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Does Your Child Have Text Neck?

Does Your Child Have Text Neck?

According to Pew research, for 21st-Century teens, having a smartphone and spending upwards of 9 hours a day on it, has become the norm. Though this trend is no different from the addictiveness that adults have with their cell phones as well, the damage to the neck muscles can be greater for the younger demographic. This is called “Text Neck”. As your child’s body changes, having improper posture can put undue strain on the muscles, the bones, and in turn the spine.

As the number of hours spent on mobile devices is expected to increase, it is essential for parents to put a back care plan in place to counteract the health effects that prolonged technology use can cause.

With extended cell phone use, a physical condition, being referred to as “text neck” is emerging and proving that teens and young adults are at the greatest risk.

What is “Text Neck?”

When your child spends time on their phone, they are often looking in a downward posture, keeping their head, neck, back, and spine in one, often uncomfortable position. Though it may feel comfortable, in the moment, holding this craned-neck posture for hours or frequently throughout the day inadvertently puts the cervical spine at great risk. The cervical spine supports the neck and head and is positioned at the top of the spine. Having incorrect posture puts this portion of the spine out of alignment. When that occurs, chronic neck and back pain can quickly make simple movements very painful and inhibit your child’s growth and physical development.

It is difficult to predict what the long-term effects of having a prolonged craned-neck posture can have on overall health. However, medical researchers speculate that the increased use of mobile devices may come with a future increase in early-onset arthritis of the neck.

Despite the evidence pointing to long-term effects, research studies have found that text neck can cause immediate health problems such as severe upper back pain, strained neck and shoulder muscles, and pinched spinal nerves. And, children and teens are the most at risk of developing these debilitating conditions, as their mobile device usage is nearly two times greater than adults.

How do you prevent text neck?

The short answer is to limit cell phone and mobile device use per day, limiting it to no more than 1 hour a day. However, the longer term solution to prevent chronic back and neck pain is to maintain a straight posture when viewing a mobile device. Making regular visits to an experienced pediatric chiropractor can be the most effective way to address spinal misalignment at its source and correct any muscle and spinal issues before they evolve into a more long-term issue.

The welcoming and knowledgeable chiropractors at Corrective Chiropractic are specialized in correcting text neck, even in the smallest of patients.

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Manage Your Pre-Holiday Stress By Visiting a Chiropractor

Manage Your Pre-Holiday Stress By Visiting a Chiropractor

As the weather changes and the daylight hours get shorter, work responsibilities begin to pile up. The chaotic hustle and bustle of the holidays start to creep in. We all naturally get stress.

In fact, according to psychologists, the average level of stress during the Fall months is the highest of all seasons. And, with more stress comes more strain on your body. How you handle that wear and tear on your body can mean the difference between making it to Summer feeling rejuvenated or nursing discomfort and pain that seems to be getting worse.

Here are the top three reasons why visiting your chiropractor is the best way for you to handle the pre-holiday stress:

Eliminate Muscle Tension from Stress

When you encounter stress, your muscles naturally tense up. This can impact how you walk, sit and perform tasks throughout your day. And, if left uncorrected, this can start to wreak havoc on your ability to sleep, exercise, and just enjoy life. Having a chiropractic alignment helps to restore your body’s natural functioning. It also loosens the tension building up in your body.

Get Your Body Back on Track

Your body’s functioning is rooted in your central nervous system. And, if your spine is not in alignment, your nervous system is negatively impacted. This can manifest itself in digestive, respiratory, immune, and even sleep issues that may not be easily corrected. An experienced chiropractor will be able to perform non-invasive and all natural procedures to get your spine back in alignment and your body running on all cylinders.

Fix Your Posture for Improved Health and Less Stress

With mobile devices being an integral part of our day, how we sit and the length of time we spend sitting have played a role in how our muscles and skeletal system function. “Text neck” puts extreme strain on your neck muscles and can lead to crotched posture and further back discomfort. Having the proper posture as you may spend more time seated, through the Fall and Winter months can be the best way to help you manage your spine health. A well-trained chiropractor will be able to evaluate your posture, adjust it, and help you stay healthy and energized through the holidays.

When is the last time you visited a chiropractor? 

If it has been longer than 6 months, then now is the time to schedule an appointment! The friendly doctors at Corrective Chiropractic will be happy to give you a free phone call and answer any questions you may have.

You deserve to be stress-free (or at least pain-free) now and through the end of the year!

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What Age Can a Child Start Seeing a Chiropractor?

What Age Can a Child Start Seeing a Chiropractor?

From when your child is born, their body undergoes an immense amount of growth over the first four years. Children’s muscles stretch and their bones grow. This is why we make sure they are in alignment can help with their development and overall health. Getting your child chiropractic treatments early on in life can help them reduce any physical pain. It can also help any discomfort they may feel during growth spurts.

A child’s spine experiences the highest rate of expansion during the first 10 years of life. Simple events like wearing a heavy backpack or having poor posture can take a toll on how their spine develops. When the spine is misaligned, this impacts the nervous system. This can result in a host of illnesses and conditions: such as colic, asthma, ear infections, bedwetting, even a weak immune or digestive system.

Taking your child to receive chiropractic treatments can be an effective way to keep their spine healthy during development years.

Do pregnancy and pediatrics chiropractors need specialized training?

All chiropractors receive some basic pediatric training during their doctoral program. Some may pursue more in-depth courses as part of their continued education. Likewise, some highly-trained pediatric chiropractors also engage in research in the field of pregnancy and pediatrics chiropractic medicine. If you are seeking out a reputable pediatric chiropractor in your area, consider consulting the list of chiropractors recognized by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

The friendly doctors at Corrective Chiropractic have over a decade of experience working with children, as young as a few months old, to ensure that their spine is in perfect alignment as they grow and thrive. If you would like to explore our techniques or want to learn more about how chiropractic treatments can help your child stay happy and healthy, contact our Atlanta (locations in Alpharetta, Buckhead, Decatur, Sandy Springs, and Woodstock) and Charleston, SC area office today at 404-355-5499, or schedule a free initial consultation here.

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Protect Your Spine While Travelling
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How To Take Care Of Your Spine While Traveling

Protect Your Spine While Travelling

As the summer months approach many people will be leaving Atlanta and heading to the beach. As much as an advocate I am of traveling and refreshing, it’s important to make sure you are actively caring for your body. So, for this article we’ll discuss how to take care of your spine while traveling.

Easy Steps to Follow

Many of you who have been through our corrective care program would like to not destroy your spine so here are some simple steps to use while being on that plane and sleeping in hotel beds.

1) Before you get to your hotel request a cervical or memory foam pillow. If your hotel does not have this than it is important to bring your own. These pillows help support the neck while sleeping and maintain its proper curvature, especially for those of you who have corrected their spine at our office in Atlanta.

2) Before leaving your house for the airport make sure to drink a bunch of water and bring healthy snacks. When traveling at high altitude our body becomes dehydrated. It’s important to keep our internal system hydrated and well nourished. Airplane food or convenience store food, for those driving, is not “real” food and has usually been created by man. If it has been artificially created then there is a strong likelihood your body does not know how to process this.

3) Bring lacrosse balls or grab Yoga Tune Up balls from our office and sit on them regularly. Place them on your gluteus muscle and make sure it does not get too tight. It will be uncomfortable for a bit but this means that it is working. Also, place those balls on your back while flying on the plane or driving.

4) Personally, when i travel I like to do at least 1 yoga class while on vacation to help stretch my body and improve energy. There is a great free app for your phone called Omfinder, which tells you where and when all the classes are in the location you will be staying and about the class.

Also, check out YogaGlo.com for videos you can do at your hotel while traveling so you don;t have to leave your resort. However, even though it is convenient to not leave your hotel, it is nice to try new yoga classes such as Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga or Yoga On The Beach or in the mountains.

5) Whether traveling by car or plane, please make sure to create movement in your body and either stop to stand up and stretch or walk around the plane to increase circulation.

Your Turn

Where do you plan on traveling this summer?

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8 Steps To Better Posture

Tight neck? Tight Upper back? Weak back? Could be upper cross syndrome

Tight psoas? Tight lower back? Weak core? Weak glutes? Could be lower cross syndrome

If any of the pictures above represent you which the odds are “Yes” then please pay attention. In today’s World where weak posture is not only common in adults but in children it is unfortunate to see how many people think this is OK. Posture is the window to our spine and nervous system and the weaker our posture then the weaker our nervous system ultimately indicating weaker health.

There is hoards of research constantly being pummeled out of the pipeline sharing how proper posture is crucial to overall health and how the nervous system functioning well is vital to quantity and quality of life. Recently an article came out describing how forward posture can decrease lung capacity by 30% which increases the risk for cardiovascular problems. Another paper showed how for every inch forward the head moves creates an additional 10 pounds of stress on the upper back and double that on the lower back. Posture is our lifeline and the more we care for it whether we have pain or not then the better health it will generate to us.

I have made a commitment to improve everyone in my offices health no matter what it takes which is why we are committed to free newsletter and free workshops. Next week we have a workshop that can make a significant impact on your health by fixing the problems in the pictures above and restoring posture.

If you plan on attending please register HERE as seating is VERY limited. Please only register if you can 100% attend and guests are encouraged as we will be working in partners.

Also, if you plan on attending BE SURE to buy either 2 lacrosse balls at Dick’s Sporting Goods or go HERE and get the 2 therapy balls (Highly recommended). Make sure to bring these to the class so please order them ASAP.

We will be taking you through the following 8 steps to maximize your posture and help you feel and be your best.

Upper Cross Release Technique

1) Strengthen the deep neck flexors (Core around the neck that holds up cervical curve AKA Arc of Life)
2) Strengthen rhomboids (Muscles that help you stand more upright)
3) Release upper trapezius (Tight upper back where most people say “carry tension”)
4) Release pec muscles (Rounded posture increases tension in chest)

Lower Cross Release Technique

5) Strengthen abdominals
6) Release erector spinae (muscles that hold up spine)
7) Release psoas (Main hip flexor)
8) Strengthen glutes

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Peoples Lives At Stake

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Last week we received news that a very important tool to help correct scoliosis has finally arrived to the states. This device is known as a Scoliroll and is designed to correct scoliosis in conjunction with chiropractic care. We recently took a stress x-ray of one of our clients and the top view is what her x-ray looked like before she started chiropractic and the one below is what it looked like with the Scoliroll under her spine. Pretty cool, eh? She will lie on this roll 2x/day for 20-25 minutes and after 60 days we will take another x-ray to confirm the structural changes.

Many of you are on the Denneroll and if not then please see let me know if this is something you would be interested in. We have them for the low back and neck to create structural correction in the spine which is huge for long term care.

Why is this such a big deal?

Everyday people are in pain from the amount of pressure on the nerves due to scoliosis and more commonly suffering with forward head posture. Beyond the pain which is 10% of the problem (even they think it’s more) their nervous system is shutting down and their organs are not recieving proper nerve supply from the brain.

It is very common that someone with a scoliosis will suffer with digestive problems and some form of reproductive issues.

It is very common that someone who has bad forward head posture suffers with migraines, allergies, asthma, sinuses, and sometimes high blood pressure. What is sad about this case is unfortunately the problem started when they were a kid and were a colicky baby then suffered with ear infections then had asthma and finally developed headaches/migraines.

This is not coincidental but it is how the nervous system works as when there is stress on it peoples lives are at stake and their quality and quantity of life is being jeopardized . Everyone thinks they are invisible until one day something happens and their life is turned upside down. There is hoards of research to prove how chiropractic enhances quality of life and any stress on the nervous system creates health problems long term. Think we feel the problem in the beginning or end stages?

Unfortunately I had to watch my closest uncle who I regularly hung out with and fished with take his own life because of a failed medical system and how much pain he continued to have. I see patients who have gone down this path and have been victims of this failed model and now have multiple pieces of metal in their back keeping them.

I am so passionate for many reasons but more so now because of 2 reasons:

1) A client of ours who came to my office mid-last year announced to me last week she will be getting neck surgery. She waited until last year before finally seeing a chiropractor and now she is already in Phase 3 degeneration with multiple levels of arthritis. It is very upsetting to me because out of all the people she associates with on a daily basis not too many of them suggested chiropractic before this even happened. Had a friend told her to at least get checked by a chiropractor to see if there is a problem before pain then this situation could not be happening. I am committed now more than ever to making sure people get their spines checked similar to how they get their teeth, prostate, liver, and heart checked. (What always confuses me is people get those checked before their spine yet the spine controls every single one of those parts.)

2) I am so sick and tired of watching people come into the office that were lied to about needing surgery for scoliosis and are still I pain. There is SO much that can be done to correct a scoliosis and putting kids under the knife to fuse it together only creates long term problems. Even if it is not a scoliosis kids need chiropractic more than anyone as they are constantly playing sports, sleeping in crazy positions, and carrying heavy bookbags. Personally my child will be checked for subluxation every 14 days and it is essential we start our youth off right with a healthy functioning nervous system. Why is your spine and nervous system more important than your child’s?

I know today I sound very passionate but I speak from the heart and come from a loving place. I want my children to grow up in a World of unsubluxated people who have healthy spines and a clear connection from the brain down the spine and out to the nerves. I have noticed that once people begin and commit to chiropractic then they start taking on other healthy habits for their life. For example, you’re more likely to care for a Ferrari than you are a Ford Pinto.

Please pass this newsletter on to someone you care about and have them use the coupon at the bottom of our newsletter.

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