Trick or Treating in the 21st Century

Trick or Treating in the 21^st Century

Each October when I was growing up, the talk between my brothers and I was always about what costumes we would wear, or what we would be for Halloween. But growing up in Iowa, with fall transitioning to winter, no matter how great our costumes were, we were always bundled up in coats, gloves and hats as we would Trick-or-Treat around the neighborhood. But now there are other options for Trick-or-Treating such as the Boo at the Zoo events and Trunk-or-Treating events. Even Disney World has Halloween parties where you can Trick-or-Treat in Magic Kingdom.

Every year Trunk-or-Treating events get more popular. Personally, I like these events for families. Vehicles are decorated in Halloween themes and some people distributing candy are also dressed up in costumes. Some vehicles have games for the children to play and they are able to Trick-or-Treat from vehicle to vehicle, with minimal effort. Most of these events are free but some do ask for donations such as cans of food for the local pantry.

The neighborhood Trick-or-Treating event occurs on one night, whereas, there are multiple Trunk-or-Treating events leading up to Halloween. If the weather is bad or one Trunk-or-Treating event does not work out for your family’s schedule, there are others that you can attend. It seems like there are less and less houses that participate in the neighborhood Trick-or-Treating, so it could be hit-or-miss for the children.

Costumes with fabric or other accessories that drag along the ground are at risk of catching on fire.

When selecting your costume, make sure the clothing, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant, McDermott said. It will be clearly marked on the packaging, so if you do not see a tag, assume it is not fire-resistant, she added. In addition, make sure there are no pieces dangling and that the costume is not too long.

But no matter what events your family decides to participate in, here are some safety guidelines to keep in mind. If it will be dark out, have children wear lighter colored clothes. Give them flashlights to use, or have them wear glow-in-the-dark or light-up necklaces and bracelets,

– Chandra Cunningham, DC

Following an accident or injury your body’s first response is pain. The same nerves that signal pain also tell your brain an injury has occurred. Your body’s natural response is to protect the injured area by tightening the muscles around the injury like a splint. Muscle guarding directly after the injury is a positive response in the acute phase. After the 72 hours acute phase, muscle guarding continues causing restricted motion in the joints which persists after the damaged muscle tissue has healed. Your body will also compensate by using other muscles to complete the task. If you’ve ever twisted your ankle or hurt your knee you will rely on the other leg to carry most of your weight when trying to walk. This in turn affects the way the hips and lower back function.

There are several therapy modalities we use under the direct supervision of our Medical Doctors to regain range of motion, increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage to the injured area. Chiropractic manipulation, hot/cold packs, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, traction and a stretching and strengthening program are used to increase the affected tissues to their normal range of motion.

Stretching allows for the elastin in the muscle tissue to elongate for greater mobility and flexibility. It warms the muscle tissue, increases blood flow to bring needed nutrients and allows the lymphatic system to remove toxins from the affected area. Before stretching, warm up with 5 to 10 minutes of light activity. Keep stretches gentle and slow, breathe through your stretches. If you are experiencing pain during the stretch, please communicate with your therapist. Our therapist will first demonstrate and then instruct you to complete the correct stretches for your affected areas.

Strengthening exercises help to regain strength, improve flexibility and reduce pain levels. Exercising makes the recovery period after an injury much quicker than resting alone. Strengthening exercises work to strengthen the muscles, ligaments and tendons that enable movement throughout the body. Our therapists use resistance bands with varying levels of resistance to strengthen the affected muscles.

It is important after you’ve completed your stretching/strengthening program to hydrate. Drink twice your normal intake of water to help flush your system of toxins, 6-8 cups of water are considered normal so you need to increase that if possible. If you don’t want to drink plain water, try a healthy drink such as green tea. Water infused with fruit and herbs such as mint can also be tasty. Many people find it more pleasurable to drink their daily eight cups of water with a little lemon juice.

Getting plenty of sleep, 7-9 hours of sleep is essential for muscle repair and growth. Sleep is the time for our bodies to recover, heal and grow. While you sleep, your brain is regulating different hormones that help your body with those processes.

Make sure to eat well balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and carbs. A study found that a compound in spinach increases protein synthesis, which helps your muscles repair faster after your stretching program. Pineapples are packed with bromelain and papain, two enzymes that have anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for recovering muscles. Like protein, zinc is also instrumental in helping you heal wounded tissue. Common examples of zinc-rich foods include meat, fish, shellfish, and whole grains. Nuts are also a great choice.

It is very important to complete the therapy program as prescribed by the Medical Doctor. Combined, the modalities work in unison to provide the best care possible.

John R. Bixler, LMT

If you or somebody you know has been in a car accident, be sure that you seek medical attention from a car accident doctor or car accident chiropractor to treat your injuries. Visit Chambers Medical Group  to receive world-class medical treatment for your injuries.

Chambers Medical Group has car accident medical clinics in the following locations:

• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Tampa
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Plant City
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Brandon
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lakeland
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Sarasota
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Louisville
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lexington
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Florence