Does your child need to see a chiropractor?

There seems to be so many myths about chiropractic treatment for kids. Some people’s mouths drop open when they hear about babies and small children getting spinal adjustments in my office in Livermore while others understand the value. The question boils down to when and why would a baby or child need to see a chiropractor?

The answer lies in understanding the body. All the body parts and systems are controlled by the brain (that seems simple enough) and that control is communicated through the spinal cord and out the nerves. The nerves exit through the spine and travel to all the body parts.  When bones mis-align it can cause pressure on those delicate nerves causing an interruption to the communication therefore affecting the body’s function. Did you also know that pain receptors are located on those nerves? No wonder why pinched nerves can also cause pain (headaches, neck pain, tingling, back pain, leg pain etc.).

So why wouldn’t a baby who was traumatically pulled out of the womb be checked for spinal mis-alignments so that their communication system can work optimally?  Why wouldn’t a baby who falls over trying to crawl or walk get their spine checked? Many of my patients bring in their children regularly (maybe once every 4-6 weeks) and have their children checked for these misaligned vertebrae.  What many parents have found that getting their child treated in my office relieves ear infections, bowel issues, allergies and other common childhood conditions.

So again, should your child see a chiropractor? Only if they have bones mis-aligned. That’s why it is best they are checked by a chiropractor and you too for that matter!

For more information on this subject or to have your child checked complimentary in our office this month in September contact us.

Scoliosis Treatment and Posture awareness for Kids in Livermore

Many times, I have patients who come to my office in Livermore complaining of chronic back pain, neck pain, headaches, hip pain, shoulder pain and the list continues. In many cases, the aches and pains are in more than one area and seem to affect one another.  Once we examine them thoroughly and take x-rays, scoliosis is the terrible diagnosis. Scoliosis is a condition of the spine that is in many cases hereditary where the spine has an abnormal curvature. 

From the side view of the spine there should be three curves-one in the neck (cervical lordosis), the mid back (thoracic kyphosis) and low back (lumbar lordosis). These curves from the side are ABSOLUTELY normal and NECESSARY.  These are the curves that we talk about when we address posture!  Now scoliosis curves are visible on x-ray when looking at the spine from either the front or back view.   When these curves develop they irritate nerves, muscles and in many cases affect organ function.

When adult patients present with scoliosis, I always tell them that getting their spines straight is not a huge possibility unless they were still growing vertically! That is why I always recommend they bring in their children to be checked for scoliosis so it may be corrected and prevent future problems in adulthood.  Most scoliosis tests done by the school nurse or by pediatricians are not sufficient.  The traditional quick test is to ask the child to bend forward at the waist and touch their toes. If the shoulder blade pops out then scoliosis is suspected. This vague test cause many cases of scoliosis to be undiagnosed until symptoms appear later on in life.

For this reason, we at Haque Chiropractic are dedicating this month of April to check children for scoliosis and postural problems.  And during the week of April 11^th through April 15^th we are doing it at no charge!

For more information on this event or to schedule an appointment for your children contact us.  And remember, and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Haque Chiropractic in Livermore, CA Presents on Backpack Safety

Yesterday I went to Carden West Schoolin Pleasanton to present to the parents on backpack safety.   I have noticed that many parents are not aware of how important it is to teach your child to properly lift and carry items in their backpack.  This was the topic of my presentation and here are the general rules that I figured I’d share with my patients and you. 

There are three main areas to be concerned about when it comes to a safe backpack:  Choosing the right backpack, wearing the backpack and finally the weight of the backpack.

1. Choosing the correct backpack- Often times, kids want a one shoulder or across the body style of bag which might be hip but it is not as safe as a two strap  back pack to carry their heavy items.  When selecting the bag, make sure they try it on and the straps fit properly so that the bag is snug to the body.  It is also important to choose a bag that has wide padded straps so that the straps don’t put pressure on the shoulders and possibly risk your child from having their nerves to their arms affected.  It is also important that the bag isn’t too large.  When your child wears their backpack, the bottom of the bag should sag to their buttocks and below. This can cause tension in the muscles of the neck and back and create spinal injuries.
2. Wearing the backpack correctly-Often times kids wear their backpack on one shoulder which is a quick way to create mis-aligned vertebrae and subluxations.  Over time chronic back, shoulder and neck pain can become a problem from this habit.  Both straps should be worn on both shoulders and the straps should fit snug.  It is also important that your child learn to lift their bag up properly to avoid back muscle strain. As with lifting a heavy box by bending at the knees, it is also a good idea to teach your child to lift their bag by bending their knees and using the muscles of their legs instead of their back.  It is a good idea to look for a bag that has a waist band and padding in the back so that the bag will fit more comfortably and take off pressure from the back.
3. Weight of the backpack-This is a huge deal as so many children now have to lug all their books back and forth from school without any locker use.  The rule of weight is that the weight of the backpack should not exceed 15% of your child’s body weight.  So check out the math, if your child weighs 80 pounds, their backpack should only be 8-10 pounds in weight.  Not very heavy!  That is why it is a good idea to make sure that they only carry necessary items in their bag and to purchase paperback books if possible.  If the bag has compartments which I recommend, it is best to use all the compartments and keep the heaviest books closes to the back as it offers more core and back support.

Lastly, remember if your child is complaining of neck pain or you notice their posture slouching have them checked by your chiropractor to make sure they are not injuring their spines.

Haque Chiropractic dedicating August to scoliosis screenings for children in Livermore, CA

SCOLIOSIS often deprives people of the things they enjoy most in life as well as in some cases, the ability to learn and prosper.   SCOLIOSIS is the unnatural sideward curvature of the spine that occurs quite often in children and young adults. The early detection and treatment of SCOLIOSIS during the formative years may help prevent it from worsening over time.

As the chiropractic focus is on spinal related conditions CHIROPRACTORS are highly qualified to diagnose and treat scoliosis.

Several patients in my office with chronic back, neck, or head complaints often have a diagnosis of scoliosis that was untreated as a child. In many of these cases their scoliosis was untreated due to it being hidden and never diagnosed and in other cases; the treatment modalities were not effective in managing and reducing the scoliotic curve.   For this reason, we at Haque Chiropractic are devoting our efforts to decrease the serious effects of scoliosis by screening our children in the month of August for possible scoliosis.

In order to examine for scoliosis, a complete examination including postural tests, orthopedic tests, neurologic tests and chiropractic tests will be preformed.  In addition, if any scoliosis is suspected on these tests, a spinal X-ray will complete the exam to diagnose the scoliotic curvature and its severity.  Parents will then get the opportunity to see their x-rays and hear the findings and options that may be available for treatment. 

These scoliosis examinations will be available to all school aged children at Haque Chiropractic complimentary during the week of August 16-20^th.  For more information or to schedule your child’s appointment, contact us or call us today at (925)960-1960.

Many of my patients have recently told me that they are pregnant.  Many questions arise from these patients about natural child birth and other subjects so I thought I’d share a few do’s and dont’s that I share with my pregnant mothers in my office in Livermore.

Do practice wellness not fadness – Just because it’s the latest thing doesn’t mean it’s the greatest. Be sure to carefully consider every option presented to you during your pregnancy. Whether it’s a new vitamin or exercise regimen, take a moment to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

Don’t forget the importance of good nutrition – Diet plays an important role in a wellness pregnancy. Eating whole, living foods begins by understanding that if it’s in a box, a can or package, it’s probably been nutritionally compromised. Processed foods are generally less healthy and have already had most, if not all, of their important vitamins and minerals processed out of them.

Do reduce your caffeine intake – Research has suggested that caffeine has been known to cause miscarriages and, if you’re not already pregnant, can interfere with conception.

Don’t get overscheduled – Stress can have a negative impact on your pregnancy causing problems such as hypertension and may potentially cause a miscarriage. It’s important to look at your life realistically and not get overscheduled. Spreading yourself too thin during these important nine months won’t just negatively affect you, but your unborn child as well.

Do a combination of exercises – Regular exercise such as walking, water aerobics, prenatal yoga or riding a recumbent stationary bicycle, will increase your heart rate which will increase your blood flow while being safe for you and your baby. Also, remembering to take deep even breaths during exercise will increase the oxygen content in your blood.

Don’t be sedentary – A sedentary lifestyle is one where a woman is not active for a sustained 20 minutes at least three days a week. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy has been linked to labor difficulties and gestational diabetes. If you’re typically a person who doesn’t move a lot then now is the time to change that. Moving is so important for you and your developing baby.

Do consider the source of your prenatal vitamins – Good prenatal vitamins will have everything your body needs to help your baby develop. Of course, you need the standard prenatal vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin B, iron, etc.) but you also need calcium/ magnesium, choline and fish oil (omega-3).  More important than the right vitamins and minerals is the right quality. It is always best to purchase your vitamins from a reputable health food store and not your local corner store or department store. Paying a little more for quality prenatal vitamins will ensure that you’re getting what you and your baby needs.

Don’t get a “routine” ultrasound – The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that ultrasound examinations only be performed for specific reasons, but many healthcare professionals include at least one ultrasound at 18-20 weeks as part of their routine prenatal care. Since there haven’t been any documented negative effects, it’s considered safe. The problem is, just because the effects aren’t documented doesn’t mean they don’t exist and shouldn’t be taken into consideration.

Even the FDA says, “While ultrasound has been around for many years, expectant women and their families need to know that the long-term effects of repeated ultrasound exposures on the fetus are not lly known.”

Don’t take drugs – While it’s true that your health is paramount, you need to carefully consider any drugs you take during pregnancy. Studies have shown that most drugs will cross the placenta and negatively affect your baby; these include antibiotics, antihistamines, diuretics, anticonvulsants and diabetes treatments. There are only two chemicals that have been found not to cross the placenta from you to your baby, that is heparin and insulin.

Don’t take antidepressants – A recent study found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a form of antidepressants, easily cross the placental barrier. This was proven by these chemicals being found in the umbilical cords of newborns whose mothers took these drugs during pregnancy. This same study has shown that exposure to SSRI’s during pregnancy may be associated with a higher risk of pre-term labor, low APGAR scores and the necessity of admitting the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Do find a “Healthcare Team” – Many women are choosing to not just have a midwife or OB/GYN but to have an entire healthcare team. Obviously, the first person in this team is going to be your midwife or OB/GYN. This person should be chosen carefully based on your desires for your delivery. Don’t be afraid to interview these healthcare professionals before making a decision, making a point to ask about their c-section rate. While it’s true that c-sections should be treated as a last resort, the fact that the national average has jumped 50% in the past decade proves that this isn’t always the case.

You and your Family Wellness Chiropractor – Many think a Chiropractor only treats back and neck pain but many more women have discovered other benefits. Prenatal chiropractic care can mean less morning sickness, lower back pain and a shorter more quality labor and delivery. But more than that, Chiropractic care supports the integrity of your pelvic function, which includes the uterus, the muscles and ligaments, and the interfacing of the nervous and hormonal system which is important for you and your baby.

Do realize you have a choice where to give birth – Choosing whether or not to give birth at home, in a birthing center or a hospital is definitely a decision that you get to make. Today more and more women are choosing to give birth in the comfort of their own home with family and friends nearby, which is typically less invasive and will usually have no medical intervention.

Do have a birth plan established – This is the best thing you can do to make sure that your wishes are considered during your delivery. A birth plan should include your basic decisions such as moving around during labor, when to start pushing, fetal monitoring and labor induction, but also includes contingency decisions. These would include whether or not to provide an epidural, an episiotomy or c-section, as well as instructions for the nurse and staff regarding who should be with you, or stay with the baby should there be complications. Visit www.birthplan.com

Do recognize your right to make decisions – When all is said and done remember that this is your pregnancy and your baby, and you have the right to ask questions and get second opinions when you are not sure. You are in control and should make your decisions based on the information provided by those you trust on your healthcare team. Remember that, at every turn, you control what you will allow during your pregnancy and delivery, and that at any time it is alright to say, “No,” and expect your decisions to be honored.

Having a baby is one of the most beautiful and exciting times in one’s life.  Enjoy the experience!

Beware of scoliosis developing in your child

The other day I had a patient bring in her 9 year old daughter to be examined for scoliosis. She told me that her pediatrician diagnosed her daughter with scoliosis but since it was minimal she didn’t think it was necessary to refer to a chiropractor.  My patient obviously knew better since she brought her in for an evaluation.

After developing her x-rays we measured  a 10 degree curvature (using Cobbs method) in the thoracic spine.  In the medical world, curvatures under 20 degrees are usually considered minimal and treatment options are usually not offered nor is it recommended. Scoliosis is a very misunderstood condition and is often misdiagnosed.  There are a large number of children who are not properly examined for scoliosis and the effects of it does not become apparent until they become adults.  Many adult patients who have scoliosis usually have a list of aches and pain with it.  In many of these cases we can offer relief of pinched nerves and an increased quality of life but in children, more options of correction and reduction of scoliotic curves are available.  Most cases of mild scoliosis found in children in our office we gentle adjust the spine while having the child perform exercises in order to reduce the curvature.  Majority of these cases the X-ray taken after a couple months of treatment shows a reduction of the curvature and improvement in motion and flexibility.

You should consult a chiropractor for examination of scoliosis of your child under the following circumstances:

• There is history of scoliosis in your family.  Scoliosis is heredity and should be found as early as possible
• The child’s school has suggested your child might have scoliosis after being screened
• Your pediatrician suspects a mild curvature in the spine and does not recommend a brace
• If you notice your child’s posture is abnormal (a higher hip, shoulder or tilted head on one side)
• If you notice a curvature in your child’s spine when they bend forward to touch their toes

If you have any more questions on this subject contact me at drhaque [at] haquechiropractic [dot] com

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Being in the health business I have strong concerns about health issues within families. Owning a personal training facility I get a lot of parents and couples concerned about the health of their children. First of all, a healthy lifestyle should start the moment your child is conceived, good health habits really start with the parent, so I would advise if you are about to have children, to be sure you are ready to have children and make changes which include healthy eating habits. Also you need to consider, how is the health of your cardiovascular system? Do you exercise on a regular basis? These are all things you should be doing before you even decide to have children. The healthier you are, the easier it will be to conceive, the smoother the pregnancy and the better delivery too.

Developing a healthy lifestyle within your family not only takes commitment from the mother, but the whole family; remember it’s a team effort. How are you going to feed your child? I have had mothers tell me that they tried to breast feed but it was to much trouble, or it hurt too much (breast feeding is the best thing for your child nutritionally). There are 400 nutrients known to be in breast milk that are unable to be replicated. Moms don’t fall into the baby food craziness. Baby food alone has become a 1.25 billion-a-year industry, not to mention that it has been determined through recent studies that powdered infant formula is the source of several cases of seizures, and brain abscesses.

Child obesity is also on the rise. Children who are obese at age four have a 20% chance of developing adult obesity. Although genetics plays a small part, child obesity can totally be controlled by the parents. Making healthy decisions for your children is not always easy. The healthier you are, the healthier your children will be, as your children are an extension of you. Many parents are not even aware of what their children are putting in their mouths since our busy lifestyles make eating dinner together a thing of the past.

So what is the answer? It is your job as a parent to guide your children and be the example. A few tips are:

• Have a set time at the end of the day for dinner, where you all eat together, no exceptions!
• The menu for dinner should be not only be good for you, but for your children too.
• Stop the fast food addiction! Make sure your children aren’t hungry before and on their way home from daycare or school. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine recently filed suit against seven major restaurants and fast food chains in the state of California, they include: McDonalds, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Outback steakhouse, and TGI Fridays.  The reason for the suit? These companies are knowingly serving food containing carcinogens without a health warning to the consumer which is not only unhealthy but is a well known Cancer Risk.

Obesity is a major problem in our country and we should treat it as such, in the United States alone childhood obesity has doubled in the past 20 years, it has tripled in Canada. Remember Mom and Dad you chose to have children and therefore you and you alone are responsible for their health and well being.

How necessary is Antibiotic prescriptions for your children?

Whether it’s Penicillin, Tetracycline or any other form of antibiotic, these drugs are given widely to young children who visit the doctor for the common cold. What many parents may not know and understand are the effects of these antibiotics on their children’s immune systems. With the “sniffle” season on its way and many of my patients complaining of getting sick, this article features the dangers and efficiency of antibiotics in young children.
Colds and the flu have been around since the beginning of time. These bacteria and viruses get into our bodies when our defense mechanisms are down. This can happen when we are not taking good care of ourselves by not eating properly, drinking enough water, exercising, sleeping and of course the biggest one, stress! In children, as their immune systems are developing, getting sick is very natural and actually in most cases good for them as it helps to develop a strong immunity so that they can stay healthy as an adult. When the body has a bacteria to fight off, it will build up anti-bodies and immunoglobulins with memory cells so that not only does it fight the virus or bacteria, but it will have a memory cell to attack that virus if it ever tries to get into the body in the future. That is how immunity comes about! That is why, for instance, if a child gets Chicken Pox, they are immune to getting it again in their lifetime.
When antibiotics are taken, it helps to attack the bacteria but it does not work on viruses. That is why it is a good idea, to ask your doctor before taking antibiotics if they can do a culture to make sure that your child has a bacterial infection and not a virus strand. If it is, in fact a bacterial infection, then taking the antibiotic will help to kill the bacteria but this does not allow for the young child’s immune system to make those antibodies and memory cells! Over time, the body’s defense mechanisms become weakened and will only allow the child to get sick more frequently.
The other frightening issue in taking antibiotics is that it allows the bacteria to evolve as they try to fight the antibiotics causing stronger bugs to enter the population making the children sicker. The truth is, getting a cold or a flu is just a few days of seeing your child suffer as their immune systems get strong. After a few days, they will bounce back to themselves and forget about being sick as they grow and discover life’s endless beauty and possibilities.
Think twice and do your research before allowing your children to take antibiotics any time they get sick. It will allow them to be healthier as adults.

For more information on this subject, email me at drhaque [at] haquechiropractic [dot] com

Back to school and back to heavy backpacks…

The roads are filled again with more cars and kids crossing the street getting back to their school routine, and the one thing I can’t help notice are the over-sized heavy backpacks that are being carried by many of the children. 

The alarming fact about these heavy backpacks is that over time, it does create a problems with posture and the spine of children.  Many parents are bringing in their children to our office in Livermore with complaints of neck pain, mid back pain, headaches and stiffness. Most of these problems lead to bad postural habits with sitting and looking forward for extended periods of time and backpacks that are too heavy.

The rule on backpacks is that the weight of the backpack should not exceed 20% of the child’s weight.  As an example, if a child weighs 50 pounds the back pack should not be more than 10lbs.  Ten pounds does not seem like much weight as these days, lockers are not available and one text book can weigh 2-3 lbs.  Adding in a lunch bag, note books, a pencil bag and other goodies, most backpacks for a 8 year old will easily exceed the allowed safe weight to carry on their developing spines. 

The solution?  There are many.  One is to get a better back pack that allows for more support.  A great type of backpack is the one that has wheels so that there is no pressure on the spine.  Some kids are not a big fan so the other option is to purchase a backpack that has a lumbar supportive strap across the abdomen to help balance the weight.  Another solution is to carry some weight in the backpack and a few books in hand so that it also balances the weight and prevents injuries.

If your child is complaining of back aches and/or their posture is looking imbalanced be sure to have them checked by a Chiropractor so that the issues can be dealt with before becoming chronic and even permanent.

For more information on children’s spine safety, email me at drhaque [at] haquechiropractic [dot] com.

How do you protect your child from those nasty re-occuring ear infections this season?

As I was adjusting the spine of a patient yesterday morning her 9 month old was crying and coughing.  I felt bad for him as babies can not tell anyone of their aches and pains. They just have to suffer and go through the motions. Luckily, they do not remember any of their ailments until they are grown.  Anyway, I asked my patient about her son’s coughing and she told me how for the last six weeks he has had an ear infection.  I am sure many parents can empathize with her but six weeks is considered excessively long and can be threatening to the child’s ears!

She went on to explain that her M.D. had tried several types of antibiotics for him to take. I know that most parents would feel a bit uncomfortable giving medications to their 9 month old but of course, in this type of situation, the effects of the drug might be worth the risk. 

In my office, i have seen many babies and children who have had ear infections, asthma, ADHD, respiratory problems at a young age where adjusting their spines and keeping their nerves healthy had made a huge difference without any DRUGS! Explaining this to my patient, she asked if we could examine her son to see if there were any mis-aligned vertebrae that could be prevent his infection from clearing up.  As I expected, the right side of his upper neck was out of alignment (the same side of the ear infection).  After adjusting the vertebrae back into place yesterday, my patient came in today and was thrilled that he was feeling better and was not pulling at his ears.  I must say that this phenomenon really is not a miracle or something that I can take huge credit for. It was just the body’s ability to take care of itself.  Once the pressure of the vertebrae on the nerve was relieved, the brain was able to communicate with the ear canal and the immune system allowing the body to heal properly. 

How many kids are out there with worried parents and bottles of antibiotics each year for their ear infections?  I wonder how many of these kids have a mis-aligned vertebrae that is slowing their immune system’s ability to fight off their infections?