Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

How do you know if your child needs chiropractic?

As the father of a six year old daughter I know first hand how difficult it can be for children to express back pain and discomfort. But more importantly, what about the misalignment's in the spine that are not even causing any pain, but are setting the stage for problems down the road? How do you know if they exist?

You Don't!...which is why it's a good idea to have your children checked periodically by a chiropractor.

They say, and I agree, that many if not most of the spine problems that adults present with to a chiropractor started early on in life. After-all...how many times did you fall as a child? If a bone in the spine loses it's normal alignment because of a spill or fall, and stays out of alignment, it can lead to early spinal degeneration and even scoliosis. Regular chiropractic check-ups...say every few months, can catch these problems before they turn into something worse.

Chiropractic for children is very safe and gentle...and kids need way less treatment than adults...and they respond quicker too. And for the most part they really look forward to their chiropractic adjustments.

So anyway...if you have kids and you want to reduce the likelihood of spine problems down the road...consider chiropractic...it's a no brain-er :-)

Our team of doctors have years of experience providing chiropractic for children in San Francisco. To schedule an appointment call 415-392-2225. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation.

Chiropractic and Childhood Scoliosis

We have been providing scoliosis treatment in San Francisco for almost 20 years now, for both children and adults. There are two basic kinds of scoliosis, Aquired and Idiopathic (of unknown origin). Chiropractic should be considered as a treatment option for both.

Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that is shaped like a “C” or an “S” when looking at the person from behind. I’m sure you’ve noticed when you’re at a beach, at a swimming pool, or walking in an airport, some people have a high shoulder, walk with a bit of a limp if one leg is short, and may have a shoulder blade that sticks out more than the other. Scoliosis often develops for unknown reasons (hence the term, “idiopathic”) during the adolescent age range between 10 or 11 years old and can progress, not change or less often, improve up to age 16 to 18. During these 4-6 years, the time when the adolescent is growing quickly, the curve often worsens without any intervention but few studies have looked at what types of treatment or combinations of treatment work the best, especially non-surgical methods.

            A recent study was conducted that looked at the response to non-surgical treatment using conventional medical treatment (MT) vs. conventional MT plus chiropractic, as well as conventional MT and “sham” (fake) chiropractic treatment.  This is a pilot study using a small population of patients in order to determine if a larger scale study would be important to run (which was determined to be the case).

            The conventional medical treatment approach included two groups – observation (a “wait and watch” approach) in a braced group verses a non-braced group. The chiropractic treatment group received spinal manipulation using “diversified technique” which is widely used where the patient is treated while lying on their stomach, sides, and back and the type of manipulation used was the thrust type where the “cracking” sound occurs (which is caused by the release of gas from the joint capsules and is technically called cavitation). This was applied to the regions determined by the chiropractor as requiring the treatment by using palpation (touch) methods, postural examination, range of motion, and x-ray and all chiropractors involved had 6-hours of training to assure consistent and similar approaches were used. Treatments were administered (determined by a survey of many chiropractors) at 3x/week for a month, 2x/week for a month, 1x/week for a month, and 2x/month for 3 months or as needed for a total of 6 months. The “sham” or fake chiropractic treatment used the same treatment frequency and similar positioning of the patient but purposely did not obtain a joint cavitation or “crack” but still seemed “real” to the patient.

            The primary outcome used to determine “success” was a reduction of the scoliosis curve measured on x-ray at a 6-month point. Using the standard medical model, those with curves of 20-25 degrees require careful observation, curves 26-40 degrees are potential candidates for bracing, those greater than 40 degrees are potential candidates for surgery and, an increase in curve by more than 5 degrees measured twice a year or every 6-months is considered failure.

            The results are interesting. Of those receiving only conventional medical treatment, none improved and one failed. The same occurred in the conventional MT plus sham/fake chiropractic. NO ONE failed and one improved in the chiropractic treatment plus MT group making it the only successful non-surgical treatment approach in the study. The preliminary findings from this study are huge! Chiropractic treatment in this group of adolescent children was determined to be THE ONLY non-surgical approach that had the ability to maintain (not allow the curve to progress) or even better, improve the curve!

            We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide your health-care services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

For a complimentary scoliosis examination and consultation for your child...please call 415-392-2225 and mention this blog post. Our San Francisco Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat scoliosis.

 

Chiropractic Check-ups Should Start Young!

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

It is my opinion that a primary contributor to chronic health problems in adults, including back pain, is poor lifestyle choices made for us by our parents when we were too young to decide for ourselves.

It really does irritate me when I see parents letting their children eat junk foods day in and day out. I'm not sure what these parents think? Maybe they think children can eat anything and it doesn't really matter. 

Meanwhile, the stage is being set for chronic disease later in life. Kids tend to take on the habits (good and bad) of their parents. And, there is an overwhelming body of scientific evidence that suggest that what a child eats early in life will effect their body chemistry throughout their life. What a mother eats during pregnancy also has a profound effect on the future health of the fetus.

So...what does this have to do with chiropractic check-ups starting young?

Well, it has everything to do with it. All the spills and falls we take as kids can cause the spine to go out of alignment, and these misalignment's (vertebral subluxations) can lead to early disc and spine degeneration, scoliosis, and chronic pain.

Think about it...how many times did you fall as a kid? Learning how to walk, run, play, ride a bike, sports, soccer, ballet, football, etc.

Like the saying goes...As the twig is bent...so grows the tree.

If a bone in a child's spine is out of position during the growth spurts, it could lead to scoliosis. Your child will still grow...just out of alignment.

Kids love chiropractic adjustments after they get used to them. They don't need them as frequently as adults...and they respond must quicker (and the results last longer) than adults.

So how early can my child be seen by a chiropractor?

I checked my daughter right after she was born. Heck...it takes 40-60 lbs of pressure to extract a baby from the birth canal. Your kids first subluxation can happen right there.

Hey...don't be scared. The adjustment for infants is just a tap. The force for kids is really light. The frequency of check-ups is say once per month or every other month...unless they are in pain...then right away.

Bottom Line: Chiropractic is a family affair. One of the main reasons I wanted to have our chiropractic clinic open on Saturday in San Francisco was to see kids, and Saturday is the perfect day. We Validate Parking.  So do your kids a favor and have them checked...they will thank you later...believe me :-)

 To schedule a complimentary chiropractic consultation with one of our Children's Chiropractors in San Francisco...call 415-392-2225 and mention this blog post. 

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Kids Don’t Need Chiropractic Do They?

                                                        
When you were a baby, do you remember learning how to walk?  I don't!

But I watched my kids and the process went something like this: pull yourself up while holding on to something, try to take a step, fall down. Pull yourself up again, try to take a step, succeed once, fall down. And repeat over and over again.

Most of the time the falls were nothing more than sitting forcefully. But sometimes, if the terrain was just right and their balance was just off, the fall was pretty bad.

If you fell like that now, how would you feel? I don’t know about you, but I’d pretty sore (and bruised!) and I’d make it a point to go see my chiropractor and get adjusted.

So why don’t we do the same thing with our kids?

The biggest reason I hear for not getting kids adjusted is the parents don’t think their kids need it. After all, they aren’t in pain. But pain is a horrible symptom to rely on as an indicator to how your child doing. Take the extreme example of cancer (in adults)... most of the time pain is the last thing to show up.

Our spines are designed to be strong because it has curves in it. Those curves allow the pressures to be distributed properly, leading to healthy discs and bones. The curves develop during childhood; first the neck curve comes from the baby learning how to hold its head up, and then the low back curve develops as he or she learns how to walk.

If your child takes a nasty fall while learning how to walk and one of those spinal bones moves out of place, even just a tiny bit, do you think it could affect the strength and health of the spine? I hope you said yes.

I’ve seen X-rays on teenagers who are starting to get arthritis in their neck. Arthritis? Isn’t that a disease of age? Well, yes and no.

Arthritis is more likely to develop with age, but the most common reason for it is improper motion of the joint. In the spine, the most common reason for bad motion is a slight misalignment because of falls and bumps of daily life. The second most common reason for misalignments is due to bad posture; and we’ve all seen those heavy backpacks that kids have to carry around these days.

Chiropractic care for kids helps their spine stay aligned, strong, and healthy as they grow up. Since the spine is the highway of health, a healthy spine means a healthy child. And we see this in our offices every day. Kids come in after an injury or because of pain, and as we take care of their structure, their health improves.

I’ve seen babies with ear infections get relief in as little as 24 hours. I’ve seen toddlers with asthma breathe easier within hours of an adjustment. Chiropractic care for kids doesn’t “treat” anything. We adjust the spine to restore alignment and the magic that is the body does the rest.

Doesn’t this approach seem more reasonable than putting medications into a growing child that simply mask the problem? Or worse, changes their chemistry completely?

If your child has ever fallen, please have them checked by a chiropractor. They’ll thank you for it later.

Dr. Andrea Mills has an entire website dedicated to helping you raise your kids healthy, naturally. Visit it at www.Naturally-Healthy-Kids.com

Is Back Pain Hereditary?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

It is fairly common for a patient with chronic back pain to have a family history of back pain. Does this mean that back pain symptoms are hereditary?

It seems probable...especially when you consider that our immune response and the potential to develop certain illnesses (obesity) and bad habits (Preganant mothers diet effects fetus) is pre-wired in utero depending on the diet of our mothers, her body chemistry (any alcohol & drugs), and the parents genes.

Then, as we grow up...all of our lifestyle choices are made by our parents until we leave the nest.

Depending on the quality of our internal and external environment (food choices, exercise, breast feeding or not, sleep patterns, etc) during childhood, and the way we were taught to do things like lift and work and sit, we may be predisposed to certain health problems...including back pain.

What I believe is this: Whether or not back pain manifests as an adult, mostly depends on the choices we make as an adult. But since children tend to develop similar habits as their parents...the same bad habits that contributed to the parents back pain, can contribute to the back pain of the off-spring.

Unhealthy, handed down lifestyle choices are responsible for many other health problems too...especially diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Being pre-wired makes things even worse.   

However...In my opinion,  most of the pre-wiring and tendencies to develop the same health problems (or develop their bad habits) our parents had, can be overcome by making healthy lifestyle choices once we start making decisions for ourselves.

Once you are an adult...the keys to the Porsche (your body and your health) are yours. If you want the Porsche to run, handle, and perform like a Porsche...you have to take care of it like one.

You have to eat right (I prefer a plant based diet). You have to exercise frequently. You have to get plenty of rest. You want to refrain from drugs and tobacco. And you want to limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine. And if you are really smart...you want to make sure your nervous system is functioning properly with with regular chiropractic adjustments.

Listen...it's a great excuse to blame the outcome of your poor lifestyle choices on your hormones or on your genes...but I don't buy it. I think the choices we make as adults are the primary drivers of our health and well being.

There have been many studies done with identical twins that were separated from their biological parents when they were young. One becomes overweight or obese (as almost 2/3 of Americans do) and the other one is lean and healthy. Did only one of them get the bad genes?

Hey, don't get me wrong...I know that there are special situations and what I describe is not always the case. I know it's not ALWAYS the case...it's just MOSTLY the case.

Once you become an adult YOU are the one that decides what you eat, how often you exercise, how hard you play, if you drink or smoke, etc. You also decide if you see a chiropractor...or get massages...or get enough rest...or keep your stress levels manageable. It's all up to you.

Your ability to adjust your own lifestyle "knobs" in either the direction of illness or health is what determines if you have back pain, or neck pain or just about any other illness really.

It's just a matter of discipline and responsibility...at least that's the way I see it!

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in San Francisco.

 

Why Kids Need Chiropractic!

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Anyone that has kids knows that the amount of spills and falls they take on a daily basis just living life is amazing. Sure, kids are resilient, and they are built to handle lots of wear and tear, but at the same time there are limitations of matter. At a certain point, the bones of the skull and spine, which house and protect the brain and spinal cord can lose their normal position and offend and irritate the nervous system.

Chiropractors call this a Vertebral Subluxation...it's what we treat...and it's very common in children.

And here's the thing...subluxations often remain without symptoms for years...then rear their ugly head later...sometimes much later when we are adults. Some experts (including me) believe that untreated childhood subluxations are the cause of many chronic back and neck conditions in the adult population.

In addition...many of the health problems children do present with such as headaches, sinus problems, digestive disturbances, and sleeping disorders, can be traced to Vertebral Subluxations.

Chiropractic adjustments are very easy to deliver to children and children respond much quicker and require way less treatment than adults.

So consider a chiropractic check-up for your kids. Chiropractic is 100% natural and can help your kids live a long and healthy life by keeping their life line (brain and spinal cord) free of pressure and interference.

It's just a smart thing to do.

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in San Francisco and has a 5 year old daughter. To schedule an appointment call 415-392-2225.

 

Chiropractic is a Family Affair

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

 We decided Executive Express Chiropractic should be open on Saturdays so that we could make our services more available to families. After-all...many of the spinal problems adults present with happened from spills and falls that occurred during childhood.

I had my first chiropractic adjustment when I was about 12 years old...now I wish it would have been sooner. When we are growing and our body's are developing, it is very important to make sure that the spine is in it's optimal position. 

The nervous system (brain, spinal cord,and nerves) controls and coordinates all bodily function, including growth and development. The bones of the skull and spine house and protect the brain and spinal cord. The nerves, which are branches off the spinal cord, exit from in between the bones of the spine and connect to every cell, tissue, gland, and organ in the body controlling their function.  

The Central Nervous System

When the bones of the spine lose their normal (protective) alignment they can offend and irritate the same nerves they protect when the are in proper alignment. Chiropractors call this condition a Vertebral Subluxation...it's what we treat.

So...how many times do you think you fell when you were a kid?

I have a 5 year old daughter and I can tell you that I'm glad I get to adjust her frequently because the amount of spills and falls she takes is amazing, and I don't want them to come back and haunt her later.

My wife gets adjusted frequently too...as does the rest of my family.

Regular chiropractic is also a very smart choice for the elderly. As we age, we lose flexibility and motion (a primary cause of spinal degeneration) which chiropractic adjustments can help to maintain and restore.

Sure, there are special treatment considerations for children and elderly patients, but chiropractic is very safe and gentle, and there is nothing to be afraid of. The force is very light...but effective.

Chiropractors have very low malpractice insurance rates...why is this?

Well...there is only one reason since all insurance is based on occurence. It's because chiropractic is very safe and there just aren't that many injuries. And that's a fact.

So anyway, in my opinion chiropractic should be a family affair. Find yourself a chiropractor that is open on Saturdays and bring your whole family in. And ask your chiropractor about a Family Discount.

Nothing will give you a higher return on investment (ROI) than investing in your health and the health of your family.

To schedule an appointment at Executive Express Chiropractic call 415-392-2225 or schedule an appointment on-line. Mention this blog post for a complimentary consultation. Ask about our Family Discount.

Executive Express Chiropractic is open M-F 9-6pm and Saturday 9-1pm. We validate parking at the SF Embarcadero Center.

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Can Chiropractic Help Asthma?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Asthma affects 22 million Americans. Asthma can occur at any age, but is most common in younger adults (under 40).

I am often asked if chiropractic can help asthma?

Asthma is abnormal constriction of the airways in the lungs. Why does this happen?

Well, there are lots of reasons, including the nerves that control the bronchial muscles (bands of muscles that surround airways) telling them to constrict. Why would they do that? Well, a nerve signal is electrical and chemical. A nerve impulse originates in the brain, travels down the spinal cord, then over nerve pathways to the target cells.

The nerves that control the lungs exit from in between bones in the upper thoracic spine (mid-back). If those bones are out of alignment...what chiropractors call a vertebral subluxation, it can put physical pressure on the spinal nerve and alter the nerve signal. Subluxations can either cause a nerve to fire too much or too little.

If these are the nerves going to your lungs, specifically the bronchial muscles, it can cause them to constrict, which will result in the symptoms of asthma.

Most of the time asthma is treated with medication (inhalers such as Albuterol) to cause the bronchial muscles to dilate. These inhalers can cause all sorts of other problems with long term use (and side effects from short term use).

So, if the cause of the asthma is vertebral subluxation, and the patient is taking medication for the problem, this asthma could go on forever, the patient gets addicted to the inhaler, and could potentially develop a whole new set of health problems.

So YES...chiropractic can help asthma...if the problem is physical (vertebral subluxation).

In fact, if the problem is subluxation, the only solution is to remove it...which is the purpose of chiropractic.

So there you go...that's the simple explanation...but often times their is just a lot more to it.

What if the source of the asthma is chemical...say from allergies, environmental factors such as asbestos, or work toxins, or smoking, or other medications, or hormonal, or hereditary, or from a diet rich in animal protein (especially dairy products) that is known to cause inflammation in the body?

Well...you don't need vertebral subluxations along with it...and chemical stresses, along with mental stress and physical stress are the primary causes of vertebral subluxation.

And, a well informed chiropractor can help you modify your diet (plant foods are best) and steer you in the right direction as far as lifestyle choices are concerned that may be pro-inflammatory.

My best resource for plant based nutrition is Dr. John McDougall, MD in Santa Rosa, CA.

Children with asthma symptoms respond really well to chiropractic adjustments. I think it's because the chances are higher the problem is physical. But children heal quicker in general.

Would you rather have your child receiving natural, painless chiropractic adjustments, or medications they may end up using for their entire life?

Hey...I'm not suggesting chiropractic is a cure-all for everything...because it's not. I do recommend that parents use both complementary medicine and conventional medicine. In the SF Bay Area this is easy...as there are many clinics that offer both or are open to working together.

Anyway, the nervous system controls every function in your body. The bones of the spine house and protect the nervous system. When the bones lose their normal protective positioning (vertebral subluxation) they can offend and irritate the same nerves they were designed to protect. This can result in all kinds of health problems...including asthma.

So, this is why regular chiropractic check-ups for you and your family make sense. It's just the smart thing to do!

To find out if you are a candidate for care at Executive Express Chiropractic please call 415-392-2225 or fill-out our online intake form and schedule an appointment online.

Dr. Eben Davis is founder and clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic. Dr. Davis is also the father of a 5 year old daughter.

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High Fat Diets Linked To Asthma in Children

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

It is said...We are what we eat...literally. The food we eat today becomes living, thinking, breathing, flesh and blood by tomorrow. And the food a pregnant woman eats, becomes the building blocks of her fetus.

Recent research at the Dept. of Pediatrics at the University of West Virginia showed that early abnormalities in lipid and glucose metabolism may be responsible for the development of asthma in children.

The study goes even further and links maternal diets with high fat (high calorie) intake to inflammation of the airwaves in early life. Here is an excerpt from the article entitled Imbalanced Diet and Inadequate Exercise May Underlie Asthma in Children:

Furthermore, Dr. Piedimonte noted that animal studies recently presented by his group suggest a link between maternal diets high in fat and calories, the subsequent triglyceride levels of offspring, and the development of airway hyperreactivity in early life, hinting at a potential role of maternal diet in the prevalence of asthma in their offspring.

"The primary implication of the present study is that early metabolic abnormalities induced by imbalanced diet during pregnancy and childhood constitute the central hub from which the asthma-obesity-diabetes triad originates, at least in a subpopulation of patients," said Dr. Piedimonte. "This opens a Pandora's box of questions concerning the role of pre- and early post-natal nutrition as a critical determinant of chronic diseases throughout life. The ultimate goal is to elucidate the chronologic sequence of early-life events and the specific molecular mechanisms linking hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, and the inflammation seen in obesity and asthma, which may open a new chapter in the management of these medical conditions that are among the most prevalent today."

The study also linked dietary imbalances as well as lack of physical activity to obesity and diabetes. It was also noted that inflammatory airwaves associated with asthma were found in children with normal body weight, but who also had abnormally high triglyceride levels associated with high fat diet. 

My Take: I have known this for a while now...because I myself once suffered with asthma as a child and teenager. As a young adult I figured out that by eating a diet rich in plant foods and avoiding dairy products and reducing animal protein, I could minimize the asthma symptoms. I also found out later in life that chiropractic adjustments can help manage asthma by helping normalize nerve function.

It is also obvious that what pregnant mothers eat and what we feed our children appears to be a primary factor in determining immune and metabolic function. Poor nutrition can initiate disease processes that can effect a child for their entire lifetime and predispose them to disorders such as asthma, obesity, and diabetes. Is all that cake and ice cream really worth it?

Dr. Eben Davis is clinic director of Executive Express Chiropractic in downtown San Francisco.

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Backpack Tips For Kids To Prevent Injury

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Heavy backpacks are a primary cause of poor posture and spine injuries in children. Heavy backpacks can cause spinal disc compression, muscle strain, and misalignment's which can lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as headaches and carpal tunnel symptoms.

For the most part, backpack trauma can be prevented with a little homework and a basic understanding of the relationship between backpacks, posture, and back pain. 

I did a little research online and found an excellent article entitled Backpacks and Back Pain. Here is an excerpt:

Backpacks are supposed to alleviate pain, not create it. But when worn incorrectly, they can cause you or your child to adopt postures that may give rise to spine problems. As 90% of students wear backpacks, a little knowledge on the relationship between backpacks and back pain may be in order. Below are 10 tips on how to avoid back pain for kids (and adults) who wear backpacks.

1. Observe Your Child's Spine

Heavy packs may cause kids to change their spinal position to accommodate the load. This can result in back pain, and at worst, the possibility of temporarily compressed discs and posture problems. Studies show that backpack wearers tend to begin adapting their posture once the weight of the pack reaches about 26 lbs. At an estimated 20% of the child’s weight, a backpack load may even begin to interfere with breathing. So observe your child's spine when she’s got her pack on and adjust the load according to the other tips in this article.

2. Lessen the Load In The Backpack

Most kids carry between 10% and 22% of their body weight in their back packs. Research shows that heavy loads may cause spinal discs to compress. As the weight of the backpack increases, so may the degree of disc compression. Experts recommend a backpack’s load be no more than 10% of the child’s weight.

3. Carry Only What Is Necessary

Help your child manage the amount of heavy items she carries in her pack. Encourage her to stop at her locker and switch books out frequently. Consider purchasing a second set of textbooks to keep at home.

 

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My Take: A little bit of knowledge and planning can go a long way when it comes to choosing and packing your child’s backpack.  However, if your child has developed symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, or headaches, they should be checked out by a chiropractor.

 

Sure, fixing the backpack situation will help a lot, but it wont do anything to correct a spinal misalignment or muscle strain. If a spinal problem is left uncorrected it could lead to more problems down the road.  So don’t take any chances.

 

If you live or work near the San Francisco Financial District you can visit Executive Express Chiropractic for a complimentary backpack check and spinal exam for your child. Just mention this blog post. To schedule call 415-392-2225.

 

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