City Guide 2014 | Page 6

healthy bodies FOR KIDS .......................................................... BY DR. PATTI HORT Helping kids stay healthy, active and performing at their best Children are busier than ever; running from skating practice to dance class to music lessons. Health and wellness tips are everywhere when it comes to adults, but we often think of our kids as healthy and even invincible simply because they are kids. Yet every tumble, bump, slip and fall has an impact on a child’s spine and nervous system. Problems in children often show up as fatigue, difficulty getting over colds and flus, problems concentrating and re-occurring injuries such as ankle sprains and “growing” pain. Misalignments in the spine can have an effect on every system of the body including the immune system, digestion, cognition (brain function) and place stress and strain on the muscles and joints of the body. Children involved in sport activities often have additional stress and strain on the body tissues especially if they are practicing many hours per week and focused on one sport. A chiropractic functional assessment analyzes posture, walking gait, body movement, spinal motion and nervous system function for these active kids. 06 • www.modernmama.com | CALGARY | A RESOURCE GUIDE | 2014