The Bedford Chiropractic Clinic and Wellness Centre

American children under the age of 15 visit physicians for middle ear infections more than any other reason. Ear infections (otitis media) represent the most common cause for which antibiotics are prescribed for children. Almost 10% of children will have experienced an ear infection by the age of three months. Nearly 50% of children will experience three or more episodes of ear infection by the age of three. The annual cost associated with the management of pediatric ear infections lands around $5.3 billion . The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises an initial observation period for management of an ear infection. These clinical practice guidelines refer to deferring antibiotic treatment for 48-72 hours. The recommended observation period stems from research indicating antibiotic treatments should only be recommended when absolutely necessary due to the damage they inflict on the gastrointestinal tract. Despite this research, surveys conclude that only 15% of medical ph...

This white paper discusses the significance of the study published in the 2017 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine titled “The Quality of Life of Children Under Chiropractic Care Using PROMIS-25: Results from a Practice-Based Research Network.” Stress is at an all-time high, and it influences more ages in more serious ways than ever before. Studies show that children today experience more stress and anxiety than institutionalized psychiatric patients did in the 1950’s. And these kids eventually turn into drugged-up adults. Nearly one in every four women over the age of 50 take an anti-depressant while over 13% of the entire population take mind-altering anti-psychotic medications. Implementation of strategies and activities that do not come with huge risks and unnecessary harm should be the focus of the medical system. Chiropractic offers a unique perspective and individualized care that can help curb the severity and course of depression and anxiety. This research sh...

Seventy-two per cent of migraine sufferers in a clinical trial experienced either ‘substantial’ or ‘noticeable’ improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment, defying historical skepticism of chiropractics by some medical practitioners. The randomised clinical trial was undertaken by Dr Peter Tuchin, a chiropractor for the past 20 years, as part of his recently-completed PhD thesis at Macquarie University. “Around 22 per cent [of patients] had substantial reduction – which means that more than 60 percent of their symptoms reduced during the course of the treatment,” Tuchin says. “What makes this a really strong result is that this was a really chronic group – the average length of time they’d had migraines was 18 years. To get a change of that sort of magnitude in a really chronic group was quite amazing. “Another 50 per cent had quite noticeable improvement. They either found that the frequency of the migraines was less, the length of time they had them was less or tha...

Summer is unfortunately nearly over, at the end of the month the children are back to school. For most people this means pencils, notebook paper and mountains of textbooks. But sending your child to start, or return to school requires some homework from the parents. Here at Bedford Chiropractic Clinic, I endeavour to be both your chiropractor and educator. So here are some tips for a healthy start Back-To-School: Backpacks: An over-stuffed, incorrectly packed or worn backpack can result in a serious injury and affect young developing spines. How heavy is heavy? Even a backpack weighing 15 percent of a student’s body weight is too heavy to maintain a standing posture. This will cause undue stress on their young spines and can cause vertebral subluxations leading to postural changes and even scoliosis. Many of the current bags children are using may be fashionable, but unless they allow for even distribution across the back, they can cause pain. School can be a challen...

Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine based on the notion that the relationship between the body’s structure and its function affects health. The term combines Greek words chiro (hand) and praxis (practice) to describe a type of treatment done by hand.  While most people assume chiropractic is all about adjustments to relieve back pain, it does more than that. In fact, chiropractic can help relieve numerous conditions including hay fever. What is hayfever? Hayfever or allergic reaction is a quite common condition that affects about 30% of people worldwide, including up to 10% of the US children under 17 years of age and 7.8% of adults in the country. It’s estimated that medical cost of allergic rhinitis is $3.4 billion due to the cost of prescription medication. On the other hand, in Australia 1 in 5 individuals are affected by this condition. Although the term hay fever is more commonly use, it is a misnomer because hay is not a usual cause of the problem an...

Get fit without getting injured The gym; an intimidating testosterone-filled place full of bodybuilders and fitness freaks in lycra. For some, this can already be the ‘nope’ point. I mean, who wants to rock up to a building full of sweaty gym rats?! Once you have gotten over this hurdle, and accepted that your health and fitness comes first, then you can focus on your own mission and get down to work. First, depending on your goals, it’s always a good idea to record your progress in a notebook or phone app. Shedding that extra pound or maybe even lifting an extra rep all adds up in the long run. Evidence of where you started, and proof of your progress, can keep you going through the tough times. So, you’ve got your mind on a goal, your target destination. You’re underway and loving the new body you’re getting. But how do you keep progressing whilst limiting injury? Did you know that the most common gym injury is caused by bad form (wrong or poor technique). Fo...

To stand tall or not to stand tall? In my experience, so many people take their posture for granted, not realising how much it can impact there lives. I grew up walking around my grandmothers living room with a book or bottle balanced on my head. 'Keep your shoulders back, look forward, stand tall' she used to say. I found this highly entertaining and saw it more of a game than something that would help me later in life. On a daily basis, I see people that are in pain brought on by bad posture, sometimes working too long at a desk, sitting in a car for a long duration, lifting something in the wrong way or carrying a baby on one side. Granted, sometimes these things are unavoidable but most of the time these very bad habits can easily be changed. Too often I'll be walking through a supermarket and see someone hunched over pushing there trolley, more often than the older generation. This is likely to be caused by a lifetime of poor posture. Not only will...