Get Your Child Ready for Summer Athletics
August is the traditional month for the school physical. Most parents have learned to accept this event and take it for granted without questioning whether it has any real value. After evaluating his daughter’s school physical, Dr. Amyas A Kabir asked that question, and his answer may surprise you. Here is what Dr. Kabir had to say about school physicals:
I can now say with veracious emphasis that the school physical conducted on my daughter prior to entering Kindergarten was barely enough to address the fact that she had a heartbeat and was breathing. If this standard exam/protocol is the norm in the allopathic industry, then it is no surprise that chronic illness is reaching epidemic rates in children.
First of all, don’t you think that for participation in athletic activities, the mechanics and function of her feet should be addressed? After all, with flip-flops being common footwear among children nowadays, it is very common to see kids with poor arch development. Instead, not to my surprise, they were more concerned with making sure that she doesn’t talk to strangers.
Incidentally, it is now required that the Doctor administering the school physical conduct a review of safety protocol with the child, including wearing a seatbelt while in a vehicle, wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle, and my favorite, not talking to strangers because, as he put it, “there are bad people out there.” Statistically speaking, over 80% of bicycle fatalities among children 14 years or younger occur due to the cyclist’s behavior…riding into a busy intersection, etc., and there are approximately 200-300 deaths per year as a result of fatal injuries sustained while riding a bicycle. Compared to the thousands of deaths resulting from adverse drug reactions, I think this would be a more important area to educate our children.
O.K., back to the physical examination. Standard procedure: blood pressure, pulse, respiration, checking the eyes and ears, height, weight, and review of toxic inoculations….I mean her vaccination history. Considering that over half of all children are obese or overweight, I would think that discussing her dietary regimen might be of value. How about the need for Omega 3 supplementation or a balanced intake of fruits and vegetables? No, instead the question was posed, “Why did you decline to have your daughter vaccinated?” My answer was simple and poignant,”Because the research conducted on immunizations has yet to show safety and efficacy.” He looked at me quizzically and then proceeded with the rest of the examination.
At the conclusion, I was trying hard to ascertain what pertinent information was just gathered that may have relevance to the future of my daughter’s health? Sadly, very little can be predicted from the physical exams conducted by physicians under current protocols. Entrance into school requires a school physical, vision, and dental examination….but no evaluation of the spine and nervous system?!
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the system that runs your mind and body should be assessed. Continuing to rely on archaic school physicals is only one of the many reasons why the health of our children is at risk. Parents are best suited for this assessment. Long term vitality and quality of life is dependent upon the nourishment given to the mind and the body. If your child is subluxated, the ability to express his/her full potential is compromised. Why eliminate the most important evaluation that your child could have conducted? Change is imminent. Take a proactive approach today.
Reprinted with the permission of the author Amyas A Kabir, D.C.,C.W.O.
