January 2020

Almost everyone has heard of Scoliosis, it’s a very common disorder. The sideways curvature of the spine, which usually happens during a growth spurt before puberty. Scoliosis also can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, but the cause of most cases are unknown.

Symptoms

The causes of scoliosis are unknown but symptoms are similar in most cases.

• Uneven Shoulders
• One shoulder blade that appears more prominent than the other
• Uneven waist
• One hip higher than the other

In worse cases the spine will rotate or twists causing the ribs on one side of the body to stick out. If you see any signs in your child, even mild ones, take a trip to your doctor. Some mild cases of scoliosis will straighten as the child gets older, but it’s still good to see a doctor and do regular checkups. Detecting scoliosis early is key, undetected scoliosis can cause back pain, and interfere with heart and lung function.

These check ups will monitor the curving of the spine with x-rays. If no treatment is done there is a chance that the curve will get worse. Your doctor might recommend your child wearing a brace to help contain the curve and keep it from getting larger. This can minimize the need for surgery.

For more information on the brace: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/nonsurgical-treatment-options-for-scoliosis/

Unknown Facts about Scoliosis

There is a lot of myths floating around about scoliosis along with some unknown facts and statistics!

• Scoliosis is not caused due to bad posture
• There is a 30% chance that you might have scoliosis if someone in your family has it.
• Girls are more at risk for developing scoliosis
• Most cases are mild and don’t require treatment with braces or surgery
• It appears during the ages of 8-12 and 60
• Scoliosis dates back to 400 BC and researched by Hippocrates

Sources and more information about Scoliosis:

https://www.carrellclinic.com/blog/5-interesting-facts-about-scoliosis-scoliosis-awareness-month-11783.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scoliosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350716

New year, new you! Starting a New Years Resolution is one of the joys of the new year! We plan to workout, and better ourselves so the next year can be even better than the last. Although the failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80%, and most people give up mid February. This is how to make you New Years Resolutions stick in 2020!

Why resolutions don’t last.

Many times we set big goals with unrealistic expectations. When a goal is out of reach it’s easy to forget and give up and “try again next year.” Having a time line for your resolutions is helpful. Setting short-term, medium-term, and long-term benchmarks can give you little victories along the way to keep you motivated! Starting off small, like going to the gym a couple days in the week or slowly cutting out those guilty pleasures can make prolong your motivation to continue.

Another reason why resolutions don’t work is there’s a negative connotation. Try to frame your goal positively, instead of saying “I can’t eat these chips” say “I can eat the carrots and ranch as a snack.” Focusing on what you want to avoid makes it even more tempting to do/eat.

Last, but not least, the goal you set, is not about you. Make sure your goal is unique to you and not influenced by friends, family, or society. Do what you want in life and what you want for yourself!

How to make them last this year.

• Start small: Make small changes to your diet or routine and slowly make your way to your goal.
• Focus on one goal at a time: It takes a long time to change a habit so reassessing everything in your life can get overwhelming.
• Share it to the world: Tell your friends and family, neighbor or even you local grocery store cashier! You can also join a support group or workout class to help reach your goals. It’s a great way to share your struggles and successes with that’s on the same journey makes things less intimidating.
• Don’t beat yourself up: Nobody’s perfect, we all make mistakes. Small slip ups are ok, don’t just give up because of one mistake. Pick yourself back up and get back on track!
• Ask for support: You can’t do everything on your own! Having emotional support from those who care about you will help you strengthen your resilience and manage your stress.

New Year Resolution Ideas

Can’t figure out a resolution for this year or need some new ones? Here is a list of a few unique resolutions to add to your list!

• Learn something new everyday
• Be more grateful
• Set aside an hour a day to achieve your dreams
• Enjoy the little things
• Learn a new skill
• Be kinder to yourself
• Travel

Make this decade count! Set aside your bad habits and create new memories! Happy New Year!

Sources and more Resolutions:

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resolution

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/advice/g985/achievable-new-year-resolutions/