Autumn is here. Chiropractor Dr. Shamika Cordis encourages everyone to fall back into health. Maintaining a healthy spine and body provides the foundation for optimal neural function. Phoenix Rising Wellness Center in Lakewood is a place where you and your whole family can improve functionality, address stress, and ultimately feel better. You don’t have to wait until you have pain to treat or an injury to address.
Kids’ Sports Wellness
Students play sports year-round. Your child might be in great condition, but sports stress the body. Cordis has noticed that some girls and young women soccer players have knee pain. It’s not reserved for grandma. The knee is a pivotal hinge joint the only joint in the body that bears the entire weight of your upper body making it more susceptible to injury and making it one of the most common injured joints in the body. The cause of pain can come from limited mobility in ankles and hips and sudden changes in direction, causing knee strain. There’s the quadriceps angle, or Q angle, which is the angle formed between the quadricep muscles and the patella tendon. The typical angle is 17 degrees for women and 12 degrees for men. For women, this can translate to knee pain or foot pronation. Chiropractic care can work with ankles, hips and knees. Greater mobility is important.
Basketball players are squatting, jumping and pivoting. “All that twisting quickly puts stress on the joints,” says Cordis “The shuffling and exploding up to rebound or take free throws can be felt in the low back,” she adds. She can do an active release on the psoas muscle. When it’s tight, you can experience tension and pain in the lower back, hips, glutes, pelvis and/or groin.
Many athletes are tall and lanky and lack muscle mass at a young age. Children are still growing and not every growth plate is closed. “Everyone is different,” says Cordis, when addressing body concerns. She reminds students and parents that bodies need rest. Three days of basketball, two days of swimming and two days of running leave no room for recovery. Chiropractic treatment can ease tension and/or pain, which can result in better sleep and improved recovery.
Is My Kid’s Backpack Too Heavy?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children’s backpacks weigh no more than 10 to 15% of their body weight. That means your 80-pound son’s pack ought to be under 12 pounds. What’s in there anyway? It might be a good idea to inspect the contents so unnecessary items can stay at home. Also, check for a good fit. Ideally, straps are used over both shoulders to balance the weight. See that the pack ends at the waist. When there is a gap at the shoulders, the pack is too long. The few minutes spent adjusting the pack to your child’s body will be well worth the absence of undue stress. A pack with wheels might be appropriate for some.
Well-Fitting Shoes Prevent Issues
“Shoes are super important,” stresses Cordis. She recommends a wider toe box for greater movement. Toes that are jammed in tight are not happy. “It may take years, but some people feel issues right away,” she explains. Going barefoot is nice at home, but not realistic for the lives we lead. “Shoes change body mechanics, whether it’s weight training, running or other sports,” she says. Shoes support the foot and all the way up to the hips and beyond. Don’t underestimate the power of quality shoes.
Stress Reduction and Immune Improvement
Dr. Shamika Cordis notices that children often accompany their parents for their chiropractic visits. Her suggestion is that they might do well with an adjustment of their own. As we spend
time indoors, we want our immune function to be optimal. Culturally, we often wait to deal with difficulty until it is too painful to ignore. Chiropractic attention can be like seeing your dentist regularly. It’s not that you have a problem, it’s that you are wanting to catch things before they become chronic. It’s also about taking care of yourself and your family.
“One size does not fit all,” says Cordis, regarding health care. She likes to provide parents, students, athletes, and grandparents with as much functionality and mobility as possible. Regular chiropractic care can address your specific concerns. You can feel better, sleep better, and recover more quickly. She supports activity recovery with stretching, heat, resting and hydration. “Your nervous system is housed in your spine. The spinal cord is your lifeline,” reminds Cordis. You can replace a heart, a kidney, or a lung, but not a spinal cord. Let’s move through this season with excellent health.
You can read more on the Phoenix Wellness Center website or call 360.220.0711.
Phoenix Rising Wellness Center
11008 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood
253.220.0711
1018 7th Avenue SE, Olympia
360.728.0315
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