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A service of Essence of Wellness Chiropractic Center, Eaton, Ohio

Saturday, February 17, 2001

*INTRODUCTION

*WHAT IS?- Subluxation - Part I

*HEALTH NEWS - The latest news in health

*FEATURE ARTICLE -  Chiropractic care and children

*HEALTH RESEARCH - Current research you should be aware of

*HOW TO CONTACT US

                                                         

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the seventh issue of Health-E-Newsletter, a weekly newsletter for those interested in a wide variety of up-to-date health news.  Our mission is to provide informative, useful, and current health news for the betterment of our community.  This information was found online and in peer-reviewed health and medical journals and is not intended to be a replacement for professional health care.  Please forward this to friends, family, discussion groups and others so that they may benefit as well.  If you have questions, comments, suggestions for future articles, or to subscribe/unsubscribe, please let us know at:  Essence of Wellness

Yours in health,

Dean L. Smith, D.C., M.Sc.

Jane Palmer Smith, D.C.

We look forward to serving you.

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WHAT IS?

This week and for the next several weeks, we discuss the fundamental concept of chiropractic, namely the vertebral subluxation or just subluxation. This is Part I. 

What is Subluxation

Historically, chiropractors described subluxation as the "cause of dis-ease," from which "disease" may arise.  Dis-ease simply means the lack of ease.  Today, chiropractic care still focuses on the subluxation.  In order to get an appreciation of a subluxation and its consequences, one must know some basic anatomy, biomechanics, neurology and physiology. In other words, one must know a bit about the spine and how it operates. In short, a subluxation is spinal motion that is improper in quality or quantity that also has health consequences. Below I will provide a more detailed explanation with implications of subluxation on health.

Spine Basics

The spine consists of 24 moveable vertebrae.  One spinal bone is a vertebra.  These vertebrae stack on each other in three separate regions called the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (low back) areas.  Below the lumbar spine is the sacrum and coccyx (tail bone) which are fused bones.  Vertebrae in different areas of the spine have characteristic movements.  For example, your neck (consists of 7 vertebrae) should be able to move more than your mid-back in order to accomplish goals of looking and turning in order to allow seeing the world as needed.  The thoracic spine (12 vertebrae) has typically 12 pairs of ribs attached which limit mobility but allow for protection of vital organs such as the heart and lungs.  The low back (5 vertebrae) again has a bit more mobility which allow for activities such as bending, lifting and turning as in making a golf swing.  Each spinal region has a characteristic curve associated with it.  For example the thoracic curve is bowed backwards a bit to allow for heart and lung function.  The curves of the thoracic spine and sacrum (both bowed backwards) begin to develop in the fetal period to allow room for vital organ function.  The curve of the neck and low back are opposite to the thoracic spine and become obvious when the infant holds its head up and when the child begins to walk respectively.

Functions of the Spine

The spine or vertebral column provides a partly rigid and partly flexible axis for the body and a pivot for the head.  Thus, the spine has important roles in: posture, support of body weight, locomotion and protection of the spinal cord and nerve roots. 

The motion of the spine and how it influences the nerves

Within the spinal column is the spinal cord.  The spinal cord sends messages from the brain to the body and vice versa through the use of spinal nerves.  Spinal nerves exit throughout the spine by way of small holes between vertebrae called foramen.  Improper motion of vertebrae have the potential to irritate spinal nerves by several means: direct compression of nerves,  production of inflammation which releases chemicals that can irritate nerves, reducing lymphatic or venous flow causing fluid build up or a complex combination of these factors.  The type of motion chiropractors look for is restrictive motion - these are areas of the spine that are "stuck" or not moving properly.  Over time, immobility of spinal segments leads to degeneration.  Degeneration is commonly referred to as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.  When a subluxation is present it can affect nerve function.   The nervous system is the master system that controls and co-ordinates the activities of all other systems (Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy - 3rd Ed.).  Obviously, any interference to the master system could have widespread health effects.  The subluxation is interference at a spinal level with possible widespread effects on health.

                                                          

HEALTH NEWS

BORN TO FLY: KIDS, GYMNASTICS, AND THE WILL TO WIN
Countless children risk serious, long-term injury every day as a result of strenuous gymnastics training, according to the February 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association.  JACA explains that gymnastics holds more potential for lasting injuries than sports such as football, rugby, and soccer, among others, in part because it is the only sport that uses the upper extremities as weight-bearing limbs.  And if not properly treated, these injuries can cause a lifetime of trouble.

Heavy backpacks lead to early strain and pain for schoolkids

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids carry no more than 10 percent to 20 percent of their weight in backpacks.  Simmons College Professor Shelly Goodgold found that 55 percent of fifth- through eighth-graders she surveyed carry backpack loads weighing more than 15 percent of their body weight. One-third of those students said they've suffered back pain.

Brain damage real from "silent stroke"

Eleven million Americans will have strokes this year. But they won't know it. "There are 20 silent strokes occurring in this country each year for every single symptomatic stroke that's occurring," said Dr. Jeffrey Saver, a neurologist at the University of California-Los Angeles Stroke Center. "I think that a lot of physicians and patients and families are going to be surprised by the numbers."

Drug industry boosts estimate of animal antibiotic use

The drug industry has boosted its estimate of antibiotic use in chickens, cows and other animals but said the drugs mostly were for treatment or prevention of disease, not growth promotion. About 20.5 million pounds of drugs were given to animals in 1999, up 15 percent from 1998, according to a survey released Thursday by the Animal Health Institute.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Chiropractic and Children

By: Dean L. Smith, D.C., M.Sc.

Good health begins at birth. Keeps your kids well from birth!

Let me start by asking you a few questions. Do you take your child to get a dental check-up, how about an eye, ear or throat exam? Most parents take their children to the doctor so that they make sure their child is the healthiest they could possibly be.

Did you know that current research shows the initiation of heart disease (atherosclerosis) occurs in infants and children? However, we don’t often encounter the child with chest pain or other symptoms indicating they may have heart disease. Like the lack of chest pain, children do not always complain of back pain. However, spinal problems have been shown consistently to begin after birth. This is why a spinal check-up is so very important at the earliest of ages as well as throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

According to Dr. Gutman, a German medical specialist, a spinal check-up "...should be obligatory after every difficult birth." He noted that out of a random group of 1,250 babies examined 5 days after birth, 211 suffered from vomiting, hyperactivity and sleeplessness—spinal abnormalities were found in 95% of this group.

Gutman and colleagues found that an unhealthy spine causes "many clinical features from central motor impairment to lower resistance to infections-especially ear, nose and throat infections."

What are subluxations?

The spine requires maintenance from birth for maximum nerve integrity and optimum health potential. When neglected spinal misalignment or subluxation occurs and causes nerve interference which results in tissue and organ dysfunction.

Essentially, if you neglect anything that requires maintenance it will develop a problem. Problems develop in silence until enough damage occurs to trigger a symptom or crisis. One of the reasons why "health" care costs so much these days is because there is little emphasis on maintaining and optimizing what you already have. Like heart disease, cavities, or cancer, subluxations tend to be silent problems. Why do you get your blood pressure or cholesterol checked? Have you ever got a spinal check-up? It is about time. Don’t let your spine decay until the point that only surgery will correct. Get yourself and your children checked.

When should a baby get checked?

According to the late chiropractic pediatric specialist, Dr. Larry Webster, there are six times in a baby’s first year of life when spinal examinations are especially important:

ΠAfter the birth process

� When the baby starts to hold his/her head up

Ž When the baby sits up

� When the baby starts to crawl

� When the baby starts to stand

‘ When the baby starts to walk

As babies get older, they often encounter some questionable practices: wearing tight diapers that may restrict proper hip development; "jolly jumpers" which place an infant in an upright position long before the spine can deal with gravity; poorly designed school desks; poor mattresses and slumped postures. Has your child ever fallen from a bike or their bed, fell down stairs, played sports, skateboard or the like? As your child matures, these kind of incidents and activities can create subluxations.

Chiropractic care is for everyone. Start spinal maintenance with your children and maintain your spine throughout your life so you can insure more optimum function and health potential. Your future will be spent doing the things you love to do rather than battling degeneration. Chiropractic care has been clinically proven to enhance your health by removing spinal interference to your nervous system. Get started and see the results for yourself!

Adapted from: OJ Ressel. Chiropractic Care for healthy children. Alive #166, 34.

For lots more information, research and more on chiropractic for kids please visit the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

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