Stars for Kids

Archive for the ‘pediatric chiropractic’ Category

Did you know that one-third of children suffer from recurrent headaches that occur more than once a month? That’s an alarming statistic! But, as a chiropractor, though I’m alarmed, I’m not surprised. Children can get misaligned in many ways and headaches can often be the result. The active child can sustain a fall or sports injury. The sedentary, computer video child can occur headaches as the result of poor sitting postures.  But, another cause of headaches is surprisingly “seasonal.” As children and teens begin school each year, they are more susceptible to headaches and migraines. The change in schedule, new teachers, new friends and schoolwork can increase stress and, consequently, produce headaches.

In the case of the latter, there are quite a few things that you, as a parent, can do to help reduce these “seasonal” headaches.  For starters, enforce an earlier bedtime so that your child will be well-rested before beginning a new school year. In fact, in a new study published in Headache, researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that sleep and emotional disorders were common in adolescents with migraines. You should minimize (or eliminate) your child’s caffeine consumption (there is plenty of caffeine in certain soda pops). Obviously caffeine can make getting to sleep more difficult.  Also, make certain that your child is eating balanced meals and regular snacks, as well as drinking enough amount of water. Dehydration can often cause a headache.

If your child does develop a headache, chiropractic care is an effective, drug-free alternative for headache pain relief.  Over-the-counter medications, even once a week, can potentially put your child at risk for gastrointestinal and liver problems.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, headaches in children

As a chiropractor who specializes in pediatric care, I am always happy to read articles relating to the simple ways in which a child’s brain can be stimulated. Naturally, chiropractic adjustments have a positive effect on a child’s brain and nervous system. But, there is plenty that parents can do to assist the mental awareness and communication skills of their children. So, I found today’s nytimes.com article on the benefits of parents’ talking to their children very interesting. Randi Jacoby, a speech and language specialist in New York, believes that parents today have stopped having good communications with their young children, and this is causing children to lose out on the eye contact, facial expression and overall feedback that is essential for early communication development.

“Young children require time and one-on-one feedback as they struggle to formulate utterances in order to build their language and cognitive skills,” Jacoby said. “Parents need to be reminded of the significance of their communicative model.”

Ms. Jacoby’s general advice to parents is to reward your child’s communicative attempts with your own heightened attention, and to prepared to put down your cellphone and look them squarely in the eye as they share their thoughts with you.

The article is extremely informative and should be read in its entirety, ad it offers excellent advice on how to better communicate with your children. And, the most important was that when your children try to talk to you, give them your full attention whenever possible. And before you speak to them, make sure you have their attention.

The full article can be found at nytimes.com

Technorati Tags: child communication development, pediatric chiropractic

A Children’s Chiropractic Center in Oklahoma City, “Oklahaven,” announced the dates of their annual “Have-A-Heart” campaign, a worldwide event that is held during Valentine’s week each year. The purpose of the event is to increase the awareness of the healing power of chiropractic for very sick children and also to benefit the center.

“It is through the amazing generosity and support of people all around the world that allows us the opportunity to help children with their journey back to optimal health. I am extremely hopeful that our expanded campaign efforts to businesses in your community this upcoming year will not only increase the awareness of our mission, but allow us to provide more children with the chiropractic care they so desperately need,” says Dr. James O’Dwyer, Director of “Oklahaven” Children’s Chiropractic Center.

Pediatric Chiropractic has proved to be effective in improving the health of children through treatment that is natural and medication-free.  Oklahaven’s specializes in treating neurologically disorganized children, including failure to thrive, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, ADHD, and the autism spectrum.

To learn more about “Oklahaven“, sign up for the 2010 Have-A-Heart campaign, or to make a donation please visit www.chiropractic4kids.com.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, chiropractic, developmental delays, failure to thrive, pediatric chiropractic

You may have been told that chiropractors treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Well, that’s just not the case. Chiropractors don’t “treat” ADHD. But, chiropractic care can definitely help children, and adults too, who suffer from it. The reason why chiropractic treatment is effective is that ADHD is a neurological disorder. Chiropractic manipulations are not only effective in reducing nervous system disturbances in general, but an adjustment can be intentionally directed to stimulate under-active areas of the brain and calm over-active areas as well.

Because a chiropractic approach to ADHD is natural and drug-free, a large number of parents choose chiropractic care over the conventional medical practice of giving children Class 2 psychotropic drugs that have intense side effects including personality changes and permanent alterations in the brain. The vast majority of parents who’ve opted for chiropractic treatment for their children have noted marvelous behavioral changes as a result.

Due to the differences between the manner in which boys and girls use the two hemispheres of their brain, ADHD seems to occur in more boys than girls and, additionally, for the same reason is often more  easily observable in the behavior of boys than of girls. Some of the symptoms that are most prominent include difficulty concentrating and sitting still, lack of ability to control impulsive thoughts and behaviors, easily distracted by noises and activities, constant movement of fingers, hands, arms, feet, or legs.

Quite a few children who manifest ADHD symptoms are hypersensitive to certain foods, such as dairy or gluten products, and sugars and artificial sweeteners. Furthermore, they generally have a hypersensitive reaction to additives in foods, herbicides and pesticides used to grow non-organic fruits and vegetables, and laundry products such as detergents, fabric softeners, and other chemicals. Often, the removal of these environmental agencies can go a long way in reducing ADHD symptoms.

Checking for spinal anomalies and certain responses to specific neurological tests are part of the thorough examination offered by your chiropractor.

You may be able to assist your child in getting his or her life back in balance through natural, safe chiropractic care. Before taking drastic pharmaceutical measures, if your child displays the symptoms of ADHD, call your chiropractor to make an appointment for a complete evaluation. Call today for the health of your child!

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, chiropractic, chiropractor, drug-free, natural

As an Orlando chiropractor my practice includes pediatric chiropractor because I believe in the health benefits of chiropractic for children, and I think we’d all agree that giving children the very best foundation possible for their mind and body is vitally important. After all, growing into adulthood is difficult at its best, without having health issues to contend with. I meet a lot of parents who, among their other parental worries, are concerned about the height of their children, that is to say, if their children are short. I’ve been asked if chiropractic adjustments can help a child to grow taller. Well, the answer is both “yes” and “no,” depending on the reason for the child’s short stature. But, whether or not there’s a corrective solution, parents of short children should stop worrying. Here’s why:

A new study shows that short children are no more likely to be depressed, unpopular with their classmates, or have other social and emotional problems than their taller peers. Good news concerned parents! Apparently, the “traumas and dramas” of childhood happen to children of all shapes and sizes.

The study, published in Pediatrics, analyzed data on 712 sixth-graders. Twenty-eight children were classified as having short stature, i.e., they were below the 10th percentile on a growth chart; the remaining children were non-short stature (10th percentile and up). Average height was considered between 25th and 75th percentiles.

The social and emotional well-being of the study group was measured through a number of questionnaires answered by their teachers and the children, themselves. Short children reported slightly higher levels of being victimized or teased by their peers, but there was no difference on other measures of depression, behavioral problems, or popularity.

As soon as a baby is born, pediatricians start monitoring that child’s height and weight by percentile. Although low numbers may create anxiety in parents, that anxiety is likely unwarranted, the researchers write. The short children in the study “reported marginally higher levels of peer victimization … this was not associated with poorer adaptation,” said Joyce Lee, MD, MPH with the department of pediatrics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues.

So, listen up parents of short children because the researchers concluded that short children may interpret the everyday teasing as more significant because their parents “verbalize concerns about their child’s height and its possible negative impact on social functioning.” The best thing that any parent can do for their children is to encourage them to feel confident and secure about themselves and to measure their “growth” from the inside out.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, pediatric chiropractic