An Unexpected Window Into Teen Health | Dr Sandy Martin | Episode 152

Teen health plays an integral role in our children’s happiness. Today’s technology, youth sports, and more are impacting our children’s health and the ability for their nervous and immune systems to function optimally. Find out what we need to aware of in sports, what tech neck is and why you want to prevent it in your teen. Dr. Sandy Martin addresses these ideas along with other tips and strategies as she chats with Mighty Parenting podcast host Sandy Fowler.

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A Favorite Quote from the Show: 

We need to listen to our bodies when they’re whispering, not wait until they’re yelling.

High Points From Our Conversation on Teen Health:

When Dr. Martin started her practice she typically saw “tech neck” in patients who were 26 and older. Now she routinely sees it in patients 19 and younger.

Tech neck is a condition where the curvature of the spine has been reduced due to excessive time spent looking down.

Poor posture and loss of spinal curvature breaks down organs and systems, shortening life span and impacting teen health.

People wait until they experience pain or restrictions in their movements before seeking chiropractic care. But chiropractic is really more about the nervous system. This system is so important that it’s encased in bone.

Our nervous system runs down the spine and connects to all the areas of the body. A slight misalignment can impact many different areas.

Chiropractic helps but when people wait until they have big issues the damage has been done. We need to encourage healthy lifestyle choices to prevent the damage in the first place.

Tips to prevent tech neck in your teen: Get your kids on their bellies. Encourage them to hold their phone at eye level or above.

Clinically speaking, we can say that misalignments impact mood and mental functioning. People with ADHD even report having more attention and focus.

We need to listen to our bodies when they’re whispering, not wait until they’re yelling.

If you tried chiropractic and it didn’t work for you then try another chiropractor. There are many different ways to do adjustments so one doctor may be a better fit than another.

The things we are physically feeling can actually come from the brain (psychosomatic). The pain we are feeling is real but it’s coming form the brain, not what’s happening in the body.

Pain changes our posture and our outlook on life and ultimately our health.

Sports are good for kids. It teaches them to work on teams, improves coordination, etc. but they’re also tough on their bodies. We want to prevent injuries and keep the body in alignment.

When the body is in alignment, our brain and body communicate better so we’re more coordinated. It also improves our immune system’s ability to heal.

We can help our kids by focusing on a more balanced lifestyle and reducing the 3 Ts: traumas, thoughts, and toxins.

• Traumas: Any physical impacts, falls, etc. can create a misalignment. 
• Thoughts: Our thoughts change outcomes for teen health.
• Toxins: substances like tobacco, processed foods, air pollution, prescription and non-prescription drugs impact bodies and teen health.

Muscles can spasm and pull bones out of alignment, impacting the nervous system, the immune system and other parts of the body.

Resources:

Solutions For Handling Chronic Pain And Anxiety | Dr. David Hanscom | Episode 77

Find an ICPA chiropractor https://icpa4kids.com

Our Guest Dr. Sandy Martin:

Dr. Sandy Martin is a national board certified and state licensed chiropractor, owner of All Star Family Chiropractic in St. Joseph, MI. She and her husband have 2 beautiful little girls who were adjusted at birth.

To learn more or connect with our guest visit https://allstarfamilychiropractic.com

Our Sponsor:

Sandy Fowler—Struggling to work, volunteer or follow another passion while still loving your family? Sandy Fowler shows you how you can follow your passion while loving your family and do it without guilt and stress. Click here for the free video.