Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy

Posted 2/1/2022

For those of you who don’t know, pregnant women can be adjusted! There are a variety of aches and pains that occur due to pregnancy. These aches and pains can often be attributed to an altered posture to compensate for the extra weight of the baby. There is a chain reaction of posture changes that occur with the first occurring in the pelvis. A woman’s pelvis tilts forward altering their center of gravity, which in turn causes an increase in their lumbar lordosis (inward curvature of the spine) for counterbalance. The shoulder region then extends backward, which further accentuates their lumbar lordosis. Our upper back should have a natural thoracic kyphosis (outward curvature of the spine), but when the upper back shifts backward the thoracic spine becomes straighter. The neck then compensates by moving forward creating tension in the muscles of the upper neck. This altered posture can cause fatigue, muscle spasm, and back strain of a variety of muscles that are compensating for the posture shift. Muscles that relate to low back pain are the psoas and multifidus due to the increase in the lumbar lordosis. The suboccipital muscles in the upper neck become strained from compensating for the reduced thoracic curve. When the suboccipitals are over worked they can cause us to experience tension headaches. The piriformis muscle is another muscle that warrants special attention. When this muscle becomes tight it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve which may produce sciatica symptoms. Sciatica symptoms can be described as a numb/burning/tingling down the back of the leg into the foot. 

During pregnancy the pelvic joints also become relaxed due to sex hormones and relaxin which allows the pelvic joints to shift more easily. Adjustments can help restore proper pelvic motion and function. One sign of improper pelvic function would be if a woman finds it difficult to walk. She may have pubic bone misalignment, which is common late in pregnancy as well as in early postpartum (after birth). Later in pregnancy a ligament called the round ligament can cause discomfort. The round ligament helps to support the uterus, which goes from the front of the uterus to the groin. Extra stress can be put on this ligament during pregnancy which can produce pain. A chiropractic adjustment of the sacrum is a common treatment, as well as gentle massage or heat to the ligament itself. At the end of pregnancy the pelvis needs to shift in order to accommodate the baby’s head for birth. The baby also needs to be in the correct position when entering the pelvis before birth, the correct position being head first. An improper position, called breech position, is when the baby’s feet or buttocks come out first. This birth position can put the baby and mom at risk and may require a c-section. An adjustment technique called Webster’s technique can be utilized when a woman is nearing the end of her pregnancy to help the baby to turn to be in the proper birthing position.

 

Mindfulness

Posted 1/6/2022

Now that the holidays are over and a New Year has begun you may be thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Many people choose to improve their lifestyle in a certain way, whether that may be exercising more or adjusting their diet. One way to improve, that can be overlooked, is your mindfulness. Being present in a given moment. Not having your mind wander to the past or worrying about the future. Ultimately, this practice is a technique to help reduce stress. We all have stressful moments from time to time but it is the constant stress in daily life that can really take a toll on our body, which can increase our risk of heart disease, stroke and other diseases. Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improving attention and memory, and promote self-regulation and empathy. Due to the demand of our jobs, family members, school, etc. we can tend to neglect our own self-care and mental well-being. Practicing mindfulness is training for your brain in a way to keep it healthy. There have been studies that have shown mindfulness meditation changes your brain’s gray matter and areas of your brain that are linked with your memory, sense of self and emotion regulation. Just like anything in life, in order to achieve benefits from mindfulness it needs to become a regular practice to see benefit. Unfortunately, you can’t go to the gym once and walk out looking like a star athlete, improvement takes time and consistency. Starting the practice of mindfulness may be hard, having wandering thoughts or emotions, and that is ok. The practice is more about noticing these thoughts and feelings without judgment. Mindfulness helps you build resilience and awareness to help you learn how to manage life’s good and bad days and be able to live life happier and healthier.

You may be wondering, well how can I practice mindfulness? First, find a quiet space and a comfortable place to sit. Have yourself sit up straight but in a relaxed position. Your head and shoulders should be resting comfortably with your arms at your sides and hands on top of your thighs. Close your eyes, inhale deeply and relax. Feel your chest rise and fall and the expansion and contraction of your belly. Do not control the breath but allow it to flow naturally. Thoughts may come to your attention diverting you from focusing on your breath. Notice these thoughts, but do not pass judgment on them. Gently return to your breath. To stay focused you may count your breaths, but it is not necessary. Practicing this daily provides the most benefit. Taking 10 minutes out of each day can help, but 20 minutes twice a day would provide maximum benefit. If you would prefer a guided meditation there are multiple apps that you can download to your phone, such as Headspace or Calm.

Immune Health

Posted 11/29/2021

With “cold and flu season” approaching we will be taking a dive into how our immune system works. As you may know our body has its own defenses in order to protect us from intruders that are introduced to our body, such as viruses, bacteria or parasites. Our body’s initial defense is our skin and mucous membranes. Our skin is our barrier to the outside world helping to protect our vital organs and muscles. Mucous membranes are found in our mouth, nose, eyelids, trachea, lungs, stomach, intestines, ureters, urethra and bladder. These mucous membranes can trap intruders and prevent them from going deeper into tissues. Our body’s second line of defense is inflammation. Inflammation causes our body to warm up to essentially kill off the intruder. Another secondary line of defense are cells called phagocytes. These cells engulf intruders which essentially eliminates them. Our last secondary line of defense is components in our blood called leukocytes, also called white blood cells. We have various types of leukocytes that each have their own responsibility in our body. Leukocytes can be split up into two categories, innate immunity and acquired immunity. Innate meaning we are born with it. Innate immunity reactions occur within minutes and do not have immunological memory. Whereas, acquired immunity develops from birth as we encounter intruders. This type of immunity is our third line of defense and is more adaptive and specific to our body’s intruders, but its response time is slower compared to innate. Acquired immunity has immunological memory, meaning that it can remember pathogens it has previously seen before and be able to initiate a more intense immune reaction when seeing the same intruder the second time around. 

Leukocytes that make up your innate immunity are basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes and each one responds to a different intruder, such as neutrophils responding to bacterial infections and eosinophils responding to parasitic infections. There is another type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, which make up your acquired immunity. Lymphocytes are divided into B and T lymphocytes based on their role in the body. T lymphocytes have receptors on their cell surface that have antigen-binding sites. These sites bind antigens that come from intruders in our body. Antigens are presented on the surface of cells that T cells then recognize as a foreign substance. There are three kinds of T cells that recognize antigens and have different responses. T cells can directly kill a virus infected cell, help regulate our immune response, and help B cells create antibodies. B lymphocytes make various antibodies based upon antigens that are presented to them, that then fight off the intruder. Our B cells can also turn into memory B cells as well. This means that after we have had an encounter with an intruder the cell remembers having fought the intruder in the past and can recognize it faster if the intruder comes back at a later time. 

Now that we covered how your immune system works, what can you do to boost your immune system? Make sure to eat a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, they contain valuable vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body to properly function. Exercise regularly, movement is the medicine of life. Having adequate sleep, this is when your body is healing and repairing. Wash your hands thoroughly and avoid touching your face, your hands can pick up germs with whatever you touch and touching your face makes it easier for pathogens to enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth. Lastly, try to minimize your stress. Stress suppresses our immune system due to our fight or flight response because that is the primary concern for our body in the moment to survive. Unfortunately, our body doesn’t know the difference between the stress of being chased by a bear or having a critical business meeting. To help manage your stress you can talk to a friend, take a walk outside or mindful meditation to name a few. 

Chiropractic Treatment

Posted 10/25/2021

Chiropractic is a form of healthcare that is neither new nor experimental. Chiropractic is a profession that allows your body to heal naturally. Our bodies have the ability to health itself through the central nervous system. What makes up our central nervous system? The brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord runs through the vertebrae, the individual bones that make up your spinal column. Between the vertebrae outflow nerves off of the spinal cord. These nerves go out to innervate the entire body, our muscles, organs, blood vessels, etc. Our nerves communicate the commands of the brain and in turn give feedback back to the brain. As chiropractors we help with the alignment of your vertebrae in order for your body to work optimally. We help by putting motion back into joints and help alleviate impingement of nerves due to misalignments. Why do bones come out of alignment? This can be from injury, improper lifting, daily wear and tear from normal activities or stresses on our body, such as gravity. The solution to reducing pain and restoring proper motion is through adjustments. Initially progress in healing a condition could be three steps forward and two steps back to help retrain and stabilize your spine into proper alignment. Since your body has muscle memory, those muscles are going to pull bones back out of place because the muscles are going to go back to what they think is their “normal” position. Repetition of adjustments is going to allow your body to maintain proper alignment and retrain those muscles to their new normal. Just like anything else we do in life, improvement takes time. You can’t go to the gym once and look like an Olympian afterwards. Maintaining your body’s health requires more than one visit. You don’t go to the dentist once in your life and never go back, you have regular cleanings and brush your teeth every day.  

You may be wondering, how can you be adjusted? We have a variety of ways to adjust people. The first being manually by hand, this one is normally a technique people think about when talking about chiropractic, the snap, crackle, pop method. We also have tables in which different segments can pop up and will release when an adjustment is given, thus giving a more cushioned adjustment. This method is one where there is no twisting, a motion that can aggravate certain conditions. Another technique we can utilize is something called an Activator. It is a tool that gives a very precise adjustment with a lower amount of force. This tool can be used on anyone, from a baby, someone who is wary of a manual neck adjustment, or an older person with low bone mineral density. Along with the adjustment we also have different modalities we can utilize to supplement the adjustment. We have electric stimulation which sends impulses to muscles making them twitch or feel a vibrating sensation causing the muscles to relax and bring blood flow to the area for healing. We also have therapeutic ultrasound, where sound waves are sent into the tissue to provide micro-massage, again helping bring blood to the area to help increase the healing process. We can also provide patients with stretches and exercises that can be done at home to help with spine stability and provide relief during the day if they are experiencing muscle tension.

 

Proper Nutrition

Posted 9/27/2021

Your body is only as good as what you put into it. Having proper nutrition is essential in helping your body function its best. A diet full of fruits and vegetables is a wonderful start. They are filled with natural vitamins and minerals that help with numerous bodily processes and functions. For example, some vitamins and minerals make up structural components of your body like calcium being a vital component of our bones and teeth. Vitamin C is also needed to make structures, such as collagen. Collagen is a structural protein found in connective tissues throughout our body. Not only do vitamins and minerals make up structural components, but are vital for cellular functioning and processes. Iron helps make healthy red blood cells and transports oxygen throughout the body. Women are especially prone to iron deficiency due to blood loss from their period. Women can then become anemic due to iron deficiency and feel fatigued on a regular basis if not addressed. Vitamin B12 is another nutrient that people can become deficient in and can cause a different type of anemia. The problem with vitamin B12 deficiency is if you are deficient long enough you can develop neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling in your arms and legs, disorientation or memory loss. Vitamin B12 deficiency most often comes from not being able to absorb the vitamin through digestion. This could be from celiac disease affecting your intestinal lining reducing your ability to absorb nutrients efficiently. Being on a vegetarian/vegan diet can also affect your ability to absorb B12. This is because B12 is found exclusively in animal products, such as meats, fish, or eggs. If you are on a vegan diet taking a vitamin supplement would be beneficial since you are not going to consume B12 from the foods you eat on that type of diet. You may also be B12 deficient if you lack a protein called intrinsic factor that helps with the absorption of B12. 

These were only a few vitamins and minerals with a couple of examples as to why it is important to get your daily requirements of all the essential vitamins and minerals. You may be wondering what is the best way for me to receive my daily value of nutrients? A simple answer is to buy as many whole foods as you can. What are whole foods you may ask? Whole foods are foods that have been processed or refined as little as possible. This means the food is free of additives and artificial substances. Additives could be food colorings, sugar, or salt to name a few. All of which are trying to make the food more appealing based on the way it looks and tastes, as well as more addictive to eat. With the standard American diet we tend to eat excessive amounts of sugar and salt. High salt intake diets are linked with the occurrence of hypertension and fluid retention. Whereas, excessive amounts of sugar can be culprits in weight gain. Your body only requires a certain amount of sugar for energy; whatever is consumed in excess will be converted into fat. Sugar can also cause an increase in inflammation in our bodies. Reducing the amount of processed foods you consume can help manage your salt and sugar intake. Another way to make sure you are receiving your recommended daily value of vitamins and minerals is to take a multivitamin supplement. On the label of any supplement there should be a list of what the supplement consists of and the amounts of each substance. If you are not sure what supplement would work best for you, be sure to ask your medical provider for assistance. 

Kids and Adjustments

Posted 8/30/2021

A common question we receive is, do we adjust children? And we answer with a resounding, YES! Kiddos can absolutely be adjusted, and can be adjusted as early as newborns. The birthing process can be very stressful not only for mom but for the baby as well. Stress on the body is one major cause of spinal misalignment, and where there is spinal misalignment there can be a compressed nerve. This in turn prevents proper communication of your nervous system which leads to a decrease in the body’s function. Depending on where the misalignment is, in the neck, mid back or low back, can lead to a variety of different symptoms. 

Mom may notice that baby is only latching on one side. This may be due to a cervical subluxation or torticollis making it difficult for baby to turn their head properly. An adjustment can put the vertebra back in place and decrease muscle tension, eliminating the restricted motion in baby’s neck. Baby could also be spitting up often, be colicky, or may not be having regular bowel movements. Having their spinal alignment checked and adjusted where necessary can help. When we adjust baby’s spine we are putting the vertebrae back into proper alignment and therefore removing the nerve interference for their nervous system to function optimally. So the nerve that is innervating baby’s digestive system is able to freely communicate between the organs it innervates and the brain. Allowing them to work in harmony again. Not only that but a well communicating nervous system can help to improve sleep, boost immunity, and help regulate emotions making for a less fussy child. 

Children grow and develop quickly putting stress on a child’s body as well. They are constantly facing new milestones such holding their head up by themself, sitting up on their own, going from stationary to crawling, and crawling to walking. If there is a spinal misalignment this could make it difficult for them to move properly. Adjustments help by putting motion back into their joints for them to be able to move freely. We use gentle techniques to put baby’s spine back into alignment, such as activator or gentle massage. 

We can also help with reducing ear infections. A baby’s eustachian tube, a small passage that connects the middle ear to the nasal cavity, is straight. While an adult’s eustachian tube has an angle to drain into the nasal cavity. Since a baby’s eustachian tube is straighter this makes it easier for the tube to be clogged and in turn cause an ear infection. A gentle ear adjustment can help drain the ear thus reducing the infection. A child’s body is rapidly changing and we are here to help them work their absolute best!

Benefits of Physical Activity

Posted 7/27/2021

 

Our bodies are made to move. Unfortunately, it can be hard to get the necessary movement we need in a day. This could be for many different reasons, such as how sedentary our job is, we are too busy, we don’t have the energy, can’t afford a gym membership, etc. Whatever the reason, you should rethink it. Exercise has numerous health benefits. Regular exercise can help you control your weight. Activity allows you to burn calories, which occurs with activity that can be as little as walking up a flight of stairs instead of using the elevator. Any activity is better than no activity. With minor changes you can make steps to better health.

Physical activity can also help you prevent future diseases. By exercising you are increasing your levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good type of cholesterol. Along with decreasing your triglyceride levels. By altering your levels of HDL and triglycerides this can help you combat cardiovascular diseases. Not only can physical activity help to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and stroke but can help you manage your mental health. Anxiety and depression are two mental health disorders in which their symptoms can be reduced when you have a regular exercise routine. Since exercise allows your body to release different hormones such as dopamine and serotonin that help to stabilize your mood.

Whatever your fitness level you can improve your health through physical activity. Starting is the first step no matter how small. As the activity becomes a part of your regular routine it should gradually become easier. Then you can start to incrementally increase your activity to the level you want to be at to increase your weight loss goals, improve body toning, maintain your weight, whatever your goals may be. If you need a place to start here are some suggestions. If you have a step tracker try to reach 5,000 steps a day for the first week. The second week try for 6,000 steps. Gradually increase those steps, you can do so by taking 5 minute breaks throughout your day to get a few steps in. Go on a 20 to 30 minute walk before or after work. Park your car farther away from the door to your work or when you go grocery shopping. Another suggestion is to perform planks. Planks are a great exercise to help with core strengthening. Start with holding a plank for 30 seconds. Once you have mastered 30 seconds try 45 and incrementally go up by 15 seconds. To really jumpstart your fitness you can combine the step and plank challenge. These are only a couple ideas to get you started.

 

Better Posture

Posted 6/14/2021

Stand up straight. Keep your shoulders back. These are common sayings when talking about posture. But what is the best posture? There is no one specific answer. Our bodies are made to move and adapt, therefore making us unable to maintain one particular position for extended periods of time. This is due to our muscles becoming fatigued, weakness in certain muscles, needing to perform tasks that require movement, etc. With that being said as chiropractors we are looking at body alignment, symmetry, and observing your natural body positioning. We look to see if your ear is in line with your shoulder and whether you have an increase or decrease curve in your cervical (neck), thoracic (upper/mid-back) or lumbar (low back) spine.

 A common finding when it comes to posture is a forward head position. This is most likely due to our technology usage, looking down at our phones or computer work where we tend to lean forward getting closer to our work. Over time this causes certain muscles to become weak and elongated while others become tight and overused. There can also be a reduction in the cervical spine’s natural curve, as well as your shoulder blades and upper back rounding forward causing an increase in your thoracic curve. These changes in your spine can put more stress on your discs, the cushion between your vertebrae, as well. 

The most important thing you can do is to not stay in the same position for prolonged periods. Take breaks, move around, stretch, go on a walk, reposition yourself. It takes time to break old habits of staying in one position and will take time to improve. The first step is to be conscious of where your body is in space. Assuming a better body position more often can help improve your body’s natural positioning. If you have been slouching for a period of time try sitting up straighter. Imagine your head being pulled up by string and relaxing your shoulders down and away from your ears. This helps you acquire better body positioning to take stress off muscles, such as your upper trapezius and suboccipital muscles that can be chronically tight. While telling your body to work muscles like your rhomboids and neck flexor muscles that are often weaker muscles. Re-educating your muscles is a great tool to assume a better body positioning to strengthen weak muscles and stretch tight muscles. But, remember you are not expected to hold one position for a prolonged period that is not what our body is built for. Movement is the best thing we can do for your body. 

Check out our social media to see videos on exercises and stretches to help encourage better body alignment.

 

Good Sleep for Good Health

Posted 4/7/2021

Sleep is an essential part to staying well, it is the time in which our body heals and recovers. It is important to make sure you get enough sleep and have it be restful. For the average adult, we need 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Without proper sleep it can take a drastic toll on our bodies by affecting our concentration or increasing our risk for certain diseases such as, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, to name a few. 

In order to get a good sleep let’s first talk about what a normal sleep cycle is. Our bodies follow a circadian rhythm that is a 24 hour sleep and wake cycle, where light is the driving force of the cycle. When we have reduced light exposure, for instance in the evening when the sun has gone down, there is a hormone in our body released called melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone released from the pineal gland in our brain that makes us feel sleepy. Whereas, when we are exposed to light our body suppresses the release of melatonin and a different hormone is released, called cortisol. As the day progresses the release of cortisol gradually declines. These hormones counteract each other and the smoother the transition between them the best circadian rhythm you are going to have.

Light plays a key role in our wakefulness, but with the increase in our technology usage means we are being exposed to more light on a daily basis. So what happens when we look at our phone or watch TV before we go to bed? These are two instances where you are getting artificial light exposure, especially blue light, which can throw your circadian rhythm off. That is why we should turn off devices at least 1 hour before going to bed. This allows our body to release melatonin at a reasonable time, in order for us to feel tired enough to go to sleep. Otherwise we may be in bed looking at our phone watching one more video, but then all of sudden it is 1am because our phone’s light is keeping us up. Another helpful tip for better sleep is to stick to a sleeping routine. It is best to try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekend. That way your body sticks to the same 24 hour sleep cycle and will allow you to fall asleep more easily.

If the blue light from any of your devices is bothering you, not only at night but during the day, you could utilize a pair of blue light blocking glasses. They look like regular glasses but they can help prevent eye strain due to looking at a screen all day. They can also be used at night to reduce your exposure to blue light before going to bed.

 

 

Chiropractic Care for Headaches

Posted 3/15/2021

Being able to think properly allows us to make decisions, process emotions, and carry on with our day-to-day lives.  That clarity can be altered with a strong headache.  Many people have occasional headaches, but frequent headaches that affect your ability to sleep or get on with your day can be disabling and add additional stress.

Types of headaches

Common types of headaches are tension, migraine, and cervicogenic headaches.

Tension-type headaches commonly present as band-like tension around the head.

With cervicogenic headaches, the neck is the source of the problem but the pain is perceived in one or more areas of the head and/or face. The causes of headaches are not always well understood but a family history of headaches, neck stiffness, and stress are common factors.

Migraines are one of the most debilitating conditions that we see in the office.  Many patients miss work because of the severe symptoms.  Migraine headaches usually result in pain on one side of the head and are commonly accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.  Migraines can occur frequently in some patient and take a toll on the patient physically and mentally.

 

What can chiropractors do to help with headaches?

Chiropractors can assess, diagnose, and manage headaches.  Current evidence suggests that chiropractic care, including manual therapy, can be effective in treating cervicogenic and tension headaches. Studies have also shown that chiropractic care can help decrease the intensity and frequency of migraines. The treatment options may include:

Manual therapy

Soft tissue therapy

Modalities including electrical stimulation and ultrasound

Rehabilitation

Lifestyle changes and education

Referral and co-management

It’s important to take headaches seriously. Consider consulting one of the chiropractors here at Align if you often have headaches, if you frequently take a pain reliever for your headaches, if your headache pattern changes, or if your headaches are getting worse. Seek Medical attention if your headache is sudden and severe, follows a head injury, or is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking.

Stress: its effects and how to combat it

Posted 2/15/2021

Let’s talk about stress. We all go through it every once in a while, which is normal. But, with how we seem to be constantly on the move in our day to day, stress has become more prominent. Stress being a daily and constant battle is not normal, and here is why. 

Stress is part of the fight or flight response that our body goes through when we come across something like a giant bear or a big high stake project at work. No matter how life threatening or not your body only knows how to react in one way. Through a fight or flight response controlled by your sympathetic nervous system. Your sympathetics cause your body to react in a variety of ways, such as increasing your heart rate, increasing respiration, diverting blood flow from non-essential body areas to muscles and the brain, suppressed immune system, and dilation of the pupils. All of these changes allow your body to get away or fight that bear, but for most of us it kicks our body into overdrive to get that work project done. 

The hormone that is released in our body’s that is most associated with stress is called cortisol. This hormone is what helps us to adapt to the stress in our life, by providing energy to our brain and muscles to keep going. Cortisol is released from our adrenal glands and one thing that can happen with chronic stress is adrenal fatigue, where your adrenals can no longer meet the demands of the continuous stress being put on the body. 

Cortisol is also important in terms of your sleep/wake cycles also called circadian rhythm. Where cortisol is highest in the morning and gradually goes down throughout the day in a normal circadian rhythm pattern. With chronic stress your cortisol level remains high which is why it can be hard to go to sleep or stay asleep, and then in turn can cause daily fatigue.

How can we combat stress? Perform breathing exercises to help slow your heart rate and focus your mind. Meditation to practice mindfulness, body awareness and to calm and ground yourself. Do yoga, not only to ease your mind but can help improve your flexibility and strength, and may help you sleep better. The most important thing is to take at least 10 minutes out of your day, every day to turn off your brain! We all have enough to worry about, you can afford to take as little as 10 minutes to be completely at ease, your body will thank you.

 

 

New Location and 10 reasons why we love it!

Posted 3/01/2016

WE are very excited to announce the opening of our new office at 1370 S. Commercial St. in Neenah, WI 54956.  The building was completely remodeled by Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Grant along with the help of their friends and families.

1) We now have an abundance of parking spaces.  We have 25 parking spots all for our patients compared to scrambling for a few spots at the old location.

2) Our hallways are no longer narrow and patient’s can walk back to treatment rooms and leave the office at the same time without side stepping.

3) There are plenty of seats in the waiting room for our patients!

4) We now have a beautiful spot for the all of the children to play in while their parents are waiting to be adjusted and while they are in the treatment rooms.

5)  Our office is very accessible from Highway 41!

6)  The space is roughly 3.5x’s the size of the old office.

7)  We now have room for Massage Therapy with Tessa Loewe.  Tessa was with us in the old office and then has recently joined us again.

 

These are just a few of the reasons we are so excited for our new space and we look forward to continuing to grow the services we offer as well as continue to provide outstanding care to all of our patients in the Greater Fox Valley region.

 

 

Backpack Safety

Back to School Tip!

Can carrying a heavy backpack to school cause health problems for your children? It can if they are carrying more than 10% of their body weight in their backpacks, especially if they have to walk to school and/or they are carrying their backpack on only one shoulder. This means, if a child is 60 pounds their backpack should weigh 6 pounds, at most. During periods of rapid growth, adolescents’ spines are changing and it’s a good idea to be careful about increasing stress on the lower back. Recent studies from the University of Texas have found that carrying a heavy backpack can be a source of ‘chronic, low-level trauma,’and can cause chronic shoulder, neck and back pain in your children. If you have heard your child say things like, “my back hurts”, “my arms feel tingly” or if you notice he or she tries to bend over sideways to adjust the weight of their backpack you should utilize the list below. Following the steps below will minimize the  chances that carrying a backpack will cause your child back pain or other health problems :

• Consider having a second set of text books available at home so that your child doesn’t have to carry his books home regularly. This usually only works if your child’s school is doing it as a general policy, which some schools are moving to for unassociated reasons.
• Getting your child evaluated by a Chiropractor. Although back pain is becoming more common in older adolescents, it is not as common in younger children. It may be a sign of a more serious problem, such as spondylolysis, disk herniation, a sport’s injury, or a tumor or infection. Do not assume that your child’s back pain is caused by a heavy backpack, especially if the pain is very severe or persistent or if it lingers even after you lighten your child’s backpack load.

The doctors of Align are qualified and have years of experience treating children. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment for your child, please feel free to call us at our office.

920.720.6300

We look forward to helping you!