerated curves in your spine that will play havoc with your swing. Having a chiropractor look at your spinal ranges of motion could help pick up restriction in the joints in your back. Releasing these restrictions through a chiropractic adjustment and specific muscle techniques and rehabilitation exercises could get you back on the course in no time.

Or, you could try a more sophisticated spin:

1. Take a slice of crusty bread
2. Spread it with 3 tablespoons of low-fat ricotta
3. Add tomatoes
4. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil (about 1 teaspoon) and a little salt and pepper. Broiling is optional.

The Skinny

• Ricotta Cheese (Low Fat): 50 calories
• Tomato: 15 calories
• Bread: 5 calories
• Olive Oil: 60 calories
• Salt & Pepper: 10 calories

Makes 56 Tea Cakes

Makes 56 Cakes

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons light butter
• 56 paper petit four cups (1 inch each)
• 14 oz almond paste (pure marzipan)
• 1 tablespoon pure apricot spreadable fruit
• 3 whole eggs
• 1 egg white
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large apples (preferably Braeburn or Golden Delicious), peeled, cored and chopped into 1/4-inch cubes
• 4 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar

Instruction

Heat oven to 350°. Place butters in a bowl and microwave until melted, 30 to 45 seconds. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes. Arrange petit four cups on a large baking sheet. Combine almond paste and spreadable fruit in an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat at medium speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape inside of bowl to incorporate all ingredients. Beat in eggs and egg white one at a time. Beat in flour at low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds. Add butter and beat until blended, about 30 seconds. Pour batter into a 1-gallon plastic resealable bag. Force air from bag and seal. Snip 1/4-inch piece off one of the lower corners and pipe batter into cups, filling them three quarters full. Place a few apple cubes on top of each cup. Sift sugar over cakes. Bake until light golden, 26 minutes. Let cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

The Skinny

• 51 calories per tea cake, 3.1 g fat (0.8 g saturated), 5.2 g carbs, 0.5 g fiber, 1.1 g protein
• Reference: self.com/December 2008

  http://www.self.com/fooddiet/recipes/2008/12/apple-tea-cakes

Ingredients

Crust

• 2 tablespoons slivered blanched almonds
• Vegetable oil cooking spray
• 6 chocolate wafers

Filling

• 15 oz (1 3/4 cup) part-skim ricotta
• 8 oz lowfat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup lowfat sour cream
• 1 large whole egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or to taste)
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons amaretto (if desired)
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon instant-espresso powder
• 3 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips

Preparation

1. For crust

Heat oven to 350˚. Toast almonds on a small baking sheet for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven; reduce heat to 325˚. Coat an 8″ springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap outside of pan in foil to prevent seepage. Process chocolate wafers and almonds in a food processor until fine crumbs. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tbsp crumbs onto bottom of pan (just enough to coat bottom lightly). Shake pan to distribute evenly. Reserve remaining crumbs.

2. For filling

Puree ricotta in a food processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Add cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, egg, egg whites, almond extract, flour and salt; puree until smooth. Whisk amaretto, if desired (or same amount of hot water), 2 tbsp hot water, cocoa powder and espresso powder in a bowl until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Stir 1 cup plain filling into chocolate mixture. Set aside.

3. Assembly

Pour remaining plain filling into prepared pan. Drizzle chocolate filling in a circular pattern over plain filling. Using a knife, make circular strokes to create swirls in the plain filling. Add 1 inch hot water to a shallow baking pan; place springform pan in baking pan. Bake until cheesecake is firm around the edge and slightly soft in the center, 45 to 55 minutes. Run a knife around inside of pan. Remove foil; let cool on a rack. Chill 6 hours or overnight before removing sides of pan. Press reserved crumbs onto side of cheesecake.

The Skinny

223 calories per serving, 9.7 g fat* (5.4 g saturated), 26.2 g carbs, 0.9 g fiber, 8.4 g protein

*This dish is slightly more than 30 percent fat but is still a healthy dessert option when part of an overall lowfat diet. Reference: self.com/January 2008

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/recipes/2008/01/chocolate-marble-cheesecake

Makes 80 Balls

After tasting this American classic during a visit to Walt Disney World Resort, Payard gave it a twist by adding bitter cocoa to balance the sweetness.

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons light butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 bags (10 oz each) mini-marshmallows
• 10 cups crisp rice cereal
• 1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
• Vegetable oil cooking spray

1. Combine butters and cocoa in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Melt butter, whisking until mixture is well combined. Stir in marshmallows, melting them completely. Remove pan from heat and stir in cereal, working quickly before marshmallow mixture sets. Stir in chocolate chips. Coat hands with cooking spray and shape mixture into about 80 walnut-sized balls. Place balls on a baking sheet and let harden for about an hour. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days. (Do not refrigerate.)

The Skinny

54 calories per rice crispy, 1.4 g fat (0.9 g saturated), 9.9 g carbs, 0.2 g fiber, 0.3 g protein

Reference: self.com/December 2008

http://www.self.com/fooddiet/recipes/2008/12/chocolate-rice-crispies