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AUTISM AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

April 12, 2022 by Impact Chiropractic

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, as well as unique strengths and differences. Researchers have found that there is no one form of autism but many types. Autism is caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. Nearly a quarter-century ago, the Autism Society launched a nationwide effort to promote autism awareness and ensure that each person with ASD has the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life. We outline just a few educational challenges, health challenges, and how chiropractic can help below.

EDUCATIONTIONAL CHALLENGES

Each year an estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults and lose school-based services. These schools are equipped to deal with the social and mental development associated with autistic students. Unfortunately, this special training commonly ends upon high school graduation. This is one of the things Autism Societies would like to change. The goal is to further the education of these students which could decrease the one-third of young adults with ASD that never get a job or continue their education after high school.

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act is legislation that supports career and technical education (CTE) programs and helps autistic students gain skills necessary for employment by reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The legislation was signed into law on July 31, 2018.

HEALTH CHALLENGES

Autism is frequently accompanied by certain medical and mental health issues. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, phobias, and decreased immune responses. We know that the nervous system is so intimately linked with the digestive and immune systems. Because of that, by adjusting the spine and realigning the misalignments in those areas, proper neurological “signaling” into and out of the central nervous system can be achieved. This can help with sensory processing, social interaction, and behavioral and learning processes as well. Relieving the nervous system’s state of stress or applying the ”brakes” to the overactive nervous system, allows it to function at its optimum level.

CHIROPRACTIC AND AUTISM

One way to assess the nervous system is to get it evaluated by a trained Pediatric Chiropractor. Pediatric Chiropractors are the only professionals that have a nervous system focus as well as the training and technology to analyze and detect any interference in the function of the nervous system. This type of chiropractic offers diagnostic testing similar to the technology you would see by going to a specialist. The results help us decide the best way to treat the patient to improve the function of the nervous system.

Autism Awareness Month is the whole month of April. It is so important to foster awareness and educate ourselves so that we can better serve autistic individuals.

To learn more:

https://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/national-autism-awareness-month/

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

How’s the Latch? Top 5 Ways Chiropractic Can Help!

March 29, 2022 by Impact Chiropractic

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a great option when choosing how to feed your child. There are numerous neurological, nutritional, developmental, psychological, and immunological benefits that your baby can get throughout the process. Due to this many mothers plan on breastfeeding, but give up early because of problems that have “no solution.” When you and your baby are first getting to know each other, it can be frustrating at times. Many times mamas have trouble getting their baby to nurse. It’s hard!! It’s easy to be discouraged and want to give up. We’re here to tell you to stay strong. It’s not your fault that your little one isn’t latching properly, but there is something you can do to help support the relationship.

How Chiropractic Helps the Latch

In our office we see many infants presenting with latching problems, and after being evaluated and adjusted they are able to feed wonderfully. Specifically, we check children for vertebral subluxations. This occurs when the upper cervical vertebra or cranial bones are misaligned. This misalignment puts unnecessary stress on the nervous system, meaning the brain and the body may not be fully communicating as they should. It’s basically taking a dimmer switch and putting it on the nerves that come out at the level of the misalignment. This can cause numerous problems with the child’s health and development down the road.

The birthing process, no matter how natural and beautiful it is, can be hard on not just the mother but the child as well. In turn, this can result in misalignments that usually go undetected and unaddressed for years. As chiropractors, we see infants presenting with difficulties latching firmly, inability to sustain suckling, only feeding in one position, chewing instead of suckling on the nipple, and a “need” to feed at all times.

Benefits of Chiropractic for an Infant

When the C1 vertebra and cranial bones are properly aligned, neurological and mechanical problems resolve as shown below:

Helps baby turn head to go to both breasts equally

When the misalignment of the cranial and upper cervical vertebrae are present this will impinge the SCM muscle. This can cause extra tension in one side vs the other and in more extreme cases, Torticollis. When a baby has this, they will not want to turn their head to both sides equally and often favor one breast. Realigning the bones and allowing the nerves to communicate with the muscle properly, helps the baby to turn their head to both sides equally. In turn, they have easier positioning and access to breastfeeding.

Retraining muscle patterns

Another common difficulty we see, is that their suckle pattern is weak, irregular or using the wrong muscles. The communication into the muscles used primarily for sucking may not be firing correctly (weak suckle). This can lead to overcompensation and recruitment of muscles not originally needed for the motion. This can cause an irregular, or chewing like suckle. Again, realigning any misalignments will allow all the muscles to get the proper communication.

Helping to shape mouth properly

With improper tongue and oral use, the palate can lack the proper stimulation it needs in order to properly shape. We see many infants presenting with shallow or high palates which is going to affect the suckle itself. We help to identify and reshape the mouth when working with babies in order to regain proper oral function in nursing and into childhood.

Help Tongue Tie Release Heal

Another great way we can support oral function is helping tongue tie releases heal. After a baby gets a release, it is up to the parents to perform stretches for the body to heal properly. However, if there is a miscommunication in the nerves, we often see that the body takes longer to heal. We love working with babies that recently had tongue tie revisions to ensure that the body can heal to its full potential.

Bring your Infant to a Pediatric Chiropractor

If your infant is having trouble nursing and you feel as though you’ve tried everything to help them, bring them to a chiropractor. Infant chiropractic adjustments are gentle, safe, and extremely effective. This could be one of the most important choices you make for your child, as breastfeeding provides many benefits to their health.

Make a new patient appointment today for your infant!

Daily Supplements To Add Into Your Routine

March 9, 2022 by Impact Chiropractic

Taking daily dietary supplements is one way to ensure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function at its best. While we can get many of the nutrients that we need through healthy eating habits, most people need an extra boost from supplements. There are several kinds of daily supplements so it can be daunting to get started. You may wonder what supplements to start with, how many to add into your routine, or where to get them. However, it does not have to be overwhelming or complicated to introduce vitamins into your routine. The important thing is learning what your body needs and going from there! There are a few supplements that we love and know that many people can benefit from introducing into their routine.

A Few Supplements We Love:

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that supports our body’s health in many ways.

Some of the benefits of Vitamin D include:

healthy bones and health
supports immune system
supports brain and nervous system health

Omega-3: Omega-3 are nutrients we can get through certain foods or through supplements. They help us to maintain a healthy body and serve as an energy source. They also help to lower blood pressure and promote a healthy heart.

Probiotics: Probiotics are your guts’ best friend. They help with your digestive health by balancing the bacteria in your digestive system. Your gut communicates with your brain through nerves and hormones so it is essential that your gut is treated well in order to maintain general health.

B-12: Vitamin B-12 is essential in nerve function and red blood cell formation. Those deficient in Vitamin B-12 may experience a lack of energy, tingling, numbness, and fatigue. Adding B-12 into your routine may help improve these symptoms.

Magnesium: Magnesium is a mineral that plays a vital role in keeping blood pressure normal, bones strong, and heart-healthy. Here are some of the many benefits that magnesium may give:

anxiety improvements
reduced headaches
sleep improvements

Where To Buy Your Supplements

There are many places you can find all of these incredible supplements including your local health foods store, amazon, or other online storefronts. The important thing is to make sure they are high quality and free of harmful contaminants so make sure to check the labels and research which brands are trustworthy. We know that not all vitamins are created equally so at our office, we use and love the supplements from Metagenics. They offer a large range of vitamins and are high-quality supplements. Their website gives a lot of helpful information about the products they offer.

Seed Cycling: What it is, How it Works, and How You Can Implement it into Your Life

February 15, 2022 by Impact Chiropractic

What is Seed Cycling?

Seed Cycling is the rotation of different edible seeds into the diet at different times in the menstrual cycle. Different seeds will help promote estrogen production during the first half of the cycle, while others promote progesterone production during the second half. In turn, these seeds will balance the hormonal rhythm in a woman and promote a healthier cycle, as well as support different symptoms such as PMS, cramping, irregularity and even aiding in transition into menopause.

How Does it Work?

Based on a 28-day cycle, the first 13 days represent the menstrual/follicular phase, in which day 1 is when menstruation begins. The egg is maturing in this phase so estrogen starts low and steadily increases. We want to keep estrogen balanced in the follicular phase. During days 1 to 13, it is recommended to consume either flax or pumpkin seeds daily to boost estrogen and support the ovary as it gets ready for ovulation.

Days 14 to 28, known as the luteal phase, it is recommended to intake sesame or sunflower seeds to boost progesterone at this time. Sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are high in lignans which help to regulate estrogen and progesterone levels in the luteal phase.

Benefits of Seed Cycling

While it is not guaranteed, many women have experienced incredible benefits from seed cycling. When done consistently and accurately, it can be an amazing tool. Here are some of the things that seed cycling may help with:

hormone balancing
cycle regulation
PMS relief
stimulate period if it was absent
fertitlity

How to Implement Seed Cycling into Your Lifestyle

When adding the seeds to your diet it’s helpful to grind them up in order to increase the surface area for absorption of the essential fatty acids, minerals, and other nutrients. Below is our favorite recipe for helping to add the seeds to your daily routine.

Seed Cycling Energy Balls

Ingredients
- Seed Cycle Blends
  - Folicular (day 1-13) Flaxseed and Pumpkin seeds: Ground up or whole
  - Luteal (14-28) Sunflower seeds and Sesame seeds: Ground up or whole
- Shredded Coconut
- Nut Butter
- Oats
- Mini Chocolate Chips: YUM!
- Honey: Can be substituted for other sweeteners
- Vanilla Extract: Just a splash for flavor
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients: stir in large bowl
- Chill: Cover and put in refrigerator for a few hours
- Roll: Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to help roll out balls

Store: Keep in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks

Another option for someone starting seed cycling is to invest in convenient seed cycling packets. We love the one from the brand MONA Seeds because it makes seed cycling convenient to start. Seed cycling chocolates are another amazing option. They taste great and reap so many benefits at the same time. The Moon Chocolate seed cycling products are our favorite!

Take Control of Your Hormones

The biggest thing we love about seed cycling is that it promotes the idea that women have the power to take control of their hormones and begin to understand their bodies. Seed cycling is one way to take an all-natural approach towards hormone health. Living with painful and irregulated periods is never ideal so give seed cycling a try and see what you think!

The Nervous System and Chiropractic

February 11, 2022 by Impact Chiropractic

What is the Nervous System?

The nervous system is the life source that controls every aspect of our body. It controls our ability to interact with the outside environment by taking in all forms of senses and interpreting them. It also controls our internal environment in order to help us know when to eat or use the restroom or even events that we can’t control such as digesting food and keeping our heart beating. All of this makes the nervous system the most important system in the whole body.

How Chiropractic Aids the Nervous System’s Function

Chiropractors are specifically trained to detect any nervous system disruptions that are present within the body. The spine actually encases the spinal cord and nerves come out at every single level of the spine. Misalignments in the spine can alter how the nervous system functions in many ways. It can alter how a sensation is perceived, how then the sensation is processed, and can alter the body response to be different leading to dysfunction and miscommunication in the body. Affecting all areas of the body including muscles, organs, and the ability to respond. The main goal of chiropractic is to relieve any stress on the nervous system in order to process information better and have a higher overall function level in the body.

Why Kids Can Benefit From Chiropractic

The leading cause of this dysfunction in the nervous system is stress. When looking at kiddos there are three forms of stress that affect their body which include physical, emotional, and chemical. Physical stress is the most commonly thought of when looking at kids. Normal kids as they grow and develop are running around and falling down 20 times a day, which affects their spine and nervous system. Another physical stress that is not often thought about is birth trauma. The process can be beautiful and natural but can be a lot for a little baby’s body. Up to 60-120 pounds of traction is applied to the baby’s neck and spine during a natural vaginal birth with a doctor assisting head out. This causes trauma in the spine and in turn the nervous system. Emotional stress includes any family, school, or relationship issues. Kids may not be able to know exactly what is going on but can get worked up and put their bodies into a stressed and sympathetic mode. Lastly, chemical stress is anything that kids eat or put on their bodies that the body in turn has to process.

The Impact Chiropractic Way

At Impact Chiropractic we are a corrective care facility. The goal is to get to the root of the problem and work to restore the proper function of the body’s nervous system. Our doctors have created a 5 step corrective program that helps give our patients the best care possible.

Step 1: the cervical neck traction which helps to restore the curvature in the neck

Step 2: the proprioceptive wobble discs that help to hydrate the spine and prepare you for the adjustment

Step 3: the most important step is the adjustment. Each of our 5 adjusting rooms is equipped with a computer that allows the doctors to see the patient’s X-rays and give them an adjustment specific to them.

Step 4: the arthostim is a tool that aids in the manual adjustments that the doctors give

Step 5: the 5th and final step is the vibration plate which helps to hold in the adjustment for a longer time

Make a new patient appointment today to get started and prioritize the health of your nervous system.

“One Little Word” can Impact your Year

January 27, 2022 by Impact Chiropractic

How many of us start the new year with a million goals and a go-getter attitude? Only to slowly drop off as the year progresses. We all see it time and time again as overwhelm and old habits sneak in. With resolutions that may only last a few weeks it can leave you dissatisfied with the year so far. That’s why at Impact every single one of our team members uses the “One Little Word” exercise. This is an easy and efficient way to start making those shifts you want to see implemented in the new year.

Lets dive deeper into how this works! We are going to help you choose a word that resonates with you and your goals for the coming new year. Something that you want to embody and can relate to everything you do from work, workouts and even relationships. Here is how to start! Below is a list of words to get your creative juices flowing. You can either read them by yourself or click this link to our podcast where we will read them out loud to you and go into the exercise on a deeper level. As you’re going through the list write down any words that resonate with you. After you have gone through them all, try and get your list down to 3 top options. If you are still struggling to pick out one, take a deep breath and repeat each word out loud 3 times. Notice which one you smile at, which one your body has a reaction to or which one just instinctively feels right. You officially have your word, congrats! Now you can go into your new year in a manageable but very effective way in order to start hitting goals and making transitions!

BLOG

EDUCATIONTIONAL CHALLENGES

HEALTH CHALLENGES

CHIROPRACTIC AND AUTISM

Breastfeeding

How Chiropractic Helps the Latch

Benefits of Chiropractic for an Infant

Helps baby turn head to go to both breasts equally

Retraining muscle patterns

Helping to shape mouth properly

Help Tongue Tie Release Heal

Bring your Infant to a Pediatric Chiropractor

A Few Supplements We Love:

Where To Buy Your Supplements

What is Seed Cycling?

How Does it Work?

Benefits of Seed Cycling

How to Implement Seed Cycling into Your Lifestyle

Take Control of Your Hormones

What is the Nervous System?

How Chiropractic Aids the Nervous System’s Function

Why Kids Can Benefit From Chiropractic

The Impact Chiropractic Way

abundance

achieve

action

adapt

adventure

alignment

alive

allow

always

ambition

appreciate

ascend

attention

awe

authentic

balance

be

beauty

believe

belong

bliss

bloom

bold

boss

boundaries

brave

breathe

bridge

build

calm

celebrate

change

comfort

commit

compassion

compromise

confidence

connect

conscious

considerate

consistency

contribute

courage

craft

create

creativity

cultivate

deliberate

determination

diligence

discipline

diva

do

dream

ease

elevate

embrace