Newsletter: March 2004

• The NHL Old-Timers Game
• Ms. Rankin's Grade 5 Class
• B.C. Winter Games at Oceanside Place
• New High-Tech Patient Information System at the Office
• Core-Stabilization Class at Fitness Connection
• Mattresses Do Matter

Dr. Larry had only been back from Cuba a few weeks when we received a call from Calgary, Alberta. The NHL Old-Timers were coming to Parksville in February and needed a 'few good men'. Would he consider playing with them?

Dr. Larry scores with an assist from Bob Bourne

He had been at an Old-Timers game in Nanaimo last year and enjoyed it very much. As a boy growing up in Winnipeg, he played minor hockey for many years and many of his hockey heros of the day are the players who are now continuing to support hockey and local communities through these exhibition games. So you can imagine his excitement at the chance to actually get on the ice, on the same team, and on the same line with Bob Bourne, Jack Vellaquette, Ron Flockhart and Tiger Williams!

This time the Old-Timers were playing to raise money for the Parksville Fire Department's Education Fund. As Dr. Larry had not spent much time at all on the ice since his youth, he spent as much time as he could -- in the one month he had -- trying to prepare for the big game.

Dr. Larry takes his penalty shot

The game was on February 11th at the new Oceanside Place -- Howie Meeker Arena and it was standing room only. He wasn't expecting the game to be as fast paced as it was, but he says the local Old-Timers team is really quite good and that added to the pace and the excitement.

Dr. Larry had more than a few stories to relate about the game:

"I was first greeted by former Leaf star Jack Vellaquette who asked me where the dressing rooms were. We were both wearing Toronto Maple Leafs hats and hit if off right away."

Tiger Wlliams facing off. Eddie Shack is the referee.

"I was absolutely thrilled and terrified as I stepped out on to the ice for the first time to line up for the face-off. I was also scared to death when I was awarded a penalty shot by Eddie Shack the honourary referee. I missed the penalty shot but I finally scored a goal late in the 3rd period!! What a feeling that was to score and be congratulated by the players I had idolized many years ago. I felt like I was 14 again!!"

"After the game, I was teased mercilessly by Tiger and Doug Bodger about my archaic hockey gloves. And during the game Tiger had fed me a perfect pass right in front of the net... but I missed it -- and he certainly didn't mind telling me about it!"

"I cannot say enough about the NHL Old-Timers experience. They are a great group of highly skilled, friendly, humourous stars who are helping raise money for many worthy causes. I am very grateful to have been asked to participate in this exciting event. I'm ready to do it again next year!"

Way to go Larry. Incidentally, we have photos of the game, some of which we are putting in this newsletter. There are more photos available to be viewed on our new LCD monitor slide show program at the office. (We also have downloaded his Cuban Adventure photos as well.) Come on in and have a look.

Dr. Larry addressed Ms. Rankin's Grade 5 students at Aeroview Elementary School in February. He taught them the components of the human spine and the central nervous system -- and the necessity of good posture. He also instructed them on how to do a posture check on themselves and others. I have included two of the many "Thank-you" notes we received from the students. All of the notes are on display in our office for reading...

Ceilidh wrote..."Dear Dr. Larry Smith. Thank you for coming in out of your own time to come in and teach my class and I about the brain and the central nervous system. I learned with the posture check that my friend is ticklish and I got all tense on the posture check. And one arm can be longer than the other. And there's spongy stuff between the bones."

Tamara wrote... "Dr. Smith. Thank you for teaching us about the vertebrae it was exciting. I learned how to look and see if you were level. And if your feet were the same size. I enjoyed you coming and teaching us about a checkup on people. I already did this to my sister. I appreciate that you came in on your own time when you could of been having a coffee or working."

Kids are great!

Dr. Larry will be providing chiropractic service to the athletes at Oceanside Place Arenas this weekend. He will be in the medical kiosk on Saturday morning for the speed-skating and ringette events.

We have a new high-tech information system at the office. It consists of computer run slide shows shown on three different screens in the office. We have a 19" LCD monitor in the waiting room, and a 15" LCD monitor in each of the two treatment rooms. We can program the system to run patient education slides on a large range of topics from Arthritis to Whiplash. We can also download our own photos for viewing. We have done this with Larry's Cuba pictures as well as the ones of the NHL Old-Timers Game. Come on in and check it out.

NOTE: For all of you who have expressed interest in the Fit-Ball and Core-Stabilization exercises -- Doug Pickard of the Fitness Connection will be running a course at the gym beginning March 23. It runs for eight weeks and the number to call if you are interested is 248-3144.

Dr. Larry encourages patients to maintain proper posture at all times -- whether they are vertical or horizontal. Why? Because good posture keeps the spine properly aligned.

Sub-Optimal Mattresses May Trigger Common Spine Condition

Dr. Larry continually encourages patients to adopt the chiropractic lifestyle, a way of life that focuses on preventing health problems rather than merely masking symptoms with medication. This lifestyle centers on the correction of dysfunctional areas in the spine called vertebral subluxations: a common condition that occurs when spinal movement is restricted or spinal bones (vertebrae) become misaligned.

Vertebral subluxations are linked with a myriad of health concerns, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, infantile colic, ear infections and backaches. Dr. Larry corrects vertebral subluxations with safe and gentle maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments.

Veto Victimization

You don't have to be a vertebral subluxation victim, however. Maintaining regular chiropractic checkups is the first step towards achieving optimal spinal health. Also important is getting the right mattress.

In a study of 22 subjects between the ages of 25 and 75 -- with documented disturbed sleep, shoulder pain, low-back pain and spine stiffness of a chronic nature -- prescribed bedding systems reduced back pain 57 percent, shoulder pain 61 percent and back stiffness 59 percent. Quality of sleep also improved by 61 percent. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2002;25:88-92)

Papa Bear May Have Had a Bad Back

A study published in the November 15, 2003, issue of the medical journal The Lancet challenges the common belief that extra-firm mattresses are beneficial for low-back pain.

Mattress firmness is rated on a scale developed by the European Committee for Standardization. The scale starts at 1.0, the firmest, and stops at 10.0, the softest (Lancet 2003;362:1599-604).

Researchers in Spain assessed the effect of different mattress firmnesses on 313 adults who complained of backache while lying in bed and upon rising. Participants were randomly assigned either a firm mattress (2.3 on the rating scale) or medium-firm mattress (5.6 on the scale).

After 90 days, a whopping 95 percent of the subjects with medium-firm mattresses had less pain in bed, pain upon rising and disability than patients with firm mattresses. "Throughout the study period, patients with medium-firm mattresses also had less daytime low-back pain, pain while lying in bed and pain on rising than patients with firm mattresses." (Lancet 2003;362:1599-604).

Mama Bear's Mattress

Mama Bear preferred a soft mattress. And few are softer than a feather bed. Feather beds can, however, create a flurry of allergic reactions. Before you commit to a feather mattress, try a feather pillow first. Another option is to stay in a hotel that features feather mattresses on your next vacation trip.

Once Upon an Option

There are almost as many mattress options today as there are trees in The Three Bears' forest, the most standard being the traditional inner-spring. The following is just a sampling of what's on the market.

Adjustable Beds

You've probably seen the numerous advertisements on TV and in magazines; happy couples reclining in their adjustable, dual-mattress beds as they read, watch televison or do needle-work. With a push of a button, each sleeper can adjust the head and foot of his or her mattress to the most comfortable position. This type of bed is particularly handy if you and your spouse have different spinal issues. However, sleeping with the spine in extreme angles my spawn vertebral subluxations.

Waterbeds

The major benefit associated with waterbeds is the near pressure-free sleeping surface. But again "abnormal sleeping postures or pressure against the edge may cause temporary paralysis in the legs or feet lasting as long as six months." (Med J Aust 1997;167:632.)

Airbeds

Instead of an innerspring or foam core, air-filled mattresses are filled with ...air! This unique design allows consumers to adjust the firmness to suit individual needs.

Tempur-Pedic Mattresses

A revolutionary new material was created at NASA's Ames Research Center in the 1970's to protect astronauts from gravitational forces (g-forces) experienced during lift-off. This open-celled, breathable material was temperature sensitive and able to distribute pressure or body weight over the entire surface area.

Why Baby Bear May Need a New Mattress

Speculation about the cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) ranges from sleep positioning -- placing babies on their stomachs at bedtime -- to the latest theory published by an Australian researcher. In a recent issue of Archives of Disease of Childhood, the researcher points to infectious agents/viruses as the true culprit.

Meanwhile, scientists in Scotland have linked mattresses to this deadly disorder -- even when baby is kept on his or her back with crib inserts designed to prevent rolling.

Saliva, urine or milk can soak into mattresses without an impermeable cover and lead to the growth of potentially toxic bacteria. This, in turn, can contribute to the "illness or death of the infant, particularly at the time of an acute viral infection." (Br Med J 2002;325:98).

How to Buy a Mattress

After consulting with your doctor of chiropractic, consider the following mattress-buying tips:

• Purchase new -- never used.
• Shop only at reputable stores.
• Make sure the mattress arrived from the manufacturer wrapped in plastic. (Dispose of this plastic immediately upon unwrapping in a container children can not open.)
• Expect sales personnel to answer all of your questrions. If they can't shop somewhere else.
• Don't be embarrassed to actually lie down on the bed before making a purchase.
• Seek stores that offer a 30 (or 60) night trial periods. Many stores do.

• Purchase a good-quality bed frame. Larger mattresses, such as a queen or king, need to have extra center support to keep the mattress from sagging in the middle.
• Flip the mattress regularly -- end to end and over -- to maintain proper balance, unless the brand you choose specifically states not to do this.
• Ban jumping on the bed. It's bad for the mattress and worse for youngsters. Beds are not trampolines and serious injury can occur.
• Keep children's mattresses clean and stain-free by using a washable pad with plastic liner.
• Stop ... don't touch that tag! No, you won't go to jail if you remove the mattress label; but the tag does have important warranty information on it that you might need if you have a problem with the mattress.

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Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5