August 31st, 2010
It’s that time of year again; kids are heading back to school. They will be loading up with books, pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, a cell phone, iPod, lunch and whatever else kids carry around nowadays, in backpacks bigger than they are. Sometimes kids’ backpacks look so heavy that the wind might just blow them right over.
According to the American Chiropractic Association or ACA, young children suffer from back pain at a much earlier age than previous generations. The use of weighty backpacks is a contributing factor. “In my own practice, I have noticed a marked increase in the number of young children who are complaining about back, neck and shoulder pain,” said Dr. Scott Bautch, a member of the ACA’s Council on Occupational Health. “The first question I ask these patients is, ‘Do you carry a backpack to school?’ Almost always, the answer is ‘yes.’”
Carrying this amount of weight can cause a child to hyperextend his/her back, or lean the head and trunk forward to compensate for the weight of the bag. A rounding of the shoulders could also result if a back has to compensate for a heavy load. These postures can stress the muscles in the neck and back, increasing the risk of injury. Over time this can cause irritation to the joints of the spine and the rib cage.
There are methods for preventing postural problems associated with toting a heavy backpack. The first, and most important, is to limit the weight. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends that children carry backpacks of no more than 15 percent of their body weight – less than that is even better.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when searching for the perfect backpack for your little Einstein:
- Choose a backpack with two wide-padded shoulder straps.
- The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. As the child grows, the pack can be adjusted accordingly.
- The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A low hanging pack increases pressure on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
- Make sure your child’s backpack weights no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight.
If your child experiences back pain, call your chiropractor. The doctor can diagnose whether a heavy backpack is the root of the problem and recommend a custom tailored treatment to getting back your child to a pain-free, lightweight backpack life.
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August 17th, 2010
It’s August and for many that means going back to school. For students it’s time to break out the pens, paper and books to get mentally prepared for homework, studying and detention. For teachers it’s time to review lesson plans, decorate the classroom, attend staff meetings and so much more. Back to school used to mean tension, anxiety and frustration, but not anymore. Watters Creek Chiropractic is offering $10 off all massages longer than 60 minutes. Enjoy a relaxing Swedish massage or indulge in trigger point therapy. Just book your appointment online and bring this coupon with you. Watters Creek Chiropractic is the perfect way to make your day easy and stress free!
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August 11th, 2010
Ok, so the judge is still out on whether or not we can actually dance, but we had a great time at the Bodies in Motion Dance Camp this past week! Amazing and talented dance teachers were brought in from all over the United States who have performed professionally with the Kilgore Rangerettes, Dallas Mavericks Dancers, New York City Rockettes as well as the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. The Allen High School Tallenettes danced their hearts out all day from 8am-4pm with only a 45 minute break for lunch.
During the camp, Dr. Viehbeck provided complimentary physiotherapy and one of our massage therapists, Erin, provided complimentary chair massages to all the participants, families and staff! Amongst the dancers, the most common conditions treated were back pain, hamstring pain, sore elbows and knees as well as swelling and pain on the bottom of the foot. We were happy to be there to help as it is extremely important for athletes to take care of any injuries or pains they experience while exercising. We also enjoyed talking with the
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July 14th, 2010
Most people use shampoo at least a few times a week. But do you know what’s actually in it? A list of shampoo ingredients from the website Good may give you something to think about when choosing your next one:
Surfactants — Surfactants are necessary for the lathering, cleaning, and degreasing effects of a shampoo. Conventional surfactants such as sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA, and ammonium xylene sulfonate have the potential for harshness, stripping away fatty acids. Natural surfactants such as decyl glucoside, sucrose cocoate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, and sodium lauroamphoacetate may not foam like a conventional product, but your hair will still be just as clean. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 23rd, 2010
The benefits of infant massage can help nurture your baby’s physiological, psychological and developmental growth.
Being a new parent is no walk in the park. There are new sleeping arrangements, a demanding feeding schedule, a constant lack of sleep and not to mention plenty of screaming to get used to. Being a newborn is no easy task either. Your baby has lost his or her familiar cozy quarters, the food is different and everything is new. This can cause stress on both the parent and baby. The good news is that infant massage is a great tool for managing this stress.
Numerous studies have found that massage plays a significant role in promoting growth and healthy development of infants. Proponents of infant massage claim that it fosters healthy self-esteem and increases bonding between parents and their babies. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 16th, 2010
Real Food Has Curves, a new book written by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, offers a 7-step plan for weaning yourself off processed foods:
- Seek true satisfaction. Enjoy genuine flavors, rather than fat, sugar, and salt added to mask the metallic taste of chemical additives.
- Read labels wisely. You can find food with “real” ingredients in the supermarket if you read labels carefully.
- Relish what’s on your plate. Devote time solely to enjoying the pleasures of eating.
- Wean yourself off excess salt, fat, and sugar. You can also cook with smaller amounts of these ingredients by using natural substitutes like strong spices.
- Give your palate time to change. You’ll gradually lose your taste for excessively sweet and salty foods.
- Go for high-quality foods. Look for products that contain the least amount of processed ingredients.
- Treat yourself well by not skipping meals. Try eating three meals a day at fairly regular times, plus a mid-afternoon snack.
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June 4th, 2010
Most people don’t fully understand the nervous system. Everyone knows they have one, but do you know what it really does? Beyond a couple of science or health classes in our early years of school we just don’t hear about it. This Schoolhouse Rock video does a great job of simply explaining what the nervous system does and how it affects your body. Check it out!
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May 25th, 2010
We have finally reached the finish line! The cleanse is complete and not only did we do it, but we LOVED it! We have never felt so good our lives! We have learned so much from this experience and it has truly changed our mindset as well as our everyday choices. I could go on and on about how much we love it but if you have been reading our blog recently you already know that.
Now it’s time to let the photos and numbers speak for themselves.
Let’s start with DR. VIEHBECK’S RESULTS…
Total Weight loss: 16 pounds
% Body Fat: decreased 6.2%
Body Water %: increased 2.7%
Muscle Mass: increased 8.4 pounds
Metabolic Age: decreased by 26 years!!!!
Blood Pressure: systolic blood pressure decreased by 17, diastolic blood pressure decreased by 14
Resting Pulse: decreased by 20 beats per minute
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May 17th, 2010
We are now on Day 17 of our cleanse and loving every minute of it! Throughout the past 17 days we have been asked lots of great questions and would like to share the answers with you!
“WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A DETOX OR CLEANSE PROGRAM?”
A purification program (also know as detox or cleanse) can help you remove natural toxins from your body and help maintain a healthy body weight. Although our bodies are designed to rid themselves naturally of these toxins, it can become overburdened and result in sickness, diseases, cancer, and less severe symptoms such as stuffy head, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, digestion issues, food cravings, weight gain, reduced mental clarity and low libido.
“WILL I LOSE WEIGHT ON THE PROGRAM?”
This depends on how close you are to a healthy body weight. If weight loss is appropriate for your body, most people can expect to lose an average of 10 pounds. The ideal weight management system is not a quick fix,-instead it is a long term commitment and this program will help you learn to make healthy choices become a habit and a way of life.
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May 12th, 2010
Day 9:
While weight loss is not the primary purpose of this program, we have been excited to shred some inches and lose more than a few pounds as a result of the purification program. Dr. Viehbeck has lost over ten pounds and Kelly is right behind him with a loss of 6 pounds and eight inches! Before and after photos will be posted at the end of the program. More importantly, we just FEEL better! We wake up easier, we have far more energy throughout the day, we sleep better, aches and pains have subsided, and we feel rejuvenated. We can think more clearly, multitask better and enjoy life more! I can’t believe how fast the first nine days have flown by.
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