Family First Chiropractic and Wellness

Tips to Ease the Strain of Caring for a Baby

2012-02-23T08:27:00.001-07:00

Tips to Ease the Strain of Caring for a Baby
Caring for a baby is rewarding - and hard work. Like other kinds of work that require lifting, bending, long periods of sitting, and repetitive motions, it can be harmful to your body. Try these simple tips to prevent problems before they begin.

Put one foot on a box or low shelf when you stand and change diapers. This causes your pelvis to tilt in a way that decreases pelvic fatigue.
Keep work surfaces at a comfortable height. Put something under the legs of the changing table, for instance, to raise it if you're tall.
Don't try to hold the baby and wrestle the side of a crib down at the same time. Instead, drop the crib side before you pick up the child.
Don't bend from the waist when you lift the child. Squat with your back straight, keep the child close to you, and use your leg muscles to rise.
Don't bend over into the car when putting your child in the car seat. Sit sideways on the seat with the child on your lap, then rotate to face front and put the child in the seat.
Make sure your feet touch the floor and your back is supported when you sit holding your child. Keep your knees at the same height as your hips or slightly higher.
Adjust stroller handles so you're not bending over when you push.
When loading a stroller or groceries in the car trunk, rest one foot on the bumper and keep the load close to your body.

Brought to you by Dr. Joelle Johnson of Family First Chiropractic and wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta T4R 2X3 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Back pain during pregnancy and labor

2012-02-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Back pain during pregnancy and labor

84% of patients receiving chiropractic spinal adjustments reported relief of back pain during pregnancy. There was significantly less likelihood of back labor when spinal manipulative therapy was administered during pregnancy.
Diakow PR, Gadsby TA, Gadsby JB, Gleddie JG, Leprich DJ, Scales AM. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991 (Feb); 14 (2): 116-118
Family First Chiropractic ans Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261
www.fmaily1stchiro.ca

Myth #3 - Genetically coded diseases are unavoidable

2012-02-16T12:09:00.004-07:00

Myth #3 - Genetically coded diseases are unavoidable

Dr. Joelle Johnson and Dr. Stephen Kelly

How many times have you heard someone say, "My mother had arthritis, that's why I have it"? We now believe, through scientific technology, that many diseases are inherited. Genes for specific diseases have been recognized via gene mapping. Many of you may know or have heard of women who have had total bilateral mastectomies, completely prophylactically, because their mothers died of breast cancer, firmly believing that they could not avoid the same fate.

Let's take a closer look at this issue. If having a gene for any illness condemns you to having that disease, then why are you not born with the disease you are coded to have? Why isn't every person who carries a gene for disease suffering at all times from that disease? The answer is that all genes do not express themselves at all times and many never do. There must be a reason why the body would call upon a gene to express itself. Otherwise, none of us would be able to survive the onslaught of genetic expression. So what is it that causes a gene to express itself? If you consider for a moment that diseases are just a complex of symptoms being incorporated by the body in an attempt to protect itself from tissue destruction and/or imminent death, you may begin to get a clearer understanding of what I am trying to say. Once we begin to pay attention to the reasons that a gene might express itself, we may be able to prevent that gene from releasing its code for illness.

To do this, one must look again at the lifestyle of the patient. As stated earlier, degenerative illness is a function of free radical damage to our cells over time. If someone carries the gene for arthritis, for example, one would expect genetic coding to foster storage of free radicals in their joint tissues. The prolonged exposure to these free radicals over time will cause progressive vicariations, which lead to cellular damage and eventual joint destruction.

But what if we intervene on behalf of gene expression by controlling the formation and liberation of free radicals in the body? Would there then be a need for the gene to express itself? I contend that there would be no need for this gene to express because, as I stated earlier, disease is the body's way of protecting itself from rapid destruction of tissues and/or imminent death. If it doesn't have to go to extraordinary lengths to protect itself, the gene remains dormant and no disease ensues.

So, again, we must look at the lifestyle and diet of the patient to discover why their body is failing to control the formation, liberation and damage caused by free radicals. You have all heard the term "antioxidants" and for good reason. Antioxidants are the nutrients we require in order to neutralize free radicals so they can then be eliminated from the body in a harmless form. Many people in our society live on nutrient deficient diets from highly processed and refined foods that do not supply essential nutrient protection.

You should be beginning to see the pattern here. Are we treating cancer by cutting it out? Are we treating arthritis by suppressing the protective inflammation brought about by years of free radical damage? Does coronary artery bypass grafting cure cardiovascular disease? Of course not. Our goal should be in maximizing understanding of cause and effect and employing life affirming, nutrient-rich diets with a healthy, wholesome, natural lifestyle. This is the way to "prevent" genetically coded diseases.

Dr. Stephen Kelly and Dr. Joelle Johnson are located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer, T4R 2X3 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

Chiropractic Can Promote Heart Health

2012-02-14T10:56:00.004-07:00

February is National Heart Health Month - Chiropractic Can Promote Heart Health

While most companies, doctors, or groups celebrate Heart Health Month by suggesting you get your blood pressure checked or place yourself on statin drugs, at Family First Chiropractic we want you to have a healthy heart by having a healthy nervous system.

Heart disease continues to be the number one killer of Canadians, and shows no signs of stopping. Cardiovascular disease also poses the greatest burden on our healthcare system, costing us billions each year in healthcare resources.

The good news is that most of the factors that contribute to heart disease are under your control. Although family history and genetics do play a part, lifestyle factors often lead to the development of heart disease. Smoking, obesity, stress, physical inactivity, and diets high in fat are some examples of lifestyle factors that can lead to heart disease. All of these can be controlled, and should be managed appropriately to ensure long lasting heart health. The Public Health Agency of Canada has valuable resources that help educate the public on cardiovascular disease prevention. Please visit their site to learn more about heart disease causes and prevention.

Most people are aware that diet and exercise are key components of preventing heart disease, however less people are aware that chiropractic treatment may also be used as a tool in the fight against heart disease.

While most of the focus involving heart health has revolved around diet, exercise and prescription medications, there's some indication that certain chiropractic procedures could help to improve the overall health of the heart. Adjustments to the spine may lower blood pressure in individuals suffering from hypertension and provide a better heart rate for everyone.

Medicine at Rush University in 2007, realignment of the atlas vertebrae, also known as the C1 vertebrae of the cervical spine, can help to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people suffering from hypertension. There appears to be a link between compression of the vertebral artery and an unhealthy elevation in blood pressure. By realigning the C1 vertebrae in the neck, restriction along the arterial wall is relieved and you may experience a decrease in blood pressure. Other studies have shown that adjustment of the vertebrae in the neck and lower back can activate specific nervous system reflexes, leading to a decrease in overall heart rate and blood pressure.

There's also some indication that adjustments to the cervical spine, which are the seven vertebrae found in the neck, may help lower your heart rate. This is largely due to the eight pairs of cervical nerves located within this area of the spine. The Upper Cervical Health Centers of America believe that interferences within these nerves can cause many health conditions, including those that affect the heart. When the cervical spine is placed in alignment, the nervous system is allowed to better communicate with the rest of the body. In relation to the heart, the improved communication can help bring your heart rate down to a healthy level.

Brought to you by Dr. Stephen Kelly and Dr. Joelle Johnson of Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer, 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

Myth #2 - Inflammation is bad

2012-02-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

Myth #2 - Inflammation is bad

Ask any doctor what to do about inflammation and the answer will be a uniform, "Take an anti-inflammatory." While it is true that taking medication to suppress inflammation can certainly lead to increased comfort, should we be doing that in the first place? Is inflammation bad? Is it something that occurs by freak accident, some physiologic aberration, that occurs and causes great distress and suffering amongst mankind? We have been conditioned to think of inflammation as something bad because it causes pain and makes us miserable, therefore it should be medicated and suppressed. Right? Wrong.

Inflammation is a directed response by the immune system designed to detoxify, repair and protect tissues under any form of functional or metabolic stress. It is important to understand the purpose of inflammation in order to see why we should not work to suppress it, but rather to support it.

Whenever there are tissues in our body under any form of functional or metabolic stress, the problem will be immediately identified by the immune system. It first recruits a pathway called primary inflammation. This pathway is employed by the body in order to detoxify the tissues under stress (as tissues under stress increase their metabolic rate and produce more toxic by-products) as well as facilitate the repair of any injured cells. A primary inflammatory response will produce no symptoms in low-level stress situations, as long as it is efficient in managing the problem. You would not even know that this process is going on because there are no identifiable symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness and heat. Cardinal signs of inflammation will occur only when there is rapid, high level stress in an area such as in acute trauma, repetitive stress episodes, allergic/toxic reactions and metabolic disease.

In situations where the stress on the tissues is beyond the capability of the primary pathway, or in situations where there is an inefficient inflammatory response (we will discuss this later in the treatise), the immune system will then incorporate the secondary, or chronic, inflammatory pathway. This pathway is a protective pathway. It prevents rapid tissue destruction by allowing for cellular adaptation to the stress as well as the release of pain-causing chemicals to prevent continued "overuse and abuse" of the involved part. Therefore, the patient becomes aware that there is a problem because they are in pain.

Now that you understand this simplified explanation of inflammation, you can see that inflammation is actually a good thing. It is the body's way of trying to help itself deal with these kinds of issues. It should be obvious then, that anti-inflammatory medications actually impair the body's ability to detoxify, repair and protect itself. Additionally, these medications add toxic load to the body and are responsible for many varied side effects.

What makes more sense, empirically, is to treat these problems mechanistically and supportively. In other words, we want to work to help make the pathway of primary inflammation more efficient, with supportive, rather than suppressive, protocols. There are many natural medicines that can help accomplish the task of supporting our bodies, be they homeopathic, nutritional or herbal. Additionally, we want to be able to identify the reason(s) that this pathway is not functioning efficiently.

It is imperative that we look more comprehensively into our patient's physiology in order to detect reasons why the immune system is not up to the task it is being called upon to perform. To do this, we need to understand our patient's lifestyle, diet, adrenal health, the presence of food sensitivities, free-radical levels (free-radicals being compounds that essentially are responsible for cellular damage and degeneration over time), metabolic function analysis and perhaps other tests. In other words, we must work to comprehensively understand our patient's total health picture and not just concentrate on the body part involved in the pathology.

Dr. Stephen Kelly is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer, T4R 2X3 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

Massage and Labour Benefits

2012-02-07T13:27:00.002-07:00

Massage during labor has enormous benefits and these include

reduces the laboring mother's perception of pain, thus acting as a natural pain reliever
alleviates tension and anxiety
aid in the production of endorphins or "feel-good hormones"
stimulates contractions
improves tthe flexibility of muscles
facilitates blood flow, circulation and fluid drainage
promotes less muscle tension
decreases stress levels and fatigue - helping to revitalize the mind and body
laboring mother feels a greater sense of emotional support

Michaelle de Ruiter is a mother of 2 and a Registered Massage Therapist and Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr,

403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Myth #1- Technology has improved healthcare

2012-02-02T11:37:00.001-07:00

Myth #1- Technology has improved healthcare

Dr. Stephen Kelly Bsc,D.C

Ask any person if they believes that technology has improved health care and you will get a resounding "Yes!" Advances in medical technology now enable us to look inside the human body with relative ease and with great detail. Our surgical tools allow us to operate on all parts of the body with a minimum of trauma and blood loss. Technology has helped us improve the quality of life for millions of patients every year. It has enabled us to save countless lives as well. Therefore, it is certainly a foregone conclusion that technology has, in fact, improved our health. Or has it?

Statistically, since the age of technology, there has been an onslaught of increasing pathology. The amount of illness and morbidity in our society is dramatically rising. There are now more cases of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, auto-immune illnesses, endocrine disorders, developmental disorders, allergies, respiratory problems, infectious diseases, neurological problems, musculo-skeletal pathology, gastro-intestinal disorders, psychological illness, etc., than ever before.

While it is true that our technology has enabled us to better handle the enormity of disorders now facing mankind, it has done literally nothing for "health care." If it had, we would have seen a decrease in the amount of illness and pathology in society. We would have experienced a drop in the amount of people requiring intervention from the medical community. Pharmaceutical companies would not be as rich and powerful as they are if people would be less dependent on medication to "feel well". If anything, advances in technology have fostered a narrow field of vision, focused more on early detection and intervention than on prevention. If, by definition, health care means "the maintenance of good health," then technology has failed miserably to produce any measurable improvement in the overall state of health of mankind.

Dr. Stephen Kelly is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness located at 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer, T4R 2X3, 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

CranioSacral therapy information

2012-01-31T08:00:00.001-07:00

Jeanneatte Raskin R.M.T. C.S.T.

CranioSacral Therapy can help mothers recover more quickly after childbirth.The adjustment to motherhood may not be as difficult if she receives therapy, the therapy can also remove trauma by the birthing process. CranioSacral Therapy is non-invasive in nature, and has virtually no negative side effects.It strengthens overall good health, motor coordination, sensory perception, range of motion and neuromuscular function. CranioSacral Therapy may facilitate the healing of many health-related problems because the craniosacral system influences the development and function of the brain and spinal cord.

Jeanneatte Raskin works at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, located at 142 Erickson Drive in Red Deer, Alberta. She is a mother of 3 as well as a registered massage therapist and craniosacral therapist. www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261

Labour Massage

2012-01-26T09:00:00.001-07:00

Labour massage
Written by Michaelle de Ruiter RMY of Family First Chiropractic and Wellness at 142 Erickson drive, 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Most women feel great anxiety about childbirth and worry how they will cope with the challenges of labor. Massage therapy is one of the most wonderful tools to use during labor with numerous physical and emotional benefits. Research has shown that massage techniques and strategies can relieve stress during labor, relax muscles and promote overall calm for the mother.

Women who receive regular massages throughout their pregnancy are also often more relaxed and experience less muscle and joint pain, thus preparing them for labor and childbirth. Enlist the help of a birth partner, certified midwife or doula to ease the strain of labor.

Massage for children

2012-01-24T22:34:00.002-07:00

Every child, no matter the age, should be massaged at bedtime on a regular basis." So says Tiffany Field, Ph.D., of the Touch Research Institute (TRI) in Miami, Fla. Field and her associates at TRI have worked diligently over the past decade proving the benefits of massage for children. But this is not a new concept. Infant massage has long been a common practice in families of Eastern and African cultures. Many indigenous tribes use some form of bodywork to soothe, relax and heal their little ones, sometimes including scented oils and herbal remedies as part of the experience. With our modern technology and hurried lives, we frequently find ourselves lacking in quality family time and touching each other less. The ancient practice of massage can serve to reaffirm a close bond with our children, and to convey a comforting sense of security and trust.

Touch is the first sense to develop in humans. It is essential to our health and well-being. Babies have been known to fail to thrive and even die without an adequate amount of physical contact. Adults, as well, can become depressed and ill if they are isolated from this most basic of human needs. Children who learn healthy views of touch and are provided with positive tactile experience by their caregivers are more likely to grow up to be adults with healthy self-esteem, a sense of appropriate boundaries and long-lasting intimate relationships.

TRI researcher Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D., says she regularly gives massage to her own daughter. When asked if other parents should do the same, she says, "Absolutely, a daily massage at least. That's what the studies show. Regardless of whether it's an infant, a child with illness, a preschooler, pregnant women or the elderly -- no matter who we studied we have found that massage benefits all age groups and individuals of different conditions."

Massage is a wonderful stress-buster for children. "Oftentimes when we think about stress," Hernandez-Reif says, "we think it's just an adult condition, only adults have stress. But if you think about it, even young infants and children are prone to stress." A young child starting school who is unfamiliar with the area or children in the class will experience stress. Family illness or financial problems, divorce and even vacations can produce emotional strain. Hernandez-Reif notes that one of the consistent findings in studies of the benefits of massage therapy is a reduction in stress and stress hormone levels: "There is a relationship between stress and the immune system. If stress hormones are chronically elevated, the [hormone] cortisol will destroy the healthy immune cells that fight viruses and tumors and keep the immune system healthy. If you can reverse that, you not only reduce stress but also reduce stress hormones, allowing the immune system to bounce back and do its job, which is to heal the body and keep it healthy."

As for children's behavioral response to massage, she says, "They are happier and in a better mood. We have observed they appear more relaxed, calm and oftentimes fall asleep during massage." If it's the child's first massage, they may squirm a bit because they are not familiar with this type of touch. Due to the discomfort and pain of medical procedures inflicted on them, infants and especially premature babies may have developed a negative association with touch. Given this new, positive experience they relax and their bodies quiet down.

With infants, a gentle gliding stroke is applied to the body, but as the child grows older, the massage may become more sophisticated to include work on the feet, fingers and toes, and use of more extensive types of strokes and techniques. "Teens are a little different," Hernandez-Reif says. "With young children we can train the mother or parent to do massage for a daily dose. Teens, however, don't seem to like their parents giving them massage. They respond better to a massage therapist." TRI's guideline of 15- to 20-minute sessions is a good rule to follow at home. Longer sessions can be overstimulating or even uncomfortable for a younger child with a short attention span.

One of the best ways to give your baby safe, positive messages about touch is to give her massage on a regular basis. Early infant massage may stimulate the developing nervous system and brain, and memory of that positive touch may then be permanently registered in the body cells. By improving circulation, respiration, digestion and elimination, massage promotes a sense of comfort in your baby and makes her less prone to colic. As the baby grows, the stroking of massage prepares the body for sitting, standing and walking by promoting strength, motor coordination and self-confidence. Infant massage is becoming very popular with new parents and a number of resources are now available to get you started. In addition to books and videos, you can find certified infant massage therapy instructors in local private practice and at hospitals and clinics specializing in holistic medicine.

Once massage is established as a family routine, it can benefit your child throughout his growing years. Preschoolers have shown better performance on tests of their intellectual and manual skills after a 15-minute massage. They also slept better during naps, were less likely to be overactive and had better behavior ratings. For teens struggling with the growing pains of adolescence, massage helps to balance unstable hormones and can relieve anxiety by producing a state of relaxation. A supportive relationship with a massage therapist who gives them safe, unconditional touch can also increase their feelings of self-acceptance and self-confidence during those trying years. Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring 2003.
Copyright 2003. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.
www.family1stchiro.ca

Children with special needs

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Jeannette,Chelsea and Michaelle RMT's at Family First Chiropractic

Children with Special Needs

The studies at TRI have ranged from massage for pre-term infants to parent-administered massage for children with chronic illness. This research is having a profound impact on pediatric healthcare, providing a noninvasive treatment within a positive, nurturing experience. Pre-term infants and cocaine-exposed and HIV-positive newborns have responded to massage with increased weight gain, decreased stress behavior and improved motor skills tests. Pre-term babies also slept better and were more alert and active.

Stress has been identified as a major contributor to exacerbated symptoms in children with chronic illness, if not the root of the disease itself. Coping with frequent hospitalizations, painful or uncomfortable treatments and restrictions on diet and daily activities can take its toll on parents and siblings as well as the patient. Massage reduces stress hormone levels and provides an ideal opportunity for positive interaction between parent and child in the midst of the negatives of treatment. In TRI's studies on chronic illnesses, parents were instructed in administering nightly massage sessions. Across the board, not only did the child's symptoms improve, but both the child and parents experienced a decrease in anxiety.

Controlling stress is crucial for children with diabetes, asthma, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and skin problems. As stress hormone levels rise, symptoms increase -- in the case of diabetes and asthma, sometimes putting the child's life at risk. In TRI's research, massage has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in diabetics, improve pulmonary function in asthmatics, decrease JRA pain and improve skin condition in children with eczema. Massage for children with cancer is currently being studied by TRI with the expectation that it will decrease the stress of medical procedures and boost the immune system. "From my perspective, one of the most important research findings from our studies is that massage therapy increases natural killer cells," Hernandez-Reif says. "These cells are constantly traveling through our body looking for foreign objects and tumors to destroy. Massage therapy naturally boosts these cells. This has tremendous implication about the benefits of massage for keeping people healthy."

Massage has proven equally effective for psychological and behavioral problems. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibited less hyperactivity and more on-task behavior, and generally were happier with regular massage treatments. For autistic children, there was a decrease in touch sensitivity and disruptive behavior, and increased ability to relate to their teachers. Adolescents suffering from bulemia had improved body image and decreased depression and anxiety, while teen psychiatric patients experienced improved sleep and clinical progress as well as decreased depression, anxiety and stress.

"What we would like to see is for massage therapy to be added to standard care -- not to take the place of medical care, but to go hand-in-hand with the doctor's care to help the child recover more quickly," Hernandez-Reif says. "I think it's a great tool."

Touch is essential to a child's development, sense of well-being and good health. Children reach out for touch as naturally as they do for food and water. A nightly massage can ensure that touch is a positive, nurturing part of their human experience. And, as Field says, "They love it."
Forwarded by Chelsea Brausen at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr., Red Deer, 403-347-3261
www.family1stchiro.ca

Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction (SPD)- There is relief!

2012-01-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Joelle Johnson B Sc., D.C.

Many women suffer from symphysis pubic dysfunction (SPD), especially during and after pregnancy, many women even suffer with it for years! These bones as located in the front and below the abdomen where your underwear sits. Many women describe it as a pressure or shearing type discomfort that may cause pain when walking, sitting, squatting, lunging(like when vacuuming) or standing. One or all of these movements may cause severe pain that even causes many to feel like their leg is going to 'give out'. Many women describe it as an intense pressure over their pubic area and describe 'like baby is going to fall out' and many complain of groin pain as well. Many women are told that this is a side effect of pregnancy and it will go away after birth, but there is relief! A very gentle chiropractic adjustment will quickly relieve the pain and pressure. By doing a full assessment of the spine and pelvis we can do some specific muscle testing to see where there is weakness and misalignment of the spine and pelvic ( and pubic) bones. After the assessment we can adjust the affected bones into the correct position ( very carefully and gently as this is a very sensitive area in many) alleviating the pain and weakness. Many women can even walk normally directly after this area has been treated. You do not have to live through the pregnancy and beyond with this issue!
Dr. Joelle Johnson has treated many, many people with this issue with great success. Dr. Johnson has practised in Red Deer since 1999 and is located at 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer. www.family1stchiro.ca or call 403-347-3261

Pregnancy Massage-Touch for the Mom-to-be

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Touch for the Mom-To-Be By Shirley Vanderbilt Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Fall 2002.Forwarded by Chelsea Brausen of Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Pregnancy is a beautiful and natural condition -- nine transformative months full of excitement, planning and peering at the awesome unfolding of life. But this transformation also brings inevitable side effects, sometimes making a woman feel like her body has been taken over by an alien force. In the early months, there are mood swings from ecstasy to unpredictable crying, in later months, there are aches and pains more common to the domain of the elderly. Physical changes, such as nausea, back pain, heartburn, raging hormones, breast pain, and swollen legs and ankles affect many women during this time. But you don't have to suffer in silence. The gentle, noninvasive approach of pregnancy massage can ease your discomfort, help you prepare for labor and give you the emotional support of a caring practitioner. Massage sessions can also bring back a sense of body-mind integration, putting you into a state of relaxation and calm acceptance of your continually evolving physical form.

According to Lynne Daize, with the National Association of Pregnancy Massage Therapy, training for this specialty includes learning specific techniques for each trimester, as well as those required for labor and postpartum massage. A certified pregnancy massage therapist is well-acquainted with the physical and hormonal effects of pregnancy and has the skills to counterbalance these changes. You'll find the therapist uses a lighter touch and concentrates on those areas most vulnerable to changes in your body. She will also give you deep breathing exercises and tips on how to improve your posture to adjust to the added weight and shifting center of gravity.

Massage has many scientifically proven health benefits such as stimulating the blood and lymph systems, thereby increasing immunity and removal of toxins, stabilizing hormonal levels, and adding tone and flexibility to muscles -- all of which enhance the health of both you and your baby. As pregnancy progresses, your body adjusts to a changing alignment caused by the baby's increasing weight. This puts strain on your back and legs and increases stress on weight-bearing joints. Massage increases flexibility, enhancing the ability to carry this extra weight while also relieving aches and pains, leg cramps and muscle spasms. The effects of relaxation and tension release add to improvement in the physical state of muscles and joints, and assist in balancing emotions.

Recent studies from the Touch Research Institute (TRI) in Miami, Fla., indicates that pregnancy massage provides more than just symptom relief for the mother. A group of 26 pregnant women were given either massage or relaxation therapy during a five-week study. In addition to experiencing a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress, sleep problems and back pain, the massage group had fewer complications in their delivery. Their newborns also had fewer postnatal complications. Another TRI study reported massage during labor resulted in shorter labor times for the mothers, shorter hospital stays and less postpartum depression.

Obstetrician Bonita Kolrud of Westside Women's Care in Wheat Ridge, Colo., is an avid proponent of bodywork, although she cautions women to make sure their therapist is experienced with pregnancy massage. Kolrud praises the physical benefits of massage, noting it relieves tension and pain caused by changes in body alignment. "The biggest thing is so many women still look at massage as a luxury. But it has so many physical health benefits and is more of a necessity for some patients. Emotionally, it's really beneficial for women to be touched when they're pregnant. I think a lot of pregnant women don't necessarily get as much physical touching as they would like. It's a very nurturing thing having someone taking care of you, and it's a great bonding experience with the baby when you're both receiving massage."

More Business of Being born, a great success

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the successful event More Business of Being Born

On Behalf of Dr Joelle Johnson and the staff at Family First Chiropractic we would like to say a huge thank you for all of your support before and during the event. Without wonderful local vendors we would not have been able to make More Business of Being Born such a huge success. We had a wonderful turn out and it was because of all the fabulous people that helped to promote our event. Thanks for all of the generous donations that flooded in for the door prizes and swag bags.

Sincere Regards,

Dr Joelle Johnson and the Family First Chiropractic Staff.

2012-01-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261.This follow up movie to the Business of Being born is a must see for anyone thinking of having a baby.

The movie Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections is a follow up to the first movie.... The most comprehensive and educational DVD in the series, Explore Your Options offers birth-planning guidance around key topics such as the role of doulas (labor support specialists,) the advantages of birth centers and the alarming escalation of cesarean sections in the United States and Brazil. Epstein and Lake talk to doulas about why their profession is currently booming and uncover why having a good doula can make-or-break the entire birth experience. They look at the ever-growing rates of inductions and c-sections, which have reached 50% in many US hospitals and more than 99% in some private hospitals in Brazil. How “safe” are these cesarean surgeries, and what are the health implications for the mothers and babies? Explore Your Options examines the pros and cons of birth centers, described as a perfect middle ground between home and hospital. Special features include Alanis Morissette and Alyson Hannigan on the advantages of doulas, Christy Turlington Burns on her unexpected complications at a birth center, Molly Ringwald on how she avoided a cesarean birth with her twins and Gisele Bundchen and Michelle Alves on the cesarean epidemic in their native Brazil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJTN88Zv0_M
In order to keep noise to a minimum, we have requested that parents attending the event find alternate child care for thier older children. This way we can assure noise levels will be kept to a minimum.
NEWBORN NURSING INFANTS ARE WELCOME

Booths that will be at this great event are:
Family First Chirippractic and Wellness, Uppy Mama, Jo Dumont Fitness, Itty Bitty Baby Company, The Bra Lounge, Green Bottoms, Pure & Simple, Mom's Town, The Green Clinic, Ask 4 Acupuncture, Essential Oils, Comfort Keepers, Happy Hypnobabies, The Breathing Room, Billings Method, Pure Earth Organics, Sweet Bliss Creations, Birth Without Fear, Teensy Tooth, Beautiful Birth, Avena Originals, La Leche League, Deanna Hall Photograghy, Red Deer Doula Association, VBAC society, Vaccination services, Mommy Connections, Knowledge First Finacial, Pregnancy

A Fathers Homebirth story #6

2012-01-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

Home Births Part 6 – In late January, 2008 our third son was born on a cold winter night in the warmth of a small kiddie pool in our basement. Our midwives braved the cold and snow that day and Marshall was born without incident with their assistance. We were completely comfortable with a home birth by the third child. The care given by our midwives was superb and professional and we thank them for making those experiences memorable.
I have not had the experience of having a child born in the hospital so I really cannot comment on a hospital birth. What I can say is that having our sons born at home in a pool with the assistance of our midwives were experiences that I will never forget and that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. I would recommend a home birth to anyone is pondering that option. Other options include a midwife assisted birth at the hospital and/or the support of a doula.
I am proud to say that our sons were born at home.
Written by Lyle Johnson B. Comm and father if 3 boys
Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson, Dr, Red Deer, Alberta T4R 2X3
403.347.3261
www.family1stchiro.ca

A Dad's birth perspective, part 5

2012-01-04T08:30:00.001-07:00

Home Births Part 5 – Two years after our first son was born, we had moved from our small, cozy home to a home large enough for our second child due one month later in June, 2005. There was no doubt that we wanted to use a midwife and have this baby born in our new home. I felt completely comfortable with a natural midwife assisted home birth and now I could not imagine going to a hospital for this birth. However, I did learn that each pregnancy is different for which the baby and his mother received plenty of professional pre-natal care. Food cravings and aversions to certain smells by the mother are different for each pregnancy. Each baby carries differently causing their mother discomfort at different times during the pregnancy. Regular chiropractic treatments definitely help to alleviate the discomfort as well as position the baby well for an optimal birth.

Laboring prior to the birth of our second child was not as intense as the first birth but still a lot of work for mum. When Adam was delivered in a water birth on June 25^th, 2005, he came out so fast that his mother did not realize that she had just delivered our second son. The midwives were fantastic throughout the pregnancy labor and delivery. I really can’t imagine any better care than what we received.
Lyle JohnsonB. Comm is a father of 3 and husband to Dr. Joelle Johnson of Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 erickson Dr. 403.347.3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

MORE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN SCREENING Jan 7, 2012 FREE!

2012-01-03T08:30:00.003-07:00

Hosted by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261.This follow up movie to the Business of Being born is a must see for anyone thinking of having a baby.

A Dad's Perspective Part 4

2012-01-02T08:30:00.002-07:00

Home Births Part 4 – I was awakened in the early morning hours on a hot summer night in late July by my wife who was experiencing some labor pains. “We are going to have this baby” was her resolve. We got dressed and went outside for a brisk walk at 4:30 a.m. just in time to watch the sun rise and the birds to start singing. I was timing how far apart the contractions to make me feel like I was contributing. We called our midwife later that morning as the contractions became closer. The midwife came over to see how far along things were with the delivery. Things were progressing slowly and I learned quickly that every pregnancy is different – this baby would come when he’s ready. Being at home was comfortable for both my wife and I – we did not feel any pressure to deliver the baby because it was the end of somebody’s shift or that it was just taking too long. We were allowed to follow the birth plan that we chose and we were respected by our midwives for the choices that we made. Regular monitoring of my wife and our unborn child was done.

Later that evening, the contractions were not far apart and my wife was dilated to the point where it would be soon to start pushing. The birthing tub had been prepared earlier in the day and it was time to put some warm water into it. When my wife started to push, my wife was not put on a bed with her feet in stirrups with somebody in a mask peering over a veil at her. Instead, she was allowed to kneel, squat, lay down, go in the shower or whatever in order to continue the birthing process. Due to an injury sustained due a skiing accident when she was a young adult, the pushing process took over 2 ½ hours and the midwives were able to keep her concentration on what she needed to do. When the baby started to crown, my wife entered the kiddie pool set up in the basement of our first home. Late on the evening of July 24th, 2003 we were blessed with the birth of our first son, Logan Lyle Johnson. What an experience! What a courageous, amazing delivery by his mum in a water birth assisted by midwives in our home!
Lyle Johnson B Comm, is husband to Dr. Joelle Johnson of Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer, 403-304-7980 www.family1stchiro.ca

A Dad's perspective Part 3

2011-12-29T08:30:00.003-07:00

A Fathers perspective
Home Births Part 3 – Having a baby being born at home is not something that most fathers would ever think would happen in their home. As the expected date got closer, we got things together that we would need to have a comfortable delivery such as blankets, towels, good source if hot water and a kiddie pool. Yes, a small three ring plastic pool that we hoped our baby would enter the world – what were we thinking? Now, of course that made me a bit uneasy at first – is it safe? But think about it – where has that baby been growing all the past 9 months? Isn’t there a bit of fluids there and how has that baby been supplied with oxygen? Then, why worry about water especially when the umbilical cord is still attached? Why shouldn’t the mother feel comfortable during delivery? Happy wife – happy life!

Other thoughts enter your mind – what if there are problems? Isn’t the hospital the safest place to be? Our midwives had full admitting privileges to the hospital in the unlikely event of an emergency. This reassurance along with the superior care that was provided throughout the pregnancy relieved any concerns that I as a father had for the safety of my wife and unborn child. I was secure in the safety of this delivery. Our first son was now 13 days past his expected delivery date in the hottest part of the summer, mom was getting impatient and I was getting anxious and nervous again. Were we going to have a home birth like we planned?
Written by Lyle Johnson B Comm, husband and father.
Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Dr.Red Deer 403-347-3261www.family1stchiro.ca

A Dad's birth perspective part 2

2011-12-28T08:30:00.001-07:00

Written by Lyle Johnson B. Comm husband to Dr. Joelle Johnson at Family First Chiropractic and wellness located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Home Births Part 2 - In 2002, we learned that we were going to have a baby. Emotions of a typical father ran though me – Pride, Excitement, Happiness and Fear to name a few. My wife, Dr. Joelle Johnson, D.C. and I had several discussions concerning a home birth versus a hospital birth. Being first time parents, this was a very important and somewhat unsettling decision for me because I thought that parent s don’t use a midwife and nobody is born at home anymore. This was done when hospitals were far away and transportation was difficult or impossible. What about the safety of my wife and child? My reaction was very typical of any parent facing such a decision. After several discussions, research and reassurances from my wife, we decided to hire Blessing Way Midwifery to assist us with a home birth. Even though, my wife is a chiropractor and I was familiar with many aspects of natural health, I must admit that I was still nervous on our first visit to the midwives.

Midwifery was more than the delivery of our babies; it included pre-natal care which was a critical element to ensuring a safe delivery of our children. Regular visits to monitor the size of our growing baby and his heart rate as well as my wife’s health were key components to ensuring that our baby was delivered safely and healthy. I was impressed by the level of knowledge and training of our midwives. They had not taken a six month course from a technical school and put up a sign saying that they were now taking patients. They had gone through years of schooling as a nurse, years of work as a nurse and then years of courses in midwifery as well as assisting dozens and dozens of births in various settings. I thought “Hey, these ladies have as much or more experience than most doctors”. My nervousness about midwives eased.

A Dad's birth experience and perspective-Part 1

2011-12-27T08:19:00.001-07:00

A Dad's birth experience, Written By Lyle Johnson B.Comm and father of 3 wonderful boys

Home Births Part 1 -Home births and midwives were common in North America until this past century. Over time, it became more and more uncommon to give birth to your baby at home with the assistance of midwives over the past several decades with “advancements” in modern medicine. This trend seems to be reversing as more and more couples are realizing the safety and benefits of a natural birth. Over the next several segments, I will be discussing my experience as a father of 3 boys brought into this world via midwife-assisted water births.

My Background - I was born in a hospital and raised in a large family on a small farm in northern Alberta. Before adulthood, my experience with alternative medicine and natural health products was very limited. As a child, I suffered from tonsillitis constantly and the penicillin that I ingested to fight the infection never seemed to work. Like many families then and now, we trusted what our M.D. told us and did not explore alternative and natural ways of healing. Even though our family was receptive to chiropractic, my knowledge of it was limited to the fact that chiropractors only helped you fix your back – I now know that chiropractic does so much more even starting prior to birth. My experience with home births gave me a much better understanding of the natural way of health and chiropractic. Stay tuned for the following segments explaining our home births.

Lyle is husband to Dr. Joelle Johnson at Family First Chiropractic and wellness located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy

2011-12-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

The body posture changes dramatically through the 9 months of pregnancy. It is easy for us to see the centre of gravity changes, the weight the baby places increased pressure on the spine and pelvis, and near the end of pregnancy the walk changes—“ the waddle”. This puts enormous demands on the spine and nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments result in an easier pregnancy, relief of low back pain, and can reduce labour time, some studies show up to 50% reduction in labor time. The adjustment puts motion into the spine & pelvis, making the birth easier on both baby and mother. Dr. Joelle Johnson at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta would love to answer any questions on your pregnancy and chiropractic care. call 403-347-3261.

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51013&s=227&q=pregnancy&Search=Search

Massage facts!

2011-12-15T21:42:00.009-07:00

Massage Facts

One in five Americans have had a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years and 13% report receiving one in the past year. This is up 8% from 1997.

* Today, there are more than 60,000 Nationally Certified practitioners that serve millions of consumers.

* The three most often cited reasons for getting a therapeutic massage are relaxation (27%), relief of muscle soreness, stiffness or spasm (13%), and stress reduction (10%).

* Fifty-four percent of primary care physicians and family practitioners say they would encourage their patients to pursue massage therapy as a complement to medical treatment.

* Massage therapy accounts for 18% of the 425 million visits made to alternative healthcare providers each year.

* In 1999, 52% of American adults thought of massage as "therapeutic," which is up 47% from 1997.

* An estimated 20 million Americans receive massage therapy and bodywork each year, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

* Approximately 50,000 massage and bodywork practitioners provide 45 million one-hour therapy sessions each year.

* Two thirds of Americans have tried at least one form of alternative therapy or treatment for medical conditions.

* Massage therapy is the third most commonly used form of alternative medicine in the U.S., having been tried by 35% of Americans.

* Women are more likely than men to have tried alternative treatment.

* Forty-two percent of Americans have used some type of alternative care in the past.

* Americans make more visits to see alternative therapists than to see primary-care physicians, spending $21.2 billion.

* The number of massage practitioners in the U.S. is between 120,000 and 160,000.

* Massage and bodywork therapy is sought out by a large number of people in age brackets: 18-24 (22%); 25-34 (31%); 35-44 (25%); 45-54 (22%); 55-64 (19%); and over 65 (9%).

* The most important driver to try an alternative treatment is a recommendation from a friend or family member, which leads 62% of their patients to these providers.

Our experienced massage therapists at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness are happy to help you, please call 304-347-3261 to book an appointment today.

www.family1stchiro.ca

More Business of Being Born Screening-Jan 7, 2012

2011-12-14T21:54:00.002-07:00

A must see moving for all expecting parents. This Sequel to the Business of Being Born is an amazing educational documentary on birth in America. The movie Exploring your birth options C/sections, Doulas and Birth Centers with been shown FREE of charge to Central Alberta parents on Jan 7, 2012 4-10pm at the Capri Hotel/Sheraton hotel Red Deer. Movie starts at 6:30. There will be a trade show from 4-10 on parenting,pregnancy and birthing information in central alberta. The first movie was hosted by Dr. Joelle Johnson in 2008 with an overwhelming attendance. This event is hosted by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness located at 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer 403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca

Touch is an AMAZING power.

2011-12-13T08:12:00.012-07:00

Jeannette Raskin, Dr, Sephen Kelly,Chelsea Brausen,
Michaelle de Ruiter,Dr. Joelle Johnson(R-L)

The Healing Power of touch.

INTERESTING FACTS ON TOUCH: ~Touch is the first sense to develop in humans, and may be the last to fade ~there are approximately 5 million touch receptors in our skin-- 3000 in a finger tip ~a touch of any kind can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure~touch stimulates the release of endorphins (the body's natural pain killers) which is why a mother's hug for a child's skinned knee can literally make it better ~people with eating disorders who receive massage three time a day for ten day's, gain weight faster and got out of the hospital six days sooner than those who don't

~elderly people who massage surrogate grandchildren report higher-esteem and better moods

German emperor Frederick II, took a number of newborns from their mothers and gave them to nurses who fed them but did not cuddle or talk to them. All of the babies died before they could talk. Fredrick concluded "They could not live without petting."

~In the early 1990's, Romania, thousands of infants were put in orphanages, they were left in their cribs for two years, all alone. They were found to be severely impaired.

~Duke Professor Saul Schanberg found that rat pups separated from their parents for 45 minutes underwent major internal changes including a large drop in growth hormones. Injections of growth hormones didn't help. But when someone stroked them with a wet paintbrush-- mimicking their mothers tongue--the hormone levels went back up.
Family First Chiropractic and Wellness has chiropractic, craniosacral therapy and massage therapy. Let our practitioners use their helaing touch on you and your family 403-347-3261 to book an appointment. We are located at 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer.

www.family1stchiro.ca

Sydney Crosby and Chiropractic

2011-12-08T09:00:00.001-07:00

Re-posted by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness and written by Crystal Jabs, Chiropractic Assistant, located at 142 Erickson Dr, Red Deer. Dr. Joelle Johnson and Dr. Stephen Kelly

Chiropractic Care for NHL Star

Earlier this year, Pittsburgh Penguins NHL superstar, Sydney Crosby, severely injured his head two times in the matter of one week. Both hits eventually lead to a severe concussion, which left Crosby with constant dizziness, light sensitivity, balance issues and extreme headaches. Needless to say, Pittsburgh was forced to finish the season without its star player. For many weeks following the incident, Crosby spent his time at multiple doctor offices, exhausting every effort trying to find a cure for his symptoms. After spending 6 months discouraged, Crosbys’ trainer, Andy O’Brien, received a recommendation to send the Penguins star to Ted Carrick, a sports chiropractor of the stars “literally”. After many days of waiting, Carrick decided to make an exception to his extremely full schedule and fit Crosby in.

Many weeks were spent together getting Crosby ready for the upcoming season. Drills and tests were run to see how well Crosby was responding to different movements. Crosby claims, “My eyes felt like muscles that hadn’t been used in months”. After extensive, non-medicated treatment, Crosby is ready to return to the ice with his team for the upcoming season. Special thanks goes out to Dr.Carrick who took in a case that other doctors had given up on. Without Dr. Carricks, specialized, un-medicated approach, Crosby may still be seeing stars. October 5, 2011 By Towne Lake Family Chiropractic

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

2011-12-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Jeanneatte Raskin RMT,CST

Many pople have heard of Craniosacral therapy but do not understand its powerfull effects on the nervous system and body. Jeannette raskin RMT, CST works at Family First Chiropractic in Red Deer, Alberta

Craniosacraltherapy is a gentle method of detection and correction that encourages your own natural healing mechanisms.
Relieves headaches,reduced stress, controls pain and promotes relaxation.
It will dissipate negative effects of steess on your central nervous system and you will benefit from better overall health and resistance to disease.
The gentle touch of Craniosacral therapy before and after labor allows for a more positive experience for baby's journey and entrance into the world. It may also improve or prevent conditions such as colic by treating the newborn as well.
treatment of ADD and ADHD is very effective with CST.
Jeanneatter Raskin is located at 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta T4R 2C3 403-347-3261 to book an appointment today.

Massage for circulation

2011-11-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Massage for Circulation

Massage facilitates circulation because the pressure created by the massage technique actually moves blood through the congested areas. The release of this same pressure causes new blood to flow in. The squeezing and pulling also flushes lactic acid from the muscles and improves the circulation of the lymph fluid which carries metabolic waste away from muscles and internal organs.

Written by Michaelle de Ruiter R.M.T. Michalle practices at Family First Chiropractic located at 142 Erickson Drive in Red Deer. 403-347-3261.

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Are you balanced?

2011-11-24T08:30:00.021-07:00

Dr. Stephen Kelly

Contraction. Relaxation. This is the basic mechanism of muscular action. Problems develop when there's too much of one or the other. In most cases, too much contraction/ spasm is the culprit.
Persistent muscular contraction in the lower back or neck, for example, leads to a cascade of negative effects. Toxic metabolic end-products - including lactic acid - accumulate. These small molecules irritate local nerve endings and cause ongoing or intensified pain. Muscle spasm results which narrows local blood vessels. Too little blood reaching the area deprives tissues of oxygen and other important nutrients. Cellular damage results with further build-up of noxious metabolites.
Chiropractic treatment encourages a return to normal muscle balance by restoring normal spinal alignment. Spasmodic muscles are enabled to relax by relieving the underlying problem/ irritation. Blood vessels can now supply appropriate amounts of oxygen and nutrients. Metabolic waste is removed. Vitality is restored and pain resolves. Spinal muscles and spinal joints return to operating in a natural rhythm. Written by Dr. Stephen Kelly. Dr Kelly practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness located at 142 Erickson drive in Red Deer, Alberta. 403-347-3261
http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Weight loss and massage

2011-11-22T08:17:00.005-07:00

Weight Loss Massage

Michaelle de Ruiter R.M.T

When a body massage improves your circulation, nutrients in your body are also supplied to your muscles in a more efficient manner. This is why a post work out body massage is often recommended by many weight loss experts. After strenuous exercise your muscles become in need of oxygen and essential nutrients in order to recover and grow. Well-maintained muscles are able to help you burn calories even if you are at rest. A massage can also boost the flexibility and range of motion of your muscles, enabling them to burn more calories when you work out. A massage can directly help with weight loss by breaking up the fats located in your subcutaneous tissues.

Michaelle de Ruiter works at Family First Chiropractic as a massage therapist in Red Deer, call 403-347-3261 to book today. Located at 142 Erickson Dr.

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

A baby's mishapen head is not just aesthetics

2011-11-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

Baby's Mishapen Head is Not Just Aesthetics

This blog was forwarded to you by Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta, 403-347-3261 http://www.family1stchiro.ca/
written by Dr Jennifer Barham-FloreaniB.App.Clin.Sci, B.Chiropractic

Dated: 02 November,2011

Have you noticed that your baby or infant has a flat spot on their head? That the overall head shape seems uneven? It may be worth a little more attention…

Sometimes parents of young children ask if there is anything we (chiropractors) can do regarding their child’s head shape. Intricately understanding the nervous system and the impact a misshapen head can have on the function and the brain and nerve feedback chiropractors remind parents there are other issues at hand and not just the visual appearance of the child’s head.

It is important to appreciate that a misshapen head is not merely a cosmetic issue; it is most likely a brain stem issue. If your child’s head looks uneven or you notice flat areas, this may indicate restrictions between the skull and the soft layers that cover the brain and spinal cord. A healthy brain requires good movement of the skull and spine; when this movement is impaired, brain and nerve function are also impaired.¹

Sometimes children have nerve and spinal distress that results in their head being tilted to one side so that one ear sits higher than the other (refer to picture below). At other times a child’s head may be rotated or turned more to one side, so that they display a preference for having their head turned this way.

There is a myth that an odd-shaped child’s head is of no concern and will ‘right itself’ with time, however, anomalies of shape may be one of the first indications that your child is susceptible to developmental delay.^1,2

How would a child’s skull and spine get out of shape?

1) Lack of Alignment of the Mothers Pelvis

Literature shows that misalignments of the spine and skull may be caused during pregnancy due to a mother’s pelvic distortion (misalignment of the bones of the pelvis) or the position of the baby within the uterus. Previous accidents (e.g. motor vehicle, cycling), falls (e.g. off horses, down stairs) or poor postures may have allowed the joints in the mother’s pelvis to move into awkard positions. When the joints of a mother’s pelvis do not sit correctly, the layers of muscles, ligaments and other connective tissue that surround a growing baby are pulled out of shape, creating an uneven tightening of the uterus and limiting how a baby moves within the pelvis. As a baby grows bigger their movement may become signi?cantly inhibited as the tissues become more restrictive.

As a baby grows bigger this restriction of movement creates more distress for the developing spine and nervous system.

2) Birth Trauma

Spine and nerve distress can arise from restricted or abnormal positioning in the uterus and also from the journey through the birth canal or during the delivery process itself.

According to Gutmann,³ a researcher who examined the effects of the birth process, “the trauma from the birth process remains an under-publicized and therefore signi?cantly under-treated problem.”

There are many factors that can cause birth trauma, including false labour, a long or very short labour, failure of the mother’s cervix to dilate, the use of drugs to increase contraction intensity, the use of vacuum extraction or forceps, caesarean section delivery, cord around the baby’s neck and foetal distress.

While nerve irritation can be caused with assisted deliveries, even straightforward vaginal births can create vertebral subluxations if the baby’s head and neck are not tucked under fully to allow for even distribution of the forces associated with labour contractions.

3) Other Physical Traumas

A newborn’s spine is extremely vulnerable and poor handling by adults or older siblings may be another cause for vertebral subluxation. In fact, subluxations occur throughout life, particularly as we learn how to walk, ride and climb. Other physical causes for subluxations include accidents during contact sports, activities such as skate-boarding and sur?ng, sustained postures with electronic
equipment and poor posture in general.

It is best—whether your child’s head is odd-shaped or not and whether their head sits unevenly or not—to have their skeletal system checked as early as possible by a chiropractor or osteopath. A chiropractor’s focus is not aesthetics; their aim is to help increase the neurological function of your child.

“If young bodies are in bad shape, what about the brains that are attached to them?”
—Jane Healey PhD

Warmly,
Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani
B.App.Clin.Sci, B.Chiropractic

Drink water after a massage!

2011-11-15T08:00:00.005-07:00

Drinking water after a massage is often recommended by massage therapists and other health care practitioners, for a variety of reasons. In fact, drinking water in general is a good idea, as the body benefits from proper hydration, and consuming water will help the kidneys and other organs process the various substances which move through the human body on a regular basis. Drinking water before a massage is also highly recommended, as it will make it easier for the massage therapist to perform deep work by hydrating the muscles so that they are easier to manipulate. Water after a massage helps the body flush out any accumulated materials in the muscles which were released during the massage. Especially in the case of deep tissue massage, massage stimulates circulation in the body while expressing water, salt, and other minerals from the muscles, and circulation is designed to carry away waste materials generated by cells. By providing the body with plenty of water, massage clients can help sweep away these waste materials; otherwise, they might build up, causing muscle aches and soreness after a massage.

Most importantly, people should drink water after a massage because massage can be dehydrating. The manipulation of the muscles depletes them of water, and also moves the fluid in the interstitial spaces between the muscles around. By drinking water, people can rehydrate their muscles, reducing the potential for pain and soreness in the days following a massage. For the same reason, people drink water after exercise and other forms of exertion, because when the muscles are worked, they lose water and electrolytes.
Chelsea Brausen R.M.T. is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer.
403-347-3261
http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

How massage helps with your health

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Health Benefits of Massage by Michaelle de Ruiter RMT

Helps Fight Infection—Massage increases the activity of white blood cells that target and destroy infectious agents. With regular massage, the immune system is strengthened rather than stimulated and it becomes more robust.

Modulates Immune Function—Massage strengthens the immune system, restoring balance. Massage increases antibody production in immune deficiency and reduces autoantibody production in autoimmune disease.

Benefits Autoimmune Diseases—Besides reducing autoantibody production, massage reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are responsible for inflammation and pain.

Reduces Pain in Arthritis---Besides reducing production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, massage increases production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, effectively reducing inflammation and pain.

Reduces Depression—Massage increases the production of both endorphins and serotonin. Increased levels of these biochemicals effectively reduce symptoms of depression and contribute to wellbeing.

Improved Circulation—By stimulating blood flow to the body’s organs, massage improves circulation. With improved circulation, red blood cells are better able to transport nutrients to the body’s other cells.

Stimulation of the Lymphatic System—The lymphatic system is comprised of the thymus gland, tonsils, spleen, adenoids, lymph nodes and lymph fluid as well as lymphatic vessels. The lymphatic vessels carry clear lymph fluid that circulates throughout the body, removing waste products, degenerated cells, and accumulations of fats and proteins. Lymph vessels lie beneath the surface of the skin and are stimulated by massage. This results in improved lymphatic circulations.

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51258

Michaelle de Ruiter, Chelsea Brausen and Jeannette Rraskin CST are massage therapists at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta 403-347-3261 to book an appointment

Are your kids carrying too much?

2011-11-08T08:30:00.001-07:00

My children carry back packs to school, how does this affect their backs?

Dr Joelle Johnson

Most children carry backpacks to school. A rule is for the child to only carry a maximum of 10% of their body weight (an 80 pound child should only carry a MAXIMUM of 8 pounds). Look in your child’s pack and see if there are items that are not necessary to carry daily to reduce the weight. The way your child carries the pack is also very important, both shoulders straps need to be used to balance the weight across the shoulders and back properly. If there is a waist strap this should be utilized to maintain a proper center of gravity. There has been a higher incidence of back and neck pain due to backpack use in school children and teens. The added stress to the spine can result in subluxation and put stress on the nervous system.
Dr Joelle Johnson is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer, 403-347-3261http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=50985

How is your circulation?

2011-11-03T21:41:00.012-06:00

Michaelle de Ruiter RMT

Massage for Circulation by Michaelle de Ruiter R.M.T.

Michaelle de Ruiter practices massage therapy at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Albert 403.347.3261

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51258

Headaches are a pain in the neck!

2011-11-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

Many people seek Chiropractic care for headaches and are tired of taking drugs for them. The side effects of some drugs can be hard on other parts of your body. Chiropracitic care is a conservative painless, drugless tratment of a problematic nerve and muscular system. Beneficial results are acheived with the adjustments to the spine,specifically the neck. Seek Chiropractic care to get to the cause of the problem, Dr Joelle Johnson is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261
http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=50985

Ever wonder how a chiropractor adjusts children and babies?

2011-10-25T09:00:00.002-06:00

Babies and children have a smaller body shape & size, therefore needing unique care for their spines and nervous system. Birth is a difficult process for the baby and commonly they have irritation in their upper neck. When adjusting a young infant no more than 4 – 6 ounces of pressure is used to correct the spine. Babies and children enjoy this type of gentle adjustment and often many sleep throughout their treatment. Other areas of childhood such as rolling over, sitting, crawling,learning how to stand and walking can also cause irritation to the spine and nervous system which can result in problems in childhood. Dr. Joelle Johnson in this picture is adjusting a 3 year old with an Activator, a gentle low force technique.We are located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, in Red Deer, Alberta 403-347-3261
http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=50978

Are you dehydrated?

2011-10-20T08:54:00.004-06:00

Dr Joelle Johnson

About three quarter of our population is dehydrated. With our lifestyles having a fast pace our bodies under go huge stressors, caffeine in coffee and pop (diuretics) are often involved. Lack of water or dehydration is one of the triggers of daytime fatigue, fuzzy short-term memory, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen. Dehydration will slow ones metabolism and the thirst mechanism in Canadians is so weak it is often mistaken for hunger. Drinking 5 or more glasses of water per day decreases the risk of many cancers such as colon, breast and bladder cancer. It also helps to slow down the aging process and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The chiropractors Dr. Joelle Johnson and Dr. Stephen Kelly at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer know that water is the largest single component of the body; it takes nutrients to cells and is the medium for all reactions of the body. Most of our population does not get enough water in our diets, 8-10, 8 ounce glasses per day is strongly recommended. http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51258

Who is a dog lover/owner?

2011-10-18T08:50:00.002-06:00

Brought to you by Chelsea Brausen, RMT. Chelsea is a massage therapist located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta.

Who is a dog owner/lover out there?? Massage isn’t just for us humans, in just ten minutes a day you can give your dog a “maintenance” massage. This is one way you can add to the length and quality of your pet’s life. Use a flat palm to slowly touch all the parts of your dog’s body. Really focus on what you are feeling and pay attention to all the layers from hair to skin, fat, muscle, and down to bone. Meanwhile, Spot the dog is basking in the attention and loving the extra “petting".

CALMING YOUR NERVOUS OR ANXIOUS DOG You hear the thunder rolling in amidst those very dark ominous clouds and your dog begins to whimper, roll his eyes, and pant. Under the bed he goes or into that safe spot in the closet. Is there anything you can do to reduce his stress? Massage may be the answer.

Massage therapists use a stroke similar to petting to relax the nervous system. Lightly rest the flat palm of your hand on top of your dog’s head or neck. Make long, sweeping passes along the length of the spine and down the tail. Repeat this several times slowly. You can gradually increase your pressure if your dog likes it. Do not press straight down on the lower part of the back. To finish, allow one hand to rest at the base of your pet’s head and the other hand to rest over the area of the pelvis (the high point over your dog’s hips). These two areas correspond to the part of the spinal cord that controls the rest and relaxation responses of the body (for example, sleep, digestion, and tissue repair). This technique is useful any time your dog is nervous or fearful such as during nail trimming or vaccinations, or when he is hyperactive or restless. Your pets need TLC, comfort, and love just as we humans do. So be kind to Spot and spend a few extra minutes a day with him massaging those animal woes. Retrieved from http://www.nwsam.com/ Northwest School of Animal Massage

Find Chelsea Brausen here for more information http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51258

403-347-3261

2011-10-13T18:31:00.004-06:00

Consumer Reports Survey 2011

Chiropractic care out-performed all other back pain and neck pain treatments in a new 2011 Consumer Reports alternative therapies survey. Respondents were asked to indicate the treatment used and whether it helped for particular conditions. 65% of chiropractic patients indicated chiropractic “helped a lot” for back pain, well above prescription medication, deep-tissue massage and over-the-counter medication. Chiropractic treatment also scored high for neck pain (64%), headache and migraine treatments (77%), and osteoarthritis treatments (53%).Dr. Stephen Kelly practices chiropractic at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta.

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Benefits of Prenatal Massage during Pregnancy by Michaelle de Ruiter RMT

2011-10-11T09:37:00.002-06:00

Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy. Our clinic Family First Chiropractic and Wellness provides this technique and allows mom to lay on the stomach while being properly supported.
Michaelle de Ruiter, RMT practices massage therapy at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta. http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Looking for a family friendly clinic?

2011-10-06T15:49:00.002-06:00

Red Deer chiropractor Dr. Joelle Johnson and the staff at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness want you to become part of our family. We offer a variety of Red Deer chiropractic services including massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, orthotics and chiropractic treatment for:

Dr. Joelle Johnson adjusting a 6 month old

We are also a Red Deer pregnancy chiropractor that provides pre-natal care, babies and children's chiropractic care.Our other services include Ideal Protein Weight Loss diet, natural health products, nutritional information, a monthly health newsletter and much, much more 403.347.3261. http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Welcome To Our Blog

2011-10-05T16:18:00.002-06:00

Family First Chiropractic and Wellness is committed to helping our patients obtain optimal health so we are introducing a blog for you to read some interesting bits of information to help you.

The blogs may include information about chiropractic, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, weight loss, orthotics, natural health products or any number of things.

We welcome you to read our blog and forward it to others who you think would enjoy our articles.

Visit us at http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Cheers to you and better health!!

Family First Chiropractic & Wellness
142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 2C3
403.347.3261