“Many parents do not realize the negative ramifications of a young spine carrying an improper load.” stated Dr. Huggins. If a child carries too heavy a load then the stress transfers to the spine and joints.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission there are estimated to be 20,000 visits to emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, and clinics as a result of backpack related injuries. The injuries from backpacks range from neck back and shoulder strains to contusions and even fractures from falls.

A study in Italy revealed that 60% of children experience back pain. That alone should be some form of a red flag and cause concern for parents.

Various research suggests that a child should carry no more than 10% of their body weight depending upon the strength and fitness of the child. In other words an 80 lbs child should carry a backpack of no more than 8 pounds.

Carrying weights greater than that, can cause stress on the joints of the spine and lead to issues in both the short and long term. The spine of course protects the nervous system that coordinates all of the functions in our body.

“In addition, carrying a backpack on one shoulder may be a fashion statement, but it could be particularly bothersome to the spine and can lead to an unnatural curvature.” stated Dr. Huggins

Selecting a backpack that fits your child is critical. A backpack should not extend beyond the lower back of a child. Try to ensure that the straps are cushioned and wide to displace the load. Adjust the straps to fit the child and lessen the load on the spine. Of there is a waist strap and or chest strap support encouraging your child to use it routinely.

Some indications that the backpack is ill fitting or too heavy would be leaning forward to manage the weight, numbness or tingling in the neck, arms or hands, straps leaving red marks on the shoulders or immediate discomfort or pain when the backpack is put on.

When packing the backpack try to get the heavier items closest to the spine. This will help lessen the load. Pack it Light Wear it Right is a mantra of the Chiropractic Profession.

If a child has to carry too much between home and school speak to the teachers to find a solution to heavy loads.

So to recap the points

*Make sure the pack is the appropriate size
*Look for wider padded straps
*Use the straps on both shoulders
*Adjust the straps so they fit properly
*Use the waist and chest strap if available
*Don’t load more than 10% of body weight
*Place the heavier items closer to the spine

As a public service our office, offers workshops for parents and children to evaluate their backpack safety and create awareness. We offer workshops in house or arrangements can be made to come to your school.

In addition we are offering a no obligation evaluation for all school aged children.

Dr. Brian Huggins and Dr. Tiffany Huggins operate Oakville Chiropractic Centre located at 627 Lyons Lane in Oakville. Either Doctor is available for various workshops or corporate events. To arrange a consultation contact Chantelle at 905.845.2291, or email info@oakvillechiropractic.com, drhuggins@oakvillechiropractic.com.

Dr Brian Huggins is pleased to announce that the launch of Wellness Radio and Mediazoic effective today.

Mediazoic is a software maker that allows individuals and organizations to create, customize and deejay their own internet radio stations. Pretty much anyone can create playlists, have complete control over the look and content of their station, and display it anywhere on the web. The network of these musically and culturally diverse stations was unveiled on April 1 at midnight at the launch function at the Revival in Toronto.

Wellness Radio is Dr Huggins’ Mediazoic vehicle. The mission behind wellness radio is to provide a mix of music that it not the same repeated rotation that most terrestrial radio stations have become.

Wellness radio welcomes new artists to provide their music for the listening pleasure this new audience.

“I found this a great opportunity to mix my two passions, music and chiropractic” Dr Huggins said.

“There can be a symbiotic branding with music and your company” stated Paul Cinello a Mediazoic partner.

To listen to Wellness Radio go to http://www.oakvillechiropractic.com/wellness-radio.php

To learn more about Mediazoic go to Mediazoic.com and find out how you can get involved.

Dr Brian Huggins
905 845 2291
drhuggins@oakvillechiropractic.com

Oakville Chiropractic Centre has a long history originally opened by Dr Lloyd MacDougall in the 1950’s.  Dr. Arnold Roper succeeded as Clinic Director in the 1970’s and operated the practice for many years in downtown Oakville. In 1997 Dr. Roper and Dr Brian Huggins partnered and opened Alliance Healthcare in 1999 with Oakville Chiropractic operating within the multidisciplinary centre.

Dr Tiffany Huggins, a third generation chiropractor joined her father in practice in September of this year. Oakville Chiropractic remains an integrative and multidisciplinary health centre with Chiropractic, Naturopathy, Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, Chiropody-Foot Care, Athletic Therapy, Rehab, Weight Loss, Spinal Decompression and more.

The OPEN HOUSE will provide an opportunity to meet all of our professionals and see the new facilities.

There will be Holiday treats, refreshments and Live Music. There will be an opportunity to have a photo taken with Santa for those who wish. There will be door prizes and giveaways throughout the afternoon.

All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there.

For Further Info Contact:

Dr Brian D Huggins
627 Lyons Lane #200
Oakville ON
L6J5Z7
905 845 2291

As a boomer and one who has seen thousands of cases in practice I have come to a number of conclusions. Conclusions about health and wellness and I believe a critical position for your health is to adopt what I have called the Parthenon of Health and Wellness.

You see a Parthenon is composed of many pillars that collectively support the structure. In health you need several strategies to collectively support your structure…your life….you.

It has five essential components and if you address each one and embrace it you have beaten many of the odds that are faced against you. The goal is to minimize all those degenerative diseases and conditions.

The tactics that you need to include are

1. Proper Nutrition- the fuel that runs your body

2. Adequate Exercise and movement

3. Proper Rest and rehabilitative time for your body

4. A Positive Mental Outlook on Life

5.   A Properly Functioning Nervous System

I will discuss these components at another time and talk about what are the basics for keeping your engine tuned and firing on all cylinders.

You know… keep your motor runnin… headin down the highway…looking for adventure… for whatever comes your way….Born to be………………….

Till next time…peace

The doc

Dr Brian D Huggins

What about DES? Women were prescribed it up until 1975 to combat miscarriage and morning sickness. The problem arose when they discovered that the women who had taken it had a high risk in breast cancer. More recently it has been revealed that daughters of women who took DES have a 40% increased risk with breast cancer.

In the fifties and sixties most children had their tonsils removed as it was the surgery de jour. Why? Often it was for convenience… a prophylactic against tonsillitis. Usually, it was due to the fact that the tonsils would become enlarged and swollen. They were removed because parents were told that we didn’t really need them.  News flash…the palatine tonsil is part of the immune system and helps protect against infection. The lymph system acts as a filter. Does it make sense that when they are swollen they are doing their job?

In the seventies and eighties if anyone had course to be involved in an abdominal surgery they automatically removed your appendix. Again this was thought to have no apparent use however it has been since revealed that the appendix provides the body with a natural laxative.

The magic potion and lotions have not stopped through the years. They only change as they are usually revealed to be not a truth and more so a detractor of health and wellness. More in Part 3

I guess that being a boomer myself qualifies me in a certain aspect of being an expert for our demographic. Before we get into the details of health and wellness I want to take a little time and reflect on the boomers’ collective past.

Well I guess for reasons of my particular family I have changed the boomer demographic slightly. Although the actual years of birth are 1946-1964 I think you almost have to include a couple of years on either end as they have gone through the same experiences that we have.

For me I am a ‘52 model and garnered a lot of experiences as I was the youngest of six. I am sure that we have all had some common thread boomer history.

Through the late fifties I recall the power of Elvis along with Little Richard and Jerry Lee even though they are kind of the prior generation they still influenced the music. I would venture that many of the earlier boomers will recall the arrival of the TV and the later group witnessed the growth of the programmes thru the sixties. Do you know what I am saying Will Robinson?

I believe our demographic has witnessed perhaps the most radical changes in mankind since the end of WWII. The technology alone is moving so quickly most of are already lost. We don’t speak geekanese or at least speak it fluently.

Over the years we have all witnessed various trends in health. I think that we must come to the conclusion that truths in health do not change. When we are faced with the drug of the month or surgery de jour the outcome of health and wellness is often compromised.

For example when I attended grade school at least a couple of times a year the mobile x-ray truck showed up at the school and chest films were done on every child. If that was truly necessary for health and wellness ask yourself why that wouldn’t be done today. In shoe stores you could try on a shoe and stick your foot in a machine that would show you your foot bones with fluoroscopy. Naturally they finally figured out that if this was kept up parts would start falling off with excess radiation. More in Part 2.

Garlic is so powerful that studies have shown that it has AntiParasitic properties as well and has been shown to be effective against very harsh strains of Multi-Drug Resistant E. Coli.  Isn’t it amazing that something as simple as garlic can be so much help to the immune system?  But that’s not all!  Aside from its AntiViral properties, Garlic is also well known as being very effective for the prevention of heart disease, cancer and as a treatment for nausea.  Garlic has also been used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.

Garlic also has a very rich history in the modern world.  Even during both World Wars, garlic was used as an antiseptic to prevent gangrene.  Garlic has also been used as an antiseptic mouthwash to fight oral infections and gingivitis.  Garlic is a very powerful herb and there are so many different ways to use it, so next time you’re wondering how to make the common cold, not-so-common, remember, it’s as simple as a walk to your nearest kitchen.

-Dr. Abid Ebrahim B.Sc., N.D.
Naturopathic Doctor

Three weeks ago, a patient walked into my office complaining of nausea.  After taking a complete health history and physical examination, I prescribed ginger tea, along with some other recommendations, to help reduce the nausea.  The patient outright refused to take the ginger tea and expressed that he had tried it before and it hadn’t worked.  I asked him to read the ingredients when he got home and to give me a call back.  He was shocked when he called me and reported that one of the ingredients was “artificial ginger flavouring!”

Studies have shown that the processing of our foods along with the chemicals that are used in our foods are harmful to our bodies.  Unfortunately, some of us also have food sensitivities which cause inflammatory reactions and the inappropriate activation of our immune system.  This leads to damage to our digestive system which creates an environment of decreased absorption and impaired digestion as well as a hyperactive immune system.

We live in a society where we don’t take the time to read the ingredients.  We don’t know what we are putting into our bodies and then we wonder why we get sick.  If you were to pour water into your gas tank - Would it confuse you that your car didn’t start?  How about if there was no engine oil?

Migraines, Obesity, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ADHD, Skin Disorders, Arthritis, IBS, Constipation, Diarrhea, Eczema, Fibromyalgia and many more conditions have been linked to food intolerance!

If you suffer from any of those conditions, food allergy testing may be just what you need to understand why!  To learn more about Food Allergy Testing, Call Alliance Healthcare and plan to attend one of our Workshops.

-Dr. Abid Ebrahim B.Sc., N.D.
Naturopathic Doctor

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then mark off November 24^th on your calendar and come and join us for a free seminar titled “Pain Management: A Naturopathic Perspective” where I will discuss the different alternatives that Naturopathic Medicine has to offer!  Refreshments will be served!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Naturopathic Medicine or with me; My name is Dr. Abid Ebrahim and I am a Naturopathic Doctor.  I completed my bachelor’s degree in life science at McMaster University and then went on to the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine to become a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

Naturopathic Medicine uses natural means to stimulate the body’s innate ability to heal.  The naturopathic modalities include: Acupuncture, Botanical Medicine, Counseling, Nutrition, Physical Medicine, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Orthomolecular Medicine and more.  I went on to gain further training in Intravenous Therapy.

I have recently joined Alliance Healthcare and welcome all of you to my seminar on Pain Management.  The seminar is free and all are welcome.  Please call the reception and let them know that you will be attending.  The seminar will begin at 6:30pm and I look forward to seeing you all there.

Alliance Healthcare
Suite 200 - 627 Lyons Lane
Oakville, ON
L6J5Z7
(905) 845-2291

I am referring to the ongoing challenge of the Halloween leftovers. One always hopes that there is a direct one to one correlation to the number of gremlins and goblins that knock on the door and the amount of candy purchased for distribution.

Unfortunately this year the number of participants was considerably lower than peanut butter cups and bags of chips.

I spoke with many of you in August about a purge of toxins in the liver and the liver enhancement program. I suggested at that time it should be executed at least 2-3 times per year. I think that I have revived my thinking process with respect to frequency.

Naturally a summer cleanse is crucial for your health and wellness. Now you need to add one for the after effects of Thanksgiving/Halloween. It is a no brainer that an early January cleanse is sensible. I don’t know how heavy you get into February 14th with it chocolate temptations and then we come upon the Easter Break and feast.

So I guess what I am saying is for your health and wellness make sure you add a liver cleanse for every season.

The reason I mention this is that not all of us treat our bodies and livers top drawer 365. So if you wander off the path occasionally make sure you cleanse that liver to prevent not only obesity but most of the killer diseases.

When it comes to those little bars of sugar hopefully we can be under the spell of Star Wars Obi One ….”these are not the bars you are looking for”