Pelleter sans vous blesser!

Alors la première tempête de neige est enfin arrivé!!! Voici un article publié par l'Association des Chiropraticiens du Québec sur le pelletage!! Amusez vous bien dans la neige!!

Pour une période hivernale en santé, pensez pelleter léger !

Montréal, le 6 décembre 2010 – La période des Fêtes entraîne son lot de surprises et d’instants magiques. Le retour des bordées de neige en fait partie ! Aussi envoûtantes soient-elles, les précipitations de neige imposent toutefois aux Québécoises et aux Québécois d’empoigner leur pelle et de s’activer à la besogne du déneigement.

Puisqu’il s’agit d’un exercice physique très exigeant pour le cœur et les articulations, nombreuses sont les personnes qui se blessent en pelletant. Selon le Dr Robert David, porte-parole de l’Association des chiropraticiens du Québec, « le nombre de patients qui consultent leur chiropraticien pour des blessures aux muscles, aux articulations et aux nerfs augmente en cette période de l’année. Pourtant, bien des blessures peuvent être évitées si la technique pour pelleter est adéquate. »

Pour mieux apprécier la beauté du paysage à l’approche de Noël, préparez-vous dès maintenant à pelleter en forme et en santé. Pour y arriver, suivez ces quelques conseils chiropratiques. Les festivités vous paraîtront plus romantiques, et votre dos vous en remerciera !

• Ne laissez pas la neige s’accumuler. Il est préférable de pelleter plusieurs fois en petites quantités plutôt que d’attendre la fin d’une tempête.

• Pour délier les articulations et activer la circulation sanguine, prenez entre 5 et 10 minutes pour vous échauffer avant de débuter. En guise de préparation, marchez sur place, montez et descendez les escaliers, faites des flexions latérales du tronc et des flexions du dos.

• Choisissez une pelle légère avec un manche ergonomique courbé. Idéalement, votre pelle est en plastique ou en aluminium et de type pousse-neige. Son manche doit être suffisamment long pour que vous n’ayez pas à vous pencher pour travailler, mais ne doit pas dépasser vos épaules.

• Poussez la neige au lieu de la soulever. Si vous devez absolument la lancer, soulevez seulement la quantité que vous pouvez transporter, et déplacez vos pieds dans la direction souhaitée et ne lancez jamais la neige plus haut que la hauteur de vos épaules. Les mouvements de flexion-extension et de rotation causent une très grande tension sur les disques intervertébraux et les ligaments. Les entorses lombaires et les hernies discales peuvent survenir suite à ces mouvements.
• ·
• Forcez avec vos cuisses plutôt qu’avec votre dos. N’oubliez pas de plier les genoux, de toujours garder le dos bien droit et de tenir la pelle près de votre corps.

• Ne tournez pas le tronc et ne lancez jamais la neige par-dessus votre épaule ou sur le côté.

• Ne travaillez pas toujours du même côté, et assurez-vous de pelleter de la neige à votre droite autant qu’à votre gauche.

• Portez plusieurs couches de vêtements, que vous pourrez retirer au besoin tout en gardant l’attirail nécessaire afin de prévenir les engelures.

• Travaillez à un rythme régulier et prenez des pauses fréquentes, surtout si la neige est lourde et mouillée.

• En cas de fatigue et d’essoufflement, reposez-vous toutes les 10 à 15 minutes.

• Buvez beaucoup d’eau. La déshydratation survient autant en hiver qu’en été.

• Méfiez-vous du redoux. Par temps froid, la demande physique est moindre que lorsqu’il y a un redoux. La concentration d’eau dans la neige augmente son poids en même temps que les risques de blessures. Au printemps, donc, réduisez la quantité de neige contenue dans chaque pelletée.

• Si vous ressentez de la douleur après avoir pelleté, appliquez de la glace sur la région douloureuse pendant 10 à 15 minutes. Reposez-vous ensuite durant quelques heures. Attention à l’application de la chaleur : cela pourrait faire augmenter l’inflammation. Dans la journée, appliquez de la glace à toutes les deux heures. Si l’inconfort persiste plus de trois jours, consultez le chiropraticien le plus près de chez vous.

Si votre colonne vertébrale n’est pas dans une santé optimale, vous risquez davantage de développer des problèmes lors d’une première bordée de neige. Prévenez les maux! Votre chiropraticien peut vous aider à corriger les dysfonctions de votre système neuro-musculo-squelettique.

À propos de l’ACQ

L’Association des chiropraticiens du Québec (ACQ) est un organisme sans but lucratif existant depuis 1966. Dans le cadre de sa mission d’éducation populaire, l’ACQ cherche constamment à mettre en œuvre des projets éducatifs visant l’amélioration de la santé publique par des approches naturelles. C’est dans cet esprit que nous sommes heureux d’offrir aux Québécoises et aux Québécois des conseils pour une période des Fêtes et une saison hivernale saine et sécuritaire.

Pour en savoir davantage sur la façon adéquate de pelleter, nous vous invitons à consulter le www.chiropratique.com.

Valérie

Ear infections and chiropractic!

Hi everyone

Today I wanted to discuss otitis or ear infections. I get a lot of questions in the clinic from moms about that topic. A study just came out last week and it was all over the press. It said that antibiotics have little impact on ear infections!! The study showed that most ear infections will clear within a 3-4 days on their own! So if antibiotics are not the answer anymore right away what can you do for your children? Chiropractic may be a solution ! So do chiropractors treat ear infections or not? I always start that answer with yes and no! We treat the spine. So is there a link between ear infections and the spine. Yes there is!!! Funny enough just a week prior to this study being published, a mom came to me with her 18 month old because she had been suffering from repeated otitis. She is doing great and even had another cold while under treatment without having an ear infection!

But first let's talk about what is and causes ear infection in children?

Most parents of young children will most probably have to deal with one bout of otitis with their children. Most of these will occur before the age of 3 and the occurrence diminishes dramatically by age 6. Most otitis tend to occur because the eustachian tube becomes blocked due to an accumulation of liquid behind. This is very different from the ear aches children will get from swimming a lot. These ear infections are called otitis externa or swimmer's ear. What I will talk is mainly about otitis media. Kids are very prone to viruses in the fist few years of life. When they get a cold, it tends to create a lot of mucus and inflammation in the ear nose throat area which can translate in very acute ear pain. This also tends to coincides when kids start daycare because suddenly they are exposed to a huge germ pool! There are also a few anatomical reasons why kids are more prone to otitis. Their eustachian tube is more horizontal, shorter and smaller then in adults which does not allow it to drain properly.

Children will usually pull their ear, complain of pain, may loose their appetite and have fever. If the tympanic membrane perforates the ear will leak a liquid. It is important to get your children examined with an otoscope to determine if the ear is infected either by a medical doctor or a chiropractor. A proper follow up is necessary to avoid complications. The new study says to delay the start of antibiotics by at least 4 days, that more then 80% of ear infections will clear on their own. But in the mean time your child is miserable usually will have a fever and you are probably miserable as well. You should definitely control the pain and fever with ibuprofen.

So where does chiropractic comes in. We know that kids that have a cervical spines that are not moving properly will end up with muscles spasms in the neck. This tension can have an impact on the lymphatic drainage of your child and therefore not allow proper drainage from the eustachian tube. Chiropractors can help improve tremendously the drainage by restoring good mechanics in the neck and muscles of your child. I also will massage all the neck and play with the ear to help the drainage.

Another important factor to consider is that when kids are sick dairy products should be avoided. Dairy does contribute to the increase in mucus and will not help.

So in summary here is what I would suggest if your child develops an ear infection; control the pain with ibuprofen, get your child adjusted, you can put a hot cloth on the affected ear and use an homeopathic product called traumeel for the ears in a drop format. See and evaluate in 4 days to decide if antibiotics are necessary. If they are make sure to give probiotics as supplement to replenish your child's gut with good bacteria.

I hope this will help you understand ear infections!!

I am including the link in french and in english to the article enjoy!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/16/antibiotics.ear.infections/index.html

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/vivre/sante/enfants/201011/17/01-4343519-les-antibiotiques-peu-utiles-contre-les-otites-des-enfants.php

I am also including the pamphlet on Traumeel for your information

http://www.heel.ca/pdf/flyers/Traumeel%20GP%20Flyer%20ANG.pdf

Valerie

Great conference!!!

Hi everyone

So I finally have a minute to blog. Life is not slowing down it seems like....

I had the pleasure of attending the Canadian Congress of Chiropractic in Toronto this last week end. This is quite a big conference and the topics were very interesting. It is always stimulating to attend these for many reasons. You get to see friends you have not seen in a long time but also you get to see the top people in the profession.

So here are some highlights. I really enjoyed the talk by Dr. Jeff Spencer dc. He had the privilege to be the chiropractor of Lance Armstrong during his Tour de France. He was a great motivational speaker. He was treating the team during the Tour de France. He started his presentation by asking us if you want to live life in the pack or be on the podium. He told us some of the characteristics that these athletes have and that makes them be on the podium and not in the pack. One trait that they seem to have is that they are super adaptors in life. They know how to react and when to react. He also talked about how important it is to have a reason to get up in the morning whether it is for your family your work, you need to have that fire in the belly. Another great trait, is that they can think outside the box. That allows them to be flexible and find solutions. One great sentence that he said was that we needed to be leaders in our own life. He also mentioned that champions believe in their differences and that is what makes them succeed.

He was very inspiring and he was written a few books which are supposed to be excellent. I will definitely put them on my christmas list here is a link to his books and web page to go visit

http://discoverwellnesscenter.com/wellness_topics/c_542_recommended_readingviewing.html

One book is called Turn it Up!! and Discover Wellness.

Another great talk we had was from a chiropractor that was part of the polyclinic at Whistler during the olympics Dr.Rocco Guerriero dc. It was the first time in the history of the olympics that chiropractors were actually part of the clinic and not just on the country's team. He had great stories about top athletes coming to get treated and getting amazing results. These athletes were able to go back and compete in their sport. So that was a big step for chiropractors !! I hope it will be reproduced in the next olympics.

I also had the pleasure of listening to top researchers in the field and what is happening these days. One that really was interesting is Dr.Marc Erwing dc. His topics of research are in regenerative spine research. He works with a multidisciplinary team in Toronto. This research could impact many peoples lives in the next years.

So I could keep talking for a very long time but as you can see I am back and full of energy. I am ready to treat my patients and give them the best care possible. I just love attending conferences!!!

Have a great day

Valerie

Pain in the in the bum!!

Hi everybody

Today I wanted to talk about something that I see very often in the clinic. People come in complaining of pain in the bum or butt. They usually say it is hard to go from a sitting position to a standing position. The pain can travel down in the leg along the back. They also describe pain when they walk or if they have been sitting for a long time. This usually describes a classic sacro-iliac irritation. This joint needs to work well to give good mechanics to the lower leg. So it can have an impact on your knee as well as your low back!

What is the sacro-iliac joint?

It is the joint between your sacrum ( the triangular bone at the end of your spinal column ) and the iliac bone. Some people think they have pain in their hip but that is not the hip. This is the joint that gets recruited when you go from a sitting to a standing position. When it gets inflammed it can get quite sore. Some people even have trouble putting weight on their leg. It is also a joint that gives a lot of trouble to pregnant women. It is the joint that gets loose during pregnancy. It needs to open a bit for delivery.

What usually accompanies this is big muscle spasms in the bum or gluteus.

If you experience this type of pain go see your chiropractor. They will perform a full examination and determine if it is in fact your sacro-iliac joint giving you trouble.

The treatment usually consists of muscle work to the bum or gluteus muscle and adjusting the joint. At home what is important to start doing from the minute you feel this kind of pain is to ICE. DO NOT APPLY HEAT it will make it worst. When you go to bed, put pillows between your legs and make sure you avoid any rotation of your pelvis. Also getting in the car, put your bum in completely and rotate the legs in. The chiropractor will also give you some stretches to help your muscle in your bum!

Next time you have pain in your bum do not ignore it and get treated quickly.

Valerie

Fall is here! Time to pick up the leaves.

Hi everyone

So here we are, a new season is starting. The trees are changing colours and soon your yard will be filled with them. What comes with leaves on the ground is hard work because they need to be picked up. Every season I get a couple of patients that injure themselves during that time.

So here are some of the things to remember when you are picking up the leaves in your yard.

1- Do not stretch beyond your arm length when you rake or in the motion you are doing. If you do your spine will be taking the extra stress and therefore may give you some pain the next day.

2- Alternate side when you rake. To make sure you do not put stress only on one side of your back.

3- Get a rake that is soft and fanned like. It is a bit longer to pick up but easier on the arms.

4- Do not pick up if it rained, the leaves are heavier.

5- When you fill the bags do not over fill them so that they are not too heavy.

6-When you pick up something heavy make sure to use your legs and do not twist your body while leaving your feet stationary. The low back can not sustain torsion.

7-Take breaks and make sure you stretch after your day.

I hope these tricks will make it easier for you to pick up your leaves. Don't forget to include your kids in this fun activity and may they can enjoy jumping in the pile of leaves before they get in the bags.

Enjoy the fall and go for long walks, it is so beautiful still before the cold season sets in.

Valerie

Nursing twins

Hi everyone

I just had the visit of one of my patient who was expecting twins with her babies that are now 13 days old. It brings back such memories for me to see these little babies!! It seems like yesterday I had my twins in my arms, tiny little chicken like I used to call them. The mom was visiting me to consult on nursing her twin babies.

Nursing twins brings many challenges but it is doable. With a good support system!!! Moms can do it. How many time have I heard you will not be able to nurse your babies !! One of the tricks that worked for me was to nurse them together. It made it alot easier with a good twin breastfeeding pillow. Moms of twins are tired but I say it is like a marathon take one day at a time and you will get there. It can only get easier from here. Try to have two naps at the beginning, one in the morning and one in the afternoon so that you can cope a bit better with the sleep deprivation. Accept that you can not do everything alone and you need help.

The best thing you can do to help parents of twins is to bring them food, offer to clean the house and or change a diaper, give the baths to the babies. Let the mom nurse the twins and feed them.

On my web site you can find an article that talks about nursing twins www.chirofamilial.com feel free to go visit it and print it.

Twins are special to me obviously and I just wanted to share a few tips with you today. Next time you see a twin mom nursing don't tell her "how do you do it" but congratulate her! It will go a long way to encourage her.

Valerie

What do chiropractors treat?

Hi everybody

So it has been a few weeks since I wrote on my blog. Life has been busy here with activities, school and sports.

Today I wanted to talk about what we treat. I have had 3 clients in the last few weeks shocked to find out that we treat knees, elbows and extremities. Chiropractors are trained to treat any thing that relates to your musculoskeletal system. That means anything that has to do with the spine, muscles and nervous system. So we can evaluate any conditions and decide if we are able to treat or we need to refer out.

So the main conditions we help people for are headaches, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, bursitis, tendonitis, knee pain, elbow pain etc....

Also do not forget that when you end up having pain, usually the issue has been there for a while and now your body is telling you to take care of it!! So you can come and visit a chiropractor even before you have pain. We will make sure things are moving well before the inflammation sets in.

So I hope you are not surprised anymore with the fact that we do treat extremities i.e. knees, ankles, shoulders, elbow and wrists so do not hesitate to tell your chiropractor if you have any parts of your body that gives you problem!!

Hope that clarified a few things!!

Valerie

My summer challenge!

Hi everybody

So today I wanted to talk briefly about my summer challenge that I had given myself 3 months ago!! In May, I had a talk with myself and decided that the time had come to get back in shape. My kids were growing up and were sleeping through the night. I had more energy then I had in a long time. So I thought no more procrastination now is the time!!

So I decided to start using my treadmill for more then a close hanger!!! I started to run for 10 min and walk 1 min and run 10 min and walk 5 min. I started doing that 3-4 times a week. I realized quickly that I really enjoyed running to music so here I was on Itunes updating my running lists. A few girlfriends real runners pushed me to try running outside and that was it, I was addicted!!!

So with the help of these girls, I thought could I train to do a 10km race in september at the Marathon de Montreal!! The challenge was on! I ran in the heat, in the rain, practice some cross country trails. I did a 10 km trial race to see if i could do it. I passed the test and signed up with my girlfriend for the Montreal marathon. I was addicted to the racing aspect of running. The adrenaline before the start is high and the reward at the end is big.

So here, I was sunday morning after 3 months of training ready to try my best time and do my 10km under an hour. I ate pasta the night before, went to bed early, ate my breakfast ( 2 toast orange juice and a banana) and I was ready!

We were lucky because the weather was perfect, cool and sunny a bit windy but that was fine.

In the end, I did great!!! I ran alot faster then I would normally in training. Around the 8th km I got a bit tired but I knew I was almost done so at around 9km I increased my speed and sprinted at the end. The feeling when you come in the Olympic stadium was quite something. I stepped on the mat and my time was 59' 59''. I did it!!!! That is all I could say!!!! My actual chip time was 59'43''.

I was so happy at the end to get my medal around the neck. That is what I had worked for!!! I had a big smile on my face all day after!!

I was happy about my accomplishment!! I worked hard, challenged myself and I did it. This comes from a girl who used to say could not run!! Now I will keep running and keep improving and find more races to do.

So I challenge you! What will be your challenge? Is it sport related, career or family? It is good to have something to work towards. It is good to push yourself and see what we can accomplish. A goal gives you a direction, a focus and such a great feeling at the end.

Here is my photo before the race. I am with my friend Sophie who helped me keep going. I should thank my other running partner Nathalie.

So find your challenge and go with it, you never know where it will take you!!!!

Valerie

More back to school information

Hi everyone

I have finally time to write a little note. I took a week off and recharged my batteries. I am ready for the fall and full of energy.

Now I thought I could share with you a few other things regarding the back to school. My kids started yesterday. Now we are slowly getting back in the school routine. Going to bed early, homework ( yes we had some on the first day!!) etc...

A few things to remember that this period can be quite stressful for kids. Some kids find it difficult to start up again and are anxious to see who will be their teacher and if their friends will be with them. Try to reassure them as much as possible. Make sure they go to bed early because they will be tired!!!

Another thing I like to question is where they are seated because you want to verify that they move around in the class and are not always sitting facing the board in one direction. So inquire how often they change positions.

Remind your kids to get their back packs on both shoulders and to put the heavy books close to the back. See my other blog on the back pack information.

Remind them about their posture at there desk. They should try to sit upright and lean against the back of the chair.

So I hope these tips will help your back to school routine be easier

Valerie

Choosing a back pack for school!

Hi everyone

Yes it is that time of year already! It seems like yesterday we were just finishing school and starting summer vacation but school starts at least for us in less then 3 weeks. When you go shopping all the back to school supplies are out!! I think it is very important to talk about back pack. Many kids have the wrong back pack, carry it poorly, and do not know how to fill it. Back packs do create a lot of neck, upper and even lower back pain in kids. So here are some important recommendations to follow when shopping for a back pack:

1- Choose a back pack versus a bag that gets carried only on one shoulder

2-You should make sure you can adjust the straps and that it has a waist strap

3- Adjust the back pack so that is it not higher than the shoulders and should not be lower than the waist or hips. So the size of your child will determine the size of the bag.

4-When you fill up the back pack put the heavy and bigger books towards the back of the bag closer to the back of your child

5-The bag should not weigh more then 10% of the weight of your child. So get the scale out weigh your child and then weigh the bag with a simple calculation you can figure out if the bag is too heavy for your child to carry

6- To lift the bag on the shoulders, your child should put it on a flat surface like a table and then put the straps and lift with the legs the weight of the bag.

7- Never wear the back pack on one shoulder.

So I hope this will help you choose your back pack. Have a good back to school and beginning of the school year.

Valerie

Be careful starting an exercise program!

Hi everyone

I wanted to talk briefly about starting out an exercise program. I had an interesting case come through the clinic on tuesday. The lady has an acute torticollis. She could not move her head at all right or left. She could not look up. The muscles were all in spasms around the neck and shoulder. So what happened? I questioned and asked a bunch of question and she said it just started like that sunday morning. So with my experience I inquired to see what she had done that would have been different on saturday and there it was! She mentioned that she had decided to do a spinning class. It had been a long time since she had done one she said. So questioning more I said " could you have used your neck muscles to help you pedal" the answer was "yes". She used other muscles to compensate for the weaknesses to help her in the spinning class. So I am pretty convinced that she injured herself on saturday but the inflammation and the spasms only came about 24 hours later.

This is so common where people who have not exercised in a long time decide to go out and do what they used to do. The issue is that their body is not ready for that. When you have not exercised in a long time you must ease yourself into it slowly otherwise your body will let you know!!! This is a recurrent theme in the clinic when people feel a little bit better, they go all out and do what they used to do. Usually I get a call the next day and we are back to square one!! so remember to slowly start and give a chance to your body to adjust to the change!!

Valerie

A bit of history!!

Hi everyone

I thought it would be interesting to share a bit of chiropractic history. Did you know chiropractic was discovered over 110 years ago!! Yes chiropractic has been around that long. Chiropractic was discovered by D.D. Palmer a canadian who then went to the United States. The history says that D.D. Palmer would have performed an adjustment on a janitor who was partially deaf and that is hearing restored. D.D. Palmer had been experimenting with the spine for a long time and decided to name his discovery CHIROPRACTIC. It comes from greek : Chiro which means hands and practic which means done by therefore done by hands. Since then chiropractic has made many advancement and research has proven that chiropractic can help many discomfort. Chiropractic is taught around the world and focuses on the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal problems. We use manual techniques or adjustments to help the joints, the muscles and the nervous system.

This is why I love this profession. We listen and touch our patients where they have pain. It is quite reassuring for patients when we can finally find why they have had pain for so long. Chiropractic can help you so do not hesitate to come see one!!!

Valerie

A special day!

Hi everyone

So I wanted to share with you a very special day in my life. Yesterday it was my daughter's birthday. Why is it special? because she turned 9 years old and she is my first born. Only one year away from double digits like everybody says. I can't believe that 9 years have passed since I became a mother for the first time. Where did the time go? I am still amazed at how my life has changed since the kids have come into my life. I still remember giving birth and seeing that little person for the first time. It was so special!! I had no experience, I did not know what I was doing! With her I have learned about baby behaviour, how to deal with the first fever the first sickness, the first bumps and bruises, the first smile and hug!

People always ask me how does chiropractic and lactation consultant relate to each other. How did you become interested in the LC work? I had terrible nursing issues myself. I remember crying and being in tears because it had gotten so painful. So I decided to figure things out and went to Chapter's. I came back with a many books( too many according to my husband!) read a lot of sites on the internet on breastfeeding. Then I was referred to this lady that was going to help me by my midwife. That is when I met my mentor, Carole Dobrich . With her help I solved my nursing issues and parented my children exactly the way I wanted to. If it was not for her I probably would have given up a long time ago. Thanks Carole I will never thank you enough!!! I developed such a passion for the science of breastfeeding that I then did the prerequisites and became a lactation consultant. When I graduated from chiropractic college, I never thought I would do anything else then chiropractic. Adding lactation to my practice has brought me exactly where I always dreamed to be in my practice. I treat moms babies and do family care. I feel so good when I help a new mom. I remember being in their shoes feeling completely hopeless when things were not working for me and how grateful I was when I got the right help.

Kids challenge you!! There are good days and bad days. I also know that I am not done with challenges by any means but I am out of the baby and toddler phase. The fun thing is that I still see babies everyday in my practice which is a lot of fun!

Thanks to my kids because not only have I grown as a person, I also have grown professionally. I would not be where I am today if they would not have come in my life.

Thanks Audrey I love you. Enjoy being 9 years old and don't grow up to fast!!

Valerie( maman)

Each patient is different!!!

Hi everyone

So today I wanted to talk about the fact that each patient is different. Why am I saying this is that a lot of people think that all chiropractors do is "crack" . I always like to take the time to explain to my patients that I am equipped with a lot of tools in my bag!! After the examination, I can determine with the patient which tool will be best to use for that person!! No I do not adjust everybody. Well actually I do but with different techniques! Some people I would only do some special muscle work others I would use a little tool or my table to help me adjust. On babies I do a special technique called craniosacral which is very soft touch. I want people to know that they can talk to me and actually tell me what they are comfortable with. Remember we have many techniques that can be used depending on age, case or problem. Not all of them require the famous sound!! So go see a chiropractor and discuss how you feel and find a technique that works for you. That is the beauty of our profession it is an art as well!!! Don't forget that you are unique and your care will be unique to you as well. My treatment will match your individual needs!!!

Valerie

Blocked ducts during breastfeeding

Hi everyone

I wanted to talk quickly about blocked ducts when mothers are breastfeeding. I am seeing quite a few mothers with this problem, so I wanted to mention what to do if you find one. Blocked ducts happen sometimes when the mother is very tired or there is a change of routine i.e. skipped a feed or baby started solid food or is drinking less. Another cause could simply be your bra. Bras with underwire should not be worn. They can press on the breast and create pressure. Moms will feel a lump in their breast that is tender and sore. The important thing to know is to make sure you are not having mastitis. With a blocked duct you have NO fever NO redness. It is very important to know the difference.

The simpler way to treat is to start soaking the breast in a bowl of hot water with a bit of epsom salt 5 minutes before the feed. Massage the breast while the baby is well latched to help the milk flow. If after doing all these techniques, it is still present you can get ultrasound therapy done. The ultrasound creates a deep heat which helps the blocked duct. I do ultrasound on the mothers breasts for 8minutes and she will feed the baby right away. Usually within one or two visits the blocked duct disappears and the mother is quite relieved. So pass on the information not everybody is aware that ultrasound can help with blocked duct!!!

If the mother is having repetitive blocked ducts, she can also take lecithin. It is a supplement which will change the viscosity of the milk and make it less sticky if you would like. Moms can take 1200mg 3-4 x per day.

With this information if you have a blocked duct try the heat, massage the lump and if does not go away try ultrasound. Hope you find this helpful if you know moms that are nursing pass on the information! Obviously if things get worse then consult your health professional right away.

Valerie

Enjoy Summer!

Hi everyone

Today I just wanted to tell everyone to take time and enjoy your summer!! Usually summer is a time where people have more energy, are out more, exercise more and feel better overall. The weather has been so nice in the last few days that I thought it would a good time to talk about a few healthy living habits. Even myself this summer I decided to get in better shape and started a running program. Exercise has been proven to help your physical and mental health so why don't you go out and go for a nice brisk walk for 30 min tonight? You should try to exercise 3-4 times a week and you will see the changes quickly. Also drink plenty of water. In the heat you must stay hydrated. Do not forget to carry a water bottle with you and drink, drink drink. Quit the bad habits such as smoking and sedentary lifestyles. Did you know that smoking actually increases your chances of having back pain. It is actually reported in the literature that smokers have more back pain. Make healthy food choices. In the summer it is so easy to get fresh vegetables and fruits, eat plenty of them. Get your spine checked regularly. Good spinal health goes along way to help you do all your activities.

Anyway all these are things I am sure you know but sometimes it is good to remind yourself !! So go out and enjoy summer!!

Douleurs à côté de l'omoplate!!!

Bonjour,

Aujourd'hui je veux parler de la même chose qu'en anglais car c'est un syndrome que je vois tellement souvent à la clinique et qui est très mal diagnostiqué. Seulement aujourd'hui 3 patients ce matin avaient ce problème. Le problème s'appelle syndrome costovertébral. Les patients se plaignent souvent de douleurs à côté de l'omoplate et non sur la colonne. Ils décrivent une douleur qui brûle, qui peut irradier jusqu'en avant. Elle peut aussi empêcher de respirer si elle devient aigu. Quand les gens éternuent et toussent la douleur est aggravée. Les patients peuvent même avoir de la difficulté à bouger le bras.


Qu'est-ce- qui cause le problème? Habituellement des mouvements de bras répétitifs, lever des choses lourdes i.e. enfants,valises etc... sont les causent les plus communes. Lorsque la mobilité du joint formé entre la vertèbre et la côte devient diminuer bien la douleur commence. Souvent les patients se font dire que les douleurs sont seulement les muscles en spasmes. Les muscles font parti du problème mais le joint costovertébral accentue le tout.

Ce qui m'impressionne souvent est que les patients parfois ont ces douleurs depuis très longtemps. Habituellement ce syndrome répond très bien à la manipulation vertébrale. Au début je travaille les muscles et ensuite j'ajuste la région. Les changements sont drastiques et le patient a beaucoup moins mal instantanément. Donc si vous souffrez de douleurs qui ressemblent à la description faite plus haut n'attendez plus et consultez!!!

À plus tard....
Valerie

Pain beside the shoulder blade!!

Hi everyone

So today I decided to talk about a classic thing I see so often in the clinic. What is funny is that I had 3 patients today show up with that exact pain. It is pain linked to ribs actually called costovertebral syndrome. What does that mean??? Patients usually describe pain beside the shoulder blade not exactly on the spine. It hurst if they move their arm or they just feel a burning nagging pain in that area. If it becomes very acute people can't breath and report a stabbing knife in their backs. It can also hurt when they are sneezing or coughing . It can also refer to the front of the thorax as well. Some even have difficulty moving their arm. Many times it is misdiagnosed as muscles spasms. I agree that we have alot of muscles in that area but when I touch the exact spot I am on the joint between the vertebra and the rib head. How do people injure themselves? Lifting something heavy such as kid, suitcases, or repetitive arm motion hanging in the air. Whenever we move our arms our rib also move and if they lose their normal motion then they start to create discomfort.

With this issue it is drastic the change once we have done the adjustment. I usually do some muscle work all around and then proceed to the chiropractic adjustment. People immediately report feeling better after the adjustment. I have patients now that know exactly when the rib is not moving well and is interfering and come in with the diagnosis before I even touch them.

I love treating this because some patients have been living with pain for years and a few visits it changes everything!!!

until next time

valerie

Chiropractic and headaches

Hi everyone

Today I wanted to talk about headaches. It is not uncommon for people to come to the clinic and tell me that they have headaches everyday and live with it. Most of them simply take medication or have tried different things and nothing seems to help. For many having a headache is a normal part of their life. Why I love chiropractic is that I have had many cases, it will change their life. They will go from having a headache everyday to hardly any and they are able to reduce all the medication that they take. But why?

I describe to my patients that there are different types of headaches. The one type that we can help is called cervicogenic headache. These types of headaches are so common and misdiagnosed. They are linked to tensions in the neck, jaw and face. The lack of motion of vertebras in the neck will create muscles tensions all around the neck, jaw and face. These headaches usually cause pain on both side of the head and start from the back and go in the front. It usually comes at the end of the day. Our goal as a chiropractor is to increase and restore proper mechanics in your neck to then allow all the tension in the muscles to release. So the frequency of the headaches diminishes dramatically. Obviously if you are allergic to read wine or cheese or you headache is linked to your cycle, we will not be able to help with these ones. The thing to remember is that many headaches are linked to the neck. Don't just blame stress! Stress causes muscle tension and the cycle starts up again....

So my patient had headaches everyday. He is a representative for a company and therefore drives a lot. He had al ot of pain in his neck. The headaches would go up from the neck to the head. He used to take many advil per week. So after a full examination, I diagnosed cervicogenic headache. Now after treating his upper back and neck for 6 visits his headaches have disappeared. He had not had headache in over 2 weeks and feels that even if he drives a lot for work he is not as tight in the shoulder area.

Imagine the life changing event that just happened. You go from having a headache everyday to almost none!!!


Valerie

Le retour des menstruations et l'allaitement

Bonjour à tous

Aujourd'hui, je vais faire mon blog en français pour essayer d'équilibrer un peu entre les deux langues!! Je voulais vous parler d'une situation qui c'est produite la semaine passée suite à un appel d'une de mes patientes. La maman m'a téléphoné parce que ses menstruations étaient revenues après 7 mois suivant l'accouchement et soudainement sa production de lait avait chuté et le bébé semblait très insatisfait et frustré. Ce phénomène est assez courant avec le changement hormonal qui se produit suivant le retour des menstruations. Le retour des menstruations dépend du nombre de tétées, de l'introduction des solides si le bébé fait ses nuits...etc. Ce qui est important de se souvenir est que si les menstruations sont de retour la maman a retrouvé sa fertilité!! Prochain sujet fertilité et allaitement!

Ce qui peut se produire suite au retour des menstruations est que la production semble diminuer durant quelques jours. Aussi le goût du lait peut changer légèrement. Parfois les bébés ne voudront pas boire aussi fréquemment à cause du goût. Mais au niveau nutritionnel, rien ne change. Le lait est aussi nutritif pour le bébé. Pour la production, les bébés semblent pouvoir compenser et demandent plus le sein durant cette période là. Voilà l'importance de ne pas restreindre le nombre de fois que le bébé va au sein par jour. Si la production ne semble pas vouloir redémarrer, des herbes peuvent aussi être utilisées, mais consulter la consultante en lactation pour plus de détails.

Pour ma patiente, tout c'est bien terminé. Nous avons reparti la production avec des herbes et avons remis le bébé au sein plus souvent pour stimuler la production. J'ai eu la confirmation que les choses étaient rentrées dans l'ordre et que maman et bébé étaient contents de nouveau!!!

à la prochaine

Valerie

Another successful Webster technique!

Hi Everyone

I was very excited last night when I got an email from a patient so I thought I would share the story. You are probably wondering why? This mom was referred by a friend doula because the baby was in a transverse position. Most of you may not know but in chiropractic we have a technique that helps turn babies that are in the wrong position for delivery called the webster technique. We never force or touch the baby. The basic principle is to rebalance the pelvis of the mother trough a chiropractic adjustment and then release a ligament in the front of the uterus. This will usually allow the baby to have more room and if it is not restrained in the wrong position by anything anatomical it will decide to go head down. I was certified as a webster practitioner in 2005 but had been doing the technique for a while.

So I treated this patient 3 times last week and after the last few treatments she did notice a lot of motion which is usually a good sign. She then went for an ultrasound on monday and the verdict came in that the baby was head down. So mom is happy no c-section planned and she can have a vaginal birth. I am always pleased to help moms with that technique because it does change everything for them for the postpartum recovery. Of all the patients I have treated I have to say that the success rate is quite high.

If you would like to have more information on the webster technique I direct you to the ICPA website which is full of great information. http://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/the-webster-technique-a-technique-for-pregnant-women.html

This is always a good start to my week....
talk soon
valerie

Latch is key!!!

Hi everyone

The week end is almost over and tomorrow I am heading to the breastfeeding clinic. I wanted to talk briefly about the subject of latch. So many issues stem from a bad latch. Some research actually says that 80% of problems in nursing are related to a bad latch. When I help moms, the first thing we always do is to look and correct the latch. Also remember that if you are experiencing pain during nursing there is something wrong. It should NOT HURT!!!. When nurses tell you the latch looks good but you are still in pain then you must do something. It is not normal. A few simple tricks to remember is to point the nipple towards the nose so that the baby has to reach up and open his mouth very wide. Remember that the baby's neck also needs to be in extension or looking up. It will be a lot easier for the baby to move his tongue down and swallow as well.

Another thing that we seem to have forgotten is that babies are programmed in their brain to nurse and to latch well. At the clinic and what I use a lot in my practice is called self latching. We place the baby in an upright position between the breasts of the mother and we do not touch the head or force the baby on the breast. The baby will then move around and find the breast by himself and attach in a much better position with a wide mouth. A great web site you can visit for more information on that is http://breastcrawl.org/ I encourage you guys to view that video and to see how amazing this little baby is.

Don't forget latch is key if you are still having problems call someone to help you so you can evaluate if there is a reason why the baby can't latch well.

talk soon

valerie

Why did I choose chiropractic?

Hi everyone

Many people are curious to know how I became interested in chiropractic. I always like to tell this story. Chiropractic has been a part of my whole life. My family used to go see a chiropractor regularly. It actually started with my father. When he was quite young, he had decided to jump off a barn and he ended up falling straight down on a fence. After he had all sorts of health issue. My grandmother finally heard about this doctor who had helped a lot of people and he was a chiropractor. So she took him in and he helped my father tremendously. After he always continued to see him and when my parents got married, he introduced chiropractic to my mother. When she had me the rumour was that I was very colicky so she decided to take me to see this doctor. She said she loved it because after the treatment I slept so well! We then continued to visit them whenever we were sick or not feeling well our whole life. When I was 14 years old, we saw a new chiropractor. She was a women and it just clicked for me. I realized that may be that would be a great job for me. I love helping people, there was science, you treated with your hands to help the patients. So there it is at 14 years old I said I was going to be a chiropractor and the rest is history. I did all the necessary pre-requisite to go to Toronto at the Canadian Chiropractic College. I graduated in 1998 and have loved every minute since then. It is so special to help people get out of pain with natural intervention and no drugs.

So briefly this is how and why I became a chiropractor......

Valerie

Sleep posture

Hi everyone

Today I wanted to talk about sleep posture. We spend so much time sleeping in our life that it can have a huge impact on how you feel. People always ask me which posture is best. The easiest thing to answer I find is to tell patient which one to avoid.

The worst position is stomach sleeping. Stomach sleeping as been associated with upper back pain and headaches. When I do my history, I always question which position people sleep in. If they have major headaches symptoms most of the time I can predict that they are stomach sleepers. When you are on your stomach it changes all the curves in your neck and upper back and affects all the muscles and joints in the neck.

So patient should either sleep on their side or back. If you are on your side make sure your pillow covers the distance between your shoulder and your neck when your neck stays straight. On your back the best thing is to bring your knees up if you are experiencing some low back pain and make sure In your neck your pillow gives you god support. You want to ensure your head is not lifted too high or too low. The basic principle is to keep your spine in a neutral position.

So next time you go to bed AVOID YOUR STOMACH. You can also get someone to look at your sleep posture and see if it is in a neutral position. If you have been a long time stomach sleeper you should consider care for your spine.

Talk soon

valerie

Ice or heat !!!

Hi everyone

Today I want to talk about when to put ice or heat !!!! This is a topic that comes up everyday in my clinic. Some people swear by heat and others by ice but what to put and when?

The basic principal to remember is that for acute injuries everywhere on the body ICE should be applied. Patients always know to put ice on a knee or a twisted ankle but when it comes to the back or neck for some reason people think of heat. I like to explain to patients that the principal is the same whether it is an ankle or the back. When you just injured yourself your body will have an immediate reaction which is called inflammation. The goal right away is to try and reduce that inflammation. Ice is the best natural anti-inflammatory you can find and the best thing is that it is cheap! You can use a bag of frozen peas and apply it for no more then 15 minutes or so at a time. You do not want to freeze the area because then your body will react oppositely and send more blood to the area and the inflammation will then increase. So the principal is 10-15 minutes on and 10-15 minutes off. Ice is definitely the best thing to reduce blood flow, swelling and PAIN to an injured area.

Heat can be applied to chronic injuries. You can use moist heat for 15-20 minutes. Some times a simple shower can help. Heat increases blood flow to the area and helps relaxing tight muscles or muscle spasms. Athletes will sometimes apply heat to a chronic injury prior to exercising or athletic event to relax their tight muscles.

Ice is definitely my best friend I always tell my patient when in doubt put ICE. You will at least reduce the swelling and start the healing process. So always keep ice in your freezer you never know when you will need it.

Until next time

Valerie

Tongue-tie babies and breastfeeding

Hi everyone

I am very excited about launching this new blog. My goal is to inform you as much as possible. I love feedback and questions so feel free to write me back. I wanted to start talking about the lactation conference I attended last week. It is always refreshing to go and listen to great speaker. I always come out of these refreshed and ready to go back to the clinic and apply what I have learned. I had the pleasure of hearing Catherine Watson-Genna the tongue tie expert from New-York. So today the post will relate to breastfeeding. So what is a tongue tie. It is a little filament under the tongue that prevents it from moving well. For babies to breastfeed effectively they must be able to move their tongue well. They should be able to lift it all the way up to the roof of the mouth and move it side to side. If these motions are restricted then baby can not suck effectively and get milk. It may be quite sore to the mother as well. The best thing to do is to look under the tongue of your baby and if you see a little white line you may consider seeing a lactation consultant to determine if the tongue tie needs to be addressed. For certain moms it will save their breastfeeding!!! If in doubt call a lactation consultant for advice. You can find a list of lactation consultant on the website www.ibclc.qc.ca.

Hope this was informative until the next time

Valerie

My Office

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to post my new office information. Even though we've been located in Kirkland for over a year now, here's all of the information you need to come visit me ...

My office hours are:
Tuesday 9:00 am.- 6:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Clinique Chiro-Santé Kirkland
3608 Boul St-Charles suite 1A
Kirkland, Qc H9H 3C3
(514) 694-7111
map & directions

For breastfeeding consultation please contact me at
514-244-0100. Consultation is available at my office.

You may also e-mail me anytime at info@chirofamilial.com

At the Clinic Chiro-Santé Kirkland, our goal is to make each and every patient feel as comfortable and as relaxed as possible so that the healing process may begin. We are also equipped and organized to handle any CSST or SAAQ cases. Simply call to make an appointment.