Ever wonder how a chiropractor adjusts children and babies?

Babies and children have a smaller body shape & size, therefore needing unique care for their spines and nervous system.  Birth is a difficult process for the baby and commonly they have irritation  in their upper neck.  When adjusting a young infant no more than 4 – 6 ounces of pressure is used to correct the spine.  Babies and children enjoy this type of gentle adjustment and often many sleep throughout their treatment.  Other areas of childhood such as rolling over, sitting, crawling,learning how to stand and walking can also cause irritation to the spine and nervous system which can result in problems in childhood. Dr. Joelle Johnson in this picture is adjusting a 3 year old with an Activator, a gentle low force technique.We are located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, in Red Deer, Alberta 403-347-3261
http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=50978

Are you dehydrated?

Dr Joelle Johnson

About three quarter of our population is dehydrated. With our lifestyles having a fast pace our bodies under go huge stressors, caffeine in coffee and pop (diuretics) are often involved. Lack of water or dehydration is one of the triggers of daytime fatigue, fuzzy short-term memory, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen. Dehydration will slow ones metabolism and the thirst mechanism in Canadians is so weak it is often mistaken for hunger. Drinking 5 or more glasses of water per day decreases the risk of many cancers such as colon, breast and bladder cancer. It also helps to slow down the aging process and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The chiropractors Dr. Joelle Johnson and Dr. Stephen Kelly at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer know that water is the largest single component of the body; it takes nutrients to cells and is the medium for all reactions of the body. Most of our population does not get enough water in our diets, 8-10, 8 ounce glasses per day is strongly recommended. http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51258

Who is a dog lover/owner?

Brought to you by Chelsea Brausen, RMT. Chelsea is a massage therapist located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta.

Who is a dog owner/lover out there?? Massage isn’t just for us humans, in just ten minutes a day you can give your dog a “maintenance” massage. This is one way you can add to the length and quality of your pet’s life. Use a flat palm to slowly touch all the parts of your dog’s body. Really focus on what you are feeling and pay attention to all the layers from hair to skin, fat, muscle, and down to bone. Meanwhile, Spot the dog is basking in the attention and loving the extra “petting". 

CALMING YOUR NERVOUS OR ANXIOUS DOG You hear the thunder rolling in amidst those very dark ominous clouds and your  dog begins to whimper, roll his eyes, and pant. Under the bed he goes or into that safe spot in the closet. Is there anything you can do to reduce his stress? Massage may be the answer. 

Massage therapists use a stroke similar to petting to relax the nervous system. Lightly rest the flat palm of your hand on top of your dog’s head or neck. Make long, sweeping passes along the length of the spine and down the tail. Repeat this several times slowly. You can gradually increase your pressure if your dog likes it. Do not press straight down on the lower part of the back. To finish, allow one hand to rest at the base of your pet’s head and the other hand to rest over the area of the pelvis (the high point over your dog’s hips). These two areas correspond to the part of the spinal cord that controls the rest and relaxation responses of the body (for example, sleep, digestion, and tissue repair). This technique is useful any time your dog is nervous or fearful such as during nail trimming or vaccinations, or when he is hyperactive or restless. Your pets need TLC, comfort, and love just as we humans do. So be kind to Spot and spend a few extra minutes a day with him massaging those animal woes. Retrieved from http://www.nwsam.com/ Northwest School of Animal Massage

 Find Chelsea Brausen here for more information http://www.family1stchiro.ca/index.php?p=51258

 403-347-3261

Consumer Reports Survey 2011

Chiropractic care out-performed all other back pain and neck pain treatments in a new 2011 Consumer Reports alternative therapies survey. Respondents were asked to indicate the treatment used and whether it helped for particular conditions. 65% of chiropractic patients indicated chiropractic “helped a lot” for back pain, well above prescription medication, deep-tissue massage and over-the-counter medication. Chiropractic treatment also scored high for neck pain (64%), headache and migraine treatments (77%), and osteoarthritis treatments (53%).Dr. Stephen Kelly practices chiropractic at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta.

http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Benefits of Prenatal Massage during Pregnancy by Michaelle de Ruiter RMT

Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy. Our clinic Family First Chiropractic and Wellness provides this technique and allows mom to lay on the stomach while being properly supported.
Michaelle de Ruiter, RMT practices massage therapy at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness in Red Deer, Alberta. http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Looking for a family friendly clinic?

Red Deer chiropractor Dr. Joelle Johnson and the staff at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness want you to become part of our family. We offer a variety of Red Deer chiropractic services including massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, orthotics and chiropractic treatment for:

• Back pain
• Migraine headaches
• Neck pain
• Wrist pain, carpal tunnel
• Foot pain
• Work-related injuries WCB
• Whiplash and car injuries



Dr. Joelle Johnson adjusting a 6 month old

We are also a Red Deer pregnancy chiropractor that provides pre-natal care, babies and children's chiropractic care.Our other services include Ideal Protein Weight Loss diet, natural health products, nutritional information, a monthly health newsletter and much, much more 403.347.3261. http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Welcome To Our Blog

Family First Chiropractic and Wellness is committed to helping our patients obtain optimal health so we are introducing a blog for you to read some interesting bits of information to help you.

The blogs may include information about chiropractic, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, weight loss, orthotics, natural health products or any number of things.

We welcome you to read our blog and forward it to others who you think would enjoy our articles.

Visit us at http://www.family1stchiro.ca/

Cheers to you and better health!!

Family First Chiropractic & Wellness
142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 2C3
403.347.3261