Thrive Chiropractic Blog Articles

What Can I Do About Shoulder Pain?

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:58:42 GMT

Shoulder pain can be a debilitating issue that affects daily life activities. From reaching high up in the cupboard, to holding your baby, to enjoying your favorite sports activities. Chronic shoulder pain can really impact your quality of life.

Options to address shoulder pain are limited. Drugs, PT, home exercise, or surgery can be the only things offered to you. However, at Thrive Family Chiropractic we can offer a more comprehensive approach to your shoulder health and longevity.

There are 2 main joints that create the shoulder joint. The AC joint, which connects the scapula to the clavicle, and the GH (glenohumeral) joint that connects the humerus to the scapula. Being that the shoulder is the most mobile joint in our body, it can fall victim to mobility problems. Shoulder pain and dysfunction can be caused by numerous things, which is why a skilled chiropractor is your best advocate.

Common causes of shoulder problems:

- Nerve impingement in the neck

- Arthritis

- Muscle imbalances

- Poor posture

- Repetitive trauma

- Incorrect breathing

- Weakness

- Trauma

This is why we take a comprehensive approach to shoulder problems. We check the mobility of each joint, the muscles that attach to them, the nerve that innervates the shoulder, posture, breathing, muscle strengths and weaknesses, etc. We’ll then adjust the problem area and create stability so your shoulder can work better without pain. It is hugely beneficial to meet with a chiropractor before going down the path of pain medications, surgery, or chronic pain!

If you’re having a shoulder problem - no matter the cause, try our approach to building strong shoulder health!

Breathing & Chiropractic

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 21:01:15 GMT

Chiropractic Improves Breathing

The act of taking a breath seems simple, but there are many complex movements happening. Every day we breath on average 22,000 times a day! That gives us many opportunities to check in and analyze the quality of our breathing.

We should all be breathing with ease, and only using minor effort on the inhale. The exhale is purely elastic recoil. However many of us are breathing incorrectly or with too much effort. Poor breathing mechanics lead to other health challenges. Low oxygen saturation to our brains and organs, neck tension, shoulder tightness, diaphragm spasms, ribcage dysfunction are common effects of this.

Here are 3 exercises to check in with your breath:

- Diaphragmatic breathing:

o Place 1 hand on your chest, one hand on your belly. Take a slow deep breath. Make sure your belly lifts before your chest! Never allow your neck muscles to tense during this exercise. Keep your neck relaxed.

- Box breathing:

o Inhale 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds. This gets you in tune with your breath. Combine this exercise with the diaphragmatic breathing for more focused.

- Diaphragm stretch:

o Put your hands on your knees and take a deep full breath. On the exhale suck your belly inwards. Intentionally lift the diaphragm up so your breath expands at the bottom. Hold this stretch while deeply sucking the belly towards your spine. Allow your ribs to open and flare.

Common symptoms of poor breathing include:

- Neck pain, stiffness, loss of range of motion

- Stiff shoulders, can’t lift overhead

- Headaches, lightheadedness

- Upper rib pain

- Muscle spasms in the traps

- Low back pain

- Lack of flexibility

Bad breathing mechanics can affect everyone. However we frequently see breathing problems after: car accidents, postpartum, times of high emotional stress, sport injuries or whiplash trauma.

Get your breathing checked by a chiropractor like us here at Thrive Family Chiropractic. Reduce your pain and get breathing better right away!

5 Incredible Facts About The Pelvic Floor

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:05:51 GMT

The Pelvic Floor Can Seem Like A Mystery. What Is It And What Does It Do?

The pelvic floor is a bowl-shaped group of muscles that sits inside your hip bones. It is responsible for many things, including supporting the abdominal contents, supporting the skeletal system, allowing the passage of waste, allowing the passage of babies, sexual function, posture, and connecting the lower body to the upper body. There’s a lot most of us don’t know about our pelvic floor, however here are 5 things to understand!

1. The pelvic floor impacts your posture. It is made by a of a deep system of support muscles. Think of the deep lower core as the base from which your legs, arms, and head moves. The stronger the base, the more freely we can move. Because the pelvic floor is the base of our support, it is also one of the most important components of our posture. Your pelvic floor literally holds up your head! With ideal posture, your pelvic floor and diaphragm are in line with one another; your diaphragm is stacked over your pelvic floor, and your head then stacks on top of the diaphragm. We cannot achieve ideal posture without addressing the function of the pelvic floor and its relationship to the rest of the body.

2. The pelvic floor moves. There are two joints in the front, formed by the two pubic bones and the pubic symphysis. Your sacroiliac joints (SI joints) create two joints on the back side of the pelvis. The final joint is found at the bottom of the sacrum, where it connects to the tailbone, or coccyx. The coccyx’s mobility is due to where the muscles in the pelvic floor attach. A healthy pelvic floor is able to lengthen, as well as shorten, as the joints move. If these joints are not moving enough or correctly, it can create a significant amount of dysfunction. This can include incontinence, difficulty during childbirth, sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, postural dysfunction, and many other problems.

3. The common dysfunctions of the pelvic floor are NOT normal. Society has given us the impression that as we age, we naturally lose control of our bowel and bladder. We are told that because we had a baby, or five babies, we will no longer be able to jump, laugh, cough, or sneeze without leaking. We are told that sex is sometimes painful for certain women, and that we need to somehow figure out how to enjoy it more. And we are told that there are products and surgeries out there to help us, and that’s the best we can get. NO. Even though these symptoms are common in our culture, they are not normal, and you never need to “just live with them.”

4. The pelvic floor is directly related to sexual function. Intercourse, as mentioned above, can be painful for some women. Because our pelvic floor is a group of muscles, it can develop restrictions or become weak. The causes of the restrictions and weakness vary, but they will always create dysfunction. We need the pelvic floor to be able to contract while it shortens and have control while it lengthens to allow for intercourse without pain. We also need a functioning pelvic floor for improved sensation during intercourse.

5. You can improve your pelvic floor's function. This is something you need to always remember! You have all the components within you to find improved function of your pelvic floor. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed above, you do not have to live with them. Please don’t live with them.

So, now what should you do? Pelvic health is important, and we all deserve to know about it. Because there are many components to it, a great place to start is at our office Thrive Family Chiropractic. Here we specialize in pelvic function as it relates to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. If you’re suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction it could be due to the involved joints and nerves. Luckily, this is where we can help you!

Don’t wait, get yourself checked!

(562) 386-1415

The Most Important Exercise To Start Postpartum Recovery

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 22:26:59 GMT

Where To Start With Your Postpartum Exercising:

What is the first thing to do to kickstart your postpartum recovery?

At our office in Huntington Beach we get a lot of questions about what postpartum recovery looks like. Did you know that it is common practice in the United States to go SIX WEEKS from giving birth until your first doctor appointment?! Post-partum care needs a reboot, and that’s where Thrive Family Chiropractic comes in.

The first thing we teach our momma’s after giving birth is how to breath again. That’s because when baby is growing in the womb, all of the internal organs get displaced. Breathing get’s labored - just ask any pregnant momma after they walk up a set of stairs. The diaphragm (your breathing muscle) can no longer function as it’s designed to. It doesn’t have the room to drop into the belly to expand the lungs. Now, the intercostal and neck muscles must work overtime to supply enough oxygen to enter the body.

This is why it is so common for new moms to complain of rib pain and lower neck stiffness after birth. The problem lies within the recovery process. You must learn how to breath properly again! This is why we start with simple breathing exercises. It goes like this:

Lay facing up on the ground or the bed.
Put one hand on your belly, one hand on your chest.
Take a small breath and watch your BELLY hand lift first.
Your chest hand may lift slightly after the belly.
The most important thing is to NOT let your neck muscles work at all.
Start with small breaths focusing on the belly moving.

This allows the diaphragm muscle to lengthen, stretch, and contract. It’s like you’re turning the lights to your diaphragm back on. Start small with 8 easy repetitions a few times a day.

It may seem overly simple, because it is. Often times the most important thing to recovery, is the most simple. As you get stronger and feel your neck tension melting away, you can advance this breathing exercise by:

Start the same as before.
At the end of the exhale, suck your belly button towards your spine.
As all the air is pushed out, and your belly sucked in, gently tuck the pelvis and do a small kegel.

A few weeks after starting these breathing exercises you will experience less headaches, less rib pain, less rib flaring, less neck tension. You will also experience more oxygen exchange, more abdominal strength, more neck mobility, and more comfort all around.

If you’re not finding the relief you need, then it’s time to seek help. Luckily, we are here to help you every step of your recovery. No matter your birth experience, your postpartum recovery is crucial to living the motherhood journey you deserve.

Give Thrive Family Chiropractic a call to begin your healing process from a pregnancy and postpartum expert.

562-386-1415

Why is My Baby's Head Uneven?

Fri, 26 May 2023 23:45:46 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

W ant to avoid helmet head?

Plagiocephaly and brachycephaly is a condition in which a baby’s head develops unevenly. This

will look like a flat spot, flat backside of the head, protruding forehead, or any shape that is not

‘normal’. These issues are quite common, affecting 1 in every 5 babies. Although this condition

is not painful to the baby, it is not optimal for proper motor and brain development.

A young baby’s skull is soft and not completely fused yet. This is because the cranial bones need

to be flexible to endure the birth process. As the baby grows, these bones fuse together by age

2. This means you have a small window of time to make sure your baby’s head develops

optimally.

Here are some reasons why a baby’s head may not form evenly:

- Positioning in the womb

o Baby’s need as much room as possible in the womb to develop the spine and

cranium. Low fluid, poor baby positioning, breech presentation, multiple baby’s

sharing space, or pelvic issues with mom can increase the chances.

- Sleeping on their back

o When a baby spends too much time on their back, this can create flatness. Many

believe the ‘back is best’ sleeping principle. However, this does increase the

likelihood of flat spots.

- Lack of tummy time

o A baby’s cranial bones develop in response to stress. This means the bones

needs to be exercised. As a baby spends time on their tummy, their neck muscles

get stronger and pull on the bones of the skull. This creates optimal head shape

and neck strength.

- Premature birth

o Early born babies may have higher chances of plagiocephaly or brachycephaly

simply because their bones are softer and they may spend less time being held

by mom.

- Torticollis

o Torticollis is a spasm of the neck muscles. This usually forces baby’s head to be

turned in a certain way. Leading to more pressure on one side and less range of

motion in the neck; further perpetuating flat spots.

- Craniosynostosis

o This is a serious condition that needs medical intervention. It is caused by the

cranial bones fusing together too early. Intervention and possible surgery is

needed to correct this in order to let baby’s brain grow appropriately.

The good news!

Chiropractic is an incredibly powerful tool to help baby’s develop proper head shape. Did you

know that pediatric trained chiropractors, like us at Thrive Family Chiropractic are well versed in

plagiocephaly and brachycephaly? We work on cranial bones everyday to ensure that proper

head shape is achieved. Believe it or not, optimal head shape is crucial for proper brain

development. There are specific areas of the brain that are responsible for balance, speech, and

motor skills. If the cranial bones don’t allow for growth of the brain, we can see developmental

issues in those areas. Also, if your baby is struggling with tummy time it will certainly impact the

development of their head and brain.

If you’re noticing that your baby has an unevenly shaped head, we are here to help. Many

babies can experience a tough birthing experience and this can lead to head, neck, and motor

skill delays. Or maybe you want to be preventative and ensure your baby’s head and neck

develop optimally. We are here for you!

Don’t take a chance and wait. Get your baby checked! We are here to answer any questions

and help your baby achieve every milestone with ease.

(562) 386-1415

www.ThriveFamChiro.com

Super Human Moms and What Happens in the Body During Pregnancy

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Thu, 11 May 2023 01:21:53 GMT

Mother: The Modern Superhero

In a world where there’s a different superhero for every year’s summer blockbuster movie, you may have overlooked the greatest superhero of all time! It’s not Spiderman, Aquaman, or Thor. It’s not even a “man” at all. No, it’s not Wonder Woman or Catwoman either, although it is a kind of “wonder woman.” It’s the most wonderful woman of all, MOM.

Moms around the world exhibit superhuman strength on a daily basis. Even more than daily, how about every second! They’re caretakers, chauffeurs, lunch ladies, nurses, and lovers to their families. But, some of the most amazing things moms do is create and house us, as tiny humans inside their bodies until we are ready for the outside world. Seems too crazy to believe, but our moms have done this for centuries.

While your mom is growing you, her blood volume will increase 50%. This increase in blood will support the tissue where baby is growing, provide for nutrient exchange, and is what give moms-to-be that beautiful glow.

Her body will begin to increase the production of a particular chemical called relaxin that will soften her

ligaments, cartilage and joints to prepare her body to give birth. She will make up to 10 times the amount of relaxin that it typically makes.

Mothers will also grow a whole new organ! It is called the placenta and is needed to provide nutrients to baby and to eliminate waste products as the baby grows. Once born, the placenta is no longer necessary, and she will expel it.

Your mom’s breathing capacity will improve. Even though as baby grows, there is less room for lung expansion. She accommodates for that by increasing oxygen capacity by 30-40 percent.

Her sense of taste and smell will improve. It is also true that pregnant moms heightened senses to avoid potential poisons or spoiled food while pregnant.

The human body is AMAZING, but your mother is a superhero! All this beautiful organization requires clear communication between her brain and body as well as to the growing brain and body within her. That’s why chiropractic is an excellent choice for moms. By connecting your brain to your body, your nervous system is not only able to communicate about what is going on in you body, but it is also able to provide the information required for your body to adapt and perform at its best.

At Thrive Family Chiropractic we ensure our pregnant patients are getting the best quality care

Throughout conception, pregnancy, and birth. We’ve made it our mission to get our community healthy during pregnancy and honoring the beauty of natural childbirth.

If you are thinking of becoming a mother, then start your health journey now! Chiropractic care for your fertility, conception, pregnancy, and birth journey is essential. Let us walk with you on your motherhood journey!

This Mother’s day, treat yourself to our extensive New Patient experience.

562-386-1415

What Does It Mean To Have A Short Leg?

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 19:16:34 GMT

Did Your Chiropractor Say, "You Have A Short Leg?"

What Does That Mean?

So you may have gone to a chiropractor recently, who told you that one of your legs is shorter than the other. This is a common issue that chiropractors address, so its important to understand what it could mean for you.

Every chiropractor uses the leg length inequality test to determine if there is imbalance in your body. It is performed by having you lay face down on an exam table and visualizing the length of both legs. They may even check the leg length in another position, by bringing both heels towards your glutes. This allows the chiropractor to assess the mobility of the spine and sacroiliac joints. It is also a way to visualize if the legs change in length in the second position. This simple test gives huge amounts of information to the chiropractor on what needs to be adjusted.

If you do have a difference in the length of your legs, it could mean two things:

1) You have an anatomical short leg. You were either born with this, have a condition that affects the hips (like hip dysplasia), or you’ve had some kind of injury. It means that the bones of your leg are physically shorter than the other.

2) You have a functional short leg. This is created by improper alignment of the hips or lumbar spine that creates a short leg. Having your hips not aligned causes compensation patterns within the spine, hip, and leg. It can create tighter muscles and ultimately cause discomfort or pain.

Both types of short leg patterns need different types of care.

For an anatomical short leg, you should be assessed for a heal or shoe lift. This will ensure both legs are the same length and will decrease the chances of problems later. You do this by getting an xray of the pelvis and measuring the difference in the leg bones. Then you get the correct sized lift to fix the imbalance.

For a functional short leg, the care needs a more detailed approach. The entire chain of joints need to be assessed by an experienced chiropractor. The lumbar spine, pelvis, hip, knee, ankle, and foot all need to be corrected to make permanent changes in the short leg. This takes time and consistency to make all these changes, so don’t be discouraged if your chiropractor tells you about your short leg more than once.

If you don’t address the short leg, there are common issues that follow it. Most commonly are scoliosis, muscle spasms, and increased arthritis on the short leg side. Don’t let it get to that point! Get yourself checked and address the issue at the root cause.

Chiropractic, Birth & Pregnancy: Success Stories

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 18:59:23 GMT

At Thrive Family Chiropractic we are on a mission to serve moms, kids, and families. That all starts with pregnancy and birth. Over the years, we've had many mothers enter our doors. Some have had particularly incredible stories to share. Here is a look into our office and the success stories we've had.

One young woman had been married for 6 years and had never gotten pregnant. They weren't "trying" but they weren't not trying either. She came to us after her husband had started care for back pain. She was a stud athlete snowboarder also with back pain. When she learned what we do here, she was intrigued - yet skeptical. So we adjusted her for 3 months. They went on a family fishing trip and came back with a surprise. A positive pregnancy test! The only thing she had changed was starting chiropractic care. Now she has a healthy 3 month old baby boy.

Another mom, this one in her mid forties was pregnant with her 3rd baby. She hadn't been pregnant for over 6 years and this pregnancy was knocking her off her feet. With 3 kids at home, working a stressful job, and not prepared mentally, physically, or emotionally for another pregnancy. She needed help and support. Her back hurt, she was puffy, she had sciatica, and headaches...all happening at only 3 months in. She started care and within 1 month she was feeling better than she did before becoming pregnant. Sleeping better, no pain, and able to move her body with ease. She made it through her pregnancy and had the easiest birth of her 3 children.

A postpartum mom entered our office after having a traumatic birth experience. Her epidural was still causing her extreme pain and she was numb on the right side of her lower back. She hadn't prioritized her healing because she was busy with a set of twins. Her birth story was not the one she had planned and she ended up with an emergency c-section after laboring for 48 hours. She had extreme pubic bone pain and could hardly walk! Our neurology scans showed a lot of troubled nerve activity at the epidural site. After her first adjustment her numbness went away and she was able to take her first steps without a limp. Not only that, she reported she was able to have bowel movements again without stool softeners! Now that is what postpartum care should feel like.

A second time mom came to us at 7 months pregnant. Her first pregnancy was tough, she was young and unprepared. When she arrived at the hospital for her first birth, she said it was total chaos. Her doctor wasn't on staff that day, she was stalling in her labor and they started intervening with drugs (pitocin). Her pitocin induced contractions were so painful she needed an epidural. After that epidural everything started crumbling around her. The stress of this birth forced her into a c-section. For her second birth she wanted to be more prepared! She learned that chiropractic can help breech baby positioning so she started care with us. Her pelvis was so tight and restricted, there was no surprise that this baby did not want to go head down. When it came time to birth, she wanted a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). With the tools she learned at our office and with the specific Webster adjustments, her baby made it head down and she got the birth she always wanted.

Can Chiropractic Turn Breech Babies?

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:44:11 GMT

The Impact of Chiropractic On Pregnancy

Can chiropractors turn breech babies?

That is a question we get asked, and since becoming Webster certified, its a talking point for all our new patients that may come into our office with poorly positioned babies in the womb. The answer is, simply, no - that's not what we do. We leave the turning of babies up to the obstetricians. Or, really its up to the baby to turn themselves. THAT, is exactly where chiropractors come in.

The Webster technique is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment, and it's all about balancing out the pelvic bones, muscles, and ligaments. When you do that, you create a better environment for the baby. If you are making that environment as ideal as possible, then the baby has more space to move around. Babies know what is best. They have an amazing intelligence within them that created their body. Mom didn't take any special pill to form the legs or heart or eyes; the miracle of life within that little body is what created itself. The same intelligence that created them is what will help birth them. Babies will move move into the head-down position if they have the ideal environment. If the space they are in allows them to move head down, they will. That is where they want to be.

A baby will be breech, or sideways, or perhaps even posterior if it doesn't have that ideal environment to live in. If their cord is wrapped around their neck too many times, or if the mother's pelvis is not moving properly, then the baby's space is restricted, and it might not be able to freely move. The baby knows what is best!

The body has an amazing ability to heal and regulate itself, and interference in the nervous system may negatively affect the ability to adapt and function optimally. We take care of pregnant women every day. Making a difference in their life and the lives of their babies is truly amazing. The Webster adjustment is extremely effective -- especially if done accurately, specifically, and with postitive intentions.

Any chiropractor can adjust a sacrum and rub on a belly, but the specific contact points are what set a Webster certified doctor apart from a general chiropractor. You wouldn't choose a cardiologist or an internist for perinatal care; you choose a specilist for your specific situation. Pregnancy and chiropractic should be no different. Pick someone who is certified in it!

This is why we always send patients who are too far from our office to someone who is certified and registered through the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association). Their website will be posted below for those of you looking for your perfect pregnancy based chiropractor...

Taking care of pregnant women is so exciting. We LOVE being on the journey with these people-- to see their bodies change, to see how they change, to see how they handle pregnancy and feel empowered in their birth.

The Webster Technique can make such a big difference in thier pregnancy and labor. No, we aren't turning babies. We are taking care of someone during pregnancy, reducing any interference in their nervous system, creating better movement in the pelvis, balancing out muscular and ligament stress, and providing the best environment for baby to grow in. When done specifically and accurately, it can be life-changing.

Looking to have the best pregnancy and birth you can? Make an appointment with our team at Thrive Family Chiropractic. Join our community of mothers and babies taking charge of their journey to motherhood.

(562) 386-1415

Not in Southern California? Check out this website to find the nearest certified chirpractor near you!

https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor/

Birthing With Confidence

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:33:29 GMT

Birth Better With Chiropractic

At Thrive Family Chiropractic we make your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery easy. Well...as easy as birth can be! The journey through pregnancy and beyond is life altering. It is meant to test you and push you, but pregnancy is not meant to be problematic or painful.

We have 2 certified Webster chiropractors who are ready to serve you and your family at any stage of your journey. Here are some researched and documented benefits of chiropractic care for pregnancy:

More comfort

During the 9 months of growth your baby has within you, your body must adapt...A LOT. Blood volume increases by 30%, your uterus grows and stretches, your internal organs get pushed aside, and not to mention all the hormonal changes. This puts added stress on your system which usually leads to things like: headaches, carpal tunnel, pelvic pain, low back pain, swelling, digestive problems... These issues are so common that we mistake them as NORMAL. But these are not NORMAL problems. These are problems arising from a stressed body not adapting to new changes. Chiropractic is seriously incredible and getting the pregnant body adapting and ready for birth. Our moms under care rarely complain of pain during their pregnancy journey.

Better baby postitioning

Let's be real, your baby is growing in a tiny space. But rest assured, that space is all they need. IF your body is adapting appropriately then baby has a great chance of being in a good position for birth. However, most of us are not perfectly adapting to these drastic changes of pregnancy. This means all those seeminly little imbalances in your posture, pelvis, surrounding muscles, and ligaments get bigger and more problematic as your baby grows. Without balance to all the structures that create the 'womb' you are at risk of:
Improper baby posititing (breech, transverse, etc).
Poor pushing mechanics during birth
More discomfort
Longer labor

Webster chiropractic care is obsessed with finding optimal positioning for you and your baby. Working with the bones of the pelvis, ligaments of the pelvis, ligaments of the uterus, and all the surrounding muscles; we make sure ALL of you can adapt for pregnancy and birth.

Shorter labor times

a. Due to recent emerging research, mothers are seeing a trend in shorter labor times when they get adjusted by Webster trained chiropractors. Up to 30% shorter! On the contrary, when we have long or stalled labor, tough complications can arise. We help your body prepare for the physical demands of birth, by prepping your body and mind. When your internal system is thriving AND your pelvis is ready, then you will birth how you dreamed of!

We have helped numerous births happen in the past year alone. These women feel empowered, prepared, healthy, supported, and nurtured as we walk hand in hand with them through pregnancy, birth, recovery, and life beyond.

Are you curious about chiropractic care for your pregnancy? Want to hear our success stories? Give us a call so we can get you ready for the birth of your dreams!

(562) 386-1415

Already had a baby? No problem, let's help you recover properly and get your body focused and ready for what lays beyond.

Having trouble getting or staying pregnant? Let us help you. There are many reasons why this could be happening. We can figure it out together.

Crawling & Chiropractic

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 20:32:12 GMT

Developing Early Motor Skills

There are key moments in your baby's life that pave the way for proper development. Your baby is learning everything for the first time in the early months of life. These learned skills carry over into adult life. Every single learned skill starts in the Nervous System (the brain and spinal cord). This system learns and adapts as it develops strong neurological connections between the brain and the rest of the body. This is why toddlers tend to fall a lot when they walk, and why adults glide effortlessly in each walking stride. Each movement in your baby strengthens that brain body connection.

When a baby lacks these basic skills, it could mean their brain and body aren't developing as they should. These babies are great chiropractic candidates, because chiropractic aids in connecting their Nervous System to their body. Creating more powerful neurological connections and stronger motor skills. Without learning these developmental milestones, your baby is more likely to suffer from things like: balance disorders, trouble concentrating, lacking self soothing (behavioral issues), weak core muscles, poor hand/eye coordination, and more.

Here are some key milestones that your baby MUST master as they develop:

4 weeks:

Good head control when held

Occasional eye following

Makes guttural sounds

8 weeks:

Holds head up when on tummy

Follows movement with eyes

Smiles

Cooing sounds

12 weeks:

Opens hands, grasps all objects

Holds body weight on arms when prone

Regularly looks at objects in hands

Reaches for things

Laughs

6 months:

Uses hands in raking motion

Rolls over both directions

Transfers from hand to hand

Plays with hands

Speech in unclear

9 months:

Picks up objects with fingers and thumb

Sits unsupported

Feeds from a cup unassisted

Plays with feet, shows joy/displeasure

One or two recognizable words

12 months:

Well developed holding with fingers, can turn 2-3 pages of a book

Crawling established

Holds bottle unassisted

Finger feeds, plays peekaboo

Gestures, uses jargon

18 months:

Turns a page one at a time

Stands unsupported, walks with minimum assistance, runs well, walks upstairs

Can build blocks, feeds self with utensils, scribbles

Understands yes and no, can pull wheeled toys

4-6 meaningful words, begins two word phrases

These are the basic milestones every baby should reach in early life. If you are noticing your baby is behind in these milestones, then they should be assessed by a pediatric trained chiropractor. At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we are experts in helping newborns, babies, toddlers, and beyond. We focus on babies meeting these milestones and learning skills that will shape their development for the rest of their lives!

How Chiropractic Helps Breastfeeding Moms & Babies

thrivefamchiro@gmail.com — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 17:04:47 GMT

Chiropractic Helps With Breastfeeding

The benefits of chiropractic for breastfeeding moms and babies are numerous! However, many don't know how or why. *This is not about the benefits of breastfeeding - that is for another post. This is for understanding the biomechanics of mother, baby, and the latch that connects them.

Let's start with mom...

Breastfeeding can be a HUGE challenge for new mothers. It is a skill that must be taught and practiced in order for it to be a positive experience. Many times, the stress of breastfeeding is enough to lower milk supply, increase anxiety, and create a disconnect between mom and baby. Not only the mental/emotional aspect, there's also the physical demands on mom's body. The posture for breastfeeding is tough on the neck and upper back. The increased demand by baby to nurse during nights can lead to sleep deprivation and exhaustion.

Breastfeeding often leads to:

Tight neck/shoulders
Rounded posture
Numbness/weakness in the hands
Less mobility
Forward head carriage
Fatigue

The great news is, chiropractic can help manage all of this! The physical and the emotional aspects. The chiropractic adjustment not only reduces pain and stiffness, but puts the brain and nervous system in a state of ease.

Breastfeeding babies need chirpractic too! No matter how they are born, the process is a challenging one. The most important thing to know from a chiropractic persepective is this:

Nerves control everything, including the latch/suck/tongue/swallowing reflexes. The nerve in particular that drives the latch/jaw muscles/tongue strength, exits from the first bone in the neck. This means that if there is any issue in this area, then the effect is a neurologically poor latch.

Aside from the nerves, there are structural things to consider as well. Many times babies are born with tension and misalignments in their upper neck due to the process of birth. This can cause issues with turning the head towards the breast during feedings. Neck tension also causes them stress and will often lead to less time on the breast. After even a short amount of time, baby will not gain weight or properly develop strength in their mouth, tongue, swallowing muscles, TMJ, and lips.

Adjustments done by a pediatric chiropractor can be LIFE SAVING in these instances. Performing gentle, neurologically focused adjustments to these baby's nervous systems can be the solution to achieving your breast feeding goals.

https://vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2019/06/26/resolution-of-torticollis-breastfeeding-difficulties-cranial-distortion-in-a-twin-infant-undergoing-chiropractic-care-for-vertebral-subluxation-a-case-report-review-of-the-literature/

Chiropractic Can Be The Key To Your Mystery Symptoms

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:12:35 GMT

At Thrive Family Chiropractic we have seen an array of chronic unexplained health problems come into our office. Many times, our office is their last effort to get relief. They've tried every other avenue, every drug, and every diet change they can think of with no lasting results. These are the types of challenges we face daily with our patients. We take on these cases because we know chiropractic works and aids in starting the healing process from within. One of our many missions is to help families live vibrant healthy lives without the use of medication. Getting our patients off destructive medications like pain killers and SSRI's is a huge part of our practice here in Huntington Beach.

Let's share some examples of this scenario we've seen in the office:

13 year old female dancer with severe nausea, dizziness, ringing in the ears, trouble swallowing, migraine headaches, stomach upset, and anxiety. Doctors had diagnosed her with "occular migraine" and put her on 5 medications to calm her nausea and vertigo. Within 6 months, she had dropped out of school and had not been able to leave the house due to her extreme nausea. When her parents called our office in desperation, they explained that she couldn't even get in the car to come to the appointment. Weeks later, she made it into our office where the exam showed misalignments in her upper cervical spine which were compromising the function of her Vagus nerve. This nerve coordinates the entire gut/brain connection and aids in swallowing, digestion, and mental acuity. After 2 months of sporadic chiropractic care (she was still having severe nausea and couldn't make consistent appointments at the time) her nausea went from a constant 10/10 to a 6/10. One month later it was at 5/10 and a month after that it was 4/10. At this point she shared that she was off all 5 medications and that later, she was heading to a friends house to hang out. This was the same girl who experienced her life come to a screaming halt just 6 months earlier.

31 year old female with severe gut dysfunction, chronic migraines, brain fog, memory problems, fatigue, and sleep problems. She came into our office after a visit to the emergency room due to a migraine being so bad it made the left side of her face numb. During her exam we found that the nerves in her low back were not firing, causing weakness in her lower legs, absent reflexes, and poor gut health (the nerves of the low back control digestion). After trying many migraine medications and living on Ibuprofen everyday, her health was plummeting faster than she could keep up with. At only 31 years old she was living in fear and wondering if her body would ever be able to get pregnant. After 3 adjustments her migraines had become dull headaches and she noticed her concentration at work had greatly improved. After 8 adjustments, we started making small dietary changes which was decreasing her gas, bloating and constant bouts of constipation/diarrhea. Her skin started improving, her gut stopped hurting after every meal, and she hasn't had 1 migraine in an entire month - something she hasn't experienced since high school! There are still many things to be working on, but she has regained her sense of hope and sense of control over her health.

38 year old male suffering from obesity, high blood pressure, low back pain, trouble breathing, and chest pain. Every doctor had written his chest pain off as being due to his weight and he was getting desperate for an answer. With all the medications that doctors were giving him, it made him depressed and lethargic. His exam showed a distorted ribcage stemming from a car accident many years ago and he couldn't get a full breath of air. After just 2 adjustments he could expand his ribcage twice as much and get a full breath of air. After that glimmer of hope, something sparked him to start making changes in his health habits. He stopped smoking, ate healthier, got adjusted every week, and started walking daily. In 2 months he lost 30 pounds, lowered his blood pressure, has no low back pain, and his chest pain is almost gone. Regardless, chiropractic helped give him hope in his ability to overcome and heal. No drugs needed! In fact, 6 months after his initial exam he's off his blood pressure medications and now runs 5 miles 3x/week. Talk about a turn around!

If you are suffering from a complicated health history that nobody can help you with, it's time to try chiropractic. Chiropractic care addresses health from the inside, seeing you as a whole person - not as body parts. When you're in our office we get to the root cause of your health concerns and have the ability to help you naturally! Come experience the most thorough exam you'll ever get and learn how to heal again.

Does My C-Section Baby Need To Be Checked By a Chiropractor?

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 18:28:12 GMT

You've just given birth to the perfect baby via cesarean section. Maybe you're wondering, how does my child's birth affect them differently than a vaginal birth?

First of all, congratulate yourself on giving life to a new baby! This is a wonderful, powerful thing to experience. Many mothers may experience a feeling of failure or shame that they "failed" their baby by having a c-section birth. This feeling is natural but completely unwarranted. Birthing a healthy baby by any means is a huge accomplishment.

Now that being said, there are important differences that your baby experienced during the birthing process. As a baby travels through the birth canal and takes it's first breath, it initiates numerous neurological events called 'primitive reflexes'. These are inborn involuntary responses that allow for survival and growth of a newborn. These include how baby knows how to suckle a breast, push itself up towards the breast, and blink in response to stimulus.

If a baby does not have a vaginal birth, it may mean these inborn reflexes aren't stimulated and will not appear as they should. This is why it is CRUCIAL to have your newborn seen by a pediatric chiropractor. At Thrive Family Chiropractic we have specific training to asses these reflexes and what they mean for your baby's development of basic brain functions and motor skills. These reflexes are eventually inhibited by 4 to 6 months of age as the brain matures and replaces them with their own voluntary motor movements. However, these primitive reflexes may return with the presence of trauma or neurological imbalance. They can be noticed from something seemingly minor, like being slow to crawl, to something more severe, like a head injury or fall. The earlier your new baby get's checked (before the 6 month mark), the better chances they have of developing strong mental and physical resiliency. These reflexes remain in their brains as a step ladder to further develop their brains and bodies into adulthood.

Common symptoms seen in children with retained or improper reflexes are:

An easy way to assess as a parent if your child needs to be seen by Thrive Family Chiropractic:

Missing or skipping milestones (rolling over, tummy time, crawling before walking), slow development, restlessness, trouble feeding, irritability, not grasping, and more. Take the time to get your children checked! Birth is the start of their whole life and there are so many ways to improve that life with chiropractic care.

How Do I Get Out of Bed Safely While Pregnant?

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 17:24:40 GMT

At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we serve many mommas at all stages of pregnancy. Chiropractic care during these huge growth months is crucial to keep all the important structures at ease and balanced. This ensures a more comfortable pregnancy, but also better birth outcomes for mom and babe!

One of the major things we witness in our office, is improper movement techniques when the belly gets big and creates more challenges with simple tasks. For example; getting out of bed, bending over, and picking up older children.

Here's a simple way to mitigate painful movements when getting out of bed:

From your back or side, bend knees
Bring the knees together, keep them together THE WHOLE TIME
Turn to one side
Place the legs off the bed
Use your arms to push your upper body up

DO NOT:

Use momentum to swing yourself up

Flex the trunk

Swing one leg at a time

If you ever witness "coning" of your belly during pregnancy (or after) this could be a sign of improper abdominal muscle use or weakness. The best time to work on pelvic and abdominal core strength is pre-pregnancy! However there are exercises and posture habits you can do during pregnancy to help manage these issues.

Proper breathing techniques to use while pregnant or postpartum is incredibly important to protect yourself as well! When performing any type of squat (like with picking up your child)

breathe IN on the way down, breathe OUT on the way up.

This helps engage your pelvic floor muscles which need extra support in the pregnancy and postpartum healing process.

Thrive Family Chiropractic are the experts in managing common issues that arise during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Do yourself a favor and get checked if you are wanting to get pregnant or are already pregnant! No matter how far along, we can help address common pregnancy ailments and set you up for greater success for birth and recovery.

Knee, Leg, Ankle, Foot Pain: Could Be The Fibular Head!

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 17:12:10 GMT

Let's introduce you to a little bone in the lower leg called the Fibula. Generally it is a forgotten bone that many don't know about. It is a thinner supportive bone and it's main job is to stabilize the ankle joint. Even though this bone is seemingly unnoticed by most, it can cause an array of symptoms when this bone is misaligned, injured, or weak.

In our office Thrive Family Chiropractic, we lovingly refer to the fibula as the "funny bone of the leg". This is because the peroneal nerves that supply the leg and foot pass right by the top of this bone. Meaning it can easily irritate those sensitive nerves and cause pain, tingling, numbness, burning or weakness in the muscles of the leg.

For such a small bone/joint, it has a lot depending on it:

Biceps femoris (hamstring)
Lateral collateral ligament
Popliteofibular ligament
Tibiofibular ligaments
IT band
Surrounding soft tissues

If you are suffering from any leg pain or weakness, this can be an easy fix! Commonly we see issues in this area with runners, martial artists, and surfers in our local community. Many times after just one pain free adjustment, they are fully functioning and enjoying their favorite activities again. Don't let let pain become a chronic issue! Get it fixed the right way at Thrive Family Chiropractic.

Let Chiropractic Solve Your Chronic Stress!

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 20:06:52 GMT

It's no surprise to say that it is very stressful to live a normal "stress-free" life right now. Fear is widespread, we've been disconnected from our peers, and there is a heightened level of insecurity with all of our futures. Have you ever thought about what this is doing to our bodies? Long term stress leads to numerous poor health outcomes. On top of that, who enjoys feeling that constant stress weigh on them everyday?!

Stress is a interesting phenomena that happens to everybody on some level, every single day. There's the stress of waking up, getting ready, being on time, getting family ready, picking out your clothes, school demands, work duties....it goes on and on. Even if our daily life isn't "stressful" it still puts a large demand on our body to function through all those demands. When our body loses the ability to adapt to those simple stressors, it leads to symptoms:

Headaches

High Blood Pressure

Fatigue

Skin problems

Reproductive trouble

Sleep disturbance

Poor gut function

Body pain

Visual changes

....so much more.

Most likely, we cannot change the stressors put upon us. We have demands as members of school, society, family, wife/husband, mother/father, business owner, boss - that we cannot change. BUT, what we can change is how our body responds and adapts to it.

A RESILENT BODY IS A HEALTHY BODY

To be resilient is to have a body that adapts to any change put on it. For example, when we get cold the hairs on our arms stand up. That is a simple adaptation. However, when we are constantly in a state of stress our body loses that ability to make those simple adaptations, and our health suffers. Blood pressure remains high, heart rates never normalizes, blood vessels harden, pupils don't dilate well, and the brain suffers.

At Thrive Family Chiropractic we have many ways to analyze the STRESS your body is under. Physical stress, chemical stress, and emotional stress. We can quickly discover if your body is maintaining health, or slipping towards disease. Don't let the stress you feel lower your health! Get an assessment from our highly experienced chiropractors to see how we can take that stress off your shoulders (literally and figuratively).

Let Chiropractic Solve Your Chronic Stress!

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 17:06:16 GMT

Headaches

High Blood Pressure

Fatigue

Skin problems

Reproductive trouble

Sleep disturbance

Poor gut function

Body pain

Visual changes

....so much more.

A RESILENT BODY IS A HEALTHY BODY

What is the NERVOUS SYSTEM

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 17:03:50 GMT

One cannot fully understand what chiropractic does, without first understanding what the Nervous System is. The power that heals the body lies within this system, so a deep understanding of how it works is imperative to seeing positive changes in your health.

You can think of the nervous system as the main computer that controls each system in your body. These systems are things like: respiratory (breathing), circulatory (blood flow), digestion, elimination (urination/defecation), hormones, and more. Every single area of your body is controlled by this computer which then communicates it's needs to the main server.

In this analogy, the main computer is your brain, and the wires connecting everything are nerves. Nerves act as long power cords that send electrical impulses from the brain to the muscle/organ/tissue.

The nervous systems has 2 modes: increase or decrease

When we need to have increased nervous system activation these types of things happen:

Increased:

heart rate, blood pressure, pupil size, muscle activation

We are doctors of the nervous system. Come in and get your nervous system assessed! 562-386-1415

What Happens To Your Ribcage After a Car Accident?

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:01:30 GMT

Car accidents are an unfortunate common occurrence among people who commute daily. Even the most simple of fender benders can still leave permanent negative changes in the body. In fact, many studies show that damage seen on vehicles involved in accidents do NOT conclusively indicate what damage will be seen in the human body. Meaning that symptoms experienced after low velocity car accidents that leave little to no damage to the car, can still damage tissues in the body. These studies have concluded that it only takes up to 8 MPH to cause widespread soft tissue micro-tearing. This means the muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, experience small tears throughout the spine and soft tissues throughout the body. After someone has experienced a car accident, adrenaline and cortisol start ramping up in the blood stream. Then the inflammatory response start to bring about pain, fatigue, and soreness. Commonly we see patients start to experience more serious symptoms 3-5 days post accident. Here is what we see:

Ribcage Distortion

As great as seatbelts are, they can create ribcage injuries during car accidents of any magnitude. While one side of the ribcage is locked down by the belt, the other side gets thrown from the impact. This leaves a twisted and distorted position of the spine and individual ribs. Left alone, these structural issues can result in big negative consequences with breathing, shoulder mobility, basic movements, core strength, neck compensations, and more.

Minor Concussions

The brain gets pushed around within the skull during an accident, resulting in inflammation in the brain. We are trained to assess and analyze concussions of all degrees. Concussions left untreated create huge long term issues in brain function like memory, attention, and energy.

Severe Muscle Soreness

Micro tearing in the muscle fibers create scar tissue, spasms, and chronic pain. This is seen most commonly in the cervical spine.

Trouble With Focus/Memory

Adrenaline surges create big bursts of energy with a comedown effect that leaves the brain feeling drained and exhausted.

Wrist Pain

Common injury from holding onto the steering wheel during impact.

Emotional changes

As the body detoxes excess stress hormones, inflammatory markers, adrenaline, etc...the body is trying balance within all these systems.

Come see a specialist at Thrive Family Chiropractic today to prevent long term car accident damage! 562-386-1415

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9868635/

Chiropractic Lowers Blood Pressure

Thu, 20 May 2021 16:59:45 GMT

Blood pressure is one of the most studied aspects related to human health. There are many reasons for that...lets explore 3 key roles of blood pressure:

#1. Heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States

How does someone get heart disease? From long term uncontrolled high blood pressure! When the pressure is high in the arteries, it puts extra strain on the heart itself. Imagine your heart running a marathon, but with high blood pressure. It's like your heart is running a marathon with a weight vest on. The extra work it has to do to combat the pressure will create great wear and tear and leads to heart disease and heart failure.

#2. Healthy blood pressure is crucial to ALL human functions

The amount of blood that gets to all of your organs depends on how much pressure or lack of pressure there is in the supporting vessels. Every organ needs adequate blood supply, and it is dependent on the pressure. High pressure means there is more work load on that organ, low pressure may mean it doesn't get enough blood to function at 100%. Both high and low pressure lead to poor health outcomes.

#3 High blood pressure leads to many other disease processes

Over time, having high blood pressure taxes all the organs in the body. Especially the heart, kidneys, liver, blood vessel walls, and brain. Our medical systems are overrun with blood pressure related diseases! Strokes, kidney, liver, & heart disease can all be attributed to high blood pressure.

Those concepts listed above are the reason that pharmaceutical company's spend millions of dollars creating and marketing medications that artificially lower your blood pressure. There's a huge market for them! The problem is, once you depend on a medication to lower your blood pressure, you will likely be on that pill for the rest of your life. The only cure to high blood pressure is prevention.

Easy tips to lower blood pressure:

Consistent exercise, maintain healthy weight, avoid alcohol, avoid stress, eat healthy, no smoking, no caffeine.

Is that even realistic!?!

The "hole in one" solution to lowering blood pressure?

CHIROPRACTIC!

May sound out of place, but rest assured that is no mistake. Chiropractic care CAN lower blood pressure. Remember that blood pressure is one of the most studied health outcomes and chiropractic does a huge amount of research on the impact of chiropractic on blood pressure. Most research in done based on chiropractic adjustments to the first vertebra in the neck, also known as Atlas or simply C1.

The atlas houses the most precious area of our spinal cord - the brainstem. The brainstem controls automatic body functions such as heart rate, breath rate, sleeping, and ding ding ding, BLOOD PRESSURE. Adjusting your Atlas releases tension on the brain stem which inevitably lowers blood pressure. The chiropractic adjustment also puts the nervous system in a state of 'ease'. Giving your body a chance to rest out of our usual 'fight or flight' response during times with high blood pressure.

Supportive research:

"We conclude that restoration of Atlas alignment is associated with marked and sustained reductions in BP similar to the use of two-drug combination therapy."

J Hum Hypertens. 2007 May;21(5):347-52.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001 Feb;24(2):101-9. doi: 10.1067/mmt.2001.112564.

J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2019 Apr;63(1):51-58.

A huge percentage of Americans suffer with high blood pressure, or are on at least one blood pressure lowering drug. However, many of these people suffer in silence! They don't know how high their blood pressure is, or the ways to manage it. These people likely find out when it's too late to do something proactive about it, meaning they now have signs of disease.

Do yourself a huge favor. Visit our office Thrive Family Chiropractic and get your health checked out. In our office we look at blood pressure differently than traditional western medicine doctors. It may be the answer you needed to get your health on the right path. Don't be a victim of the silent killer!

Chiropractic Helps Mental Health

Thu, 06 May 2021 16:57:32 GMT

Today is a great day to be alive. And the day after this is great too!

Maybe you're not feeling that statement and maybe you won't like it tomorrow either...

Let's talk about mental health in today's world as we are all engaging in a shift back into whatever "normal" life means to you. Talking about mental health can be stigmatizing, exhausting, and painful. So let's keep this discussion direct and to the point.

Our family wellness office is located in the beautiful city of Huntington Beach, CA. 45 minutes South of LA and 2 hours North of San Diego, tucked along the pacific coast. Sounds like heaven doesn't it? Well this week alone, our city witnessed 2 very public suicides. This is hitting our office hard because we are celebrating our community opening back up and finally engaging with each other again. It seems that many of us are unsure of how to approach feelings that arise when there is so much uncertainly surrounding us.

What can chiropractic do for those suffering with depression, social anxiety, and adapting to this new world?

Reconnect Your Brain and Your Body

When the nervous system is working on overdrive trying to manage it's responses to these new stressors, the immune system takes a back seat. Meaning the body is so overtaxed that it cannot focus on the automatic things. These things are: sleeping, digesting, eliminating wastes, breathing, heart rate, breath rate, etc. Over time your blood pressure stays high, your breathing becomes short and stiff, and your food doesn't get absorbed. Leaving you with feelings of physical stress, anxiety, gut dysfunction, and deficient nutrition. When you receive a chiropractic adjustment your brain can sense everything the body needs by increasing crucial nerve signals. When the brain is fully connected to the body, the brain can relax and focus on what it needs to heal.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The Vagus nerve is the coolest nerve of the body. It's the only nerve that connects the brain to the gut. This is why we have "gut instincts" or moments where the brain may be saying one thing, but the gut tells you something different (side note, always go with the gut instinct). This nerve helps our response to stress by deciding how hard to breath, how strong the heart should beat, and how fast things should be metabolized. When this nerve is out of balance, then all these responses are affected and your mental health suffers. Luckily for those under chiropractic care this is a foundational element of the chiropractic adjustment. With each adjustment the body regains Vagus nerve balance and your brain becomes less stressed.

Parasympathetic Balancing

Our nervous systems have 2 different and opposing functions. One part of our system has the ability to rev us up. This is the "flight or fight" response and it is used for times of stress. The other part is "rest and digest" which slows down our systems to allow us to relax and heal. In today's world, we find many people stuck in a sympathetic response - this includes things like high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, anxiety, trouble sleeping, digestive issues, and more. Chiropractic is one of the only tools to bring your body back to it's parasympathetic state. When we are in this state of ease and rest the brain resets to a state of balance.

There are many other facets to our mental well-being. But we cannot only address the mental part, without also addressing the physical body and it's control center - the NERVOUS SYSTEM. When the nervous system is in a long term state of stress, the brain fatigues and loses the ability to uptake the happy hormones. This is why antidepressant drugs work to increase uptake of these happy hormones. At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we specialize in keeping our patients off harmful medications by working within the beautiful innate system already built inside you! Take a chance at happiness by getting checked by one of

5 of the most impactful things to stay happy and healthy:

Get adjusted regularly
Move everyday
Eat real, clean foods
Stay connected to community
Address gut issues

What Is That Sound When You Get A Chiropractic Adjustment?

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 16:55:29 GMT

Ever wondered what that "pop" sound is when you are getting adjusted?

People think it may be caused by bones breaking, popcorn popping in the spine, or something more alarming.

The truth is actually a very simple concept that can be explained by our body's natural processes. Your anatomy explains it all!

A joint in the body is when two bones meet. Each joint is surrounded by a capsule. This capsule acts like a water balloon and provides the necessary nutrients, lubrication, and stability for each joint. When joints move, they create CO2 gas as a normal waste byproduct. This gas collects in the joint capsule (more gas is created in a dysfunctional moving joint - a story for another time). When chiropractors assess each joint, they are looking for the ones that are not functioning correctly or are out of their natural alignment. During the adjustment, these joint capsules get quickly stretched which releases the pressure of that gas within the capsule. A popping sound does not equate to an actual chiropractic adjustment, but rather is a naturally occurring release of gas. Think of it this way, when you open a can of soda, you get an immediate 'pop' as the compressed gas (actually the same gas as in our joints, CO2) gets released. So basically every time you hear a pop come from your chiropractic adjustment, it's like your can of soda just released gas. Kids in our office refer to these sounds as popcorn, or joint farts.

If you are apprehensive about these sounds, rest assured that these pops are not dangerous or painful. However, not every pop sound that comes from your joints is a good thing. If you hear a pop and it is accompanied by pain that does not subside within seconds or minutes, it is likely that was not a joint capsule releasing gas. Some other 'pops' that can happen when you sustain an injury could be from: ligaments tearing or detaching from the bone, disc herniations, or muscle tears. These injuries usually happen in a state of trauma. Like a football injury, lifting too heavy, or dysfunctional tight muscles that cannot sustain the stretch you put on them.

Something to keep in mind:

Muscle tightness, poor posture habits, decreased range of motion, leg length discrepancies, are all signs that your joints are stressed!

If you are experiencing any of those things, take the time to reach out to us at Thrive Family Chiropractic and get checked. There is no pressure to join the hundreds of practice members at our office. But you need to know the state of your body before you are forced to see us after a joint injury. Prevention is the only cure to injury.

Do NOT self adjust or 'pop' your own joints.

Leave that to the professionals who know how each joint works. When you pop your own spine, you are likely popping unstable joints and causing future damage. When we work on these patients who are addicted to cracking themselves, we find that they have damaged loose ligaments. This leads to more muscle tension, more degeneration, and more pain.

The Importance of Crawling

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:41:41 GMT

Many times we overhear parents bragging that their 'advanced' child skipped crawling and went right to walking. Even though this may seem like a wonderful feat, that baby missed out on crucial developmental milestones. Let's dive into the importance of crawling, the neurology behind it, and how it molds their brain for the future.

Children typically start crawling between 7-10 months. The signs that your baby is ready for crawling are: being able to hold the head upright and steady, support the upper body with the arms, get the knees underneath them and be stable on all fours. Your child may have "crawled" on their belly, or scooted on their butt, BUT this is not true crawling. When they are able to be on their hands and knees they may rock back and forth which helps build strength in the core, arms and legs. Once this position is mastered, you may encourage your baby to reach for you or a toy. As they reach, they will likely fall and that's ok! They will learn that they moved closer to what they wanted. This new skill will benefit their brain and future motor skills.

A baby is always creating new nerve pathways that will serve them as they develop more strength and coordination. We want all babies to develop a strong ' cross crawl ' pattern. This specific pattern is using the opposite leg and arm to move forward, rather than using the same sided leg and arm. Once this skill is developed, practice makes perfect!

A good crawl should be established by year one. However, the average age for walking isn’t until about 12 months; this means that half of children walk after this age. Concerns of late walking shouldn’t start until 15 to 18 months.

The more your baby crawls, the more nerve connections are made and the smoother their coordination becomes. Crawling allows your baby to explore their world and start making independent decisions which uses large amounts of brain power. As the skill becomes more and more automatic, their spatial skills start to blossom. Now they learn through sight and touch for the ability to locate objects.

Research supports the idea that hands and knees crawling plays a huge part in inter-limb pattern of coordination and is a preparatory phase for walking. It also says that it helps develop many other components such as body awareness, motor planning, visual perception and eye-hand coordination. While a baby learns to crawl, their spine is busy developing its curvy shape. Babies are not born with any spinal curves, crawling and walking are what create them over time. Developing a strong core through crawling is crucial to children having healthy spines! Without a strong core your baby will likely have delays with being able to sit up, hold the head steady, and will lack basic coordinated movement skills. Although you may be ready for your child to walk, don’t forget that crawling is very important for your baby's overall development. Crawling is the launching point for proper brain development as well as building strong dense bones!

If you notice your child may not be developing a strong consistent crawl, get them assessed by a pediatric chiropractor like one of us at Thrive Family Chiropractic. Many times, when a child does not crawl properly it is due to restrictive joints in the pelvis. The birth process is challenging and many times it leaves hip bones needing gentle adjustments to increase the range of motion allowing for full development of crawling!

Having Knee Pain? It Could Be From Your I.T. Band!

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:22:01 GMT

The I.T. band is a large piece of connective tissue on your outer thigh. "I.T." actually stands for iliotibial band, it connects the ilium (hip) bone to the tibia (shin) bone. Hence it's name. Let's look into what causes I.T. band pain and tightness and discuss ways to relieve it.

How can you tell if you have tight I.T. bands?

Outer knee pain
Hip pain
Tight glutes
Tight hips
Runner's knee
Extreme inflexibility
Flat feet
Hamstring pain
Low Back pain

If you have any of these, then you know your I.T. band is a factor. Your IT band should have even tension held throughout it. Many times, the I.T. band gets tighter around an area of extreme stress or misalignment. For example, if you have knee pain on the outside follow that pain up the outer thigh. Do you feel a tight piece of hard tissue? Is it overly sensitive? This is your I.T. band, and it is probably not happy with you poking at it. Let's take a look at the anatomy here.

This band is aptly named because it's not a muscle or tendon, but rather a thick, inflexible, sheet of fascia (it's the largest piece of fascia in the body!). It's job is to hold the muscles of the thigh in place and create spring-like elasticity while running. It helps stabilize all the structures of the leg from the hip, down to the knee. Knee pain is the most common symptom of tight I.T. bands or I.T.B. syndrome. This usually occurs in runners, or sprinting athletes where ballistic movements are needed.

Here are the main culprits to I.T. band syndrome:

1. Excessive running, jumping, or cycling, particularly when knee and hip alignment is off . Keep in mind that any movement with poor alignment can lead to problems. That’s because part of the I.T. band’s purpose is to keep your knee optimally tracking as you move, so if your joints are consistently out of alignment (say, if your feet pronate when you walk or turn out when you ride your bike), it can irritate your I.T. band.

2. Overstretching or over-tensing your glute muscles from exercise or poor posture habits (for example, sitting cross-legged or frequently wearing high heels).

3. Excessive sitting , which chronically shortens the tensor fasciae latae while overly lengthening the glutes, weakening your hips, hamstrings, and gluteal muscles and aggravating your I.T. band.

4. Leg length discrepancies , which can place excessive strain on one hip, leading to I.T. band issues on the longer leg.

Good news is that all these issues can be easily solved at Thrive Family Chiropractic. With correcting posture issues, you will have less knee and I.T. band pain. Call Thrive Family Chiropractic today! 562-386-1415

Is Your Headache Caused By Neck Tension?

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 15:17:37 GMT

Tension headaches are one of the most common complaints among patients who seek chiropractic care. This is because chiropractic is the best natural and longest lasting solution to this frequent problem. People with tension headaches generally complain of neck, shoulder, upper back, and jaw tension as an aggravating factor causing their headaches. These structural issues are the reason tension builds within the body which frequently leads to tension headaches. Every spinal bone has muscles that attach to it. In fact, the cervical spine alone has 26 muscles that stabilize the neck and allow for a large range of motions. When there is stress on the structures of the neck, the muscles react by getting tight. Over time, if these structural issues don't get resolved the muscles get more tense leading to an array of muscle pain, shoulder tightness, neck stiffness, jaw clenching/grinding, and headaches.

If you're experiencing discomfort in any of these areas, you need to have your neck assessed:

Shoulder pain
Upper back pain
Neck stiffness
TMJ issues
Headaches
Eye strain
Rib tightness

One of the most common stressors causing these areas to become tense is poor posture or "text neck". As your head hangs in front of the shoulders it puts extra strain on the muscles of the upper back and neck. Fix your posture and it will take that pressure off your neck and shoulders! If you don't know whether you have this type of posture, come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic and we'll do a thorough postural assessment on you. If your headaches are not caused by a postural issue, then it's likely something deeper. Even the smallest misalignment in the neck can cause a chain reaction in the muscles. Luckily for those suffering with tension headaches, chiropractic is definitely the solution! Come see one of our specialists at Thrive Family Chiropractic today! 562-386-1415

Where To Start With Squat Training

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 15:15:38 GMT

There's (almost) nothing as satisfying as a perfectly functional squat performed during one of your usual daily tasks. Picking up your children, carrying the loaded laundry basket, or bending down to feed your dog. A proper squat is a MUST for all of those basic functions and without it, you are likely to suffer an injury over time. Unfortunately, learning proper squat technique is not easily attained for most people. Instead this movement must be learned and consistently trained. Once proper squat form is attained it is easy to manage and strengthen over time!

Where do I start?

Start really simple! Place a chair behind you. Sit down gently and get up.

Watch what your knees do, feel where you may be weak, and repeat until you feel solid enough to get up off the chair with ease. This is a great place to start at any age. Having the chair behind you gives you safety and teaches you where you are in space. It's also an easy way to start strengthening the muscles used in squats.

It's also important to train a deep squat. Not necessarily for lifting purposes, but for overall mobility practice. It's crucial for the joints in our legs to be prepared for anything. Slips and falls are a very common reason for injuring ankles, knees, and hip joints. You can help mitigate that risk by preparing your body properly! Your knees especially need to be able to flex fully. Imagine walking down the stairs and missing a step which forces your knee to bend all the way. If you cringed at that concept, your knees are likely stiff and more prone to injury.

How do I train a deep squat?

Put your back against the wall with your legs out a few feet. Slide down the wall until you are as deep as you can manage, hold to tolerance. Use your hands to help you back up. This can also be done with a door jam to help you get up with proper form and less weight.

As you progress you can add weight such as a kettle bell. For those with experience in these squats, place with the shapes and balance. You knees and hips with thank you! Fun fact, this type of squat is called Malasana in yoga practices.

Here are some basic MUST have's in training squats:

Knee flexion. Ankle flexion. Hip flexion. If any of these areas are stiff, it changes the whole dynamic of the squat. Start slow and focus on quality.
Knees aim towards the PINKY toes. Don't have your knees fall in.
Arches of the feet stay up. Don't have your ankle drop inside and your arches collapse.

If you are a skilled squatter, these basic exercises are still beneficial for reminding your body of proper technique. If you're having pain during your squats, come get assessed by an expert at Thrive Family Chiropractic. Many times if you are having pain or are not able to safely perform a squat, then you most likely are restricted in the hip, knee, or ankle joints. Whether that is due to improper muscle development, arthritis, old injuries, or chronic pain Thrive Family Chiropractic can get your body ready to squat properly!

Chiropractic And Cranial Sacral Therapy For Baby Head Development

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 16:08:44 GMT

When your baby is born there is an innately driven chain of developmental events that take place. Beautifully designed with purpose, your newborn will start to strengthen and mold it's head, face, and mouth immediately following birth. Let's explore how babies heads are formed and how chiropractic can have a lifelong positive impact on the health of your baby.

As babies are passing through the birth canal, the bones of the skull must come together so as to fit through the narrow space. When the head reaches the other side, a rapid expansion happens where the cranial bones then separate and create the shape of the head. When the baby takes it's first suckle on the nipple, it further establishes the placement of these bones. Place your tongue on the hard part on the roof of your mouth. This is called the hard palate and it's made of 2 bones that fuse together. Above that, you have your facial bones, your sinus cavities, and then your brain. The skull (cranial) bones are perfectly designed to allow nerves to travel from the brain through small holes and flow out to the face, lips, tongue, nose, ears, etc. Think of puzzle pieces that fit together with small gaps for nerves. It is pivotal for your baby to have well fitting puzzle pieces. Here are some things that can be affected by misaligned cranial bones:

Trouble breastfeeding, clicking sounds with suckling
Inadequate latch
Painful breastfeeding
Tongue jutting
Swallowing trouble
Droopy eyelids
Breathing difficulty
Reflux
Ear infections

If you've already had children you know that the head is very a very fragile area with openings or "soft spots". These are the areas the bones will grow into and knit together to get a fully enclosed cranium. This usually happens by age 2. This means there are 2 pivotal years to ensure a properly developed skull, face, palate, airway, nasal sinuses, and eyes. At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we have extensive background in cranial sacral therapy. This is a technique designed to alleviate issues listed above and ensure your child develops a strong cranial/facial system. As your child grows you can rest assured they will not run into common adult problems associated with chronic misaligned cranial bones. Examples of this would be: snoring, sinus problems, sleep apnea, speech problems, and headaches. Don't wait until adulthood to address these preventable symptoms.

Frederick Douglass said that “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Chiropractic Helps Knee Pain

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 16:06:25 GMT

Generalized knee pain can be a frustrating experience for everyone. Many times knee pain goes undiagnosed because there is no definite "diagnosis" to be had. People try pain killers, massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture to alleviate their pain with no success. This is often true when knee pain cannot be pinpointed to one thing, but rather a myriad of alignment issues, muscle imbalances, improper tracking, overuse, and/or arthritis.

There are many structures that attach to the knee that allow for proper movement and stability. However, this can mean that there are many opportunities for pain, seeing as that the knee is one of the most used joints in the body.

Looking at the structures of the knee, we can see a lot of muscles, tendons, and fascia. All these structures keep the bones aligned and the tendons contained. Along the entire surface of the knee is smooth cartilage that allows for easy gliding of the patella, femur, and tibia bones. Pain in the knee can be from any of these small structures, or a combination of them.

Common Knee Problems:

Osteoarthritis - early degeneration of the knee cartilage

Tendinitis - inflammation of the knee tendons

Bursitis - inflammation of the bursa sack within the knee, usually from overuse injuries

Patellar tracking disorders (aka, chondromalacia patella) - cartilage underneath the kneecap breaks down, scar tissue forms

Ligament tears - usually from a traumatic spontaneous injury

IT band dysfunction - IT band attaches to the outside of the knee, commonly it is tight and can cause pain at the attachment point

None of those common knee diagnosis are getting to the root cause of WHY those symptoms began. This is why it is so important to be assessed by a chiropractor who is knowledgeable in addressing deficiencies in the knee leading to knee pain. Most common problems that CAUSE the issues discussed above can be attributed to these things:

Poor posture

Tight IT bands

Misalignments of the bones (femur, tibia, fibula)

Imbalanced muscle development

Bad squat technique

Ill fitting or old shoes

Being overweight

Improper patellar tracking

Stiff feet

Pelvic imbalance

Nerve compression in the low back

Poor mobility

Chronic injury

Most likely your knee pain is from one of the issues listed above, the good news is these issues can all be resolved at Thrive Family Chiropractic. With adjustments to the low back, hips, knees, and feet, we can address the CAUSE of knee pain. When the cause is addressed, we help your body heal from knee pain before it becomes more serious. After your assessment, we adjust the necessary areas of your body to restore proper function to the muscles and joints. From there, rehabilitation exercises are needed to ensure your results last long term. It is so important that these issues get focused on before drugs and surgery are your only options left.

Chiropractic Helps With Back Disc Injuries

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:03:39 GMT

Disc injuries are one of the most common reasons for symptoms of back pain. In the United States, the direct annual medical expenditure on lower back pain exceeds $30 billion, which is in excess of the costs of coronary artery disease and the total costs of stroke, respiratory infection, rheumatoid disease and diabetes combined. Phew! That's a lot of back pain. If you don't want to spend your life savings dealing with spinal disc problems, learn how to take care of them now.

Let's look at the anatomy of the spinal disc and learn ways to protect all 23 of them!

The disc has 2 main parts; a gooey inside, and a tough fibrous outside. The jelly-like center aids in dispersing the force put into the spine. The fibrous circular outer layers seal in that gelatinous center, while also acting as an anchor to the spinal bones above and below it. The coupling of these structures together give the spine it's mobility and strength. The jelly center has a high-water content, approximately 70-90% of it is water. This can vary depending on activity, hydration levels, and age. Naturally as we age, this becomes drier and harder, making the spine stiff and rigid. However, this does not have to be the case with everyone!

The outer fibers are very tough, but over time can lose their structural integrity and fray. This weakens the tight seal on the bone and also allows that jelly center to ooze towards the weakened area of the outer disc. This is the most common cause of disc bulging or herniating! Once those outer fibers start to weaken, you are a ticking time bomb to bulge or herniate that disc. Lifting something that may have been easy before, is now a major hazard to the area. This is why most people who injure a disc, do it during the most simple of activities.

What can we all do to preserve the health of our discs?

POSTURE! Training proper posture is strongly recommended. The spine is designed to be perfectly weight bearing it all directions. However in todays society, we are seeing a huge increase in posture related injuries and chronic pain with the new use of technology. This puts pressure on the discs in an uneven way, leading to early degeneration.

Make your office/desk ergonomically correct
Move daily!
Hold your phone up high, don't look down at it
Get professional assessment and correctional adjustments and exercises
Strengthen back muscles

GET ADJUSTED!

Correct spinal misalignments that are putting pressure on the discs
Correct postural distortions
Decompress the disc spaces
Increase fluid into the discs
Balance spinal muscles

DRINK MORE WATER! The discs are mainly made of water, hydrate appropriately.

Check out this video demonstrating the best way to exercise your spinal discs safely.

https://youtu.be/htPtnGGYFCY

Come see a back disc specialist at Thrive Family Chiropractic today to ensure your spinal health! Call us today! 562-386-1415!

Longevity in Sports: Chiropractic is the Tool

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:01:26 GMT

The legendary Tom Brady has done it again! This is not a post about NFL or team loyalty (am I the only one who has never heard of the 'Buccaneers' before this weekend?). This is a story about one incredible athlete who has sustained one of the longest and most successful NFL careers in history. Even if we may not be a professional athlete, there is something to be said for a body to not only survive that many years of hard training, but to be the greatest at it.

So how does someone like Tom Brady perform this well after so many years?

The answer is in the preparation and care for his body and brain. Tom repeatedly has spoken out in support of chiropractic as one of the main factors keeping him in the game.

Here are some of the greatest benefits for chiropractic in sports:

- Increased performance

- Faster recovery

- More strength

- Injury prevention

- Concussion treatment

- Supported immune function

- Energy production

- Better sleep

- Decreased pain

Tom Brady is not the only athlete utilizing chiropractic benefits to enhance their game. All 42 NFL teams have a chiropractor! Listen to what these pro's also have to say:

Seven-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong once said, “The team wasn’t just riders. It was the mechanics, masseurs, chefs, soigneurs, and doctors. But the most important man on the team may have been the chiropractor."

Another football great, Jerry Rice, who was a three time Superbowl Champion and Superbowl MVP, has said, “I believe in chiropractic, and I know it works. You probably know about my long and successful career in football. I’m flattered by the testimonials to my durability. Football is a very rough and vigorous sport. Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game.”

NFL legend Emmitt Smith attributed his long career to chiropractic care, stating, “I found a chiropractor that’s really good in balancing out my body to make sure my hips are rotated right, and my body is functioning properly. I remember somebody telling me that what I put myself in during the games is like having a car wreck every Sunday. It’s against the norm. You can find yourself in awkward positions. That stuff takes its toll. But if you take advantage of the health care, balance your body back out, put it back where it’s supposed to be, you function better, and you recover faster.”

Golf great Tiger Woods has shared, “Being a chiropractic patient has really helped me a lot. When I was in a growth spurt, my back became very sore, and I was weak. My chiropractor really helped me. Not only did he adjust my spine, he also gave me strengthening exercises to do. If you are tall and gangly like I am, or play sports, I would recommend chiropractic. I’ve been going to chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It’s as important to my training as practicing my swing.”

NBA legend Michael Jordan once said, “I don’t know how much I could improve until I started seeing a chiropractor. Since I’ve been in chiropractic, I’ve improved by leaps and bounds both mentally and physically.”

Athlete's at all levels need chiropractic to support the impact that sports have on the body. Whatever the goals are in your chosen sport, try chiropractic and watch your skills advance quicker than ever. Don't get stopped by injury! Come see the 'athletes turned chiropractors' at Thrive Family Chiropractic.

Chiropractic: The Ultimate Anti-Aging Tool

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:19:57 GMT

What is the biggest factor in how we age?

STRESS, STRESS, STRESS

Did your heart start racing reading that? Did your armpits start sweating? Maybe a little shake felt in the hands?

We can easily accept the fact that stress changes the way our body functions. Sometimes for good reasons, but sometimes also for bad. Stress is very helpful to us as humans. It helps us adapt to our world and respond appropriately. The old saying of seeing a bear in the woods... we're all happy to have our stress reactions! Our pupils dilate, our heart races, blood floods the muscles we need to escape. This is an example of how stress is needed for us to navigate and survive.

There is a down side to stress reactions in today's modern day life. We may not be worried about bears chasing us down, but we are worried about getting to work on time, paying our bills, raising healthy children, getting good grades, etc. This is chronic stress. What was meant to be a singular stress response that deters quickly, is now stuck in that response pattern. Over time it leads to elevated blood pressure, fatigue, and inadequate digestion. When our body thinks there's always a bear lurking behind us, our body strains to keep up that level of response day after day. Does this sound like you??

This chronic stress ages us like crazy. This is a basic fact. For a moment, think of your body like a classic car. Those that keep up with basic maintenance, oil changes, brakes, alignment, keep their cars garaged...these cars last longer and perform better. If you take care of your body by investing in health education, chiropractic, proper diet, stress management, exercise regimes, then your body will last longer and perform better.

Cancer is proven to be more environmentally triggered (stress, toxins, pesticides, air/water pollution), as opposed to genetic. This is actually a great thing! It means we have more control over our health than we thought.

Chiropractic takes the physical stresses off the body. This means your body is not constantly plagued with pain, poor nerve impulses, diminished brain function, and more. Remember that EVERYTING in the body stems from the spine. If your spine is prematurely aging with arthritis, poor movement, improper muscle development; then that will manifest in more symptoms. When people are under chiropractic care, they process stress better. This is one of the many things we test for at Thrive Family Chiropractic. We test to see if your body is able to adapt to the stress around you. Are you curious as to what that looks like? Call our office and see how your body responds to simple stresses. Chiropractic might be the one thing your body desperately needs to age with grace!

Check out this study done on chiropractic and aging. It shows that those you are under care have more length left in the Telomeres. This is the end bit of your genetic material that defines how old your DNA is and more importantly, how much longer these cells can continue to divide and function.

https://www.hilarispublisher.com/abstract/increased-telomere-length-and-improvements-in-dysautonomia-qualityof-life-and-neck-and-back-pain-following-correction-of-37171.html

Learn How To Detect Scoliosis Early

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 21:18:11 GMT

Scoliosis is a condition that effects the curves in the spine. It can be confusing because our spines do have beautifully designed natural curves that allow for proper locomotion and dispersing the forces put on the body. However, when a spine has scoliosis there are curves in the spine that should not be there.

There are 2 types of scoliosis:

Anatomical & Functional

Anatomical scoliosis is defined as having a physical abnormality within the bones of the spine. Meaning that one or more vertebra are misshapen or missing part of it's structure. This forces the spine to curve due to having improper foundation. Much like if you are building a lego tower with square pieces. But then one piece is shaped like a triangle! This would force your lego tower to curve to the side.

Functional scoliosis is more common and is not due to improper vertebra shape. Unfortunately the cause is still not known as to why the spine will create these extra curves. There may be a genetic component, or severe muscular imbalances that pull unevenly on the spine over time. Many spine experts theorize that scoliosis is the body's way of decreasing tension on the spinal cord stemming from the birth process. Remember that the spinal cord is the freeway for nerve signals to travel within the spine. The cord attaches itself to the bony spine with small ligaments. During birth, it is very common to have misalignments occur within the spine. These misalignments, whether big or small, tug and pull on the ligaments, which then strain the cord. In an effort to decrease that strain, the body shortens the cord by putting in these curves. This idea solidifies the need for newborns to be adjusted after birth! If there is no strain on the spinal cord, there is no need for the spine to change it's shape.

Frequently scoliosis is diagnosed in the early teenage years. This is mainly due to the massive increase in growth experienced during this time. During these pivotal "growth spurts", extra stain on the spine forces the muscles to adapt and develop around that strain. This is when we start to see physical changes in the teenage body more easily and a diagnoses of scoliosis can be made.

Signs of Scoliosis:

Shoulders being different heights
Larger muscles on one side of the back
A leg that is shorter than to the other
Rib humping on one side
More prominent hip or shoulder on one side
Head not centered over the body
Body leaning over one side

The point is, that scoliosis can lead to early degenerative changes in the spine (arthritis), numerous muscular symptoms, and if advanced enough, can cause trouble with the internal organs such as the lungs.

Scoliosis changes many aspects of health. If you have children, check them early and often for signs of scoliosis. The earlier you detect it, the easier it is to mitigate permanent physical damage. Come see our experts at Thrive Family Chiropractic today!

Are Your Hips Causing Your Low Back Pain?

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 21:15:59 GMT

The sacroiliac joints or "SI" are a pair of joints at the base of our spine. These joints are made by the two large hip bones joining the sacrum. Together these 3 bones make up the pelvic complex of the SI and pubic joints.

The SI joint is one of the largest and longest joint in the body. It's also one that is used in every step we take as humans. In today's society these joints are under attack from the chair! Sitting creates increased strain in this joint. Especially if your job demands that you sit, these joints are taking a beating. Not only that, anytime we fall on our bottom, this joint gets jarred and potentially injured.

In our office we find that these joints are frequently the most degenerated (arthritic) area of the body. Arthritis sets in when these joints don't move correctly. On x-ray arthritis shows up as bone spurs on the top and bottom of the joint line. When the joints wear down, you can have bone on bone, which unfortunately causes many cases of low back pain. When these joints don't function like they are supposed to, it hurts the low back, knees, feet, and everything in between. Having healthy SI joints is crucial to human movement!

Common medical interventions for pain originating in the SI joints are risky cortisone injections, surgical fusion, and pain medications. At Thrive Family Chiropractic we specialize in pain relief using natural chiropractic adjustments that reduce pain, improve function, and slow the progression of arthritis. Before you try something risky with variable outcomes, try chiropractic first! There are no side effects, it's safe, and can get you out of pain fast. Call our SI specialists today at Thrive Family Chiropractic! 562-386-1415

Chiropractic and Asthma

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 21:13:44 GMT

Nothing is more scary than the feeling of being unable to breath. Whether asthma comes on with exercise, stress, allergies, or purely random; it strains your daily life. Stressing about when you will succumb to another asthma attack is not a healthy way to live. If you want to fully heal from asthma, then you need a natural approach that will actually last. Great news is, chiropractic is foundational on helping people rid symptoms of asthma. Bonus, there's no drug used. And even better, chiropractic aids your own body in healing itself making it a long term solution.

Commonly when we think of asthma, we automatically think: inhaler.

Inhalers work by using a drug to artificially open up the air sacs in the lungs. This allows short term relief from lack of proper oxygen transfer in the lungs. But this is a temporary solution that leads to more inhalers and more asthma attacks. Chiropractors help the lungs work better to reduce symptoms of asthma in this way:

- Restoring proper breathing biomechanics by releasing tension held in the mid back and ribs. The ribs need proper movement in order to inhale with ease, and exhale with no effort. Adjusting the thoracic spine and ribs restore the recoil action of breathing in and out.

- Increasing necessary nerve innervation. Spoiler alert, the nerves control how everything in the body functions. Allowing increased nerve stimulation to the lungs, breathing muscles, and ribcage encourage natural healing to occur.

Come see one of our specialists at Thrive Family Chiropractic today for your asthma issues! 562-386-1415

Chiropractic Helps Brain Development In Sensitive Children!

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 21:22:14 GMT

Does your child suffer from being "over sensitive"? Maybe they can't tolerate loud noises, intense smells, the feeling clothes on their skin, or have trouble tolerating basic touch from their loved ones. This may mean that your child is not processing their sensations properly.

Most don't realize that the brain's most important job is to decrease the amount of sensation that enters the conscious brain.

Our bodies are so good at sending the brain information about the world around them, ie. sight, smell, taste, and touch. We are so good, that in fact the brain's main job is to dampen down all those signals to make it easier for us to process and prioritize all these sensations. For example, have you ever noticed that if you walk into a room with a ticking clock, that after a couple minutes your brain will turn off that ticking sound. Because that sound has been deemed a low priority by your brain. The conversation you are having is #1 priority and you focus on that.

This clock analogy can be anything, not just with sound. The wind blowing on your neck, even the feeling of makeup on your skin is something that your brain is supposed to dampen for you. This way, we can function in our society without feeling a bombardment of sensations every second. Now imagine you are a child growing up and your brain hasn't developed this sophisticated skill. You may feel completely overwhelmed all the time. A common example of a brain not having this skill, is with children on the autism spectrum. Autism brains tend to lack this ability to dampen down the sensations that barrage us everyday. It can be a very overwhelming world if you do not have this precious system developed.

Now this doesn't mean if your child is overly sensitive that they are on the autism spectrum. This is just a perfect example that is identified in those with the condition.

What Can You Do About Your Sensitive Child?

Most importantly, find yourselves a certified pediatric chiropractor who can identify this issue. At our office we specialize in brain based chiropractic for kids. Our procedures and exam find out why your child might be having trouble navigating everyday life with ease. There may be a disconnect between their brain and body which makes it hard to prioritize sensations being input to the brain. What may be a simple task to you, like wearing socks, may be extremely intense for them.

As chiropractors we see improvements in this area with EVERY SINGLE CHILD we care for. Even those who may not be "too sensitive" find that they can focus more on the important things because they are not as distracted by what's around them. As adults, we know there are a million distractions. Wouldn't you want your child to grow up with the ability to focus and be at ease with everything life involves? Chiropractic care helps kids of all ages develop a more functional brain! As their brain adapts and changes it is vital to support them in this process. Come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic and see how we can help you and your children have better, more adaptable, more powerful brains.

Enjoy these captured moments of our brilliant kids at the office!

Chiropractic Helps Foot Pain

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:11:05 GMT

Chiropractors are known to help with issues in the SPINE. However, chiropractors are specialists in all joints of the body! A personal favorite set of joints in our office are the joints in the feet.

Did you know that the foot has 26 bones in it? As well as 33 joints and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This makes feet a beautiful and complex network that allow humans to bear weight, create locomotion, and transmit force. The foot has a huge weight to carry! Pun intended...

With all the demands we put on our feet, we should be putting equal effort in to keep them happy and healthy. Something you can do right now is get your feet assessed by a chiropractor. Here are some things we look at:

Proper joint movement
Alignment of the foot/ankle/knee/hip
Flexibility/mobility
Nerve function
Plantar arches
Big toe function
Achilles tendon health
Shoe fit
and more...

Common foot problems that chiropractic can manage:

Plantar fasciitis
Bunions
"Flat feet"
Heel pain
Sprained ankles
Achilles tendon dysfunction
Arthritis
Fractures
Tendonitis
Neuropathy

If you suffer from any of these problems in your foot, get a chiropractor to help you manage your symptoms. At Thrive Family Chiropractic we have special adjusting experience to help you with any problem in your feet. Come see a specialist at Thrive Family Chiropractic today! 562-386-1415

Good Fat Versus Bad Fat

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 21:09:05 GMT

Let’s talk about “good” fat versus “bad” fat. Yes, this means not all fats are created equal! There are several types of “bad” fats that you should definitely steer clear of. As well as good fats we should all look to increase in our diet.

Dietary intake of fat has gotten a lot of confusing backlash. Many of us have lived through the "fat free" era of the 80's. At this time in American history we saw 2 major things happen that started the unhealthy war against fat. First was the production of high fructose corn syrup. Second was the campaign by American governments that stated all fat was bad and contributed to bad levels of cholesterol. This set a cascade of "low fat" products on the supermarket shelves. Unfortunately for the consumers like you and me, this lead to food being depleted of nutritional fat (meaning that now you have to consume more), and food overflowing in sugar (in reality, the much worse high fructose corn syrup).

Since this time, diabetes in adolescence has risen over 70%. Meanwhile the CDC admits that 42.4% of adults had obesity in 2018. Whoa...

One of the most common misconceptions about fat is that fats cause high cholesterol. This is false. Research shows that cholesterol is actually an issue of too much sugar and processed bad oils, not an issue of too much (good) fat.

Good Fats I Recommend Are:

Good fats fall under the category of saturated and monounsaturated fats.

Grass-fed ghee
Avocados
Avocado oil
Cod liver oil
MCT oil
Flax, hemp and chia seeds
Raw nuts
Nut butters
Raw butter and cream
Raw cheese
Coconut oils

Bad Fats I Recommend Avoiding Are:

Unhealthy or bad fats fall into the categories of trans fats, hydrogenated fats and polyunsaturated fats.

Vegetable oils like canola, corn, safflower, soy and sunflower oils
Commercial dressings
Margarine and shortening
Fried foods, like french fries, deep-fried fast foods, donuts
Baked goods like cookies, biscuits, rolls, pastries
Processed and packaged snack foods like crackers, popcorn and chips
Frozen dinners
Processed meats like sausage, pepperoni, hot dogs, etc
Cake mix and frosting
Pie crust and pizza dough
Candy bars
Pancakes and waffle mix
Creamers

Nutrition is a key part in living a healthy lifestyle. Knowing bad from good fats is just a small piece to eating healthy. Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic we offer nutrition consultations to educate patients and get them on the right path. Call us today to set up a free nutrition consultation! 562-386-1415

Chiropractic Helps Vertigo

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 21:05:55 GMT

Everyone has experienced some kind of vertigo in their lives, mostly during childhood! Vertigo is a feeling of dizziness. Much like when you were a child spinning in circles and then abruptly stopped. Your body may have stopped spinning, but your brain thinks otherwise. You brain continues that sensation as if you were still spinning. Let's dive deeper into our understanding of this.

The body has 3 main mechanisms to maintain balance:

Eyes
Joints
Ears

When discussing vertigo, we are talking about balance within the ears.

The ear has canals in them full of liquid. As we move around, so does the liquid within the canals. When that fluid moves around, it hits very sensitive micro hairs that then collect that information (speed, direction, pressure, etc) and sends it to the large nerve. The nerve condenses the information and sends it to the eyes and specific areas of the brain. Now your brain knows where you are, and how to balance itself!

Vertigo symptoms can be caused by an array of things:

BPPV - Benign Proxismal Positional Vertigo - This is when small calcium deposits shift around within the inner ear
Head/neck injury
Meniere's disease - Build up of fluid within the ear causing increased pressure.
Vestibular neuritis - Viral infection of the nerve itself
Migraines
Brain disorders - Stroke, tumor

Chiropractic is a great tool to find relief from vertigo. Whether the dizziness is from a problem in the brain, neck, or nerves of the ear - we have the solution for you! There are many chiropractic techniques geared specifically for helping those suffering with symptoms of vertigo. Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic we have the techniques and knowledge to find the answer for those suffering from vertigo. Come see us today!

Why Do We Check Reflexes?

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 21:03:42 GMT

During our initial exam at Thrive Family Chiropractic, we always check reflexes. You know, that hammer thing that you see in cartoons? When the doctor hits your knee and the leg kicks out. But what does that mean? How it it used for diagnostic purposes?

In our office we use reflexes as a way to map out where there is distress in the spine and nerves. When bones move out of proper alignment in the spine, they can compress the spinal nerves that are supplying the skin, muscles and joints downstream from it. For example, when you hit your funny bone, you get that nerve sensation down into your pinky. That is because the nerve that supplies the pinky finger passes through the elbow. Before the elbow, that nerve exited the spine at the level of your cervical (neck) bone #7. Each area of the spine has very specific designation to a body part. Just like C7 travels all the way from the neck to the pinky.

The most common reflexes to be weak are usually from nerves exiting the low back. Most likely caused by the severe compressive load we put on our low backs day after day. Those especially who sit a lot for their job commonly experience weak reflexes in their lower legs. If you follow the red nerves in this image, you will see exactly where the nerves from the low back travel to. This is why we use reflexes as a way to locate the most severe nerve compression. When we tap the tendons of the knee and ankle and watch the response, it will tell you exactly where the problem is in the spine!

Common problems associated with damaged spinal nerves:

tingling/numbness
muscle weakness
muscle atrophy
spine pain
chronically sprained ankles
"bad knees"
dropped plantar arches
excessive tripping/falling
sciatica
carpal tunnel
headaches
infertility
sexual dysfunction
menstrual discomfort
digestive issues
asthma/breathing problems

Checking your reflexes is not something you can do on our own. It must be administered by a doctor with experience in neurology. Thrive Family Chiropractic has extensive knowledge with healing nerves that have been injured. It is common in our practice to see nerves heal quickly and reflexes get restored.

Remember, your reflexes are a window into the health of your body! If your reflexes are lacking in their function, so is your inner health. You don't have to have terrible symptoms for your body to be asking for help. Let us at Thrive Family Chiropractic listen to your health needs and create a plan to get your health where you want it!

Why Do You Need More Than One Adjustment?

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 20:59:32 GMT

"Okay, I'll see you next week for your adjustment!" This is what is said to most of our patients as they walk out the door. The reason is, your body needs consistency to create long lasting improvement. Health depends on consistency or else it can succumb to the challenges life presents to it day after day.

For instance, we brush our hair more than once in our life. That is because our hair becomes messy and tangled after 1 day. Same thing for why we brush our teeth. We need to consistently brush our teeth or else your mouth gets stinky and your teeth become yellow. This phenomena is known as the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

There are 3 laws of thermodynamics which govern our world, and they all have to do with energy. Despite these laws being incredibly comprehensive and complicated, there is a simple way to apply the 2nd law, which we will discuss further.

The 2nd law of thermodynamics states: everything that's in order will always work itself towards disorder. As humans, we counteract this in many ways: education, physical training, and spirituality, for example. The hair brushing is a great analogy. No matter how well you brushed your hair, you will need to brush it again. Your hair is going from a state of order, to a state of disorder.

How does chiropractic care fit into this? Well just as we regularly exercise, take continuing education, and attend spiritual practices to keep ourselves healthy in body, mind, and soul, so we also seek chiropractic care to keep our bodies functional. As we age, we tend to hunch over or develop a limp - sometimes without even noticing! Regular chiropractic care can keep our bodies from developing the disorder that comes with age, so we can function at our highest level for years to come!

When you get an adjustment, your entire body is in a state of equilibrium/harmony/ease/order. However, as you go about your life, your spine will gradually work itself towards disorder. Come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic to keep your health and life in order!

Text Neck and Forward Head Carriage

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 22:09:25 GMT

There is a new medical phenomena sweeping the country that is causing serious health problems. Can you guess what it is?

Text or Tech neck is a new age problem that effects ALL ages. This issue can be described as viewing a device such as a phone, computer, tablet, etc, for a long period of time, to which it alters the structure of the neck and causes repetitive stress injury.

This is a serious problem that seems to have no solution in sight. Especially now that children are spending more and more time on devices for school. With children using devices more than ever before, we are seeing degenerative changes in the spine as early as 9 years old. If that's not a WAKE UP CALL for change, then our future generations will greatly suffer. For clarification purposes, we are talking about ARTHRITIS in the necks of children.

Symptoms of Tech Neck:

Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Muscle weakness
Tingling/Numbness into the arms/hands
Stiffness
Headache
Early spinal degeneration
Disc compression/injury
Nerve compression
Poor posture
Flattened cervical curve
Dowager's hump

As the head spends more time in the downward position, it puts a tremendous strain on the structures of the neck. These include the bones which degenerate faster, the discs which bulge, the nerves that get compressed, the muscles which tighten and then lose strength...and that's not even all of the damaging effects.

All of our necks were designed to hold a certain number of pounds based on our height, weight, and age. As the head creeps forward, gravity intensifies the load that your neck must carry. Now your 8 pound head weighs closer to 40 pounds. Day after day that excess weight creates permanent damage to the neck.

Ways to Manage Tech Neck:

Posture Correction

- Strengthen back muscles

- Limit time looking down

- Get chiropractic assessment

Change Ergonomics

- Always have computer screens above the eyes

- Get a pop socket for you phone to hold up to your face

Corrective Chiropractic

- Restore the curve in the neck

- Strengthen supporting neck muscles

- Decrease muscle tension/spasm

Thrive Family Chiropractic is an expert at correcting tech or text neck. Make an appointment with them today!

3 Necessities for Birth: Chiropractic, Doula, Midwife

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 22:06:28 GMT

Birth is a beautiful life event...right?

It seems like after a birth there is always a perfect picture posted to social media of new baby with a smiling, relieved-looking mom. However, it's not always picture perfect, many times birth is far from perfect! It is so important now more than ever in the climate of COVID, that families know all the options when getting ready to give birth.

During this pandemic, the process of giving birth has been slipping down an uncertain path. Hospital protocols are still ever changing by the day, and fear is higher with the number of cases rising around us. We want you to know that your birth is important. Even though it may feel like chaos is surrounding your birth process, you are still in control!

Here are some important things to ponder:

What will the setting be like for my birth?

Are you giving birth in a hospital, birthing center, home, pool, or other? Set up a nice setting for yourself, regardless of where you are. Surround your area with pictures of things to remind you of what's important, or what makes you feel the most supported and loved.

Who will be present at my birth?

Firstly, take time to think about who you want with you. This is very important because some settings will limit who is allowed to accompany you during birth. Keep your circle small so you won't be disappointed if as many people can't stay with you. Those distant family members you just met might not make the cut this time. Pick your #1 and #2 person and stick with that!

What does my ideal birth look like?

Even though most births don't go exactly to "plan", it is still essential to have a plan in place. This will allow you to fall back on something secure and well thought out. Making decisions mid labor will not lead you to make the best choices.

What is my recovery plan?

Many women focus only on the process of birth knowing little of what to expect after. Write out something concrete on how you will allow yourself to recover and process whatever birth you've just endured. Allow more time than you think!

The 3 Best Things You Can Do To Prepare For Birth:

1. See a Webster Certified Chiropractor:

If you want a birth free of interventions with shorter labor times, then you need to see a pregnancy specialist chiropractor. Their focus is on creating the best environment for your body to give birth! Creating space in the pelvis and engaging surrounding muscles used for labor is crucial. Come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic with one of our Webster certified chiropractors to support you through pregnancy and birth to after that! To find a certified chiropractor near you check out this link:

https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor/

2. Talk to a Doula:

A doula is an incredible resource to families expecting a baby. They can act as a general manager and all around birth angel during stressful or unpredictable times. Having an impartial pillar of support during pregnancy, labor, post partum, and more is invaluable! From emotional support, to pushing techniques, to at-home care, a doula is truly a great asset to your birth. Here is our trusted Doula's information: (pssst, she's REALLY amazing)

https://www.birthtakesavillage.org/

3. Meet with a Midwife:

A midwife is a highly specialized health professional who provide maternal and newborn care through pregnancy, birth, and post partum. There are varying degrees of education they receive which allows them to work in the hospital or home setting. They can deliver babies, provide postnatal care, and can even perform your annual gynecological exam. Midwifery is a growing practice especially amongst those choosing to do birth in a non hospital setting. Here is an amazing certified professional midwife:

https://www.abundantblessingsmidwifery.com/

Improve Breastfeeding and Latching!

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:59:28 GMT

Breastfeeding is a beautiful way to bond with and feed your newborn baby. However, sometimes breastfeeding is difficult and/or painful for mom and baby. To a new mother, there is nothing more saddening and frustrating than having an insufficiently fed baby. Let alone the sometimes heartbreaking idea that as a mother you cannot provide enough. Here are some common signs your baby needs help with breastfeeding:

Inconsistent feeding/latching
Ineffective suck/swallow
Painful latch
Clicking
Snorting/gasping
"Preferring" one breast
Extreme gas/fussiness
Reflux

The importance of breastfeeding for physical and emotional health is well documented and generally accepted by the medical community. While many hospitals and doctors' offices have taken steps toward increasing breastfeeding rates, for some moms they may be missing one key aspect - Chiropractic!

Every birth, no matter how seemingly perfect the experience was can leave damage and tension in baby's neck and jaw. This leads to incorrect development of the neck, mouth, jaw, palate, tongue, and swallowing muscles. This makes breastfeeding incredibly difficult and frequently forces moms into pumping, bottle feeding, or formula. Before that happens to you, make sure you see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic. We see troubled babies and help them gain success in breastfeeding. This leads to many other positive developments in growth and happiness. Come see us today!

Chiropractic For HOPE in Pregnancy and Birth

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 17:57:39 GMT

It's time to talk about some beautiful success stories about birth. It is KNOWN that chiropractic is incredibly beneficial for expecting mothers at any stage of pregnancy. These benefits include:

Optimal baby positioning
Greater comfort/Pain relief
Decreased labor times
Less intervention during birth
Natural approach to pregnancy - no drugs, interventions

In the past three months, three beautiful mommas under our care have given birth. Not one C-section, not one drug, not one induction was used. All mom's had a intervention free birth all averaging under 10 hours. This is an incredible outcome and a beacon of hope for mothers who want to experience that for themselves. Many moms in our office are second time mothers who want better birth outcomes in their next birth! How extraordinary would it be to change the narrative of birth from fear and uncertainty, to confidence and comfort. Especially in a country with one of the highest rates of C-sections in the world!

It is such an honor that is hard to put into words... when a mother experiences the birth she imagined come to fruition. On top of that, these mothers have healthy babies that crush APGAR scores, reach milestones with ease, and are overall great well-rounded babies.

If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or recently experienced a birth that left you wishing for something different, please reach out and let Thrive Family Chiropractic support you in your pregnancy and birth goals. You won't regret making the decision to better your birth outcome!

TMJ Pain and Grinding Can Be Reduced With Chiropractic Care

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:55:19 GMT

Do you wake up with jaw tension? Can you not open your mouth comfortably? Has the dentist told you that your teeth are wearing down? This is a very common problem facing millions of people on a daily basis. There seems to be many so-called "solutions" to this problem, but most of them are just a band aid for a more serious issue. People have resorted to mouth guards, muscle relaxers, antianxiety drugs, or even botox to relieve their painful symptoms. Even though these may give you temporary relief, or help protect your teeth from wear and tear, these do not solve the issue of clenching the jaw .

This is a great representation showing you the extensive network of nerves that exit the upper cervical spine. These nerves supply the scalp, neck muscles, jaw, face, tongue, and more! When there is tension in the alignment of these upper bones, consequently there is tension in the muscles and joints that these nerves supply. Chronic misalignments in this area leads to headaches, jaw pain, clenching, grinding, neck pain, muscle spasm, and more.

Luckily there are natural solutions to reduce your TMJ pain and grinding. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper bones of the neck can greatly reduce pressure on the nerves supplying the TMJ. This is a long lasting option to relieve TMJ dysfunction and pain. Before you get special mouth guards, or take drugs, try getting an adjustment from one of our doctors at Thrive Family Chiropractic. It will benefit so much more than just the TMJ!

Can I Have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:51:15 GMT

YES, YES, YES!

Of course you can have chiropractic care after a back surgery. No matter what type of surgery it is, you can always benefit from chiropractic adjustments. In fact, getting under care can massively improve your recovery and surgery outcomes. Unfortunately, many surgeons would caution their patients to seek out a chiropractor. This is mainly due to fear and misunderstanding of what chiropractors do. However, Thrive Family Chiropractic is here to set the record straight!

Many patients in our office have had spine surgery. In fact, due to spinal surgery's poor success rates, many of our patients have benefited greatly in reducing their back pain after back surgery. Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic we have many techniques to serve people at any stage of life, or any stage post operation. Adjustments are safe, gentle, and extremely effective for:

Increasing blood flow
Re-establishing nerve impulses
Reducing pain
Increasing mobility and range of motion
Decreasing recovery time
Strengthening the spinal muscles
Balancing muscle tone (decreasing muscle atrophy)

Even with spinal fusions, discectomy's, decompression surgery, or any procedure involving the spine, we can still care for you! With extensive background in rehab and neurodegenerative disorders, we will find the best way to help you recover and get you out of pain faster. Call Thrive Family Chiropractic to help you heal from your back surgery!

The Miracle of Chiropractic

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:00:05 GMT

As a chiropractor there are many things that bring us joy in the office. Seeing a newborns eyes light up, watching someone crawl in with pain and then waltz out pain free, and hearing that someone's life has changed for the better after the adjustment. These things happen EVERYDAY in our office. The human body is truly a miracle. We are blessed to witness that daily.

However, there is something that is extra special to witness. And that is caring for a pregnant mother throughout pregnancy, and then meeting their perfect baby earthside. When you meet that baby that we've all been waiting for, something switches on inside. A warmth, a vibration, an overwhelming energy of that baby's potential. It's palpable and makes you feel ALL THE THINGS.

Over and over again, the human body makes unbelievable things happen. Come to Thrive Family Chiropractic and witness these things for yourself. If you are enduring a health challenge or experiencing pain, you need to try chiropractic. In order to avoid today's "medicine" - aka drugs, surgery, fear, needles, and artificial health...try something that honors and respects the human body. We honor you and we see your potential!

Chiropractic success with Colic

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 15:58:22 GMT

Colic is a general term used when babies are inconsolable and there is no known reason for it. Even when all of baby's needs are met, they still cry and show signs of discomfort. Colic is not a disease or diagnosis, but rather a combination of behaviors;

Clenched fist
Screaming/wailing for hours
Redness
Cannot soothe
Holding breath

Usually there is no solution to the crying, except the passing of time. There is a theory that babies are born with an innate ability to desensitize the environment around them. As they mature into the first months of life, they start to lose that mechanism and instead gain a sense of awareness of their new world. This means that they can get easily overstimulated by noises, lights, scents, and other sensations around them. They use crying as a way to tune out those sensations. As the nervous system develops they learn to adapt and the overwhelming crying tends to cease.

However, we do know that babies use crying as a way to communicate their needs. Sometimes colic is a sign that something is irritating them or making them feel pain as in;

Digestive problems
Acid Reflux
Food allergies or sensitivities
Tobacco/toxic exposure

How Does Chiropractic Help With Colic?

Chiropractic is a great way to ease baby's discomfort as they learn to adapt to all the new sensations of a bright new world. Their nervous system develops SO fast, and it is so important that the functions of the nerves are developing properly. Newborns under chiropractic care poop better, sleep better, digest better, soothe better, and are overall happier and more adaptive!

If your baby (and you!) are suffering the exhaustion and anxiety of a colicky baby, come see one of our trained pediatric chiropractors at Thrive Family Chiropractic! Give us a call today! 562-386-1415

Chiropractic Improves Brain Function!

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 15:55:01 GMT

Did you know that chiropractic adjustments can improve the function of your brain?

This is because most information (90%) that enters the brain comes from the spine! Simply put, when you adjust the spine, you change the brain. This is wonderful for people who experience things like:

Brain Fog
Memory Problems
Loss of Energy
Trouble Concentrating
Emotional Imbalances
ADD/ADHD

Prefrontal Cortex

The chiropractic adjustment stimulates all the nerves of the body. This nerve stimulation travels to the brain and powers up your higher cognitive functions. The most evolved part of the human brain is the prefrontal cortex. This is where we make decisions, think of the future, feel hope, make plans, express your personality, and behave socially. And guess what?? The chiropractic adjustment stimulates this part of your brain the most! Brain scans have have shown that after a chiropractic spinal adjustment, the prefrontal cortex lights up. In simple terms, chiropractic helps people live in fuller expression of themselves.

Hemisphere Balance

The human brain has 2 halves, a right and a left. These 2 halves must talk to each other in order to have full function of your brain. Ever heard of someone being left or right brained? Meaning that they are dominant in some qualities that are attributed to the left or right hemisphere of the brain. The right side is more emotional, more visual, and empathetic. The left brain is more pragmatic, analytical, and logical. (There is much more to this, but keeping it simple here). Now, would you rather have a balance of all these traits? Or would you like to express yourself in only one of these dominant sides? Chiropractic helps these two hemispheres communicate stronger with each side. Creating a more balanced and enhanced sense of self.

Enhance Blood Flow and CSF Flow

The brain needs blood to function, just like any other living organ. The brain also needs Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) to irrigate and nourish the brain. One of the most studied aspects of chiropractic and it's influence on brain function is studying upper cervical spine adjustments. This is because the top 2 bones of the spine have a massive influence on how much blood your brain gets, and how much CSF is allowed to flow freely in and out of the brain. Adjusting these 2 powerful bones C1 and C2 brings about an increase in both blood and CSF. The combination of those 2 things greatly enhance the way your brain can function on a day to day basis.

In short, getting adjusted by one of our doctors at Thrive Family Chiropractic will undoubtedly enhance your brain function. Don't live your daily life as a dampened version of yourself. Come experience what chiropractic can do to enhance the way your brain works. There are amazing results seen in the office regarding enhanced function of the brain. Both children and adults see powerful changes in memory, moods, energy, focus, and attention after receiving chiropractic care.

If everyone in the world had better brain function, we would be in a much better place as a society. There are amazing ways to make this happen, and the best way is to get adjusted by a skilled brain based chiropractor. We look forward to making your brain work better for you!

Sleep Soundly, Recover Better With Chiropractic!

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:53:16 GMT

Sleep can be a fickle thing for people. Some nights you sleep soundly, some nights you can't get to sleep at all. Some nights you wake up multiple times during the night, other nights you sleep like a rock. Do you wake up refreshed? Or stiff, groggy, and grumpy? Sleep is a crucial part of healing and resetting the brain from the monotonous daily tasks of life. No matter who you are, or what you do, sleep is a necessary part of basic human function.

Sleep is the only time the brain gets to shut down. Each second of the day, the brain is working to interpret and respond to it's surroundings. Every sight, smell, taste, and sensation is being translated into electrical signals by the brain, and then stored in the appropriate areas. During waking hours, the brain emits high frequency wavelengths. However, during sleep those frequencies slow down. These slow waves are accompanied with an almost paralysis like reaction of the muscles. Science has asserted with confidence that cycling through these brain waves can have an effect on memory, learning, and the quality of rest.

Our sleep is controlled by the parasympathetic part of our nervous system. These special nerves are designed to slow us down . Your parasympathetic nervous system MUST engage in order to get into the deep stages of sleep. With many people who suffer with poor sleep, these nerves are the main culprit. In today's society many of us are stuck in sympathetic dominance. This is your 'flight or fight' response. This response is responsible for speeding us up , like increasing blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, pupil dilation and more. When we are chronically stressed out by family, work, traffic, health, etc. then we lose that precious balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic.

A great way to get into parasympathetic mode is get a chiropractic adjustment. The adjustment stimulates those nerves that slow us down. This equates to better digestion, slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and better sleep! It's as simple as that!

Ways to stimulate parasympathetic nerves:

Chiropractic adjustment
Meditation
Massage
Yoga
Diaphragmatic breathing

If you want to get to sleep faster and experience better sleep, come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic! Optimize your health by getting the most out of your sleep by treating insomnia. Chiropractic sleep is the best sleep!

Snoring Child? Can Chiropractic Help?

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 15:51:03 GMT

Snoring is commonly associated with old people right? Parents sawing logs all night and trips to grandma and grandpa's house filled with memories of snoring while laid back in the recliner chair. However, snoring can happen in young adults and even children. Aside from the obvious annoyances that snoring brings, it can have negative consequences on overall health. It is also common for snoring to be accompanied with 'obstructive sleep apnea', which is when there are pauses in breathing and often gasping for breath during sleep.

Signs/symptoms of snoring:

Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep (sleep apnea)
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Difficulty concentrating
Morning headaches
Sore throat upon awakening
Restless sleep
Gasping or choking at night
High blood pressure
Chest pain at night
In children: poor attention span, behavioral issues or poor performance in school

Causes of Snoring:

Snoring is due to the vibration of the soft tissues in the back of the throat. During sleep when those tissues are most relaxed the flow of air can vibrate and make those classic snoring sounds. In children, snoring is not a normal occurrence and should be evaluated by a cranial pediatric specialist. Due to the close relationship with all the soft tissue structures of the mouth and throat, snoring in children can be cause for concern. It may indicate that the facial and cranial bones are compressing the airway during sleep. Cranial adjusting for children does wonders to open up that space and leave more room for the tongue and palate to rest without blocking the airway. It also increases nerve supply to these structures which will deter sleep apnea.

Snoring is more than just a nuisance, especially in babies, children and young adults. If your child is snoring or stopping breathing completely, it's time to get evaluated by one of our pediatric specialist chiropractors at Thrive Family Chiropractic.

Avoid Helmet Head

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:48:16 GMT

Your head is made up of 8 cranial bones that make up the skull, and 14 facial bones that make up the face. These bones articulate with each other to create the shape of the head which then houses and protects the brain. The union of these bones create small spaces for nerves to travel directly from the brain to the eyes, ears, mouth, jaw, face, tongue, etc. These nerves account for some of our most basic senses like sight and smell, but also basic motor skills like swallowing, breathing, and heart rate.

Why do these cranial bones matter so much?

For newborns or young children , cranial bone function is incredibly important for proper brain development. Baby's cerebellum (part of the brain) doubles in size within the first 2 years of life. This means there are 2 pivotal years to ensure that your baby's brain will develop fully without future complications. Children are more susceptible to injuries to the skull due to the birthing process and common falls every child experiences as they learn to walk. Have you seen babies in those helmets? The purpose of those helmets is to properly shape a baby's head. However a trained cranial chiropractor can get better, quicker, safer results for these children. These results are long lasting and have huge impacts on the baby's immune system and neurological function.

Newborn skulls are still very soft when they are born. This is the perfect opportunity to see a chiropractor with cranial expertise so as to avoid this!

Edit Image

Cranial Adjusting for Adults

There are 2 great reasons that adults need cranial work too! The most common being after a head injury. Taking a blow to the head can create an excess of pressure built up within the skull and starving the brain of blood flow. This can happen after a car accident, blow to the face/head, baseball hitting the head, etc... Common symptoms that cranial adjusting can help with post concussion is: headaches, blurred vision, speech difficulties, memory lapses, brain fog, emotional irregularities, decreased reflexes, altered coordination, and behavior changes.

The 2nd best reason to see a cranial specialist chiropractor is to help with cognitive function. Just like with any other bodily process, the brain creates metabolic waste. When your body creates waste, it eliminates it through urination and defecation (pee and poop!). However, when the brain creates waste, it gets flushed out by CSF (cerebral spinal fluid). CSF is made by the brain and circulates throughout the inner brain, the skull, and the spinal cord. This precious CSF flow is controlled by built-in pumps at the bottom of the spinal cord. This process flushes out waste and toxins that build up over time.

Imagine if you had a toilet that wouldn't flush, it's getting clogged and stinky. The best way to get that out is to pump fresh water to it and flush it out! This is why we work with cranial bones. Creating movement in the skull increases CSF flow which allows a perfect and natural way for your brain to detox.

Come see our pediatric and cranial bone specialists at Thrive Family Chiropractic today! (562)386-1415

helmet head, baby helmet

Chiropractic Is Necessary for All Athletes!

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:44:04 GMT

Ask any professional athlete or professional team about chiropractic, and they will indefinitely say how greatly it impacted their career. From performance enhancement, to proper recovery, to longevity in their sport of choice; chiropractic plays a major role to a professional athlete's success.

August 24th (8/24) has been declared Black Mamba day in honor of Kobe Bryant, aka "The Black Mamba". This day forces us to think about our professional athletes and their inspiring performances. Whatever the chosen sport is, it comes at a cost to their bodies. The rigorous training regimes put a strain on them both mentally, emotionally, and physically. This is why almost all athletes at the professional level seek help from chiropractors.

Benefits of Athletes Being Under Chiropractic Care:

Injury Prevention

Injuries usually happen from imbalances in the muscular and skeletal structures of the body. This means some muscles are over developed while some are under. We see this commonly with the muscles of the spine (paraspinal, subocciptal, scalenes) and muscles of the pelvis (glutes, piriformis). Unbalanced muscle groups leave athletes vulnerable to injury, even in their basic movements. Skeletal imbalance causes discrepancies in leg length, nerve supply, and muscle tone. This means the muscles don't get enough feedback to and from the brain. Imagine if you are trying to hit a jump shot with 2 people of the opposing team coming after you. You are relying on the quick action of your hands and feet to make that shot. Proper muscle balance and optimal nerve supply is a must!

Recovery

Even the most prepared athletes get injured. Whether it is a sprained ankle, torn muscle, or even a concussion - chiropractic can be pivotal in getting athletes back on track quickly. New concussion research has been expanding due to many football players falling victim to brain related deaths or illnesses due to repetitive brain trauma. Chiropractic has become a leader in post concussion recovery protocols. This is due to the powerful benefits of chiropractic adjustments in aiding brain healing.

Performance Enhancement

Every athlete knows that beating out the competition can come down to milliseconds or inches. Any edge they can get to win is what it takes to be the best! Chiropractic is a great tool to naturally enhance performance in every avenue. Increased mobility in the ribcage means better inhale/exhale movement, which leads to increased oxygen saturation, and increased endurance. Balanced muscles equal greater muscle engagement and increased strength. Better flexibility means less strain on the joints and less risk of ligament tearing. Increased nerve flow equals increased reflexes. What athlete wouldn't want all those things!

Known athletes that utilize chiropractic care:

Michael Jordan – Basketball

Tiger Woods – Golf

Evander Holyfield – Boxing

Barry Bonds – Baseball

Arnold Schwarzenegger – Body Building

Tom Brady – Football

Joe Sakic – Hockey

Joe Montana – Football

Michael Phelps - Swimming

Christiano Ronaldo - Soccer

Usain Bolt - Track & Field "The fastest man alive"

Not Just for the Pros!

Not matter the skill level or sport of choice, every athlete deserves the best chance to perform optimally. It's not only practice that makes an athlete great. Its the mental training, nutrition, and care they put into their bodies. High school athletes suffer injuries and need chiropractic too. We can't let our future athletes be held back by a body that doesn't function at it's best!

Dr. Mary and Dr. Chanel are both avid athletes. They both utilized chiropractic during their competitive years and never experienced a major injury. Today, at Thrive Family Chiropractic they use their sports background to create specific plans for athletes of all ages! They are experienced in adjusting all areas of the body.... There should be no limitations to athletic performance! Come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic now to get the full benefits of sports chiropractic! Chiropractic sports athletes, sports chiropractor near me

What Causes Rib Pain and How Can Chiropractic Help?

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:41:45 GMT

Ribcage dysfunction plagues many people and can cause a wide array of symptoms. Rib pain has even been known to mimic heart attacks, which can be a very scary experience that commonly lands people in the ER or urgent care. Many times the only quick relief can be found with high dose pain medication. However, chiropractic is the best tool to help manage rib pain and dysfunction naturally.

Due to the anatomy of ribs, even the slightest problem can be extremely painful. This is due to the close proximity of the nerve to the rib itself. Any misalignment can constrict and irritate these nerves which is why rib pain commonly radiates around to the chest.

The biomechanics of proper ribcage function depends greatly on the structure of the spine and the integrity of the individual ribs. The ribcage is a blend of spinal bones, rib bones, cartilage, and muscles. Which makes it relatively unstable and prone to injury.

What Creates Rib Pain?

Injury

Car accidents are a common cause of ribcage dysfunction even if that accident happened long in the past. When one is wearing a seat belt and is in an accident, it pins down one side of the ribcage while the other side is flung forward. This creates a distortion or twist in the ribs and spine. Falls, blunt force trauma, muscle strains, fractures, and sports strains are also common injuries to the ribcage.

Improper Breathing Patterns

Many people have poor breathing mechanics. Meaning that they use muscles that are not meant to aid in breathing. These muscles are usually the neck muscles, shoulders and traps. When someone breathes with these muscles it creates tightness and tension in these areas. Instead of using the ribs to ebb and flow with the breath, the ribcage can become very stiff and rigid over time. This can create rib pain, which leads to shortness of breath, headaches, anxiety, and upper back tension.

Repetitive Strain

Athletes especially fall victim to this as many sports are one sided and train the same movements repeatedly. Golf and baseball swings, volleyball spikes, swimmers strokes, etc, all use the ribcage. It is very important to create proper mobility and function in these athletes so it don't result in improper, uneven ribcage patterns that could result in injury down the line.

Chiropractic Care for Ribs

Chiropractors are experts in assessing and adjusting the entire ribcage. It is essential for proper breathing and to avoid future pain and injury. If you are feeling symptoms of tension in the midback, shortness of breath, shooting/radiating pain to the chest, chest pain, headaches, anxiety, or stiffness, get checked by a chiropractor. If you injure or fracture a rib, get checked immediately to make sure you don't have permanent deficits that will plague you later on. Come see us at Thrive Family Chiropractic to get assessed by experts. Make an appointment today!

562-386-1415

How Can Chiropractic Help Menstrual Cycle Pain and Function?

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 15:37:56 GMT

One of the best (and most unknown) benefits of chiropractic care for women is more regular and comfortable monthly periods. Even though most women who come into our office are not coming for menstrual symptoms, most will report back that they feel so much better during their time of the month.

Irregular, heavy, painful menstrual cycles can be more than just an inconvenience. It can be a sign of chronic nerve stress, hormone imbalance, and can potentially lead to fertility problems. If you are suffering from PMS, menopausal symptoms, back pain, bowel pain, bladder pain, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, or reproductive troubles, chiropractic can be a solution with proven results.

The reproductive and endocrine (hormone) systems are ultimately controlled by the nervous system. The spine houses and protects all those nerves, so any dysfunction of the spine can have an adverse impact on the corresponding reproductive organs. Specifically, the nerves that supply the reproductive organs come from the lower spine. Any misalignment, however small, can have a massive impact on how the nerves communicate with those organs! The end result is poor menstrual health and reproductive dysfunction. In our office it is very common to hear that women who come in with lower back pain also suffer from poor menstrual cycles or infertility.

Fortunately, there have been numerous studies done on the effectiveness of chiropractic care and the corresponding health of the reproductive system. Chiropractors understand that to get to the root of menstrual problems you need to address the whole body because overall health plays a significant role. Before you reach for a drug or birth control you'll likely be on for years with its own set of side effects, call us here at Thrive Family Chiropractic to speak with a doctor about how we can help you. Chiropractic is a gentle, effective way to manage reproductive health!

Thrive Family Chiropractic

(562) 386-1415

Sources:

Holtzman DA, Petrocco-Napuli KL, Burke JR. Prospective case series on the effects of lumbosacral manipulation on dysmenorrhea. J Manipulative Physiol Ther . 2008;31(3):237-246. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.02.005

Gauthier, E., Mullin, L. “The Effects of Gonstead Chiropractic Care on a Patient with Primary Amenorrhea: A Case Report and Review of Related Literature.” Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, and Family Health , 2010 July: 116-121.

Goodsell, L., Shtulman, I. “Resolution of Secondary Amenorrhea Following Reduction of Vertebral Subluxations: A Case Report.” Journal of Pediatric, Maternal, and Family Health , 2011 May: 59-65. chiropractic menstrual cycle

What Causes Headaches and Can Chiropractic Help?

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 15:35:40 GMT

Headaches can be a debilitating part of life if you chronically suffer from them. Most often when people experience regular headaches, the root cause remains unknown. Even after numerous tests, scans, medications, and extreme therapies, many report no change in the frequency or severity of their headaches. Fortunately chiropractic has an enormous success rate with managing headaches!

There are 3 main things that influence headaches:

Structural

Structural imbalance is the most common cause of headaches and is the easiest to correct in our office. This involves the alignment of the bones of the cervical spine (neck). When someone has misalignment to the bones of the neck, it creates painful tension in the muscles, reduced range of motion, and reduced blood flow. In response, the body releases inflammatory chemicals into the area. These chemicals aggravate the nerves of the spine and can be a huge factor in headaches. Over time, if the brain is not getting enough blood flow & oxygen it creates a hypoxic environment. This phenomenon is very common in people with headaches.

Chemical

Unfortunately our world is full of toxins that can disturb our bodies natural processes. These chemicals are found in our food, air, and water supply. These toxic compounds include pesticides, heavy metals, PFO's, aerosols, plastics, and many others. Over time these toxins accumulate in the fat cells in the body AND in the brain. A body full of these toxins will block proper function of the cells. When a cell is plugged up with toxic materials it can't detox itself! This can leave you with brain fog, fatigue, poor health, and headaches. A great way to detox the brain is with specific adjustments to the upper neck which allow the brain to flush out these toxins naturally. Another necessity in combating toxins is to eat organic foods, use non-toxic cleaning products and non-toxic personal hygiene products. What you eat and what you put on/in your body matters!

Hormonal

Hormones can play a huge role in headaches, especially with women. It is most common for women during their menstrual cycle and menopausal women to experience frequent headaches. So much of hormone imbalance comes from stress. This can be chemical stress (as discussed above) or emotional stress. Emotional stress refers to the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that acts to aid the body when in high stress environments (a big presentation for work for example). Cortisol can be useful in short bursts, but long term secretion of cortisol can wreak havoc on the body. Chronic high levels of cortisol in the blood stream is linked to headaches, weight gain, high blood pressure, skin changes, mood swings, and more. When any hormone is too dominant, it throws other hormones out of balance. Manage your stress levels and you can better manage all your hormones!

Overall headaches are very common, however they are NOT NORMAL. You don't need to suffer with headaches! In our office we have tremendous success in eliminating headaches permanently. You can get headache relief! It is important to dive into WHY you are suffering from headaches. At Thrive Family Chiropractic we help eliminate headaches by addressing the structural, chemical, and hormonal components of your health. Stop your suffering and give chiropractic a try.

Call us today to make an appointment!

562-386-1415

Hurt Your Disc? Can Chiropractic Help?

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 15:33:25 GMT

The spine has 144 joints and 24 discs. The job of the spinal disc is to disperse the forces put on the spine and provide cushion for the vertebra. A healthy disc allows just enough space for the nerve to exit the spine without impingement. One of the most common injuries to the spine usually involves the disc. Over time spinal discs can weaken and degrade, and potentially create very painful symptoms. Consequently, a degenerated disc constricts the nerve space and creates damage to the nerve which can result in radiating pain down the arms or legs. Proper spinal care and mobility are crucial for extending the life of the discs and spine!

The spinal disc is made out of a jelly toothpaste-like material in the center (called a nucleus), surrounded by layers of strong fibers (called the annulus). There are varying degrees of disc injuries involving these 2 structures.

A tear in the annular fibers result in a weak spot in the disc. This leaves the disc vulnerable to bulging or complete herniation. Even a small tear can be extremely painful and create inflammation in the spine. Once the disc has been injured it becomes crucial to seek help in order to limit the amount of permanent damage to the spine. If left untreated, it can lead to serious neurological problems including loss of bladder and bowel function.

Common Causes of Disc Injury:

Motor vehicle accident
Chronic poor posture
Repetitive motions involving twisting, bending, or lifting
Poor lifting techniques
Overloading the spine with too much weight
Existing annulus weakness
Poor core stability
Sitting for prolonged periods of time
Sports injury

How Chiropractic Can Help:

Chiropractors are extremely educated on diagnosing and treating injured spinal discs. It is best to seek out a chiropractor before doing more invasive treatments like drugs or even surgery. Most disc injuries can be well managed in a chiropractic office! Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic we are very experienced in helping people with new or chronic disc ailments. If you are suffering with any kind of neck or low back pain, come see us! We will do a thorough neurological and orthopedic exam to determine the health of the spinal discs. Don't wait until it's too late!

Make an appointment today!

562-386-1415

disc chiropractic, herniated disk, slipped disc in back

Chiropractic Can Help With Epilepsy and Seizures!

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:30:19 GMT

Seizures and other conditions such as epilepsy are neurological disorders caused by abnormal electrical activity of the brain. A seizure essentially is a spontaneous collection of misfiring neurons in the brain. These can commonly cause convulsions where muscles spasm uncontrollably. This can happen suddenly and randomly which makes seizures a dangerous and anxiety inducing disorder.

The cause of seizures is mainly unknown or vague. In children, seizures have been associated with lack of oxygen during birth, congenital conditions, Autism, head trauma, and more. In adults, risk factors include head trauma, congenital conditions, infection, genetic factors, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

Common treatment for seizures is usually medication. While anti-seizure medications have seemingly reduced the occurrence of seizures in many individuals suffering from epilepsy, 30% of patients see no change in their seizure occurrence or severity while on medication. This type of treatment also presents it's own list of risks and side effects. There is a new technology that involves surgically implanting a device to electrically stimulate the Vagus nerve, a well known nerve for its connection to seizures. While medication and surgery may be the most well-known treatments, research on chiropractic, the Vagus nerve, and seizures proves to be incredibly encouraging and exciting for those suffering from epilepsy.

One particular study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics highlighted how chiropractic plays a big part in managing seizures:

The study took a close look at 17 children who saw no results when their epilepsy and seizures were treated with anticonvulsive medication.
All children received chiropractic care of the neck, which helped correct misalignment in the spinal vertebrae. Misalignment of the spine, interferes with nerve and brain function.
Nearly 90% of the children, 15 out of 17, saw a substantial reduction in both the intensity and frequency of seizures.

Chiropractic has always been a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical approach to health when medications fail. The main goal in addressing this abnormal brain activity in patients, is to improve function and self-regulation of the Vagus nerve. Adjustments to the upper area of the spine relieve stress put on this vital nerve. This allows the brain and the body to communicate and regulate nerve function and brain vitality. With every adjustment to this powerful area of the spine, we see a massive increase in blood flow to the deepest areas of the brain and prefrontal cortex. Cerebral spinal fluid also increases, which aids in detoxification of the brain. This is why chiropractic adjustments are so powerful!

As brain based chiropractors here at Thrive Family Chiropractic we design plans to manage and improve brain function. The scope of care you receive from our chiropractors is expansive. Whether you are young or old suffering with seizures, convulsions, or epileptic episodes, give our chiropractors a call to schedule your consultation.

Sources:

“Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders: A Review of Literature Relative to Chiropractic Care of Children.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics , 2001 Mar-Apr; 24(3): 199-205. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11313616.

“Common Epilepsy Causes and Seizure Triggers.” WebMD. www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/epilepsy-causes.

Anxiety Is Helped With Chiropractic Care

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:25:21 GMT

It is heartbreaking to watch young adults and children suffer with anxiety. As a society we often think of anxiety being caused by stressful events of life. However, anxiety is usually an imbalance within the INTERNAL environment of the body, versus the EXTERNAL factors surrounding them. During this particularly stressful time when everyone is worried about something, we are seeing a spike of anxiety cases in our young patients at the office. Here are my tips:

1) Clean up the Diet

Anxiety manifests easily when the body is under chemical stress. This means what we eat has a huge implication in how we feel. Some foods feed the brain and some foods stress and inflame the brain! What most people don't know, is that our 'feel good' hormones like serotonin and dopamine are made in the gut and are sent to the brain. So if your gut is happy, you'll feel more happy! To make your gut happy there are some tricks and tips:

- Adopt a high fat, low carb, minimal sugar diet

A good diet for this would be the Ketogenic diet . This diet is great for anxiety because it equalizes the extreme highs and lows in blood sugar. The more unbalanced the blood sugar is over time, the more oxidative stress it puts on each cell of the body. Not only that, it stresses the pancreas because it's working overtime making enough insulin to control blood sugar levels. The best part is that the brain loves using ketones for fuel! Ketones are a product the body makes when glucose (sugar) is not abundant. It's a cleaner fuel for the brain and it lasts longer than glucose. Which means no crash feeling!

2) Increase Polyphenols and Probiotics

Polyphenols are micronutrients that we get through certain plant-based foods. They’re packed with antioxidants and other potential health benefits. New research has hypothesized that polyphenol compounds may promote beneficial gut bacteria, while inhibiting invasive species like E.coli and Salmonella. This means it builds up your good microbiome while fighting off dangerous bacteria. The presence of these compounds promote beneficial actions of probiotics...We can't talk about anxiety and the gut without talking about the importance of probiotics! These helpful bacteria play a huge part in our hormone balance, and therefore, how we experience anxiety.

Balance your gut bacteria = Balance in your brain

3) Get Adjusted

My absolute favorite benefit of chiropractic adjustments is how it balances brain function. This is the most powerful tool to combat anxiety. Most people who are plagued by anxiety are stuck in a state of "fight or flight", which is a state of heightened awareness. This is a good place to be if you need to survive something (like a bear chasing you in the woods). However, for everyday life, this amount of awareness can be taxing and stressful on the brain. Imagine if your brain always thought a bear was going to jump out at any minute. I have anxiety just thinking about it! When chiropractors adjust the nervous system, it slows down your "fight or flight" response and increases your "rest and digest" part of the nervous system. This allows your brain to relax and focus on other things like digestion, sleep, and healing.

Overall, anxiety is a common symptom but it is NOT normal. Don't let yourself be plagued by anxiety. Go see a chiropractor. At Thrive Family Chiropractic, our doctors have a lot of experience helping both children and adults with anxiety. Go see one today!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6160559/

anxiety chiropractic, causes of anxiety

Chiropractic Helps With Constipation in Children and Adults

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 15:22:28 GMT

There have been an influx of patients in our office with constipation issues lately. It's gotten me thinking...why? Here are some of my thoughts:

1) Sloppy Diets

My main thought is that diets are getting sloppy during this time. Working from home tends to allow for more snacking. Usually those snacks are highly processed, full of carbs and sugar, and lacking fiber. This leads to more snacking, more blood sugar spikes, and in turn more poor snacking!

If you are finding yourself working from home and always making trips to the kitchen, make sure you are prepared with high fiber snacks like: fruits, chia pudding, cut veggies, smoothies, hummus, avocados, and nuts.

2) Sloppy Posture

When you are sitting in a chair, you are collapsing the spinal bones onto the nerves in your low back. These precious nerves coordinate our gut movements. Therefore they control how fast things move in and out of the digestive tract. Sitting with poor posture day after day takes a toll on these nerves and your gut.

Make sure to use lumbar support at your desk chair. Every hour get up and move! Stretch your spine daily and find that your gut will speed itself up!

3) Too Much Stress

Stress releases the hormone Cortisol. When there is an influx of cortisol in your bloodstream, your brain perceives danger and immediately shuts down your gut. Because when your body senses danger it prioritizes things like increasing pupil size, increasing blood pressure, and increasing heart rate. Which means that digesting that cheeseburger you ate 10 minutes ago is not a high priority. With digestion taking a back seat to more important bodily functions, digestive issues can arise.

Work on daily stress reduction techniques. Most of the time, we can't change the stress around us. But we can change the way our body handles and adapts to it. Even the simplest breathing techniques or small breaks for meditation can immediately change blood pressure and heart rates. Giving your digestion a chance to function again!

4) Nerve Compression

As stated above about posture... The nerves of our low back need to stimulate the gut in order for digestion and elimination (poop) to happen. The best and most powerful way to stimulate these nerves is to get a chiropractic adjustment from one of our doctors at Thrive Family Chiropractic. There are specific techniques used to stimulate the Vagus nerve and the surrounding nerves of the gut. Even babies who experience irregular bowel movements can be greatly helped by a gentle adjustment!

The best compliment a patient can give us, is that they can poop everyday! Parents report that their baby has poop filled diapers everyday since starting chiropractic care. That gets us even more excited!

Pelvis and Uterus: How Chiropractic is Necessary During Pregnancy

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:45:38 GMT

When we talk with our pregnant patients about the health of their growing baby, we have to talk about the health of her pelvis and health of her uterus. When we look at the anatomy of pregnancy, it is truly astounding! Generally speaking, babies grow within the uterus for about 9 months of time. The uterus expands 500X its size during this growth period! This expansion puts a tremendous stretch on the ligaments of the uterus, pelvic ligaments, and pelvic joints which include the Sacroiliac, pubic symphysis, and hip socket joints.

In order to have as seamless and painless a pregnancy as possible, it is imperative that mom gets these areas checked by a Webster certified chiropractor. Most likely there are some imbalances within the pelvic complex that needs some adjusting. When the joints of the pelvis are not aligned properly, they don't function properly. Meaning that when you use these joints (in every step we take!) we are using muscles in an un-balanced way and tugging on ligaments and soft tissues unevenly. Not only does this wreak havoc on the quality of movement, it can create pain AND create a smaller environment for baby to grow.

When it comes to the uterus, having an imbalanced pelvis will pull on the ligaments of the uterus which then creates tension. The uterus acts as a hammock, suspended within the pelvis and attaching to the pelvic bones by strong ligaments. As the baby grows quickly, these ligaments can create strain on the space for the baby. Left untreated, this can potentially lead to baby not having enough space to go head down. When baby does not go head down, you are a strong candidate for a c-section.

We often get mothers in the office at 35+ weeks pregnant in a panic because their baby is transverse or breech and the dream of a natural birth is being destroyed. The perfect time to start getting adjusted is right when you know you are pregnant! Come see Thrive Family Chiropractic if you are pregnant! Give you and your baby the best chance for growth and health with our family chiropractors!

Torticollis in Newborns. Chiropractic Can Help!

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 00:42:23 GMT

Torticollis is a condition of the neck usually present in newborns. It is caused by a spasm of the neck muscle which creates a visual head tilt. It can happen due to the baby's position in the womb or after a difficult childbirth.

Birth Trauma

We hear about and see torticollis commonly in our office. The most frequent story we hear is that laboring during childbirth became "too long". In trying to speed up the process, doctors often administer pitocin, which is a drug that increases the intensity of contractions. Now imagine a baby is trying to travel down the body part of the pelvis, but there is not enough space yet. When the pitocin comes and increases the strength of contractions before an opening is ready, then baby's head gets jammed and pushed into the cervix. After hours of this, the baby will likely have strain or injury to the neck.

Another common way to injure the neck muscles is the use of forceps or vacuum suction during delivery. This is when labor stalls and baby needs to be pulled out forcefully. The pulling and twisting forces during birth will often injure the soft tissues.

Signs of Torticollis

Visual head tilt (even after straightening it)
Trouble breastfeeding on one side
Prefers looking to only 1 direction
Flat head on 1 side
Contraction of the neck muscle (knot)
Difficulty settling down or sleeping soundly

How to Correct It

First thing to do is see a pediatric specialist chiropractor. This is a specific method of care used by our chiropractors at Thrive Family Chiropractic. The most common root cause of these muscle spasms is a misaligned cervical spine. The first bone in the neck is frequently misaligned in newborns due to the reasons discussed above. This misalignment pulls on the neck muscles unevenly, causing symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments to newborns is very gentle and incredibly effective in relieving torticollis long term. It is incredibly rewarding to see babies get instant relief after adjustments! Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic, our doctors are specialize in pediatric care and use a safe and gentle method to adjust newborns.

What You Can Do at Home to Help After the Adjustment:

When your baby wants to eat, offer the bottle or your breast in a way that encourages your baby to turn away from the contracted side.
During play, draw your baby's attention with toys and sounds to make him or her turn in both directions.
Practice tummy time! Position your baby so that his or her head is turned away from you. Then, talk or sing to your baby and encourage him or her to turn and face you. Practice this exercise for 10 to 15 minutes.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Chiropractic

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:39:36 GMT

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a fairly common occurrence that can happen to children and adults of all ages. The simplest explanation of a TBI is an injury to the tissue of the brain. You can think of it as a bruise. Just like a bruise on your body, a bruise to the brain needs time to heal. However, unlike a bruise to a body part, the brain is involved with every cognitive function and is therefore felt more intensely and can have an big effect on life's daily activities.

This injury can happen in a variety of ways:

Car accidents
Falls
Whiplash trauma
Sports
Blunt force trauma
Blast injuries (explosions)
Concussion

The symptoms of mild TBI can include:

A brief loss of consciousness in some cases. However, many people with mild TBI remain conscious after the injury
Headache
Confusion
Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Blurred vision or tired eyes
Ringing in the ears
Bad taste in the mouth
Fatigue
A change in sleep patterns
Behavioral or mood changes
Stomach aches, lack of appetite
Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking

When you undergo a traumatic event to the head or neck, it is important to get checked by a chiropractor or neurologist. In our office we frequently see undiagnosed concussions after car accidents. These patients were assessed in the emergency room and cleared with no concussion! This is why it is essential to get a proper assessment after the fact.

Something we must remember about chiropractic, is that it has an IMMENSE impact on brain function. Every adjustment to the upper cervical spine allows an increase in blood flow to the deepest areas of the brain (30% more!). Along with blood flow, it increases Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) flow. CSF acts as the irrigation system to the brain and spinal cord. It flushes metabolic wastes out. Many times with concussions or TBI's the pressure within the cranial (skull) bones increase and stalls that precious CSF flow. This allows the waste products from the cellular clean-up to build up within the brain. This is why symptoms of head injury can feel like they last for months! Lastly, the neurological stimulation from the adjustment can reboot the parts of the brain that shut down after injury. All of these benefits are immediate following a chiropractic adjustment.

A short story I want to share with you...

A young boy fell out of a tree 9 feet to the ground. He doesn't remember what part of his body hit the ground. During the exam he was fatigued, lacking eye focus, had terrible migraines, his eyes hurt, his neck hurt, and he couldn't sleep. During the exam of his cranial nerves, it showed he had damage to his cranial nerves 3, 6, 9, and 12. These are the nerves that control eye movements and the muscles for swallowing. After 2 gentle adjustments he started yawning, something his mom said he hadn't done since the accident. He finally got a full nights sleep after 1 adjustment, his appetite returned, and he had no more migraines. He still had some aches from the fall, but he was on the road the recovery! Chiropractic adjustments post concussion can immediately change and heal the brain!

This story has happened many times in our office! If you feel like you may have suffered a brain injury, no matter the size, come get checked by our doctors at Thrive Family Chiropractic. Symptoms can have everlasting effects if not addressed, and the sooner the better!

Ear Infections? Chiropractic is the Solution!

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 00:34:43 GMT

Ear infections are very common in young children. It seems like no child can escape childhood without one! Even though this is a common phenomenon, it is not NORMAL. Unfortunately for most kids, an ear infection equates to taking antibiotics to manage the infection within the ear. Science is now understanding that the more antibiotics prescribed to a child, the more health challenges they can face later on. The good news is, not all ear infections have to end with antibiotics! In fact, due to the commonality of them and with the gross overuse of antibiotics by western medical practices, the frequent use of antibiotics to manage ear infections is slowing way down. The more educated we become on holistic methods for ear infections, the less antibiotics we use. Hooray!

Lets start with the anatomy of an ear infection. The ear is made up of separate compartments that allow sound to travel into the outer canal, bounce on the ear drum, and stimulate liquid within the deep canals of the ear (this is oversimplified of course). The middle ear is the common site of infection. The ear is drained by the Eustachian tube which connects the middle ear to the side wall of the throat. It equalizes pressure across the two cavities and opens during activities such as swallowing, yawning or during changes in atmospheric pressure. This tube is responsible for equalizing pressure in the ear and drainage of the ear. Unfortunately, due to it's anatomical positioning, the tube can become blocked or kinked by the soft tissues that surround it. When the ear cannot drain, it becomes susceptible to infection!

Why are children more affected by ear infections?

Firstly, children fall victim to all infections easily because their nervous system is not fully adapted yet. Secondly, the angle of the Eustachian tube is much flatter. Meaning that gravity does not help the draining process as it does with adults.

How does chiropractic help ear infections?

Finally, lets talk chiropractic adjustments to help the infections. Specifically what chiropractors feel for in these cases, is tension held in the Upper Cervical spine. This is comprised of the bottom skull bone (Occiput), C1 (Atlas), and C2 (Axis). These bones house the nerves that innervate the muscles of the face and mouth. When there is restricted movement and muscle tension here, the tension puts pressure on the tube's drainage. When these areas of the spine get adjusted, the tube is allowed to open fully and drain! Kids with ear infections can feel the relief within 24 hours. Of course, the best thing to combat ear infection is prevention! Get your kids checked by a chiropractor to see if they have this tension pattern in their spine, which increases the risk of these nasty infections!

Best natural remedies:

Chiropractic adjustments
garlic oil in the ear
colloidal silver in the ear, let soak for 10 mins and drain
warm compress

https://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2019/01/16/resolution-of-chronic-recurrent-bilateral-ear-infections-following-chiropractic-care-in-a-one-year-old-infant-a-case-report-review-of-the-literature/?fbclid=IwAR1nUn3V8tGRlMIptsoYEn7XIf_QdzqbuTcVQcpQOvEuLiBfU1H_Tjipz5s middle ear infections

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, How Chiropractic Can Help!

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 00:31:55 GMT

Carpal tunnel is a fairly common disorder that affects the nerves of the hand. Usually the symptoms are pain, tingling, numbness in the thumb, index, middle, and partial ring fingers. It can be accompanied with weakness of the thumb muscles which may make it difficult to grasp small objects or perform other manual tasks. In chronic or untreated cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb can waste away. Some people with very severe symptoms cannot determine between hot and cold by touch, and may burn their fingertips without knowing it.

What is the Carpal Tunnel?

The carpal tunnel is a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand which houses the median nerve and the tendons that bend the fingers.

The median nerve is a long nerve that extends all the way from the neck and travels down the arm into the hand. This nerve must travel through a tunnel of ligaments which backs up against the bones of the hand. Due to the nerve's close proximity to other structures, it can become entrapped within the tunnel and cause symptoms.

Causes

Usually there is a combination of factors that create the increased pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, some of the most common are:

Injury
Pregnancy (fluid retention)
Repetitive movement strain
Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chiropractic Adjustments

There are 27 bones in the hand. These small bones can compress the median nerve due to inappropriate positioning. This can happen due to repetitive strain put on the wrist and hand which is very common in people who type on computers or work in construction.

Gentle adjustments to these carpal bones can relieve the pressure felt by the nerve. Chiropractors can adjust those bones back into proper alignment and keep patients from needing surgery or drugs. Coupled with proper rehabilitation of the hand, carpal tunnel symptoms can be alleviated naturally!

Sometimes nerve compression in the neck can mimic carpal tunnel symptoms. The median nerve travels from the lower part of the neck and supplies the arm and hand. When people have radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in the hand, it is important to delineate between nerve compression is coming from the neck, or from the carpal tunnel.

Luckily this is something a thorough chiropractic exam can identify. If you are suffering some 'carpal tunnel' symptoms, come visit our office and get it assessed by our experienced chiropractors at Thrive Family Chiropractic.

Carpal Tunnel chiropractic, carpal tunnel syndrome

Arthritis and Chiropractic. A Good Match?

Thu, 28 May 2020 00:28:20 GMT

Have you recently been diagnosed with any type of arthritis? What options were you given?

Most likely, you were prescribed a pain killer, NSAID's, and some kind of steroid. None of which actually make positive changes to arthritis. There is another option that probably hasn't crossed your mind, and that is chiropractic adjustments.

Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that can affect all joints. There are many different forms of arthritis, and it can be caused by an array of things including autoimmune conditions, uneven wear and tear, traumatic injury, infections, or underlying health conditions.

In the simplest of terms, arthritis is the breakdown of joints. In the spine alone, there are 144 joints which can all be susceptible to arthritis. To keep it simple, lets discuss the spine and it's relationship with arthritis.

The beginning stages of arthritis start as painless misalignment of the bones in the spine. Since there are about 28 bones that make up the full spine, this is quite a common issue to see. If those misaligned segments of the spine go unaddressed, they break down faster! Mechanically speaking this is similar to why we align the tires on our car. To give each tire equal wear and tear, and therefore last longer before needing replacing. However unlike a car, human joints are irreplaceable. As the joint breaks down unevenly and quickly, it produces painful symptoms in the joint and supporting muscles. As the joint degrades the muscles must work harder to stabilize! Chronic muscle tension is the result, and unfortunately no massage will change that. The next step is degradation of the joint, and the production of osteophytes which are little sharp teeth that grow on the weakened bone. This takes away the smooth, gliding movement of the joint. Now you have sticky, jagged, inflamed joints. Ouch! Now there's a bigger problem. The spine has small spaces in it that allow for the nerves to exit. When you have jagged inflamed joints, this constricts the nerve space. Long term, this will damage the nerve and create symptoms like numbness, radiating pain, tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of the corresponding reflexes. If you still haven't addressed the misaligned joint, it will continue to build bony teeth until that joint has completely fused . At this point, there is no cure, surgery, or pill that can fix it. A fused joint will never work the same again.

There is another option to this slow moving issue. Get adjusted! Let's not pretend we are immune to arthritis because we are young and/or "healthy". This is a problem that can happen to healthy, active people. Sadly, our next generation is facing more arthritis than ever before. This is due to the massive increase in technology in schools and who are using

A happy joint is a moving joint.

Chiropractic to the Rescue!

The whole premise of chiropractic is to find those immobile joints and get them moving properly again! This saves the arthritic process from starting, which makes it a great preventative tool. If arthritis is already set in, chiropractic is the only tool to help stop the progression. There is no other tool that can stop the deterioration of arthritic joints.

Chiropractors can also help you determine if your arthritis is from an inflammatory disorder like Rheumatoid, or from these small misalignment in the joints.

Our office has lots of experience dealing with all forms of arthritis. If you are suffering, know that you have other options other than drugs!

arthritis chiropractor, lower back pain, back pain relief

What is Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)? Is it the missing link?

Wed, 20 May 2020 00:24:20 GMT

In our office we focus a lot of healing on the physical & structural body. However, there is a massive part of the healing process that involves the emotional part of the brain & body. This is where NET comes in.

Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is an advanced mind-body healing therapy that combines the physical aspects of chiropractic medicine with science based biopsychosocial principles and traditional Chinese medicine. The big picture of NET is that unresolved stress and emotional imbalances are often dominant factors in chronic or recurring health conditions. Many emotions such as fear, anger, grief, etc., can evolve into repetitive stress patterns reproducing within the body long after the original stress event. If these emotional stress responses are left untreated, the resulting physical disorders can become chronic. NET practitioners can help identify and release unresolved stress patterns that have been causing blockages in the body's various healing pathways.

Many times when dealing with a chronic pain pattern, it has often become less about the actual area of pain, and more about how the brain perceives that pain. For example, when people have limbs removed, they can still feel pain within that limb even though physically, it is gone. Every section of our body is innately connected to a deeper area of the brain. It is that area of the brain that sends those signals of pain to the deeper emotional center of the brain. This is why we find pain exhausting, and emotionally bound to how we feel (grouchy, mad, sad).

An easy example of when NET would be necessary would be after a motor vehicle accident. Lets say you were coming out of a driveway, and someone hit you at the side of your car out of nowhere. This accident left you scared and in pain. Now, there is a connection made in the brain of your car and that incredible shock of pain and fear. Whenever you get in your car now, your palms sweat, your blood pressure rises, you get a stomach ache, your hands shake, your pupils expand. Even though you may not be conscious of that fact, your body is still going through that programmed stress response. This concept is big with war veterans when coming home after experiencing the trauma of wartime. Seemingly innocent things can provoke an exaggerated emotional response.

It doesn't have to be a traumatic event to create these poor emotional patterns. It could be long term stress from family, work, friends, or your personal health. Ever wonder WHY you react the way you do? Or why you repeat habits you know are harmful to your well-being? This concept can transcend not only into your physical health, but your emotional intelligence and awareness into the deepest parts of your psyche.

The truth is, long term low grade stress will wear down the immune system. If you're having "mysterious" symptoms that aren't showing up in lab testing, you may have an underlying emotional component that needs clearing.

One session of NET can truly change the course of your life.

Call and set up your NET consultation today.

Study done on cancer patients. This showed the heart rate scans pre and post NET session. J Cancer Surviv. 2017 Aug;11(4):438-446. doi: 10.1007/s11764-017-0601-8. Epub 2017 Feb 8.

Study on the reduction of low back pain with NET.

J Cancer Surviv. 2018 Feb;12(1):145-153. doi: 10.1007/s11764-017-0653-9. Epub 2017 Oct 19. Neural network therapeutic touch

Pregnancy in a Pandemic

Wed, 13 May 2020 00:21:14 GMT

Our office is strongly focused on pregnancy and birth. Believe it or not, even during shutdown for this global pandemic, children are still being born! However, now instead of celebrating and jumping for joy, parents have been silenced and warned to keep baby and themselves away from adoring family members.

In the past 2 months, we have heard the most frightening stories from our patients who are either pregnant, or have recently given birth. Stories of spouses not allowed to witness the birth of their child, as they wait in the car in the parking lot. Stories of babies being separated from the mother because they were "high risk" of exposure to the virus. Stories of parents completely stricken with fear over the birth experience they had been preparing for the past 9 months go up in smoke. Mother's telling us they haven't even created a space for the new baby, because they are surrounded by so much uncertainty. Everyday we hear a story of how mom's have become focused more on a virus, than of their baby.

Somehow America has pushed birth so far down the pipeline of importance, that mothers are left stranded in their experience of birth. Not only during birth, they are being abandoned during pregnancy as well. With COVID taking front seat of all conversations, mothers are left to fend for themselves. Appointments for sonograms and check ups are being canceled and support groups are disallowed from meeting. Midwives, doulas, birth coaches, lactation consultants, post-partum therapists, and more, are all banned from doing their jobs of meeting with parents and guiding them through a massive life changing event. What is most frustrating to see, are mother's who had a birth plan mapped out in entirety, that are now expected to throw that away in the midst of this outside chaos. The sacred time of giving natural birth has been turned into a medicalized, fear based, pseudo-scientific spew of fear mongering.

Our mother's deserve more! Our babies deserve more!

In our office, we are still caring for our pregnant patients and their babies (safely of course). They will not be forgotten and thrown aside during this time. With new sanitation and safety protocols put in place, our ability to see new pregnant patients has not changed! Don't let this chaotic time stress you or your baby out any more than it has to. Come see us and let us be part of your birth tribe. Chiropractic during pregnancy can the best tool you have to get the birth you want! Gentle chiropractic adjustments are known to alleviate chronic nerve stress, relieve joint pain, ease the birthing process, and provide baby the space needed to grow. We work hand in hand with an amazing birth doula who knows the ins and outs of birthing during this pandemic. We have an arsenal of birth knowledge and experience here.

You will be heard. You will be cared for. You will be supported.

-Dr. Mary & Dr. Chanel

Is EMF radiation silently harming our health?

Wed, 06 May 2020 00:18:18 GMT

How many hours do you spend on your phone, computer, or tablet in 1 day? Does your home have a wifi router? Are you close to a 5G tower? All of these questions start to get us thinking, how much daily exposure to EMF radiation are we getting? How much is actually safe?

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, EMFs are “invisible areas of energy, often referred to as radiation, that are associated with the use of electrical power.”

EMF (nonionizing electromagnetic field) are invisible wave lengths used for any wireless electronic device. The problem with EMF radiation is that you cannot see it, hear it or smell it, and most do not feel it. Still, researchers assure us that biological effects are taking place whether you're able to sense it or not. For most, it's simply a matter of time and overall exposure load. Here, it's important to realize that we're not just talking about radiation from your cellphone. The electromagnetic frequencies emitted from your Wi-Fi router, computer, home appliances, any wireless "smart" technology, are all capable of inflicting serious biological harm to your body and mind. And with 5G, it's bound to get far worse.

When cell phones were becoming popular it was common knowledge that people who held it to their heads for long periods of time had a higher risk of developing a brain tumor. After years of research and massive advances in technology, EMFs have strongly been shown to contribute to neurological and neuropsychiatric problems, as well as heart and reproductive problems, including but not limited to: cardiac arrhythmias, anxiety, depression, autism, Alheimer's and infertility and miscarriage — and these conditions are far more prevalent than brain cancer.

Here are the breakdowns of just some of the ill health effects caused by EMF exposure:

This type of radiation opens ionic cell channels. Meaning that cells will misfire due to an imbalance in the ions needed to transmit impulses among nerves and surrounding tissue cells. This can affect brain function, ie: memory, clarity, focus, attention, anxiety, etc.
DNA replication is a complicated process. During replication, if magnetic waves are pulsing into that replicating cell, it can cause breaks in the DNA code and cause faulty cell function.
Children's brain have more water, which allows radiation to penetrate deeper. This leaves the underdeveloped blood brain barrier more exposed and the newly developing brain cells vulnerable.
It creates higher amounts of Nitrous Oxide due to the influx of ion in cell membrane channels. These potent oxidant stressors are associated with an increased level of systemic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, and are thought to be a root cause for many of today's chronic diseases.
Women with peak exposures above 2.5 milligauss had a miscarriage rate of 24.2%, while the control group (which had exposures below 2.5 milligauss) had a miscarriage rate of just 10.4%
Cellphone radiation may reduce sperm motility and viability by 8% and 9% respectively. Wi-Fi equipped laptops have been linked to decreased sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation after four hours of use
5G relies primarily on the bandwidth of the millimeter wave, known to penetrate 1 to 2 millimeters of human tissue and has been linked to numerous health problems
Disrupts hormonal production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

A great resource on EMF's is Dr. Mercola, who has written a book called "EMF'd". He has some basic tips to help lower the household exposure.

Shut off the electricity to your bedroom at night
Shut off wifi when not in use
Use Wifi over 5G for cellphones
Replace CFL bulbs with incandescent bulbs
Avoid carrying your cellphone on your body
When using your cellphone, use the speaker phone and hold the phone at least 3 feet away from you
Get an EMF blocking tool to reduce the daily radiation.
Get barefoot on the ground or grass. The electrons from the Earth will cancel out the cancer causing free radicals

In our office we use R2L strips to reduce up to 70% of the radiation emitted by our phones.

https://radiation2light.com.au/

Resources:

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-16623-8

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24927498 EMF health harm emf protection

The Remedy for Sciatica

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:13:56 GMT

What is Sciatica

Sciatica, also known as lumbosacral radicular syndrome, is caused by irritation of your sciatic nerve. This large nerve originates in the low spine and provides innervation to the back of the thigh and leg. With sciatica you may have pain in your buttocks and hip that travels down your thigh and possibly even into the back of the foot. The pain can be sharp, dull, deep, and shooting, with many levels of severity.

Cause

Sciatic pain is most commonly caused by lumbar spine problems, such as a bulging or herniated disc. It can also be caused by bone changes, such as spinal narrowing or stenosis, oseoarthritis or degenerative disc disease, and other arthritic conditions. These situations can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing symptoms. True Sciatica is when the hip muscle piriformis gets tight and subsequently irritates the sciatic nerve. This scenario usually happens when there is an instability or alignment issue in the pelvis which strains the supportive pelvic muscles.

Pregnancy and Sciatica

Sciatic pain during pregnancy is quite common, although not normal. In fact, 50-80% of pregnant woman experience some kind of back pain during pregnancy. Sciatic-like symptoms during pregnancy can be caused by muscle tension and unstable joints. Pelvic bone pain, sacroiliac (SI) joint pain, and piriformis syndrome, are common causes of sciatic pain during pregnancy. This is partly due to an increase in pregnancy hormones like relaxin, which can cause ligaments to loosen and stretch, especially in the pelvic area. The added weight from the growing baby can also add to SI joint trouble or piriformis syndrome due to the extra pressure on your pelvis and hip joints. Occasionally even the position of your baby can add pressure to your sciatic nerve.

Symptoms of sciatic pain include:

occasional or constant pain in one side of your buttocks or leg
pain along the sciatic nerve pathway, from the glute down the back of your thigh and to the foot
sharp, shooting, or burning pain
numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in the affected leg or foot
difficulty walking, standing, or sitting

Remedies

Sciatica treatment is the perfect reason to see your chiropractor. Left untreated Sciatica can lead to serious nerve damage and potentially irreversible chronic pain. Due to sciatica being mostly caused by alignment issues, spinal damage, or musculoskeletal imbalances, a chiropractor would be the best expert to help. Physical therapy will not correct the pelvic imbalances permanently or assess the health of the spine itself. Our office has helped many patients (both pregnant and not) with sciatica. If you follow the correct protocols, sciatic pain can be a thing of the past. For temporary relief, try these stretches daily to alleviate some of the discomfort.

1. Piriformis stretch seated

2. Table Stretch

3. Pigeon Pose

4. Hip Flexor Stretch

5. Glute/Hip Foam Rolling

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12178-008-9021-8#citeas

sciatica, lower back pain

Spinal Stress

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:09:57 GMT

Does this look like you while working from home??

With millions of people now making the change from working in an office, to working from home, we are seeing a huge rise in back pain, neck pain, stiffness, and neurological symptoms. Could it be from the incredible amount of stress we are putting on our spines?

Short answer, yes.

Long answer, still yes, but let's explain. The spine is NOT designed to sit for long periods of time. In fact, our lifestyle of sitting at a computer is completely changing the structure of our spines. Our spines should have 3 major curves in them. The curve of the neck should be "C-shaped" and about 45 degrees. However, when we spend hours a day on our computers, phones, and other electronics, we are degrading that curve at a faster rate than the body can repair it.

Curves allow our body to remain mobile and flexible. When a spine loses those precious curves, it becomes hard and stiff. This leaves us all vulnerable to injury, even in the simplest movements! It also wears out the spinal joints quickly creating arthritis that is irreversible. Arthritis causes chronic pain in the spine. The only way to cure it, is in prevention!

The neck isn't the only area getting beat up by working at a desk. The low back has a large curve in it as well. When we are in a seated position it flattens that curve, crushing the nerves that exit the lumbar spine. The discs in the low back tend to degrade and dry out faster in people who have desk jobs. Since there is no disc replacement surgery, people are left trying to manage injured discs for the rest of their lives. The strain and tension put on the muscles, ligaments, discs, joints, and alignment of the low back can be felt for years even when they are not sitting long periods anymore.

Here is some free advice to alleviate these postural issues in the spine.

1. Put your computer monitor up high. The bottom of the screen should be at eye level. So that you are always looking slightly upwards.

2. Get a lumbar support for your desk chair.

3. Your arms should sit at a 90/90 position on your chair and desk surface.

4. Sit back in your chair. Do not hunch forward. Keep your shoulders and neck back.

5. Get blue blocking light glasses or screen for your monitor to minimize eye strain.

posture, spinal stress, posture corrector

Car Accident? Why See a Chiropractor First?

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 00:06:48 GMT

More than 38,000 people die every year in crashes on U.S. roadways.
An additional 4.4 million are injured seriously enough to require medical attention.
The economic and societal impact of road crashes costs U.S. citizens $871 billion.
Road crashes cost the U.S. more than $380 million in direct medical costs.
The U.S. suffers the most road crash deaths of any high-income country, about 50% higher than similar countries in Western Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan.

Car accidents are a fairly common occurrence in the US. What most people don't know, is that chiropractic is the best tool to recover from them.

Speaking from personal experience, I have been in 3 relatively severe car accidents. The first 2 accidents I sought out medical attention for back pain, neck pain, and headaches. I went to my general practitioner where I was very unimpressed with the level of care given. I left the office only with pain relieving drugs and x-ray images that showed "nothing". My last car accident I was smart enough to know I needed something different. This is when I learned about chiropractic!

My recovery time while seeing a chiropractor was cut in half compared to the other 2. I was out of pain quicker and I never had to take any pain medications. I got educated on what the previous accidents had done to my spine...which was osteoarthritis in my neck (at age 26), scar tissue around the joints, and a flattened spinal curve. All of these improved immensely, along with many other unforeseen improvements in my overall health as well.

The point here is...there are many adverse effects of car accidents. Studies have shown that impact of a car going 8 miles per hour is enough to cause systemic soft tissue tearing in muscles, ligaments, and discs of the spine. These micro tears create an inflammatory cascade throughout the entire body. Where inflammation is present for long periods of time, arthritis sets in and wears those joints out faster than others. What I commonly see in the office is patients complaining of neck and back pain from a car accident stemming from 10 or more years ago. This is because their spinal joints were not properly healed, and the small injuries had become bigger problems down the line.

Timing is important in not having long lasting adverse effects from car accidents. Get in to see a chiropractor educated in these injuries to get you out of pain quickly and create better spinal health for the future.

Luckily, there are a lot of car insurance policies that could get you FREE chiropractic care when a car accident happens (at fault or not). This is called Med-Pay (ie medical pay) and it is there specifically to pay for your care after an accident. No strings attached, no negative effects on your insurance rates, and no billing by you to your insurance company. Our office does everything for you.

What I would strongly recommend is to take a look at your car insurance policy and see if you have this Med-Pay policy. If you don't, add it. Its cheap and its the only way to receive free care after you're in an accident, even if you weren't the driver!

-In Health,

Dr. Mary

https://www.asirt.org/safe-travel/road-safety-facts/

Car accident chiropractor, whiplash, auto accident lawyer needed

What foods you should be eating to aid your immune system

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:04:22 GMT

Our immune system is complicated, so lets break it down.

There are 2 main sections of your immune system: Innate Immunity and Adaptive Immunity

Innate Immunity:

-registers a foreign invader, and gets rid of it

The Corona Virus is a new virus which has mutated from the SARS virus. This means our bodies haven't learned how to defend itself strongly against it, YET. Our immune system must now identify it and tag it so in the future, it knows.

Innate Immunity has many ways to tag a virus using specialized immune cells like Neurophils, Basophils, Eosinophils, Macrophages, and Mast cells. This type of immunity is "non-specific" meaning it doesn't create a memory for the future. It simply creates an immune response in the body.

Adaptive Immunity:

-creates memory of viruses and sends out an attack team

That Innate immune response sends feedback to your Adaptive Immunity which consists of B cells, T cells and CD4 helper cells. These become your army against viruses. It creates a memory of specific viruses you've been in contact with so that if you are in contact with it again, it will act efficiently to eliminate it.

Lets dive into a piece of this immune puzzle and talk about Cytokines. These act as the messenger between Innate Immunity and Adaptive Immunity. When we hear people talk about the Corona Virus, we are hearing a lot about a 'cytokine storm', or an overproduction of these cytokines in the body.

So how do we slow the cytokine storm? You can make easy dietary choices that enhance all parts of this immune process.

Easy dietary steps to take to support these 2 types of immunity:

Keto diet: keep blood sugar low. Chronic out of control diabetes (or high out of control blood sugar) lowers your Innate Immunity. Which means the body doesn't even notice the virus! This explains why more people who are dying of this virus, have complications due to blood sugar imbalances. Keep your blood sugar under 100 if you measure. High blood sugar also creates inflammation in the body, which adds fuel to your cytokine storm.

Eat more fermented foods : Leukocytes (white blood cells) work best with the support of helpful bacteria! This is part of that Innate Immunity. Remember that the Innate Immunity is the first line of defense against viruses. This is speed up the process of your body registering that their is a foreign invader present in your system.

Proper Nutrients : Vitamina A, C, E, Zinc & Glutathione. These are present most in greens! Broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, micro greens, nuts & seeds, spinach, kale, etc. These nutrients are needed for both parts of your immune system.

Check out this YouTube video from our mentor Dr. Mindy Pelz. She has a phenomenal arsenal of videos to help guide you through nutrition, detox, immune function, brain health, and more! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGcrlbTPhCY

https://academic.oup.com/femspd/article/26/3-4/259/638202

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190523142201.htm

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/amino-acids-and-immune-function/B1A9C1587A8602613F6447BA8404D8E1

30 Days of Immune System Building

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 00:02:12 GMT

It's a new month and for the majority of us, the quarantine is still going strong. Most states are mandating their communities to remain inside for the whole month of April, if not longer! As an essential health care provider, our office is pivoting the conversation to one of hope and inspiration during these hard times. There is a lot of fear circulating around this virus and it seems like people forget that their body was literally designed to kill viruses! What gets in the way of that miraculous power is poor treatment and care of the immune system over time. We are constantly over-taxing our immune systems with chronic stress, poor diets, toxic chemicals, negative mindset, and lack of basic human needs like exercise.

We have put together a 30 day challenge dedicated to easy immune building tips for you. All 30 tips are backed by science and designed to be accessible to everyone around the world. These things include:

- Sleep

- Fermented Foods

- Grounding

- Gratitude

- Supplementation with specific foods

- Exercise

- Breath training

- and More!

We can band together as a world and beat this. Your body was BORN TO HEAL. And there are specific actions you can take to support that innate intelligence!

Lets spread health worldwide and get through this together! It doesn't have to be fancy or cost any money.

NOW is the time we have been preparing ourselves for. NOW is an incredible opportunity to take care of our health.

So tell me... are you in?

Follow Thrive Family Chiropractic's social media pages to get the daily tip. Have fun with it! 30 days of consecutive immune building can completely change your health around.

Communication & Connection

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 23:58:04 GMT

We live in an extremely behavior-focused society. From the moment our babies are born, people ask us about our baby's behaviors and make judgement about whether our baby is good or bad based upon how much she inconveniences us as parents.

But behavior is just a baby's way of communicating her internal state. A baby some parents may label as bad, another parent would label as needing more help to adjust to the world. Do you feel the difference? The words we use to describe our children can help create connection or disconnection right from the start.

Most parenting advice focuses on getting the baby to fit into our lives, rather than considering what the baby needs for optimal development (aside from the obvious physical needs for food and rest). When we seek only to end a behavior we miss what it's trying to communicate. We might be squandering the opportunity for our children to develop to their fullest potential.

Take the example of a child who is waking at night. New parents are often asked, "How is the baby sleeping?" It seems that babies are rated on their circadian rhythms and how the parents answer that question. Most advice is concerned only with what the parent can do to make the baby sleep, to teach the baby to self-soothe so that she is less inconvenient for the parents.

We should stop and ask why the baby is waking up in the first place. Is the baby hungry? Does he need someone to hold him? Is the baby scared? What happened during her birth? Maybe she is telling her birth story through her night waking. What is she communicating through her sounds and body movements during the night? Was your baby premature, and there needs extra help adjusting to the world? Was he in the NICU and separated form his parents while interventions were being done?

These questions lead to another: What happens if we don't meet his need? Most parenting advice usually says that it doesn't matter, but research shows that it does. Meeting a baby's needs matters a lot.

Parents who become focused on behavior when their children are young tend to focus on their children's behavior as they grow up, rather than their relationship. As the children grow, the disconnection grows. Really alert parents may notice something isn't right early on, but not know what to do about it.

Other times, it's not until much later, when the children are teens or preteens and begin acting out very loudly, that parent realizes that they don't have a relationship with their children. By this time, the behaviors are much bigger and more problematic. The parents are more scared, and there is clearly more risk involved. The situation isn't hopeless, but it is more challenging to repair relationships at this point than to focus on creating a healthy relationship from the start and repairing disconnections as they happen.

In contrast, parents with a strong relationship with their children don't typically have the same problems. And those committed to making changes early on - during the elementary school years or earlier - fare much better than those who wait.

Our children communicate with us even before they are born, and immediately after. This communication and positive interaction with a committed caregiver are essential for their optimal development. It is the relationship that makes the difference, and our interpretation of our children's behaviors affects the way we look at the relationship.

What we want to encourage is listening to our children's voices. Empower them by hearing their concerns, their fears, and their joy. Too often we see broken relationships with parents and their children. The solution is to listen from the very beginning.

Boosting Immune Function is Chiropractic's Super Power

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 23:54:59 GMT

When people are sick, there is an understandable desire to stay away from everything and everyone around them. However, marching your sick self into our office is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself! On the one hand they are worried about 'spreading germs' to other people, but on the other hand most patients know the importance of a well-functioning nervous system. Most of the time, the benefits of an adjustment outweigh the potential risk factors and discomfort of getting to the office.

When our patients are sick, the first thing we encourage is coming in to get adjusted! Here's exactly why:

1. Immunity

The Immune System is a group of specialized cells, tissues, and organs who's main job is to build immunity against the outside world. These organs consist of the spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and several types of white blood cells. Whenever our body encounters a virus, bacteria or other pathogens, white bloods cells are released into the bloodstream. The white blood cells detect invasive organisms, then engulf and destroy that pathogen. If that wasn't already awesome, the body is not done! Immediately after, your body creates a memory of that pathogen, so that if the same or similar pathogens are detected again, the body will remember how to defend against it. The Immune System is vital for our survival, a decreased function (think HIV) or increased function (Autoimmune Diseases like Diabetes Type I or Rheumatoid Arthritis) is incredibly detrimental to our overall health and well being. Over time, a lowered immunity leaves us vulnerable to bigger infections or diseases. Things like cancer are opportunistic diseases! They only thrive in a body

2. Neuro - immunology

The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord and all the corresponding nerves in the body. It is a truly amazing intelligence system that is built into every living thing. It coordinates every function in your body and allows us to adapt and respond appropriately to our outside environment. There should be a perfect balance between it's state of rest (the parasympathetic nervous system) and stress (the sympathetic nervous system). A healthy state of both sympathetic and parasympathetic are needed to function properly. What happens when people are chronically in a state of stress? This means that the body is constantly focused on short term survival and will not prioritizing things like proper digestion, hormone balance, and healing.

While in this state, white blood cells or the appropriate amount of white bloods cells are not released. Creating long-term immunity is not a priority and falls to the way-side. We become more susceptible to invading pathogens and our bodies respond slower to them, which means that we experience an immune response that might involve inflammation, mucous production and a fever...aka, being 'sick'.

3. The Chiropractor

Chiropractors focus on keeping the nervous system in optimal balance. One of the reasons people are stuck in the sympathetic or stress mode of their nervous systems is because their spine is full of subluxations. Remember that the nervous system is housed in the spine. Any pressure exerted from the spine onto the nervous system dampens the power of our immune responses to stress. Over time, these subluxations manifest into chronic pain patterns, arthritis, poor posture, neurological deficits, and a damped immunity! The job of the chiropractor is to take this pressure off the nervous system, therefore restoring balance and tone to the body.

When this happens, appropriate immune responses result! One study, from the National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois, found that disease-fighting white blood cell counts were higher just 15 minutes after a chiropractic adjustment was applied to the upper back. Another study investigated the immune response in HIV-positive patients under chiropractic care. After six months, the group receiving chiropractic adjustments showed a 48 percent increase in white blood cell (CD4) counts. Conversely, the group that did not receive chiropractic adjustments experienced a 7.96 percent decrease.

Making sure the connection between your brain and your immune system is at its best is one of the first steps to a healthier immune system, no cell will function the way it should if it is not getting the right messages. So get checked by a chiropractor!

References:

Korr IM: “Andrew Taylor Still memorial lecture: research and practice — a century later.” J Am Osteopath Assoc 1974 73:362.

Brennan PC, Triano JJ, McGregor M, et al: “Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: duration of the effect and association with substance P and tumor necrosis factor.” JMPT 1992 15(2):83.

Selano JL, Hightower BC, Pfleger B, et al: “The effects of specific upper cervical adjustments on the CD4 counts of HIV positive patients.” Chiropractic Research Journal 1994 3(1):32

How The Immune System Is Built

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 23:52:44 GMT

A strong and resilient immune system is something that adapts to stress and fights off bacteria, viruses, and foreign pathogens. It is NOT something simply given to you, but rather something you build from birth.

Your First Immune System

The first part of your immune system is built during the birthing process! As a baby passes through the mother's birth canal, the baby gets "seeded" with moms good bacteria. That beneficial bacteria enters the respiratory channels and initiates the body's natural defense systems in the airways. So when baby breaths in air for the first time, they have little microorganisms fighting for them. When baby's are breastfed, the mom passes her immunity onto baby through the breast milk. This means that when baby is sick, mom passes specific antibodies onto baby, just based on the baby's saliva! If mom had certain illnesses (like the Measles), mom passes those antibodies onto the baby so they are more protected. The relationship between mother and baby builds so much natural immunity. Its the greatest tool a baby can get to build a healthy immune system.

Your Gut = Your Immunity

Most of our immune functions and the way we respond to stress is controlled by the health of the gut . If your gut is leaky and permeable, it allows toxins and undigested particles to enter the blood stream. This wreaks havoc on our tissues by creating inflammation in the body. When inflammation becomes chronic, you are highly susceptible to autoimmune conditions such as: Hashimotos, Celiac, Rhuematoid Arthritis, Lupus, Type 1 diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Psoriasis, and so many more. The key to a healthy immune system, is a healthy gut! Some easy tips to create a healthier gut is to eat organic foods, lessen your intake of toxins, decrease processed foods, increase polyphenol foods (fermented foods), increase probiotic intake, practice intermittent fasting, and eat fiber rich foods!

Studies have found the microbiome in our gut makes our neurotransmitters and vitamins, and also helps us digest our foods and intake our nutrients. It is imperative to our healthy functions to have a healthy and balanced microbiome.

The Chiropractic Adjustment

We must remember that our immune system is something that we build within our own body . There's no pill that can build it for you. The beauty of chiropractic is that with every adjustment, you are boosting the immune system. We know this because there have been studies where they took blood samples pre and post adjustment. What they found was that white blood cell production increased by 70%. This means that the adjustment stimulates the immune system to create more pathogen fighters for you. White blood cells eat and destroy the invasive pathogens and germs that create sickness. With more white blood cells, you have more defenses against disease! It is the best defense your body has to live healthy and symptom free.

Selano JL, Hightower BC, Pfleger B, et al: “The effects of specific upper cervical adjustments on the CD4 counts of HIV positive patients.” Chiropractic Research Journal 1994 3(1):32

How to Create a Sacred Space for Birthing

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:49:50 GMT

How do we make sure the moment of birth is sacred? It starts with the concept of creating a sacred space . To find what this means to you, close your eyes, take some deep breathes, and be certain that you are in control of this moment and you have all the capabilities. Practice what the scene will look like when you give birth. Are you at home? Are you in a hospital? Are you doing it all naturally? Are you getting an epidural? Just remember, you are in control. Your mind and your body are so powerful, you can create the scene you want. Then, when the time comes, you are more prepared and ready. Your body was made to birth this child! Do not let anyone else force their ideas on what your birth should or shouldn't be.

How you feel about your birth also makes a huge impact on keeping a sacred place for birthing. If you stress, that is what your baby will feel in their first moments. Stress leads to poor decision making in the moment. Don't let fear seep into your moment and control your plan. While pregnant, practice feelings of gratitude and support. Picture a successful, healthy, happy birth. Picture that over and over in great detail! Something every expectant mother should have is a tribe of supporters around her. This can be your partner, your current children, parents, friends, family members, a midwife, chiropractor, doula, etc. These people protect your birth process. They are standing up for what you want without clouded judgement.

A chiropractor is a great person to help support you throughout not only your birth, but your pregnancy as well. Chiropractors are specially trained to help mom's body adapt to the physical stresses of pregnancy. This includes back pain, pelvic pain, sciatica, headaches, carpal tunnel, round ligament pain, indigestion, heart burn and so much more. Our moms under care report more comfort, more confidence, and more support through the process. Most moms that we see in the office are 2nd time moms! This is because they learned (the hard way) that they needed more heartfelt care.

The support from your team will undoubtedly help you through the birthing process. A support team should include a chiropractor! Not only that, a chiropractor should be present at birth to adjust mom if needed during the birth and to give baby its first adjustment after the birthing process. Many times when chiropractors are present at births, they can prevent dystocia (long, difficult, stalled labor). Which allows moms more capabilities to have a natural birth without the need for dangerous interventions.

At Thrive Family Chiropractic, our doctors are trained with the Webster technique to adjust pregnant moms, and specialize in pediatric and family care. They use safe and gentle techniques to adjust newborns. Check it out if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant. It's the greatest tool you can have!

It Does Matter HOW You Give Birth

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:45:46 GMT

Does it matter how you give birth? The short answer is YES!!!!!!

How you experience giving birth matters. From your support team from before, during, and after birth. Educating yourself is key. Know exactly what is happening to your body. I see too many pregnant moms come in and they have no idea what is going on not only with their body but with their baby. Your choices throughout this process matters. Your feelings matter. You matter!

The most important aspect of this process is making sure the birthing woman feels empowered. Even if nothing goes the way that she had hoped for, she must know and realize that some circumstances are above her control and she has an amazing support system. She should feel listened to. This is important so the birthing mom is less stressed and can focus on her birth and baby.

This is your body, your baby, and your birth. No one else should matter and you have the ultimate power. Do not let anyone else take the wheel. There is a big difference between suggesting and forcing. In case of an emergency, a midwife you trust should help you in making the right decision for you and your birth.

Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic, we educate women and empower them in the pregnancy and birthing processes. It is vital to make sure these moms feel supported and have a team around them to help them through this amazing experience. We give moms the tools to give birth with empowerment and support. We specialize in the Webster Technique, which is a certification to adjust and care for pregnant women and babies. We encourage all pregnant moms to get chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy to have a safe and easier birth with endless support.

Dr. Chanel's Chiropractic Story

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:43:52 GMT

Imagine you are driving to school and come across a four-way intersection. Your light is green to continue straight and all of a sudden BAM!!!!! A car T-bones you from the passenger side of your vehicle. This traumatizing story is how I found chiropractic.

At the time, I was an undergraduate student at the University of California San Diego. It was my freshman year and I was driving to my morning class. The car that T-boned me ran a red light and my passenger side door was completely torn off. My whole body was in shock and I couldn't move. A pedestrian ran over to my car and vocalized they were going to call 911.

After all this, I ended up seeing chiropractor for my injuries as suggested by a personal injury attorney. Growing up with a family that doesn't believe in chiropractic, I did not know what to expect. On my first visit, the chiropractor adjusted my neck and I LOVED it! Afterward, I doubled the range of motion in my cervical spine, as he called the neck, and felt immediate pain relief. I was intrigued by what chiropractic did and how it worked.

The chiropractor let me ask him any questions I wanted, and let me spend some extra time in his office. Chiropractic was not just for neck and back pain, but it helped to connect the brain and the body and to improve the nervous system. Knowing this, I kept seeing a chiropractor even after I had recovered from my car accident injuries. The results were astonishing. I was faster than I had ever been in sports, and never had those aches and pains from basketball practice that are just annoying. Not only that, I felt less anxiety and stress. I felt like my immune system was much stronger.

After some thought, I decided this was my calling to the world. Neck pain and back pain are easy to treat, but to help people live vibrant and healthier lives through chiropractic was my dream. Now I get to help countless families every single day. I am living my dream!!!

Dr. Mary's Chiropractic Story

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 00:41:58 GMT

This picture you see is me doing my favorite thing in the world. This is the sport and artistry of Equestrian Vaulting. In my years of training in this sport, I earned multiple national championships, and competed in 2 World Equestrian Games. In 2010 I won a gold medal with my teammates in the first ever Games held in the United States. Although this was my greatest accomplishment and my biggest dream come true, it left me stressed, exhausted, over trained, and depressed.

Fast forward to 2011 when I was competing individually, I had my first real injury. Before my last go I heard a pop in my hamstring. As horrifying as it was in the moment, this lead me on my journey to chiropractic. Luckily for me there was a chiropractor on site, who helped me manage my pain so I could finish my competition that day. A few days later I made an appointment to see my doctor at Kaiser. As I laid on my back on the table, the doctor grabbed my ankle and ripped my leg upwards. I let out a scream and his response was, "Oh yeah, that's a tear. Here is a prescription for a pain killer, here's another one for an anti-inflammatory, and you need to quit vaulting."

Now, I was supposed to be in my athletic prime, and the only answer you have for me is drugs and to stop doing what I love most?! I have never been closer to murdering someone... Never did the doctor talk to me about how I felt, what I wanted, or what had happened to cause my injury. In fact, he never even touched my hamstring. I left the office and immediately called that chiropractor I met at the competition. At my first appointment I got a full assessment of my entire body. They laid their hands on me with care, confidence, and an incredible attention to detail. I got a full set of xrays which showed how much wear and tear I had put on my body. After learning so much in that first visit, it was no surprise why I had torn my hamstring. My body was needing serious recovery, retraining, and reconnecting.

When the 2014 season came up, I knew I wanted to be in my best physical shape and to be mentally fierce. This season I used the talents of 2 amazing chiropractors who kept me recovering and building up my flexibility and strength. That year I qualified in 2 events! After a successful competition, it came time to decide what my future would look like. With the cheers of the audience still ringing in my ears, I applied for chiropractic school.

After becoming licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic, the American Vaulting Association asked if I would accompany team USA to the 2018 World Equestrian Games as the team chiropractor. To me, there is no greater honor. To see my world come full circle, and to be able to give back to the sport that gave so much to me is indescribable. I have been blessed that chiropractic found me, and that I am able to work with such amazing patients in my office.

Today I coach at a local vaulting club each week and I'm also learning how to give chiropractic care to horses!

Pregnancy & Birth Made Easier With Chiropractic Webster Technique

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:39:44 GMT

More and more women are discovering the many benefits associated with chiropractic care in pregnancy. Chiropractors respect the body's natural design and function and support your desire for a safer, easier birth.

There are 3 main components for a smoother birth for both mother and baby.

1. Power

The nervous system (Power) operates all body processes, including childbirth. For birth to proceed as it was naturally designed to, the nervous system must facilitate the transmission of information through the body. By removing interference and imbalances to the nervous system, chiropractic care helps lead to a normal, physiological birth.

2. Passage

For the baby to descend through the birth canal (Passage), the balance of the mother's pelvis is vitally important. With chiropractic care, the muscles and ligaments of the pelvis and uterus are free to move and function for the benefit to the mother and baby. The result is greater ease and comfort in pregnancy and birth.

3. Passenger

The baby (Passenger) wants to get into the best possible position to descend through the birth canal. The movements inherent to the birthing baby will be positively facilitated when the mother's nervous system is optimally functioning and her pelvis balanced. Birth is a cooperative endeavor, where the mom and the baby play vitally connected.

The Webster Technique

With the intent of supporting natural childbirth in the mid 80's, Dr. Larry Webster developed a chiropractic adjustment, which flourished into the Webster Technique. The first and most significant observation of this adjustment was for women who were presenting breech during pregnancy. After they received the Webster adjustments, their babies turned head down. As a result, they were more likely to experience a natural childbirth that was safer and easier.

Often people will ask, "How can a chiropractic adjustment affect baby positioning?" The answer is by improving pelvis balance . When the mother's pelvis is out of alignment, the ligaments that connect from the pelvis to the uterus increase their tension (tone) resulting in a distortion to the uterine space. Don MacDonald, D.C., offers a great analogy: "Increased tone is like sleeping in a bed with someone sitting on the sheets beside you. Can you turn over freely? No." For the baby, the surrounding walls of the uterus tighten with pelvis imbalance, becoming more and more tight bedsheets that restrict her motion. The chiropractic adjustment to the pelvis releases tension to the ligaments and uterus so that the baby can move freely and assume the best possible position for birth.

It is important to realize that many pregnant women are seeking ICPA doctors throughout their pregnancies to utilize the many additional benefits of the Webster technique. For every stage of pregnancy, this adjustment reduces interference to the nervous system - a vital benefit to improve physiology for both Mom and her baby. When mom's physiological function is at is best, the baby's development is optimized. Balancing the pelvic bones, muscles, and ligaments, and improving normal physiology sets the stage for a natural birth.

Chiropractic care and the Webster technique allow for safer, easier births!

Feeling Stressed? How Chiropractic Can Help

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:19:51 GMT

Feeling Stressed? How Chiropractic Can Help

We deal with different types and levels of stress every single day. We know that stress is not good for us. What can we do to mitigate the effects of unavoidable stress?

Your autonomic nervous system is a control system that unconsciously regulates bodily functions. This autonomic nervous system is split into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The parasympathetic nervous system is known as the rest and digest response which is what our bodies are in most of the time.

The sympathetic nervous system is known to control our flight or flight response when we are under stress. This stress causes your blood pressure to increase, heart rate to increase,blood flow to the muscles to increase, your eyes to dilate, and increase your body temperature. A flood of hormones floods through your system. This is a great response when you are running from a bear, but it is definitely not the state you want your body to stay in. Your body can and does stay in the sympathetic response even after you have run away safe from the bear and going about your everyday life. Over time, being in sympathetic dominance can wear down your immune system, organs, muscles, hormone levels, and whole body.

Can Stress Affect Your Spine?

There are many stresses in life that can get you stuck in fight or flight mode. The most common ones we deal with are physical, chemical, and emotional stresses.

Physical stress is anything physical that takes a toll on our bodies. It can range from chronic poor posture to traumas like falls and car accidents. Physical stress can be easily remedied with chiropractic adjustments. This is because adjustments to the pelvis and spine restore proper movement and function to the joints. When you leave joints in a compromised alignment for too long, osteoarthritis starts to break down the structural integrity of the joint. This leads to chronic pain, decreased mobility, joint weakness, and even neurological symptoms.

Chemical stress is any outside source that is toxic to our bodies. This is the air we breathe, what we eat, and what we put on our bodies. Many people don't know how toxic our world can be. What we don't filter outside our bodies, is forced to be filtered inside our body. Our body can only detox so much before we overload our system and start to exhibit symptoms. These symptoms are insomnia, anxiety/depression, irritability, hot flashes/night sweats, trouble losing weight, thyroid problems, memory loss, chronic fatigue, restless legs, trouble concentrating, and more. These are signs your chemical toxic load may be too high. The great thing with chiropractic is it helps the brain to detox. With every chiropractic adjustment to the upper cervical spine, you are increasing blood flow by 30% which allows the brain to push out the toxins sitting deep within the brain. Not only that, but these specific adjustments flood the brain with fresh CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) flow which then flushes out the toxins released! There's no other therapy that can do that!

Emotional stress is the personal things we encounter every day. This can be any number of things beyond our control, such as kids, work, or relationships. We can't get rid of those things in our lives, but we can change the way your body adapts to those stresses! When we adjust the spine, it sends a rush of stimulation to your prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain controls our higher thinking. In short, all your decisions are made using this part of the brain. If we can get your prefrontal cortex to light up and be more effective, you'll find more clarity, more calmness, and more certainty in your everyday life decisions you make.

What Can You Do To Help With Your Stress?

Treat yourself to a chiropractic adjustment. Here at Thrive Family Chiropractic we work with our patients not only to keep them well adjusted to adapt better to stress, but we work with them on strategies to reduce stress as much as possible outside of the office.

Make an appointment with us today to reduce your stress levels and achieve optimal health!

References

Won, Eunsoo, and Yong-Ku Kim. “Stress, the Autonomic Nervous System, and the Immune-kynurenine Pathway in the Etiology of Depression.” Current neuropharmacology vol. 14,7 (2016): 665-73. doi:10.2174/1570159x14666151208113006

Yaribeygi, Habib et al. “The impact of stress on body function: A review.” EXCLI journal vol. 16 1057-1072. 21 Jul. 2017, doi:10.17179/excli2017-480 stress chiropractic stress management

Encourage "Big Play" in your kids!

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:36:11 GMT

A lot of parents are wondering why their kids won't listen, sit still, or stop moving! Are they doing it deliberately? Do they need their hearing checked? What is wrong with kids these days?

As brain based chiropractors, we obsess over how children develop proper body/brain relationships and coordination. What does movement have to do with development of the brain? Everything! It turns out, our children's ability to learn, concentrate, and listen to directions is attributed to the levels of daily movement they get. Why? Because without big movement, kids can't properly develop their proprioceptive and vestibular senses, which are vital to concentration and learning. Most children in westernized cultures are deprived of adequate time for big motor play and discouraged from taking risks.

When we don't allow children to climb, swing, and jump and run about on uneven surfaces (such as rocks, sand, grass), we prevent them from learning about their own bodies. Unless their proprioception and vestibular systems can mature, their own bodies can become a distraction. They can't focus in a classroom, sit still at the dinner table, or stop jumping on grandma's couch - all because their bodies are too distracting.

The Proprioceptive and Vestibular Systems

Proprioception is what tells you where your body is, without you having to look at each body part. For example, typing on a screen or moving your foot from the gas pedal to the break pedal.

Improperly developed propriception can lead to children being extra rough with their friends without realizing it. Or it's often seen with kids who trip more often than their peers. Do you have a child who constantly wriggles at their desk and falls out of their seat? It could be related to proprioception issues.

Vestibular sense is located within the inner ear; it's responsible for balance, and knowing how your body is in motion. It works in tandem with proprioception.

A very powerful tool to help children develop these systems is chiropractic! As pediatric specialist chiropractors, we know how vitally important these systems are to mature in the young years. With chiropractic, the brain and body get reconnected at the deepest level. With every adjustment, the brain is stimulated and therefore the proprioceptive and vestibular senses are amplified. We see kids make leaps and bounds in their coordination and ability to concentrate after a few chiropractic adjustments.

Why is big play important?

It helps children learn how their bodies move, how gravity works, and how to take appropriate risks. The human body is truly amazing. When a child has an underdeveloped proprioceptive or vestibular sense, the urge to move is even greater! The developing body knows what it needs: more movement. The child who seems to be bouncing off the walls isn't trying to drive you crazy; their body is insisting on getting the movement it requires.

The best time to develop these senses is within the first 6 years of life. Children who don't get enough big movement during that time are less likely to be able to listen and focus, because they're distracted by their own bodies. For them, getting dressed might involve feeling the seams of their clothing in an intense way. Sitting down to do homework can feel torturous because they're unable to focus while their body is squirming in a chair. As our screen time increases at home and at school for our children, there also seems to be an increase in ADD/ADHD type behaviors. Instead of prescribing drugs to dampen their experience, we should be prescribing more time for movement!

Getting Enough Big Motor Play

Because of the childhood obesity epidemic, many public school service campaigns have surfaced. A popular one recommends a minimum of 60 minutes of big motor play per day. Although any movement is better than none, experts recommend quite a bit more.

Here's what pediatric occupational therapist Angela J. Hanscom suggests for optimal development:

Infants should have at least 90 minutes of tummy time per day
Toddlers should have 5-8 hours of big play (preferably outdoors)
Preschoolers also need 5-8 hours (as much outside as possible)
Elementary age children should have 4-5 hours of physical activity
Adolescents need 3-4 hours of physical activity per day

Big movement is vital to our children's developing bodies. If we want our children to be able to focus, do well in school, and listen to us, we must help them meet their bodies need for physical movement.

Even if we can't fit 5 hours in, do your best to give them as much activity as possible. Sometimes adapting your rules can help. If a three hour trip to the park isn't possible, perhaps allow children to slide down the stair rail, or jump on and off the couch to get that extra movement in. If you're living somewhere where outdoor play is tough (like snowy winters), consider getting a small indoor trampoline or indoor swing to help them get that necessary physical activity, regardless of weather.

Activities That Help:

It doesn't have to be too daunting to get some basic movement in, even without a large space. Children will naturally seek out the sensory input they need. Even so, our sedentary lifestyles and screen time can interfere with children taking the opportunity to listen to their bodies needs. Here are some basic movements that don't take up much space!

Twirling
Rolling/somersaults/jumping up and down
Pushing/Pulling toys, wagons, ropes
Dancing
Walking backward
Balancing on 1 leg
Building a fort
Circling both arms (in all directions and opposite directions)
Running in place
Jump rope

When in doubt, simply provide them a space to move. Don't be too afraid of them taking some age-appropriate risk. Allow them to swing, climb, swim, roller skate, and play with others. A bump or bruise in toddlerhood is very well worth it, if it makes for an easier time in school in later years.

Why Do Newborns Need Chiropractic Care?

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:29:03 GMT

It is vital to get our kids adjusted. Getting children under regular chiropractic care allows them to grow and develop properly. We are seeing a skyrocketing increase in kids with joint pain, ADD/ADHD, allergies, dowager's hump (fatty pocket at the base of the neck), poor posture, anxiety, scoliosis, and more. This does not have to happen! All these symptoms are 100% avoidable. Getting to the root of these issues as children, will prevent these issues from becoming major problems as teens and adults.

Improving Pediatric Health

You may think that babies don't experience any kind of physical trauma. However, babies go through an incredible about of stress during the birthing process. Whether a baby is born via cesarean or vaginal, there is massive amounts of pressure, torsion, and compression put onto the baby's spine. Most commonly affected is C1 (or Atlas) which is the first bone in the spine located in the neck. When baby engages with mom's pelvis, C1 can become jammed into the skull bones, which can shift and rotate the proper position.

What can cause birth trauma in infants?

1. Very short labor

2. Very long labor

3. The use of pitocin to strengthen/induce uterine contractions

4. Pain medications

5. Restricted maternal birthing positions

6. Pulling or twisting on the head to deliver the infants body

7. The use of forceps or vacuum extraction

8. Cesarean delivery

Left uncorrected, this trauma continues to impact a baby's spinal growth and development, reducing the healthy function of the nerve system. This can cause many health challenges later in life that could easily have been prevented. Common issues we see in our office with newborns are: nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, inability to be soothed, constipation, excessive crying, uneven head shape, head tilts, uneven eye size, reflux, tension, inability to meet milestones, and more!

Birth is tough work for both mothers and babies. There are a lot of pressures and forces being exerted onto your baby during their journey into the world. A recent study by Viola Frymann demonstrated that 90% of newborns suffered the effects of birth trauma: associated strain though the neck and cranial areas following birth. Frymann, an American osteopathic doctor, studied more than 1,500 babies periodically across an eight-year period. She examined all babies within the first five days of birth; in fact, many were checked within the first 24 hours.

This study revealed that approximately:

10% of the newborn babies had perfect, freely mobile skulls or cranial mechanisms
10% had severe trauma to the head, evident even to untrained observers
The remaining 80% all had some strain patterns in the cranial mechanism

Birth in its many forms can be quite traumatic. While each birth is unique, there is always a chance that the baby suffers some sort of strain due to a variety of reasons. Even the most natural births can result in trauma that goes undetected. As researcher G. Gutmann has written, "The trauma from the birth process remains an under publicized and therefore significantly under treated problem."

The best thing you can do for your newborn is to have them checked for these small yet significant strains in their spine. Without it, they are subject to more complications as they grow. Most symptoms that adults face can be addressed much earlier in life!

Chiropractic Improves Brain Function

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 00:25:12 GMT

The science is out! Chiropractic adjustments change brain function! This is one of our favorite concepts of receiving chiropractic care. 90% of the stimulation to the brain comes from movement of the spine. So if you have dysfunctional or stuck segments of the spine, your getting less stimulation to the brain. When the brain isn't stimulated, it atrophies!

All blood flow to the brain is controlled by the alignment of bones in the cervical spine. Vertebral arteries travel within the bony structures of the neck, and continue into the deepest part of the brain. They then split off to specific areas including the prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, vision centers, language centers, and balance centers (cerebellum). Each adjustment increases blood flow to the brain by 30%. Now, do you think the brain does better with 30% more blood flow?! Of course it does! This new blood brings nourishment and healing capacities to the brain. Not only that, but it creates opportunity for massive brain detoxing. When you increase the flow rapidly with an adjustment it pushes out toxins that lay dormant in the deep parts of the brain. This is why people report more clarity, better memory, less brain fog, and better balance.

With the increase in blood flow, also comes a fresh wave of Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF). This is our brain and spinal cords natural irrigation system. So as fresh blood rushes to the brain and pushes those toxins out, CSF flushes it away to be eliminated from the body. You may be thinking what toxins are in the brain. Unfortunately the composition of brain tissue attracts things like heavy metals, pesticides, and medication additives. Its incredibly important to detox the brain regularly or else you are increasing risk of dementia, alzheimers, parkinsons, ADD, migraines, and other neuro related symptoms and illnesses.

There's still more benefits! When the brain is stimulated it builds more neurons which are the cells of the brain. They are responsible for communicating sensory information relayed from the body, and send back information to the body. They use neurons to do this. They act as communication highways. A synapse is a connection from neuron to neuron. Think of this as the onramps and offramps on the highway. The more entrances and exits you have, the more areas of the brain you can reach.

It's believed that humans only use 10% of their actual brain, with chiropractic you can reach deeper untouched areas.

References

Lelic, Dina et al. “Manipulation of Dysfunctional Spinal Joints Affects Sensorimotor Integration in the Prefrontal Cortex: A Brain Source Localization Study.” Neural plasticity vol. 2016 (2016): 3704964. doi:10.1155/2016/3704964

Navid, Muhammad Samran et al. “The effects of chiropractic spinal manipulation on central processing of tonic pain - a pilot study using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA).” Scientific reports vol. 9,1 6925. 6 May. 2019, doi:10.1038/s41598-019-42984-3 brain chiropractic brain based chiropractor

Thrive Family Chiropractors Serving Huntington Beach Families

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 00:22:23 GMT

Your health journey does not have to be a lonely one. Achieving and maintaining health is much easier when it is a family affair.

Dr. Chanel Putras and Dr. Mary Garrett at Thrive Family Chiropractic proudly serve the families of Huntington Beach. When families work on their health together, it brings a level of awareness and positive change into the household. Together, they make healthier choices that change family dynamic to one of positive health change. We are Huntington Beach chiropractors.

Serving The Community of Huntington Beach

Thrive Family Chiropractic loves serving the families of Huntington Beach, not only through chiropractic, but also in the community. We sponsor Ocean View Little League and offer families chiropractic at a very affordable rate. We offer discounts not only for families but for our military and first responders. We also volunteer at Bolsa Chica Beach clean-ups and work will local middle schools on how to maintain health for the children in the classroom.

Thrive Family Chiropractic is also part of the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce. Through the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce we support local businesses and the city through serving as an ambassador. We attend local ribbon cuttings and work with local businesses on how to better nourish and serve the families of Huntington Beach.

Thrive Chiropractic Blog Articles

What Can I Do About Shoulder Pain?

Breathing & Chiropractic

Chiropractic Improves Breathing

5 Incredible Facts About The Pelvic Floor

The Pelvic Floor Can Seem Like A Mystery. What Is It And What Does It Do?

The Most Important Exercise To Start Postpartum Recovery

Where To Start With Your Postpartum Exercising:

Why is My Baby's Head Uneven?

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Super Human Moms and What Happens in the Body During Pregnancy

Mother: The Modern Superhero

What Does It Mean To Have A Short Leg?

Did Your Chiropractor Say, "You Have A Short Leg?"

What Does That Mean?

Chiropractic, Birth & Pregnancy: Success Stories

Can Chiropractic Turn Breech Babies?

The Impact of Chiropractic On Pregnancy

Birthing With Confidence

Birth Better With Chiropractic

Crawling & Chiropractic

Developing Early Motor Skills

How Chiropractic Helps Breastfeeding Moms & Babies

Chiropractic Helps With Breastfeeding

Chiropractic Can Be The Key To Your Mystery Symptoms

Does My C-Section Baby Need To Be Checked By a Chiropractor?

How Do I Get Out of Bed Safely While Pregnant?

Knee, Leg, Ankle, Foot Pain: Could Be The Fibular Head!

Let Chiropractic Solve Your Chronic Stress!

Let Chiropractic Solve Your Chronic Stress!

What is the NERVOUS SYSTEM

What Happens To Your Ribcage After a Car Accident?

Chiropractic Lowers Blood Pressure

CHIROPRACTIC!

Chiropractic Helps Mental Health

What Is That Sound When You Get A Chiropractic Adjustment?

The Importance of Crawling

Having Knee Pain? It Could Be From Your I.T. Band!

Is Your Headache Caused By Neck Tension?

Where To Start With Squat Training

Chiropractic And Cranial Sacral Therapy For Baby Head Development

Chiropractic Helps Knee Pain

Common Knee Problems:

Chiropractic Helps With Back Disc Injuries

Longevity in Sports: Chiropractic is the Tool

Chiropractic: The Ultimate Anti-Aging Tool

Learn How To Detect Scoliosis Early

Are Your Hips Causing Your Low Back Pain?

Chiropractic and Asthma

Chiropractic Helps Brain Development In Sensitive Children!

Most don't realize that the brain's most important job is to decrease the amount of sensation that enters the conscious brain.

What Can You Do About Your Sensitive Child?

Chiropractic Helps Foot Pain

Good Fat Versus Bad Fat

Good Fats I Recommend Are:

Bad Fats I Recommend Avoiding Are:

Chiropractic Helps Vertigo

Why Do We Check Reflexes?

Why Do You Need More Than One Adjustment?

Text Neck and Forward Head Carriage

Symptoms of Tech Neck:

Ways to Manage Tech Neck:

3 Necessities for Birth: Chiropractic, Doula, Midwife

The 3 Best Things You Can Do To Prepare For Birth:

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Improve Breastfeeding and Latching!

Chiropractic For HOPE in Pregnancy and Birth

TMJ Pain and Grinding Can Be Reduced With Chiropractic Care

Can I Have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?

The Miracle of Chiropractic

Chiropractic success with Colic

Chiropractic Improves Brain Function!

Sleep Soundly, Recover Better With Chiropractic!

Snoring Child? Can Chiropractic Help?

Causes of Snoring:

Avoid Helmet Head

Chiropractic Is Necessary for All Athletes!

Benefits of Athletes Being Under Chiropractic Care:

Known athletes that utilize chiropractic care:

Not Just for the Pros!