 Do you or have you ever suffered with any type of symptoms?
Early SYMPTOM recognition, APPROPRIATE interpretation and relevant ACTION is the key to great health. – Jeremy Thomas (DC) Read the three Important Points Below about Symptoms.
If a smoke alarm were beeping, would you simply cut its power source or take the batteries out? A better solution is to find the source of the smoke and deal with it! As we have discussed before in other blogs The latest Guidelines recommend nonpharmacological (non drug) care as the first treatment option and reserves pharmacological care for patients for whom nonpharmacological care has not worked in Low back pain (3). Basically DO not use Surgery or Drugs as a first line effort for low back pain is the latest advice. If you have early health symptoms – get checked out.
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 Many people take medication to help with stomach acid. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) rank among the most commonly prescribed medications for acid reflux and digestive disorders, yet millions of people take them far longer than recommended — often for months or years. That extended use comes at a cost many users don't hear about. When a medication taken daily suppresses the stomach acid required for nutrient absorption, the consequences extend far beyond heartburn relief.
Chronic acid suppression disrupts your body's ability to absorb, transport and utilize essential nutrients — and three recent publications, spanning laboratory research, a systematic review of clinical trials and a real-world case report, now converge on that conclusion (1,2,3). The nutrient change observed were lower B12 (affecting cognitive function/s. eg memory), Shift in Calcium regulation (affecting bone structure). Researchers also noted that suppressed stomach acid creates conditions that favor bacterial survival, which explains why immune activity changed alongside mineral disruption. Stomach acid works like a chemical key — it unlocks nutrients from the food matrix they're bound to and converts them into forms small enough to pass through your intestinal lining. Without that key, nutrients pass through your gut largely unused. Vitamin B12 depends on acid to detach from dietary proteins, while calcium and magnesium rely on acidic conditions for transport across your intestinal lining. Correct the underlying problem — low stomach acid signaling — Your lower esophageal sphincter closes when stomach acidity reaches the proper level. When acid production drops, that closure weakens and reflux appears even though acid is insufficient. Rebuilding acid production requires supplying the raw materials used to form hydrochloric acid: hydrogen from whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and quality proteins, and chloride from natural salt, tomatoes, celery, and olives. If you would like help managing stomach acid issues contact us at Sprouting Health Chiropractic and Kinesiology.
 Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the world (1). Is there anything that chiropractic can do that may help manage it? If you or a loved one have osteoarthritis, or are wondering whether it may be a possible issue that you may have, this is an important article that could make the world of a difference to you.
“In the US it is second to only ischaemic heart disease as a cause of work disability in men over 50 years of age,”(1) The primary symptoms of osteoarthritis include joint pain and stiffness. Almost everyone has some form of osteoarthritis. It affects the joint in many ways which include damage and loss of cartilage, abnormal remodelling of subarticular bone, osteophytes (bone growth at the joint margins), lax ligaments, weakening of muscles related to the joint and inflammation. (2) It is now widely viewed as an age-related reaction pattern of a joint as a response to insult (overuse) or injury to the joint, also a product of attempted repairing of the joint by the body. (1) Most joint injuries may be at risk of developing osteoarthritis. So “cracking” your knuckles is bad if it causes injury or insult to the joint. In a recent research literature, where 10 rabbits had induced osteoarthritis in the knee, were split into groups with one group receiving chiropractic adjustments with a chiropractic adjusting instrument. Their joints were then examined after about 8 weeks. It was found that the rabbits who received chiropractic adjustments had improved subchondral bone integrity and cartilage degradation was inhibited. These findings support that chiropractic adjustments may ameliorate osteoarthritis through beneficial effects on the three most affected tissues in osteoarthritis. (3) If you want to find out if chiropractic can help manage osteoarthritis for you or your loved ones, chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist. “With so many different activities putting so much stress on our joints, causing it to wear and tear, it’s important to make sure that our joints are functioning at their optimal to better support us with the activities that we love doing!!” (1) Arden, N. and Nevitt, M.C., 2006. Osteoarthritis: epidemiology. Best practice & research Clinical rheumatology, 20(1), pp.3-25. (2) Hutton, C.W., 1989. Osteoarthritis: the cause not result of joint failure?. Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 48(11), p.958. (3) Conesa-Buendía, F.M., Fujikawa, R., Mediero, A., Gratal, P., Mulero, F. and Ortega-De Mues, A., 2018. Changes in subchondral bone status, cartilage and synovial membrane in response to chiropractic manipulation in an osteoarthritis model. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 26, p.S319.  Many people are now working from home. The impact of working and studying at home can have many effects on our health- simply because most people do not have their home workstation set up properly. This is mostly driven by where and how we are using our devices. In bed, on the couch, at the kitchen table. We are not using a proper set up with ergonomics in mind!
We have previously talked about how to set up your work station with proper ergonomics, so check out our previous blogs and videos. What our focus today is how these poor choices in posture can impact on your wellbeing. For example, it has been said for a long time that a slumped posture is a diagnostic feature of depression. (2) One recent study looked at what happens when we straighten out our posture. They found an increase in arousal, a positive affect and lower levels of anxiety. (2) Another study found that improving our posture has the potential to assist our sleep, pain threshold, and blood pressure! (1) So, if you have noticed that you are feeling a bit flat, not sleeping as well, and just generally struggling to get through your work, have a look at how you have set up your work space. Make sure that it allows you to have good posture, and make sure that you take regular breaks from sitting and your screens. If you would like help managing postural issues contact us at Sprouting Health Chiropractic and Kinesiology.
 Positional plagiocephaly is an asymmetrical deformation of the infant skull from prolonged external pressure on the soft cranial bones of the infant, in the absence of craniosynostosis (fusion of bones) (1). Do you know of a loved one who has positional plagiocephaly? This is an important article that could make the world of difference to you.
“Among those with positional head deformity, 7.5% had a developmental disorder within 7 years of follow-up” (2) Risk factors for positional plagiocephaly include prematurity, prolonged labour, unusual birth position, assisted delivery, multiple birth, first-born child, neck problems, maternal age greater than 35 years, and male (3). Plagiocephaly of the back of the head, posterior occipital plagiocephaly is quite prevalent today and has reached an incidence of 19.7% at 4 months (4). It has been reported to be associated with delays in motor development, language, cognition, visual field restriction, malocclusion and muscular dysfunction (5,6,7). The helmet is considered a low-risk and effective intervention for moderate to severe plagiocephaly, with its effectiveness strongly age dependant, with optimal outcomes achieved when initiated before 6 months of age (1,8). Can chiropractic also be of benefit with the management of plagiocephaly? In a recent research literature, where they did a retrospective cohort study, 24 infants were looked at. They were divided into 2 groups, 12 infants only had the helmet therapy, while the other 12 infants had the helmet therapy combined with chiropractic care. It was found that helmet therapy duration was not shortened with combined chiropractic care. However, for the infants that had combined chiropractic care and helmet therapy, superior cranial symmetry outcomes were observed at discharge, potentially indicating more efficient symmetry correction (9). Though a larger sample group would help further substantiate these findings, these findings are quite positive. If you want to find out if chiropractic may help manage plagiocephaly for your loved ones, have a chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist. “The earlier the intervention the more positive the outcome” 1. Kim, J., Kim, J. and Chae, K.Y., 2023. Effectiveness of Helmet therapy for infants with moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly. Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics, 67(1), p.46. 2. Lynch, M.E., White, M.J., Rabatin, A.E., Brandenburg, J.E., Theuer, A.B., Viet, K.M., Hollman, J.H. and Driscoll, S.W., 2024. Incidence of nonsynostotic plagiocephaly and developmental disorders. JAMA pediatrics, 178(9), pp.899-905. 3. Bialocerkowski, A.E., Vladusic, S.L. and Wei Ng, C., 2008. Prevalence, risk factors, and natural history of positional plagiocephaly: a systematic review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 50(8), pp.577-586. 4. Bridges, S.J., Chambers, T.L. and Pople, I.K., 2002. Plagiocephaly and head binding. Archives of disease in childhood, 86(3), pp.144-145. 5. Cabrera-Martos, I., Ortigosa-Gómez, S.J., Lopez-Lopez, L., Ortiz-Rubio, A., Torres-Sanchez, I., Granados-Santiago, M. and Valenza, M.C., 2021. Physical therapist interventions for infants with nonsynostotic positional head deformities: a systematic review. Physical therapy, 101(8), p.pzab106. 6. González-Santos, J., González-Bernal, J.J., De-la-Fuente Anuncibay, R., Soto-Cámara, R., Cubo, E., Aguilar-Parra, J.M., Trigueros, R. and López-Liria, R., 2020. Infant cranial deformity: cranial helmet therapy or physiotherapy?. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(7), p.2612. 7. Panza, R., Piarulli, F., Rizzo, V., Schettini, F., Baldassarre, M.E., Di Lorenzo, A., Tafuri, S. and Laforgia, N., 2024. Positional plagiocephaly: results of the osteopathic treatment of 424 infants. An observational retrospective cohort study. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 50(1), p.166. 8. Corte, A.D. and Rohde, M.A., 2025. Use of orthotic helmets in children with positional plagiocephaly and brachycephaly: a systematic review. Child's Nervous System, 41(1), p.163. 9. Marchand, A.M., MChiro, M. and Leader, M.C., Chiropractic manipulative therapy with helmet therapy, association with treatment duration and cranial asymmetry outcomes for moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly: a retrospective cohort study. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL CHIROPRACTIC PEDIATRICS, p.2105.  Every June, Spinal Health Month raises awareness about the importance of spinal health and preventing one of the most common health problems affecting Australians — back pain. Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and can affect anyone, from office workers sitting at a desk all day to tradesmen performing repetitive physical tasks.
This year’s campaign focuses on prevention and helping Australians build healthier habits before pain becomes a long-term issue. For office workers, prolonged sitting, poor workstation setup, and constant phone or computer use can place ongoing stress on the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Over time, these habits may lead to stiffness, headaches, and persistent discomfort. For tradesmen and physically demanding professions, repetitive lifting, bending, twisting, and carrying heavy loads can gradually overload the spine and surrounding muscles. Many people continue to work through discomfort until the problem becomes harder to ignore. The good news is that many cases of back pain can be reduced or prevented with simple daily habits:
Early attention is important. Small aches and stiffness can sometimes develop into more persistent problems if ignored. Research suggests chiropractic care may help improve spinal function and assist in managing low back pain, particularly when combined with movement and exercise-based approaches. A randomised controlled trial involving active-duty U.S. military personnel with low back pain found participants receiving chiropractic care showed statistically significant improvements in strength, trunk muscle endurance, balance, pain intensity, and disability compared with a control group.(1) The study concluded that chiropractic care helped improve both physical performance and functional capacity in individuals affected by low back pain. Whether your job involves sitting at a computer or working on your feet all day, looking after your spine is an investment in your long-term health, movement, and ability to keep doing the things you enjoy. This Spinal Health Month, take a moment to check in with your posture, movement, and daily habits. Have a chat with our chiropractors and see how we could help support your spine. Reference 1. Vining R, Long CR, Minkalis A, Gudavalli MR, Xia T, Walter J, et al. Effects of Chiropractic Care on Strength, Balance, and Endurance in Active-Duty US Military Personnel with Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2020;26(7):592-601.  A reflex is an automatic, quick response your body makes to something — without you even thinking about it. For example, remember the knee-jerk reflex many of us experienced as kids? It’s a classic example of how our bodies respond instantly to a stimulus.
Neonatal reflexes are similar. These are built-in movements newborn babies perform without any conscious control. They help babies survive, feed, and interact with the world during their first few months. They also show that a baby’s brain and nervous system are developing properly. One well-known example is the Startle Reflex, also called the Moro Reflex. If a baby hears a loud noise or feels like they’re falling, they’ll suddenly throw out their arms and legs — then quickly bring them back in. This reflex plays a key role in helping babies strengthen their extensor muscles (like those in the back and limbs), and it also helps balance out the flexor muscles, which were tightened during their curled-up position in the womb for nearly 40 weeks. The startle reflex is just one of many that help newborns adapt to life outside the womb. As babies grow and begin to make purposeful, voluntary movements, these reflexes are no longer needed and should naturally fade. In fact, health professionals often check these reflexes to ensure children are meeting their age-appropriate developmental milestones. But sometimes, these reflexes don’t go away when they should. When that happens, we call them Retained Neonatal Reflexes (RNRs). What Causes Retained Reflexes? Retained reflexes may occur when the brain has experienced some kind of trauma — either physical (like a difficult birth), chemical (such as exposure to certain drugs), or emotional (such as early stress or trauma). When these reflexes stick around, they can interfere with a child's development and behaviour. Common Signs of Retained Reflexes in Children: • Anxiety, phobias, extreme shyness, or panic attacks • Discomfort with change or new experiences • Sensitivity to light, sound, or touch • Nail-biting, chewing on hair or shirt collars • Thumb sucking beyond toddler years • Difficulty using cutlery, holding a pencil, or playing instruments • Jaw or tongue movements while writing or concentrating • Poor balance and coordination • Struggles learning to ride a bike • Inability to sit still and poor concentration(often described as having “ants in the pants”) …and many more What to Do If You Suspect RNRs If you recognise these signs in yourself or your child, you’re not alone — and there are ways to help. To learn more about retained reflexes and how they might be affecting your life, visit our website. You can also book a consultation with one of our Drs of Chirorpactic and Kinesiology at Sprouting Health to see how we can support you or your loved ones in managing these concerns.  Reflexes are defined as involuntary and arguably instantaneous movements in response to specific stimuli. Eg. take the patellae reflex, when the Dr taps your knee ligament your quad contracts automatically, and your knee shoots out - this is not under voluntary control.
Some of these reflexes are seen in particular age groups and disappear at identified times during one’s lifetime. These reflexes which are normally present in early life and disappear as one grows are the primitive reflexes. Here at Little Sprouts we have a particular interest in the implication of their impact on learning and development. According to authorities in pediatric neurology, the reflexes are fashioned as part of the developmental process to develop specific brain circuits for important purposes. The development of what we have as the day-to-day movement activity is driven by the primitive reflexes (1). Primitive reflexes are thought to have a developmental role since they are supposed to help the young one to perform activities such as movement against gravity as they are incorporated within the first few months of life. That is especially true for walking and crawling. Children who have retained primitive reflexes tend to exhibit some elements of social and even educational dysfunction. Their psychological development is modestly incapacitated hence they may show altered psycho-motor development (1) which is essentially the thought origin of movement from the brain controlling the actual moment. Another study found that Inhibition of primitive reflexes, especially those involving the hands and the mouth has a significant role in the normal development of motor and expressional movements (2). Some of these primitive reflexes can be related to other disorders (eg ADHD). If you would like your or your children's primitive reflexes assessed call our practice (Sprouting Health Chiropractic and Kinesiology) now. References
 When people think of chiropractors, they tend to think about our work on the spine. But did you know that we work on ALL the joints of the body? Yep, that’s right, from your head all the way down to your toes.
We find that this whole-body approach is extremely important in helping you reach your full potential. And this is even more important with our little sprouts. Our clinical examination of children includes checking for dysfunctional movements of their arms and legs as well as their spine. A recent study done in Melbourne on 202 cases of neonates and infants under the age of 12 months found 153 cases had extremity dysfunction, with 177 instances present (1). Over 70% of these were the shoulder, followed by the wrist (5%), knee (5%), and elbow (2.5%). The majority of shoulder dysfunction was found on the right side. This has been suggested to be caused when the shoulder girdle (being the widest part) is passing through the pelvic outlet during the birthing process (2). Other causes have been listed as, in utero positioning of the baby, and post-natal. So, what is the big deal then? Well, the problem comes down to something we have talked to you all recently about, proprioception; how well can the brain see/feel what your body is doing. A recent study has shown that peripheral joint dysfunction will alter the proprioceptive feed back to the brain in as little as 10 hours (3). This was reversed by correcting the joint dysfunction. This tells us that if we find joints in our arms or legs that are not moving properly, it can impact on our ability to use them properly. This is important when we think of our little ones when they are learning things that we may take for granted, such as; crawling, walking, or even feeding ourselves. This is also extremely important in athletes wanting maximum performance.
 What are the odds?
Have you ever overheard people talking about their lower back pain while you are sitting in a cafe enjoying your coffee or during a family gathering? Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017–18 National Health estimates about 4.0 million Australians (16% of the population) have back problems. It is estimated that 70–90% of people will suffer from lower back pain in some form at some point in their lives. (1) Lower back pain is associated with weakened core muscles Our spinal health and stability are supported by different tissues (intervertebral disc, muscles, tendons, ligaments…). Research describes the weakening of the truck and abdominal muscles as one major cause of chronic lower back pain. (2) We observed many people only focus on loosening up their stiff back muscles, but seldom discuss weak core muscles with their chiropractor. In the past decade, core strengthening has been brought back to one of the main protocols in a rehabilitation plan post-injury with athletes, the public and people who suffer lower back pain. (3) Muscle imbalance Your abdomen is a cylinder! Imagine that your spine is sitting at the back of a cylinder, your abdominal wall would be the front of the cylinder, traverse abdominal muscles would be the two sides of your cylinder. (3) When the abdominal walls are weakened, while daily stresses and pressures to your spine remain unchanged, passive tissues such as the discs and spinal joints will take up the duty. Predictably, muscles around your spinal joints tighten up, speeding up spinal degeneration and give you lower back pain. A common misconception is to “suck the belly in” when people are asked to activate their core muscles. In fact, pushing your abdominals out is a better way to take the pressure off your spine. Here are a few steps to help you learn how to activate your core muscles!
Chiropractors are trained to help manage musculoskeletal disorders. If you have any concerns about how a chiropractor can help, consult with one of our chiropractors for a comprehensive health check and let us help you to be your best self possible! References 1. Health AIo, Welfare. Back problems. Canberra: AIHW; 2019. 2. Chang W-D, Lin H-Y, Lai P-T. Core strength training for patients with chronic low back pain. Journal of physical therapy science. 2015;27(3):619-22. 3. Akuthota V, Nadler SF. Core strengthening. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2004;85:86-92. |
AuthorBlogs by the team at Sprouting Health Archives
June 2026
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