Coogee Chiropractic Care can help ADHD and Vertebral Subluxation by Michael Cohen

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) afflicts millions of children, from youngsters to teens. According to the American Psychiatric Association, three to seven percent of school-aged children have been diagnosed withADHD.1 The Center for Disease Control reports that teens are diagnosed more often than youngsters are, and boys are more likely to be diagnosed than girls (13.2% and 5.5%, respectively). In the latter part of the 20th century, methylphenidate - a psycho stimulant most commonly known as Ritalin—was used to manage the symptoms of ADHD, but that treatment has come under fire forever-use. In fact, the increase in prescriptions reached such alarming rates that the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board issued warnings in 1996 and 1997, primarily in the United States, which accounts for 90 percent of Ritalin consumption. In 2006, after research revealed that Ritalin use in the UK had increased tenfold, the National Health Service began a lengthy investigation to determine if the drug was being over-prescribed. In some parts of England, Ritalin was being prescribed for as many as 14 percent of schoolchildren under the age of 15.2 Rather than mask symptoms of ADHD with medications that could potentially have negative effects on children in the end, cranial care and adjustment of vertebral subluxation have proven to deliver positive results for managing ADHD symptoms. The 22 bones that make up the head remain separate throughout a person’s life. Proper movement of these bones is critical to wellness. If the bones are out of alignment, a variety of conditions may occur, such as allergies, depression, fibromyalgia, migraines. Learning disorders, neck and jaw pain, and ADHD. Just as vertebra can fall out of alignment, cranial bones can shift, applying tension on the nervous system. By making the necessary manual adjustments, the left and right hemispheres of the brain can replaced to their correct position. When the bones are in place, the nervous system functions are often restored. A case reported in the Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapy3 detailed how a five year-old whwas diagnosed with ADHD responded positively to chiropractic adjustment. The child had beenmedicated, unsuccessfully, for three years. According to the report, “After 27 chiropractic visits, thechild’s pediatrician stated that the child no longer exhibited symptoms of ADHD.” WWW.CHIROSPORTS.COM.AU

TEL. 02 9398 3699

166 CARRINGTON ROAD, COOGEE NSW 2034

© CHIROSPORTS COOGEE PTY LTD In addition to cranial care, chiropractors are experiencing success with ADHD patients by using upper cervical care to treat vertebral subluxation. When a vertebra shifts out of its normal position, the lack of alignment cases stress to the spinal framework, which creates imbalance in certain nervous system functions. Relieving the vertebral subluxation has shown to reduce ADHD symptoms. A case reported in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research4 described the treatment of a nine year-oldboy with ADHD, as well as Tourette’s Syndrome, asthma, depression, insomnia, and chronic headaches. After six weeks of chiropractic care, the child’s symptoms had disappeared. At the end of the five-month care plan, the symptoms had not resurfaced. Chiropractic treats mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system. As a drug-free alternative that delivers dramatic results for a broad range of conditions, including ADHD, chiropractic should be considered as a safer, more effective option for improving and maintaining health and well-being.

Is Obesity Genetic?

It's easy to look at extra weight and chalk it up to genetics. Maybe one or both of your parents are heavy, and your siblings have followed suit. But if you think becoming or remaining overweight or obese is a foregone conclusion because of family history, think again.

While some people might appear to have ‘skinny genes', when you take a closer look, you're more likely to see a pattern of healthier living passed from generation to generation. More shared activities and a greater concern for nutrition are often the stronger link to maintaining healthy weight than any genetic patterning.

Genetics is not a direct cause of obesity, which is defined as a person with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher; overweight is considered a BMI of 25 to 29. Obesity is no longer a health problem that is confined to industrialized countries. According to the World Health Organization, obesity has more than doubled around the world since 1980. In 2008, 500 million adults worldwide fell into the obese range; 43 million children under the age of five are overweight, and 35 million of them live in developing countries.

Major risk factors associated with excess weight include a variety of chronic diseases: diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese. Maintaining an unhealthy weight - whether overweight or obese - is directly linked with 44% of the diabetes cases, 23% of the ischemic heart disease, and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer (endometrial, breast, colon).

Scientists find that cultural and environmental changes - not genes - are the major contributors to weight problems. Fast-paced lifestyles forsake nutrition for convenience, and sedentary behaviors have become prevalent as more people are glued to their chairs in front of computer and television screens or waiting in a drive-through line. And family gatherings are usually centered around eating, associating comfort with food. Since the family is the strongest influencer of lifelong habits from a very young age, unhealthy behaviors often run in families - but not in the genes. A 2010 study by The Children's Hospital at the University of San Francisco reported that a child with one obese parent is 50 percent likely to become obese; the risk increases to 80 percent when both parents are obese 1.The Pima Indians present a strong case for cultural influences on weight. Long ago, they split into two tribes - one migrating to southern Arizona and the other to northern Mexico - but were otherwise genetically one group. Cultural and economic changes pushed the Arizona Pimas away from farming in the 1970s. They adopted the diet and lifestyle of the American people. Today, the population of Pima Indians in Arizona has one of the highest incidences of obesity of any group in the world. About half of them develop type 2 diabetes by the time they are 35 years old.

Meanwhile, the Pima Indians who have been living in Mexico continue to farm, are physically active, and consume a diet that is rich in vegetables and grains. Diabetes is a rarity among this group, and they average one inch shorter and 57 pounds less than the Pimas in America. Clearly, their lifestyle, not their genes, kept their weight at a healthier level than their Arizona kin.2 A similar trend of weight gain among a population has occurred with Africans living in the United States and Asians in the UK3

The major threats to unhealthy weight are:

• Too many non-nutritional, highly processed foods
• "Super sizing" that adds even more empty calories and excess fat
• Sedentary desk jobs with no activity breaks
• Rushed schedules that don't allow for healthful meal preparation
• Conveniences such as drive-through lines that discourage walking
• Low priority on making time for physical activity

Weight gain occurs when a person consumes more calories (fuel) than he uses. The excess becomes fat. Losing just five to ten percent of your weight can make a big difference in reducing your health risks.

The World Health Organization states, "Changes in dietary and physical activity patterns are often the result of environmental and societal changes associated with development and lack of supportive policies in sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing, distribution, marketing and education."

• Rather than blame the family gene pool for weight gain, try changing the cycle of excess.
• Reduce your intake of foods that are high in fats, salt, and sugar.
• Eat more healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Get more proteins from nuts and legumes.
• Incorporate more walking into your day by parking farther from your office and avoiding the drive-through windows.
• Prepare healthy meals in advance so that you can eat better "on the go".
• Then share these behaviors with your family members so you can literally reshape your future!

Achieving pH balance in an acidic lifestyle- Chiropractor Coogee

People are living longer today. The reason isn't due to increased health, but more medical intervention. More than ever before, our bodies are under attack from a variety of cultural shifts, including highly processed foods, increased stress, fast-paced lifestyles, and pollutants.

These threats are creating highly acidic environments within our bodies and killing the cells we need to survive. The human body needs an oxygenated environment to remain healthy. The pH (potential of Hydrogen) measures the ratio of acidity or alkalinity in a solution. Balance occurs when the pH slightly favors the alkalis. Acid excess stresses the organs. Over-acidification, or acidosis, results when there is more acid than the body can neutralize and detoxify. The more acid we have, the harder the organs - like adrenals, thyroid, and liver - have to work, which stresses the systems. Chiropractor consider that health can be enhanced and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column.

Eating fast and processed foods - and eating them on the run - is a major contributor to excess acid. Diets that are heavy with red meats, caffeine, soda, snacks filled with carbohydrates and sugar, and artificial sweeteners and additives lead to acidosis.

The body is a healing machine by nature, so it fights back when high acidity occurs. To achieve balance, the blood takes alkaline minerals - calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium - from the tissues. When those reserves are depleted; alkalizes are taken from bones and muscles. Acid surplus is then directed into tissues and organs (heart, colon, liver, and/or pancreas) for storage and the overload is pumped back into the blood - creating a vicious cycle of "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

With high acidity, the oxygen level drops and vital cells die. Imagine fish trying to survive in an acidic pond. They can't breathe. The same happens to the cells in the human body, which are living in a liquid environment. As more cells die, the body becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, fungus, and virus. The immune system weakens and disease results. Relatively mild symptoms of phi balance include:

* Skin eruptions and acne * Headaches * Colds and flu * Allergies * Sinusitis * Joint pain and stiffness * Nasal drip *Hot flashes * Dizziness and weak spells * Weight gain or loss * Chronic fatigue

When the pH imbalance continues or worsens the severity of the disease increases. Osteoporosis, arthritis, heart attack, and even cancer have been shown to occur. While some cells die from the excess acidity, others survive but become abnormal. In "The Hidden Truth of Cancer", Dr. Keiishi Morishita explains, "These abnormal cells are called malignant cells. Malignant cells do not correspond with brain function nor with our own DNS memory code. Therefore, malignant cells grow indefinitely and without order. This is cancer." With a healthy pH balance, the malignant cells cannot survive, the immune system is strong, and we maintain optimum vitality.

Testing for pH balance

Since the human body is 70 percent water, we have pH levels in saliva, blood, and other fluids--and they're not necessarily the same. Because different parts of the body have different functions, the balance of acid and alkali will vary. Healthy skin, for example, is slightly acidic (approximately 5.5) to battle such environmental threats as bacteria and toxins, while blood is slightly alkaline (7.35-7.45). The pH of the digestive tract, for example, varies depending on the stage it is undergoing. Overall, it is acidic in order to process the foods we eat. There are various screening tools that can measure the body's pH:

pH Screening - Litmus strips test pH levels in urine and saliva, but need to be measured daily over a week or so to get an accurate reading.

Urinary Indican test - This simple test measures bacteria levels to identify potential gastrointestinal problems.

Live Blood Analysis - Looking at live blood cells in vitro provides evidence of nutritional deficiencies, organ dysfunction, and various biochemical imbalances, including pH. Screening for pH imbalance is an easy process and should be included in regular check-ups.

SOLUTIONS FOR BETTER BALANCE

Patients can avoid the distress of harboring an acidic environment by first identifying the problem and then making lifestyle adjustments to bring their biological terrain back into a healthy mode. A diet rich with leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, legumes, unprocessed foods, healthy grains (oats, quinoa, wild rice, amaranth), and natural sweeteners (stevia, raw honey) is a great start. Limit highly acidic animal proteins - particularly red meats and shellfish - and beverages such as coffee, black tea, soda, wine, and liquor. Choose fresh (not processed) juices. Snack on hazelnuts, almonds, raisins, grapes, and apples instead of cookies, candy, and crackers. Add a squirt of lemon or lime juice to beverages and vegetables for both flavor and the alkalizing effect of these citrus fruit (yes, even though they are acidic fruits, they process as alkali in the body). Use sea salt, which is richer in minerals than common table salt.

Nutritional supplements are also helpful for maintaining pH balance, but patients need to remember the key word here: "supplement". They are not substitutes to a healthy diet, nor are all vitamins created equal. Look for a natural supplement - without dyes, allergens, and artificial preservatives - that is bio-available, meaning that the contents are readily absorbed into the body.

PH imbalance presents an ongoing threat to the health of your patients. Educate them as to the importance of making the right lifestyle choices and give them the tools to manage their pH levels. It's easy to ignore pH levels, but the consequences can be harsh, if not deadly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Thomas is an accredited Nutritionist who recently completed over five years with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, a world leader in biomedical research. She joined Chirosports in Coogee in 2011. With particular interest in detoxification, weight loss, pre-conception care, and mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, Michelle keeps up to date with current research, and uses the latest screening tools to bring bodies, back into balance.

Michelle Thomas is an accredited Nutritionist who recently completed over five years with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, a world leader in biomedical research. For more information and inquires, visit http://www.chirosports.com.au/clinics/coogee today.

Chirosports Cogee Stretching is the best prevention for cycling injuries

Cycling is a healthy activity that people can enjoy at any age, individually or in groups. However, avid cyclists are prone to many injuries and conditions as a result of long hours in the saddle that lead to tightened muscles and in order to prevent such injuries you must now of the appropriate Coogee chiropractic care. Back, neck, knee, and foot problems are the most common ailments, with the symptoms ranging from discomfort to extreme pain. The sport of cycling requires the rider to use muscles throughout the body: arms, shoulders, back, hips, legs, and feet. The rectus abdominis, obliques, hip flexors, and spinal erectors help the rider maintain balance and strength. The deltoids, biceps, and triceps support the leaning position. Muscles are never fully extended or retracted during cycling, so they tend to shorten and tighten. By correctly stretching these muscles, cyclists can enjoy their activity without risk of pain or injury, including many common ailments suffered by cycling enthusiasts: Lower back pain: Bending over to reach handlebars puts strain on the lower back. The muscles tighten after an extended time in this position. Muscle strain: Overuse without allowing time for muscles to rest can lead to strains or tears. Depending on the number of fibers that are torn, the pain can be severe. Patellar tendonitis: The pedaling motion can lead to patellar tendonitis through overuse or incorrect pedaling form. The tendon becomes inflamed from rubbing against the bone. Knee bursitis: The bursa that cushions the knee tendons and ligaments becomes inflamed, potentially from the repetitive pedaling motion. In minor cases, the knee becomes swollen and red. If the bursa ruptures, causing the fluid to leak, the vital cushioning is severely reduced. Illotibial band syndrome: This tendon-like band connects the outside of the thigh to the bottom of the knee. When the illotibial band tightens, it can pull the knee joint out of alignment, causing inflammation and pain. Plantar fasciitis: The plantar fascia runs along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the ball. Pedaling can strain this tendon, causing inflammation and pain and you might need sprained ankles treatment. The stretching solution Because comfortable cycling is dependent on health muscles, tendons, and ligaments, stretching is the ideal exercise to prevent injury with the aid of physiotherapy bondi junction. Stretching improves muscle flexibility, which enhances range of motion. A good stretch gets the blood pumping to the muscles. It's a simple solution yet frequently overlooked. This conditioning enhances performance and endurance since muscles can better withstand the strains of cycling. A stretching regime must be part of a regular cycling workout or you may also consult a Coogeesports doctor to learn more. Here are some stretching tips that will help to maintain flexibility and strength: 1. Don't stretch cold muscles. Warm up with a casual ride for five to ten minutes to loosen up. 2. Stretching after a workout is equally important to avoid tightening as the muscles relax. 3. Avoid bouncing stretches, which can lead to muscle tears. 4. Static stretching is best. Stretch slowly, working one muscle group at a time until feeling minor tension. Hold for ten seconds and then release. 5. Use slow, deep breathing to relax during stretching. 6. Start with neck 7. When feeling tight during a ride, stop and stretch to avoid injury. Cycling is an excellent exercise that allows riders to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether riding for leisure, cycling long distances, or competing, it is a great way to stay in shape. The right stretching program can help to prevent an injury from putting the brakes on the fun and through the ample knowledge about Coogee Chiropractic Care.

Greg Sher graduated with a Masters Degree in Chiropractic in 2002 and prior to relocating to Sydney, had a successful clinic in London and two successful practices around Johannesburg. An avid cyclist, swimmer, and rugby and squash player, Greg has a special interest in the Chiropractic approach to sporting injuries. To learn more of Coogee Chiropractic Care to prevent cycling injuries, feels free to visit http://www.chirosports.com.au/clinics/coogee.