The most common cause of leg pain and cramps in young children is growing pains. Growing pains are a major cause of discomfort and can impact on a child’s concentration, physical and psychological wellbeing. Occurring in approximately 37% of children, the exact cause is still largely unknown.

 So what are the possible causes:

1.  Overuse of big muscles
   
2. Joint misalignment such as alignment of the knees or    feet
3. Psychological factors
4. We know that the first 5 years of a child’s life is when they have the greatest spinal growth.  During the 1st year, the spine increases by 12cm, between 1-5 years, the spine increases by 15cm, between 5-10 years, there is 10cm growth and between 10-18 years, 15-20cm growth.  This means if something was to interfere with this growth such as injury, birth trauma or sedentary lifestyle, problems may arise. 

So what do we know about growing pains?

1. The pain is usually in both legs 
2. It most often will come on in the afternoon or at night.
3. It is most common between ages 2-12 and is usually gone by puberty.
4. In order to be classified as growing pains there should be no signs of redness or swelling, no history of trauma and no decreased movement or limping.
5. There appears to be no difference in the amount of exercise or activity between those children with and those without growing pains.
6. There appears to be a family history of growing pains in the child’s sibling or parent.
7. The growing pains tend to occur at intervals of 1 to 3 months.

What can be done?

1. Look at your child’s knees and feet – Do their shoes fit?  Are they too worn? Do they require orthotics?
2. A little investigation of wellbeing  - What are their muscles doing? Are they dehydrated? Are they mineral or vitamin deficient? Magnesium deficiency is a common cause of leg cramps. Do they require more vegetables and fruit to give them nourishment  to alleviate cramps or help with neurological development?
3. Do they need to stretch? This includes hamstrings, quadriceps and lower back muscles.
4. What is happening in their spine and nerves. Have they fallen over and irritated joint or nerve function in their pelvis or lower back? Have they been sitting too much or with bad posture?  (This is where chiropractic comes in!)

Important note: there is a strong link between the legs, spine and pelvis. The muscles, nerves and joints in these regions can affect the other regions in the chain. Any interruption in the nerves running between the lumbar spine and the legs can impair function and cause pain. This is not to say that this is the whole cause of growing pains but studies are showing that treatment of these regions along with the legs themselves can help in resolving the problem.

 

It's almost Spring!! 
Just 1 month and we are there, so it's time to get yourself ready for the better half of the year. 

Research
Everyone knows turmeric as a beautiful spice used in indian cooking but it has some powerful properties. Curcumin has been found to help with post-exercise soreness, chronic inflammation and even treatment of alzheimer's disease.

Another interesting article: It has been found that commonly prescribed pain medication for lower back pain is not as effective as once thought. 

Nutritional Tip
Iron is a vital mineral that when low can cause tiredness, breathlessness and lightheadedness. It is often lower in women due to menstruation. It is important to get tested for iron deficiency before supplementing.

Fee schedule Update
From August 1st, Crystal Street Family Chiropractic's fee schedule has changed slightly. This is due to rising costs.
Initial consultations are going to remain the same but all other consultations will increase by $4. 
Standard consultations will now be $59 or $49 for a student.
Please have a chat with me if you have any financial concerns about the new schedule.

Out & About
I recently ate at Fish & Co in Annandale which was excellent. Dan is a pescatarian (vegetarian but eats fish) so is a rarity to go out and he be able to eat almost everything on the menu. Everything we tried was yum! Other notable to fish restaurants are Mohr Fish in Surry Hills, Love Fish in Rozelle, North Bondi Fish in Bondi & Fish Face in Double Bay. I've found fish restaurants tend to be a little more pricey but the portions are always huge!!

Extras
Pillows, rollers, massagers heat packs and supplements are still available for purchase. Currently I only have rollers in stock but am happy to order in anything you may need. 

Cancellation Policy
Just as a reminder if you do need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please give at least 12 hours notice or a cancellation fee will apply of $25. Missing an appointment without letting me know will incur the full fee of the consultation. 

Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you soon for a spinal checkup!

Amy

Iron

Iron is an important part of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around the body, most importantly to the brain. It is also a vital part of myoglobin, a muscle pigment that carries oxygen to the muscle tissue and helps with muscle contraction. Iron also helps metabolise proteins, improves concentration and fatigue.

Try eating more iron rich foods

Here are some ideas: 
Red meat, Dark leafy greens, Beans, Lentils, Egg yolk, Artichokes, Chickpeas, Mussels, Oysters, Liver, Nuts, Whole grains, Dark chocolate, Tofu, Seeds, Dried fruit, Broccoli

Note: Get tested before supplementing!

Hi!

Slowly (& sadly) the temperature is dropping and winter is emerging! I hope you are keeping warm and looking after your immune system.

Research
So many of us are getting into Luminosity and other such apps or books in order to sharpen our focus and memory. The article "Brain Games: Do They Really Work" looks at some studies carried out to prove/disprove the effectiveness. 

Many people suffer from osteoarthritis in the hips and knees. This is because they are the big weight bearing joints of the body and therefore take the brunt of the force with running, falls and sitting. Research is finding that exercise can prevent or slow down the progression of wear and tear, to eliminate the need for surgery.

Nutritional Tip
It can be hard to keep the immune system working at 100% this time of year. Zinc is a powerful mineral that can help ward off & decrease the time of colds. 

Fee schedule Update
From August 1st, Crystal Street Family Chiropractic's fee schedule is going to change slightly. This is due to rising costs.
Initial consultations are going to remain the same but all other consultations will increase by $4. 
Standard consultations will now be $59 or $49 for a student.
Please have a chat with me if you have any financial concerns about the new schedule.

Out & About
I recently went to Jamie's Italian for the first time in the city. It was really delicious and very reasonably priced for a huge dinner. The vegetarian board was excellent, as was the risotto. 
I also finally went to Brighton the Corner for food and it definitely lives up the hype. I had the cauliflower salad and it was excellent!

Cancellation Policy
Just as a reminder if you do need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please give at least 12 hours notice or a cancellation fee will apply of $25. Missing an appointment without letting me know will incur the full fee of the consultation. 


Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you soon for a spinal checkup!

Amy

Hi!

Welcome to the Easter/ANZAC Day Edition of the Crystal Street Family Chiropractic newsletter. I hope everyone is excited for a bit of time away from the desk and hopefully some fresh air, good food and maybe even some stretching.

Research
A Cochrane review has found that upright labour lowers caesarean rates. This is a worthwhile read!
I have also included a very interesting study which has linked cancer treatment and arthritis. Although it is very complex, refer to page 438-439 for the summary.

Nutrition Tip
Vitamin of the month - Vitamin C, vital for this time of the year with its fantastic antioxident and immune properties.

Article
There is a lot of talk about the benefits and safety of babywearing. This article details a few of my thoughts.

In and Around Petersham and the Inner West
There are a few new places popping up in Petersham. Just down the road from the clinic is Brighton the Corner & on Stanmore rd is Daisy's Milk Bar. I have yet to try more than a coffee from Brighton the Corner, but that was good!

Foam Rollers
I have started stocking foam rollers for $60. They are extremely useful for stretching of the legs and upper body. They are also perfect for lying over instead of a rolled towel. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing.
 
Housekeeping
Just as a reminder if you do need to cancel or reschedule your appointment please give at least 12 hours notice or a cancellation fee will apply of $25. Missing an appointment without letting me know will incur the full fee of the consultation. 

Have a great week!

Amy