Health & Exercise

A HEALTHY DAY

DR. JAMES NILLDo your children have blood pressure check-ups or regular tests of their blood glucose levels? Probably not – these simple procedures can be done during a child’s annual physical. But kids are very active and more frequent chiropractic check-ups are usually a good idea.

Most of us were introduced to chiropractic care when we were adults – and we had to play catch-up for however long a period of time before we really began to feel healthy again. If we began chiropractic care as a younger adult, it probably didn’t take too long to restore good health. If we were older – well, the process probably took more time.

If chiropractic care is valuable for you, imagine how valuable it is for your children. Kids are natural explorers – they run, jump, climb things, fall down, and bounce around.1 And, kids are resilient – this ability to recover quickly is one of the great benefits of being very young.

Occasionally, one of these activity-related injuries impacts a child’s spine. Nothing obvious has happened and nothing hurts. But there may be subtle injuries to spinal muscles and spinal ligaments that have a long-term effect on spinal nerve function.2,3

Spinal nerve function depends on mechanical integrity of the spine itself. If spinal muscles and ligaments are inflamed or irritated, spinal nerve function is compromised to a greater or lesser extent. In a child, the short- and long-term results may include muscle pain and stiffness, loss of full range of motion in the neck or lower back, frequent colds, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, allergies, and asthma.

Of course, when it comes to good health for you and your family, preventing a problem is much easier than treating a problem. In the long run, prevention also costs much less.

We all want our kids to be healthy and well. We want them to play full-out, to engage in all kinds of sports, and to have a lot of fun. In order for children to continue to enjoy optimal health, regular spinal check-ups are as important as an annual physical exam.

Your local chiropractor is the spinal health expert in your community. They will be glad to help you ensure your child’s continued good health.

1Barkley JE, et al: Reinforcing value of interval and continuous physical activities in children. Physiol Behav April 16, 2009

2Fecteau D, et al: The effect of concentrating periods of physical activity on the risk of injury in organized sports in a pediatric population. Clin J Sport Med 18(5):410-414, 2008

3Spinks AB, McClure RJ: Quantifying the risk of sports injury: a systematic review of activity-specific rates for children under 16 years of age. Br J Sports Med 41(9):548-557, 2007

This article is sponsored by Dr. Nill of Nill Family Chiropractic & Wellness Center, LLC

Please call us at (260) 459-2205 for your FREE consultation today! We are also offering $35 treatments (Includes exam/hot moist packs/massage/myofascial release/chiropractic joint manipulation/core stabilization exercises)

Also, check out our web site at www.nillchiropractic.com where you can take advantage of our automatic monthly newsletters and sign up for our “Members Only” section. By doing so, you can take advantage of chiropractic and product discounts along with access to exercises and much more! If you have any questions please feel free to contact Dr. Nill at drnill@nillchiropractic.com or call anytime.

Take care and Have A Healthy Day!

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Dr. Jayme Nill, D.C.

A Fort Wayne native, Jayme writes the Here's To Your Health Column. He received his education from Ball State University and National University of Health Sciences. Dr. Nill is is the owner of Nill Family Chiropractic on West Jefferson Blvd. > Read Full Biography > More Articles Written By This Writer