By Katie Greeley BS, DC

Chiropractic and the Importance of Crawling of Babies

Crawling is one of the many milestones we look forward to experiencing with our children. In my office, I often encounter many children who have not done enough crawling. Most children start to crawl around the age of 6 to 10 months. Parents need to be aware that early walking does not mean your child is more advanced; in fact, it could actually hurt your child’s ability to learn.

According to Glenn Dorman, crawling stimulates the brain to develop convergence of vision, and children who have skipped this phase as babies may find it difficult to learn to read and write. It is very important that your child develops a cross-crawl pattern for at least five to six months before they start to engage in walking.

The Correct Method of Cross-Crawling

When crawling, the baby needs to move both extremities opposite of each other. For example, when the right leg bends forward, then the left arm moves forward. The importance of this cross-crawl pattern is to allow the motor nerve impulses which begin on one side of the brain and cross over the brainstem to supply the motor activity to the opposite extremity.

When we cross-crawl, we use both the right and left side of the brain to enhance neurological coordination. Studies show children who were categorized as early walkers, or those who have crawled for a comparatively short time, demonstrated lower performance scores on preschool assessment tests. This supports the importance of the early crawling experience in the development of sensory and motor systems of the body and general motor skill development.

Methods to Replace Cross-Crawl Patterns

When children are already past the crawling age, what can we do to enhance this cross-crawl pattern that is so important to development? If your child did not crawl for at least six months before walking or if your child crawled backwards or scooted, then you can play games on the ground and mimic crawling.

In early preschoolers or grade school children, you can pretend to be their favorite four-legged animal and crawl around, making sure to use opposite limbs in the process for five minutes a day for at least 30 to 60 days.

In older children or adults, you can march in place using opposite extremities and turn your head to face your arm to even further stimulate the brain hemispheres. Repeat this exercise for 50 to 100 steps.

Babies and the Importance of Tummy-Time

If your baby has not reached the crawling age yet, you can help the development process by giving your child plenty of tummy time which will allow the limbs, joints and muscles to strengthen to become ready to be mobile. Never force a child to crawl or walk before they are ready. It is equally important that the muscles are developmentally ready to support the weight as it is to cross-crawl for six months.

Potential Health Issues for Non-Crawlers

If you notice that your child is older than 10 months and has not begun to crawl, it is time for an evaluation. Babies can be born with a series of congenital disorders which can affect their crawling abilities. Some might include neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome or autism. Others could include muscular skeletal disorders such as congenital hip dysplasia, coxa vera or sacral iliac subluxation.

Conclusion: The Importance of Crawling

So when your baby is ready to begin achieving the next milestone of crawling, be excited to help the brain develop the cross-crawl pattern that is so essential for future learning.

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board-certified doctor of chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D, in Simi Valley, California. The office can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

by Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

Sodas and Children:

As our kids transition from childhood to adolescence, parents need to pay as much attention to their child’s soda consumption as they do to the new adventures in middle school. And, as a new variety of physical and emotional issues arise in the pre-teen years, so can a not so nutritious diet.

With vending machines being commonplace in schools, it’s no wonder that our kid’s soda consumption has doubled in recent years.

According to the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA), consumption of soft drinks now tops 600 12-ounce servings (12 oz.) per person per year.

Young males ages 12 to 29 are the biggest consumers at over 160 gallons per year – that’s almost 2 quarts per day! Furthermore, according to an article in Beverage, January 1999, “Influencing elementary school students is very important to soft drink marketers.”

This is disturbing when we consider that the most commonly associated health risks from soda consumption are obesity, diabetes and other blood sugar disorders, tooth decay, osteoporosis and bone fractures, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, food addictions and eating disorders, neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine.

And, when watching any local TV station today, we see just as many ads for soda as we do for the current epidemics of childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes.

Schools and Paid Advertising for Soda:

Even more disturbing, some schools and local kid hangouts are actually paid to carry soda advertisements. In fact, soda companies spend most of their advertising budget on campaigns aimed at America’s youth.

As a result, a 1994 report published in the Journal of Adolescent Health shows a “strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in girls.”

This study concluded with the following:

“The high consumption of carbonated beverages and the declining consumption of milk are of great public health significance for girls and women because of their proneness to osteoporosis in later life.”

Furthermore, a study of 460 high school girls published in Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in June 2000 indicated that cola beverages are “highly associated with bone fractures.”

Harvard School of Public Health professor Grace Wyshak recently found that ninth and 10th-grade girls who sipped soda were three times more likely to break bones than those who quenched their thirsts with other drinks.

Worse, her study found that physically active girls who drank colas were five times more likely to break bones as physically active girls who abstained from carbonated beverages. Wyshak believes the phosphoric acid in colas may interfere with the body’s ability to use calcium.

Children Drinking More Soda:

Our children are drinking more and more soda every decade. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in October, 2004, since 1977, U.S. soft drink consumption has increased by 135 percent.

And twenty years ago, boys consumed more than twice as much milk as soft drinks, and girls consumed 50 percent more milk than soft drinks.

By 1996, both boys and girls consumed twice as much soda as milk (USDA). Decreased milk consumption means that children are no longer getting required amounts of calcium in their diets. Therefore, since 1977, energy intake from milk has dropped by 38 percent. This is the same period of time during which soda consumption skyrocketed.

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a chiropractor and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Dr. Greeley is the owner of the practice United Family Chiropractic is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Dr. West #D Simi Valley, Ca. Her office can be reached at 805-522-2324 for further questions.

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

Natural Alternatives for Colds and Flu:

As the leaves start to fall and the sun shines less we find ourselves approaching the cold and flu season. For some kids that means runny noses, sneezing, coughing, and itchy skin and eyes. While this may sound like an ad for your local over the counter remedy, I am here to express there are some natural alternatives to make this year possibly an easier one.

Allergens and Chiropractic Care:

Let’s first get to know how our body reacts to the local allergen. What is an allergy? Our bodies should develop a tolerance to food, pets, dust, etc. when that fails our immune system responds with a hypersensitivity reaction.

This reaction can be anything from digestive problems such as diarrhea, acid reflux, and lack of appetite. Skin reactions in children can come from the following six most common foods: eggs, peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, fish, and wheat.

Upper respiratory infection is a general description of a group of conditions, which includes the common cold, runny nose, tonsillitis, earaches, sinusitis, flu, and bronchitis. The lymphatic drainage route from the head to the neck passes through the muscles along side the neck. Lymph is cleared through the body is known as the “lymphatic pump” by muscular contractions of the neck.

When a bone is misaligned in the cervical spine it can produce a muscle spasm that could then cause a restriction of lymphatic drainage form the head to the neck, which could prevent the body from clearing the bacteria, or viruses that could lead to chronic respiratory infections1.

Antibiotics and Allergies:

In a study conducted at Henry Ford hospital in Detroit states that “Children who receive antibiotics within the first six months of life increase their risk 1.5 times of developing by age seven allergies to pets, ragweed, grass, dust mites, and 2.5 times more likely to develop asthma.

If a child lived with fewer than 2 pets they were 1.7 times more likely to develop allergies and 3 times more likely to develop asthma and those kids with a mother who had a history of allergies were 2 times as likely to develop allergies.”

Chiropractic and Improvement in Symptoms:

According to Reuter Health news, the use of alternatives was twice as common among children with chronic illnesses, than their healthy peers. The most common conditions see were respiratory illnesses, strains and sprains, allergies, digestive problems, and ear infections.

According to dynamic chiropractic case reports frequently describe rapid improvement in upper respiratory symptoms following an adjustment of minor misalignments, especially in the neck.

Remedies for Chronic Allergies and Respiratory Infections:

So now that your child has allergies or chronic colds and flu’s, what remedies if any can help with children with these chronic allergies and respiratory infections?

In chronic skin disorders eliminating the above foods may help clear up eczema type of reactions. Parents also need to pay attention to the fragrances in soaps and lotions. Just because it is made for children does not mean that it cannot irritate their young skin.

As Parents you want to look for more natural soaps and lotions without a lot of dyes and chemicals. If your child has excessive dry skin removing chlorine from your tap water and bathing with soap with oatmeal as one of its first ingredients may help. Many children are lacking in the omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega 3 essential fatty acids can support immune health and healthy skin.

Natural Herbal Remedies for Allergies and Colds:

With seasonal allergies and colds a few good herbs I have use with many of my patients as well as my own children to help relieve the symptoms are the following:

* Nettles-which is known to have antihistaminic properties for seasonal allergies and hay fever
* Eyebright herb-astringent for mucus membranes peppermint herb-antiseptic and expectorant to open up clogged nasal passages
* Oregon grape root-antiseptic and anti-inflammatory
* Sage leaf-antiseptic, spasmolytic and aromatic to support clear respiration
* Chamomile flowers-sedative and antispasmodic to soothe and calm
* Milk thistle-liver and immune support
* Black Elderberry berries-immune support, especially for viruses
* Echinacea purpurea root-antiseptic and tonic for immune system
* Horehound leaves-expectorant and antiseptic to support easy breathing, wet coughs
* Wild cherry bark-antitussive and sedative to soothe and calm dry coughs.

Consult with a Licensed Health Professional:

There are many companies that specialize in herbal formulas especially for children, so before going to you local whole foods or health store you should always consult with a licensed health professional first who is knowledgeable in nutrition for children.

1. Chiropractic Care for the Pediatric Patient, Peter N. Fysh DC, FICCP, 2002 pgs 169-170

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a chiropractor and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Dr. Greeley is the owner of the practice United Family Chiropractic is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Dr. West #D Simi Valley, Ca. Her office can be reached at 805-522-2324 for further questions.

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

Babies and Chiropractic Care:

When should you take your baby to see a chiropractor? The answer to that question is when you want your child to have all the benefits of a conservative, drugless approach to health care. Your infant’s first visit to a doctor of chiropractic will usually be a pleasant experience, one without painful injections or procedures.

The first year of your child’s life is an all-important one.

Spinal trauma can occur during birth as well as from falls while learning to sit up and walk. During the first year of life your child’s spine grows 50% and improper lifting and carrying of your child can also contribute to spinal stress.

Chiropractic and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome:

According to Abraham Towbin, M.D.:

“Sudden Infant Death caused by spine damage to the nerve system during birth occurred in 7 to 8 autopsies showed this to be the cause of deaths with SIDS victims.”

Ten percent of infant deaths are due to spinal injury during the delivery process, according to David Yashon M.D. When Dr. G. Gutmann examined children after birth, 80% were suffering from subluxation or misalignments of the first bone in the neck, causing all manners of diseases. In fact in 1981 birth trauma was the sixth leading cause of neonatal mortality.

Spinal Misalignments Among Infants:

There are some symptoms as parents that we can look for that could indicate spinal misalignments in our infants. If your baby has a hard time nursing or will only turn head to one side that could be an indication of a first bone or atlas subluxation.

If you child seems excessively sleepy or hyper irritable or exhibits colic like symptoms that is also and indication of spinal misalignments. If their ears or shoulders seem uneven or one leg seems longer then another that could be a sign of structural misalignments.

Remember our babies cannot communicate effective yet and their only means of communicating that there is something not right is by crying.

Baby’s First Adjustment:

When a baby gets its first adjustment it needs to be by a chiropractor that works with children and is comfortable with adjusting the child. The technique is much different then that of an adult. Usually if the child is under six months the doctor will flip the child upside down to check for proper neck movement and to assess any cranial imperfections.

Most treatments of children will involve cranial-sacral technique and or the activator technique. Both of those techniques are extremely low force. Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of health care. A baby’s spine is very supple during the first few months of life and the doctor of chiropractic applies only a slight pressure to make spinal adjustments.

In my office I would also perform a computerized spinal scan looking for variants of heat and muscle imbalances along the spine. Periodic spinal check ups are needed as the infant goes through various milestones in the first year.

If during delivery if the mother had to use drugs or excessive pulling or pushing then the most common misalignments occur at eh T-8 liver area and C1-C2 from the neck being pulled on. The reaction after an adjustment is usually one of relief and some babies even fall right to sleep.

Chiropractic Care & Baby’s Health:

It has been my experience that children that have started under chiropractic care at an early age tend to be healthier then there peers in regards to less colds and flu’s and less infections. In fact most of my babies that get adjusted regularly from birth go through their first year of life without a round antibiotics.

So when you want to give your child a head start in good health, Doctors of Chiropractic believe it’s much more important to prevent diseases than to wait until some illness occurs. Through regular adjustments, counseling on proper diet, exercise and posture, the Doctor of Chiropractic can help you raise a child whose body is structurally and functionally sound. Your child will also learn good health habits at an early age.

About the Author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. She is proficient in a variety of techniques including diversified, cranial sacral and activator. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. Dr. Greeley can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.M

Childhood ear infections:

Ear infections seem to be a common part of childhood infections. The most common diagnosed ear infection is the otitis media or better known as a middle ear infection. There are many different ways to treat this condition, some more conservative than others. Most parents are aware of the medical approach with antibiotics but few are aware of the more natural approach to ear infections with chiropractic.

Otitis media, the most common childhood infectious disease:

Otitis media is one of the most common infectious diseases in childhood, with the incidence being the greatest in the age group of 6 to 36 months. In fact one third of the child population will have six or more episodes before the age of five.(2)

The diagnosis is usually made when a physician looks inside the child’s ear and sees an inflamed and bulging tympanic membrane. This membrane reaction could be due to bacteria, viral, or an allergic reaction.(1)

Since virus and allergies do not respond to antibiotics this would explain why some children seem to have recurrent ear infections. According to Dr. Lehnert he concluded in his study:

“Acute Otitis Media in Children: Role of antibiotic therapy,” that there was a “definite need for antibiotics in only five-to-ten percent of acute otitis media cases.”(1)

Chiropractic treatment of otitis media:

As a parent you may be asking yourself if antibiotics is not the solution then what can I do? There is another treatment to acute otitis media that has nothing to do with bacteria. That treatment is chiropractic care.

Chiropractic treatment of otitis media is based on the model that restricted lymphatic drainage from the middle ear plays a major part in recurrent otitis media. The lymphatic drainage of the ear runs from the cervical lymph system and that system depends on its flow from muscle activity.

For example if a child falls and causes a minor misalignment in one of the vertebrae in the neck the irritation of that misalignment may cause the neck muscles to develop a state of increased tension or spasm. That state could be the cause of restricted lymph drainage from the ear.

The lymph tissue carries the lymphocytes which allow our body to have acquired immunity. If the lymph tissue is restricted then our acquired immunity can not fight the viruses that enter our body effectively.

A fall is not the only way a vertebrae in the neck may become misaligned. During childbirth as the head pushes through the canal the cervical vertebrae especially at the base of the neck may become misaligned disrupting nerve function and lymphatic drainage which may cause fluid buildup in the middle ear.

A chiropractor will gently adjust the upper neck which can reduce the neck musculature and restore normal function to the lymphatic system.

The seven risk factors for otitis prone children:

David W. Teele M.D. a pediatrician at Boston University School of Medicine identified seven risk factors for otitis prone children:

1. Age – the child is at more of a risk if their first attack is before six months of age.
2. Sex- boys are more susceptible than girls.
3. Birth order – First-born children are less likely to have repeated infections then second or younger siblings
4. Family history – If other children have been affected by recurring infections then the child is three times as likely to be affected.
5. Feeding method – Studies suggest that breast-fed babies have fewer cases of otitis media.
6. Day care – Infants spending 90 days or more in day care had three times the risk of recurring infection by their first birthday.
7. Smoking – Children who live in homes with smokers are susceptible to ear and respiratory-tract infections.(4)

In a comparative study of the health status of children raised under the health care models of chiropractic and allopathic medicine:

“chiropractic children showed 69% no occurrence of otitis media while the medical children showed only 20% otitis media free.”

With antibiotics, in general 49% of chiropractic children never used them while only 11.8% of medical children where antibiotic free.(5)

So if your child has not had a spinal check-up you may want to consider this especially if your child has any of the above risk factors or if they have had any falls or trauma at birth. They concluded that:

“the success of (the chiropractic) adjustment overshadows every other type of (care).”(5)

1. Browning, G.G. Childhood Otalgia: Acute Otitis Media. Brit. Medical Journal. 300:1005 1990.

2. Kline, M.W. Otitis Media. In Oski, et al. Principals and Practice of Pediatrics, Philadelphia, Lippencott 1990 :900.

3. Lehnert, Thomas MD. CCFP, “Acute Otitis Media in Children: Role of Antibiotic Therapy.” May 1997 Heath Watch

4. Teele, David W. MD. ” Is your child Otitis Prone?” Pediatric Annuals 1991

5. Van Breda W.M. & Van Breda J. M. “A Comparative Study of the health status of children raised under the health care models of chiropractic and allopathic medicine.” CRJ. Summer 1989. pp.101-103.

About the author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. Dr. Greeley can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

Scoliosis Article – Part 2

Can scoliosis be prevented?

Now that we know what scoliosis is and how it is detected, what can we do as parents to prevent the curve from progressing? Is scoliosis treatable?

There are a few studies that show when the curve is less than 20 degrees, there are possible treatments. Catching scoliosis early is always your best chance for curve changes.

In fact, poor posture was thought to be an important contributing factor in the development of scoliosis in the early 19th century and in the U.S., posture training was one of the primary treatments for scoliosis in that era. It fell out of favor in the later years of the 19th century, as bracing and surgery became the preferred treatment of orthopedic doctors.

Scoliosis and spinal manipulation studies:

However, in a 2001 study performed in Hong Kong, “A long-lasting active spinal control could be achieved through the patient’s own spinal muscles.”

Other publications in Spine including studies done in Japan and in Sweden have suggested that a disturbance of postural equilibrium exists in idiopathic scoliosis patients:

“In Germany, the triad of outpatient physiotherapy, intensive inpatient rehabilitation and bracing has proven effective in conservative scoliosis treatments. The positive outcomes of this practice validate a policy of offering conservative scoliosis treatment as an alternative to patients, including those for whom surgery is indicated.”

A 2004 study of 19 patients by a group of chiropractors found that the combined use of spinal manipulation and postural therapy appeared to significantly reduce the severity of the curvature angle in all the subjects.

It is interesting to note that one of the methods the chiropractors used to treat the patients was traction, a treatment that was popular for spinal curvature in the early 1900’s.

Scoliosis and exercise:

Besides posture training, exercise is also considered important for scoliosis prevention and treatment in the United States. In a 1992 study in Croatica, greater occurrences of scoliosis were observed in children with limited physical activity.

Researchers from The Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in Wellington, New Zealand, reported on a case of a young boy with progressive juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. They found that there was rapid improvement in this child’s spinal status achieved by physiological traction and specifically designed exercises.

Furthermore, a preliminary report on the effect of measured strength training in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from a spine clinic in San Diego reports that out of 12 patients treated with strength training, four reduced their curves by 20 to 28 degrees.

Scoliosis and children:

Children with mild scoliosis treated with chiropractic adjustments have shown a reduction in their spinal curvature, according to the findings of a three year, $143,000 study funded by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research. Charles “Skip” Lantz, DC, PhD, director of research of Life Chiropractic College West and his associates conducted this cohort study.

The researchers were studying the effects of chiropractic full-spine procedures such as adjustments, heel-lifts and postural counseling on children 9 to 15 years old with mild idiopathic scoliosis (less than 20 degrees of curvature with no complicating conditions). Scoliosis is a biomechanical problem deserving a biomechanical treatment, and should be advanced by biomechanical specialists such as chiropractors.

Scoliosis, check early and often:

Ultimately we need to check our children’s posture as they go through their growth spurts and check for the beginning signs of scoliosis. If there seems to be an indication, seek out a health professional who can properly evaluate and treat the spinal curvatures before they grow too severe to be treated conservatively.

About the author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has completed extended courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center, is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. Dr. Greeley can be reached at (805) 522-2324.

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

What is scoliosis? Part 1

Scoliosis is a Greek word meaning “crooked.” Most of the time it will go undetected, but there are signs to watch for so that it can be detected early and treated as effectively as possible. Signs include a person’s tendency to lean to the left or right and many children with scoliosis have one shoulder blade that’s higher than the other or a noticeably uneven waist.

These problems may be recognized when your child is trying on new clothes. For instance, if one pant leg is shorter than the other, it might be an indication of scoliosis. If you notice any possible indication, contact a practitioner who can accurately diagnose and treat your child’s problematic spine curvature.

Scoliosis and procedures for children:

When your child is being screened for posture problems or scoliosis, here are a few procedures you may encounter in both your medical and chiropractic offices:

• Medical history – The doctor talks to the patient and the patient’s parent(s) and reviews the patient’s records to look for medical problems that might be causing the spine to curve such as birth defects, trauma or other disorders that can be associated with scoliosis.
• Physical examination – The doctor examines the patient’s back, chest, pelvis, legs, feet and skin. He or she will also check to see that the patient’s shoulders are level, whether the head is centered and whether opposite sides of the body look level. The doctor also examines the back muscles while the patient is bending forward to see if one side of the rib cage is higher than the other.
• X-ray evaluation – Patients with significant spinal curves, unusual back pain or signs of involvement of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) need an x-ray. To determine the degree of the curve, an x-ray evaluation is necessary.
• Curve measurement – The doctor measures the curve on the x-ray image. He or she finds the vertebrae at the beginning and end of the curve and measures the angle of the curve. Curvatures of less than 20 degrees can be conservatively managed with spinal adjustments by a Doctor of Chiropractic, as well as with soft tissue therapy and exercise. Any curvature, which progresses to more than 20 degrees during the growth period, should be evaluated for possible bracing.

Scoliosis curves are grouped by their location, shape, pattern, and cause:

• Location – To identify a curve’s location, doctors find the apex of the curve (the vertebra within the curve that is the most off-center); the location of the apex is the “location” of the curve. A thoracic curve has its apex in the thoracic area (the part of the spine to which the ribs attach). A lumbar curve has its apex in the lower back. A thoracolumbar curve has its apex where the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae join.
• Shape – The curve usually is S- or C-shaped.
• Pattern – Curves frequently follow patterns that have been studied in previous patients. The larger the curve is, the more likely it will progress (depending on the amount of growth remaining).
• Cause – In 80 to 85 percent of people, the cause of scoliosis is unknown; this is called idiopathic scoliosis. Causes of curves are classified as either nonstructural or structural.
  • Nonstructural (functional) scoliosis – a structurally normal spine that appears curved. This is a temporary, changing curve. It is caused by an underlying condition such as a difference in leg length, muscle spasms or inflammatory conditions such as appendicitis. Automobile or recent traumatic accidents can cause these changing curves. Doctors can easily treat this type of scoliosis by correcting the underlying problem.
  • Structural scoliosis – A fixed curve that doctors treat case by case. Sometimes structural scoliosis is one part of a syndrome or disease. A congenital half vertebrae or even a fracture of the spine can cause it.

Possible scoliosis causes:

According to a feature in the medical journal Spine, teenage girls with Scoliosis were found to have high copper levels in their hair. The authors of this study suggested that copper might play a role in idiopathic scoliosis.

Furthermore, in another study of scoliosis published in Spine, calcium was higher in idiopathic scoliosis muscles than in other forms of scoliosis or in normal control muscles. The study suggested that calcium related neuromuscular defect could be an important factor in the genesis of idiopathic scoliosis.

In addition, a report from a researcher at the Women’s Medical and Diagnostic Center in Florida reports that among other factors, scoliosis is a known risk factor for osteoporosis.

Scoliosis Article – Page 2 – Can scoliosis be prevented?

Back Pack Safety Guidelines for Back-to-School

By Dr. Katie Greeley B.S., D.C.

Children and the dangers of backpacks:

The demands of school and homework for today’s children have never been greater. In fact, students ranging from the ages of 5 to 18 are carrying more books and excess weight on their backs causing intense pressure not intended for the human spine.

As a result, within in the past five years, parents and doctors have noticed an increase in children who report pain in the back, neck and shoulders. In fact, a recent study conducted by Backpack Safety of America shows that 89 percent of the chiropractors surveyed report they have seen patients, ages 5 to 18, attribute such pain to the use of overly heavy backpacks.

Moreover, by then end of their teenage years, close to 50 percent of young adults will experience at least one lower-back pain episode (Spine, 1998).

A recent scientific study found that carrying a backpack alters the mobility of spinal bones, leading to restricted movement, which is also a risk factor for pain (Surg Radiol Anat, 1999).

Even worse, the improper use of backpacks can significantly alter the fluid content of the discs in between the vertebrae, which poses the risk for osteoarthritis and for disc herniation, also known as a “slipped disc” (Spine, 1999).

Tips to prevent backpack-related back problems:

The following are tips to help prevent posture problems and spinal conditions associated with a heavy backpack:

1. Choose the right size – backpacks are not “one size fits all.” A backpack should not be any wider or longer than your child’s torso.



2. The backpack should never exceed more than 15 percent of your child’s body weight –




• Research by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that students carrying backpacks weighing 25 percent of their body weight had balance problems and were unable to perform normal activities such as climbing stairs and opening doors whereas students who wore the recommended weight maintained an average balance.
• Heavy backpacks can also cause your child to lean forward or arch his or her back, which can stress the muscles along the spine and neck. This can increase the risk of injury and cause the natural curves to become distorted and irritated.




3. Lift by bending the knees – Remind your child to always lift his or her backpack by bending at the knees, instead of at the back.



4. Use shoulder and waste straps – Always encourage your child to use both shoulder straps and a waist strap when available. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child’s back because a backpack on one shoulder can cause your child to lean to one side and stress the muscles on the opposite side, creating strain in the neck and shoulders.
   



5. Have your child’s posture checked – If you are unsure if your child’s posture has already been affected or if your child is experiencing pain, you can have your child’s backpack and posture checked by a qualified spine and posture specialist such as a chiropractor.
   

The health of your child involves more than just avoiding sickness, scrapes and falls. Making sure your child’s back is healthy will ensure proper spinal growth and development and prevent problems later in life as well.

About the author:

Dr. Katie Greeley is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic and a mother of two living in Simi Valley, California. She has taken extra courses on pediatrics that go above and beyond the regular doctorate degree. Her office, United Family Chiropractic Center is located in Wood Ranch at 1070 Country Club Drive West, Suite D in Simi Valley, CA. The office can be reached at (805) 522-2324.