NOVA Chiropractic & Acupuncture March 2019

WHEN SHOULD YOUR KIDS START WORKING?

Out of the Game Room and into the Workplace

When the dolls and baseball cards get pushed to the wayside for cell phones and movie dates, it may be time to gently nudge your child out from under your wing and into the workplace. It doesn’t have to be pushing shopping carts or spinning signs on the corner; working in any capacity during formative years builds character and gives your child real-world experience. Summer jobs teach the value of a dollar and give kids lasting memories, and after-school gigs lead to more pocket change for the weekends and less worrying for Mom and Dad. The hard part isn’t asking yourself if they should work; it’s asking yourself when they should work. In the U.S., most of us have about four decades of working to look forward to. Many start working in late adolescence and continue until retirement age. Now, that’s a lot of work to be had. So why rush it? Well, idle hands often spell disaster. Sitting around all day is a burden on both child and parent, whether they realize it or not. Those few years between hitting puberty and graduating high school are the sweet spot for your child to start their part-time career. There’s no shame in flipping burgers, stocking shelves, or mowing lawns. As of 2014, there were 16 million workers in the retail and food service industries, and the numbers have only gone up from there. But work ethic is changing among American teenagers. Just one- third of individuals aged 16–19 had a job lined up for last summer, compared to 51.2 percent for the same age range in 1997. While surviving on minimum wage as an adult is a topic of great debate, raking in around $10 an hour as a 14-year-old can seem like a king’s ransom. A few working hours here and there will do your grown baby a world of good and prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Identifying and Solving the Problem

NOVA Chiropractic & Acupuncture treats a variety of health problems with the determination to ensure our patients return to their lives pain-free. One ailment we see often is carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel is the narrow passageway located in the underside of the wrist; it serves to protect the median nerve and flexor tendons that allow our fingers and hands to move. When the median nerve is compressed or becomes irritated within the carpal tunnel, it causes a tingling or numbing sensation in the hands, thumb, or index and middle fingers. This is known as carpal tunnel syndrome, and when it’s not addressed or treated quickly, it can worsen over time. When a patient comes into the office with these symptoms, our priority is to find out what exactly is causing the problem. Many people think this condition only occurs due to something in the wrist, but the root of the problem could be taking place higher up in the arm. Dr. Sullivan will perform a series of tests to see if the nerve is compressed or irritated in the carpal tunnel, forearm, or neck. It’s imperative to check each area that might be causing the patient discomfort, as it will determine the proper diagnosis and treatment. Once the root of the condition is discovered, we’ll provide the appropriate treatment to ensure our patient the best and quickest recovery. There are several methods we use to treat carpal tunnel syndrome efficiently. The first treatment is laser therapy, which reduces any nerve inflammation and irritation that may be causing the patient pain. If tight muscles are the cause, we focus on relaxing them to remove pressure from the nerve. Dr. Sullivan will use Active Release Techniques and Graston Technique to help release the muscle tension compressing the nerve. Another treatment we perform to help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome is chiropractic adjustments to the joints in the wrist, elbow and neck if needed. If you’re showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, our office can help. Give our office a call today at 703-912-7822 to learn more about how we can help you return to your life pain-free!

NovaChiroWellness.com

(703) 912-7822

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