Thursday, 6 December 2018
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
On Fatlicious Gift Giving 2018
Another year is ending; another holiday season is upon us! Every year, I try and keep track of all the cool fatlicious things that I see online so I can share and promote them with you at the end of the year. Sometimes, like with the Fatties Against Facism T-Shirt, the availability closes before I get around to putting out this Guide, but I can assure you that most of my favourite fat things of the year on still around for you to get your fat fingers on. This list doesn’t have any affiliate links; I do not get any kind of money or compensation from the items or companies on the list – it’s just fatlicious stuff you may want for yourself or someone you love. I also don’t promote stuff I cannot wear/use/etc for myself, so all of the clothes options will go up to at least 5x.
For the activist
“Fat is Enough” zine and pin pack from the Femme Folio
Thick Thigh Squad button from Archive Six
Fat Phobia Sticker from Siobhan Williams Art
Fatties Against Facism Flag from Fat Lib Ink
Loving Your Body Tote from Dietland
For those who love a little JOMO
Fat and Pretty TShirt from Miss Crime Scene
Fluff Goddess Sweatshirt from Fluff Goddess
Basics from Fat Girl Flow
Gorda, Nalgona, y Chingona T-Shirt from Nalgona Positive
For the stocking
Frosty Peach Glasses from Chubby Cartwheels
Babely Body Positive Pin from Taynee Tinsley
Adipose Issue: A Zine About Being Fat from Sparklebutch
SexFation Iemanjà Enamel Pin from Sexy Fation
Rainbow Sprinkle Ice Cream Sandwich Necklace from Plus Bklyn
Fattie Enamel Pin from Fat Mermaids
Polka Dot Pig Brooch from Fancy Lady Industries
For the coffee table
The Little Book of Big Babes from Rachelle Abellar
Still Breaking Normal by TaLynn Kel
For the home office
‘Glorify’ Fat Positive Card from Embroidery Is Vital
Adipositivity Project 2019 Calendar from Substantia Jones
Downward Dog Watercolour from Fat Feisty Femme
Tangelo from Dimmie
For the reader
Puddin’ by Julie Murphy
The Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty
Landwhale by Jess Baker
The Body is not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
For the fatshionista
Willa Maxi Dress from SWAK
Long Tutu in Blush from Society+
Ombre Star Print Georgette Sash Tie Dress from eShakti
Pumpkin Marissa Pant from Premme
For your feet
Heavenly Soles High Leg Boots from SimplyBe
Sling Back Block Heel Shoe from Ashley Stewart
Marcelle Caged Heel Ankle Boot from Avenue
Previous fatlicious gift giving guides
via Friend of Marilyn https://ift.tt/2PgDJf3
Monday, 3 December 2018
What Is Internalized Fatphobia?
In my piece about weight stigma and airlines I mentioned internalized fatphobia. On Instagram, @samolotus asked “could you expound upon what internalized fatphobia is?” Yes. Yes I can.
Internalized fatphobia is a form of internalized oppression, which is basically when oppressed people buy into the message of their oppressors. In terms of fatphobia, it happens when fat people don’t believe that they deserve the same things or same treatment that thin people get.
Internalized fatphobia can sound something like “If I take up more than one seat on a plane then of course I should pay for two seats!” Often this is a (conscious or subconscious) way to gain a modicum of approval from oppressors – the hope being that they think “well, she may be fat, but at least she has the decency to be self-loathing,” and that this attitude will lead them to better treatment to these fatties who are willing to fight for their right to be second class citizens.
We live in a culture that rolls out fatshaming messages to us from infancy, so the fact that fat people suffer from internalized fatphobia isn’t exactly a galloping shock. It’s not our fault, it’s about discovering the ways in which we have internalized the stigmatizing and oppressive messages we’ve heard, and then rethinking them, and then deciding what to do about what we actually deserve. (For example, realizing that what is considered “a seat” by the airline is arbitrary, that we deserve to be transported from point a to point b for the same prices as the thin person beside us, and then maybe getting involved in some activism around that.)
I want to be clear that there are people who would argue that it isn’t internalized fatphobia, that they simply believe that, as fat people, they should be treated as second class citizens. Often their justification are that being fat is their fault, and/or that they could be thin if they wanted to, and/or that fat people existing is an inconvenience to thin people (and, for some reason, they believe that thin people’s feelings and desires should be centered and accommodated but it definitely isn’t because they’ve bought into a fatphobic society, because that would mean that they are dealing with internalized fatphobia…)
Regardless, I have no need to argue with fat people who think like this, they are allowed to believe whatever they want. What’s important to remember is that, first of all, their belief that they deserve to be oppressed is NOT a justification for oppressing other fat people. I’m happy for these people to have the option to pay twice as much for the same plane ride, but by no means does that mean that any other fat person should be required to. Moreover, if they are trying to visit their ideas on other fat people (ie: insisting that we don’t deserve space on a plane, or healthcare facilities that accommodate us, etc.) then we’re no longer talking about internalized fatphobia. At that point its just the same old, regular, garden variety, fatphobia that is harming others and should be fought.
As long as we live in a fatphobic society, there will be people who deal with internalized fatphobia, and some of those people will argue vehemently for their continued poor treatment. But you don’t have to be in that group, you can insist that you deserve to be treated with equality and respect. Because you do.
Did you appreciate this post? If you like the work I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time contribution or by becoming a member.
Like this blog? Here’s more cool stuff:
Wellness for All Bodies Program: A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective. This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!
Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)
Non-Members click here for all the details and to register!
Book and Dance Class Sale! I’m on a journey to complete an IRONMAN triathlon, and I’m having a sale on all my books, DVDs, and digital downloads to help pay for it. You get books and dance classes, I get spandex clothes and bike parts. Everybody wins! If you want, you can check it out here!
Book Me! I’d love to speak to your organization. You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!
I’m (still!) training for an IRONMAN! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com or on Instagram.
Published by danceswithfat
Hi, I’m Ragen Chastain. Speaker, Writer, Dancer, Choreographer, Marathoner, Soon to be IRONMAN, Activist, Fat Person. View all posts by danceswithfat
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Friday, 30 November 2018
Worst Holiday Diet Tips Ever
The “holiday season” means being bombarded with ridiculous diet advice (“The Holidays are Coming” being one third of the Dieting Axis of Evil along with “New Years Resolutions” and “Bikini Season is Coming”.) Since you’re likely to have to deal with this whether you celebrate the holidays or not, in another DancesWithFat annual tradition I’ve compiled a list of so-called holiday diet tips from actual serious online articles, with thoughts on why we might be better off skipping each of them:
10 Diet Tips You’ve Never Heard Before!
You’ve totally heard these tips before. They didn’t work then, they don’t work now, they will never work.
Start Our Program Now and Get a Head Start on Your New Years Resolution
If you start earlier, you can fail at weight loss sooner while giving the diet industry (who are fully aware of the massive failure rate of their product) a boost on their fourth quarter earnings. Or, you know, not.
Eat a Big Bowl of Fiber Cereal and Drink Lots of Water Before A Party to Avoid Snacking.
Spend the party in the bathroom with your friends awkwardly knocking and asking if you’re ok while you miss out on delicious snacks.
Buy Your Party Outfit a Month Early and a Size Too Small for Inspiration to Lose that Last 10 Pounds
Frantically search through your closet on party day for something, anything, that fits and is party appropriate, end up going to the party uncomfortable in an outfit that’s too small.
Save Your Calories For the Party by Eating Very Little During the Day
Show up at the party absolutely ravenous, bribe a cater waiter to get your hands on an entire tray of shrimp puffs, scarf them in the bathroom.
Make low-calorie egg nog with skim milk, egg substitutes, and artificial sweeteners.
Oh…I just…I can’t even…Just… Ok, by the underpants rule you can totally make this beverage if you want and I will support you in drinking it – whether it just sounds good to you or it works or food allergies/sensitivities, whatever – as long as you support me in not drinking it. Ever.
Only Eat Desserts that Are Truly a Sensual Experience for You
This author has a different relationship with food than I do… I’m looking for desserts that taste good, not desserts that turn me on. I would change this to “only eat desserts that you want to, and that aren’t expired or poisonous.”
Don’t Taste The Food While You Cook – Those Calories Add Up
Serve your guests delicious-looking appetizers that taste like a salt lick, or like nothing at all, who knows? If only there was a way to tell how the food tastes before we give it to other people… The person who wrote this article obviously never watched Hell’s Kitchen or Chopped.
Choose Foods that Won’t Make You Feel Guilty the Next Day
Here’s the super secret trick to guilt-free eating: Eat. Don’t feel guilty about it. Done.
Bring Fruits and Veggies to Parties and Work and Remind People About Their Weight Goals, They’ll Thank You!
They will not thank you. They may, in fact, throat punch you. There’s nothing wrong with bringing fruits and veggies to the party, there may well be something wrong with being what Southerners call a “superior sumbitch,” and you may be able to avoid that by skipping the second part of this advice. Instead consider “Bring fruits and veggies to parties and work and then shut up about it – find something more interesting to talk about than weight goals.”
Enjoy Fat Free Mock Versions of Your Favorite Holiday Foods, You’ll Never Miss the Full Fat Variety
I doubt that very much, and I do not think that the words “mock” and “food” should be put together, but of course that’s just me.
Divide Foods into Naughty and Nice
Use the holidays to ease yourself into a disordered relationship with food.
Don’t Read Articles About Holiday Diet Tips
You caught me, this one didn’t come from an article, it’s my advice – take it or leave it.
Did you appreciate this post? If you like the work I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time contribution or by becoming a member.
Portland Area Readers: I’m coming to Portland, OR! Join me for talks, dance, and yoga!
Like this blog? Here’s more cool stuff:
Wellness for All Bodies Program: A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective. This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!
Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)
Non-Members click here for all the details and to register!
Book and Dance Class Sale! I’m on a journey to complete an IRONMAN triathlon, and I’m having a sale on all my books, DVDs, and digital downloads to help pay for it. You get books and dance classes, I get spandex clothes and bike parts. Everybody wins! If you want, you can check it out here!
Book Me! I’d love to speak to your organization. You can get more information here or just e-mail me at !
I’m (still!) training for an IRONMAN! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com or on Instagram.
via Dances With Fat https://ift.tt/2DUbReN
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy: Part One
Many people experience back and pelvic pain in pregnancy.
For some this is just a passing phenomenon, a little discomfort that goes along with the hormones of pregnancy relaxing the pelvis and helping it expand for the birth. Some mild back and joint discomfort is common in pregnancy and does not have to be a problem.
For others, however, back and joint pain becomes a significant and long-lasting problem that can become debilitating. Some find it difficult to turn over in bed, to get dressed in the morning, to walk any distance, or even to sit comfortably for long. Some are in constant pain from it; a few even end up using a walker or in a wheelchair, unable to walk without aid.
Here are some answers to the most common questions about chiropractic care for pregnancy, and help in finding a pregnancy chiropractor for those who want it.
Purpose of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
While many doctors say that back and pelvis pain is "normal" in pregnancy and there is nothing that can be done to help it, chiropractors do not believe that significant or long-lasting pain is "normal" at all, and they know from experience that much of it can be helped.
They believe pain occurs when the spine or pelvis are out of alignment or the muscles and soft tissues around them are unbalanced. This can present as back pain, pain in the buttocks that radiates down the leg (sciatica), pubic symphysis pain in the front of the pelvis, hip pain, tailbone (coccyx) pain, stabbing pains in the abdomen when the mother moves too quickly or sneezes (round ligament spasm), neck pain, difficulty walking, difficulty turning over or lifting one leg, difficulty getting in and out of cars, and sometimes shoulder or rib/side pain.
If you are experiencing this kind of pain in pregnancy, chiropractic care may help make pregnancy more comfortable. Chiropractors believe that chiropractic care can help pregnant people in several different ways:
- By creating more room in the pelvis for baby to maneuver through
- By improving nerve function so that contractions are more effective
- By relieving imbalances or tensions in the ligaments and soft tissues supporting the uterus
Many women who have had cesareans have been told that their "sacrum is too prominent" or "too flat," that their pubic arch is "too flat/narrow," that "there is a bone in the way," or simply that their "pelvis is too small/narrow" for a baby to maneuver through. However, after chiropractic care, many of these same women have gone on to give birth to bigger babies than their "stuck" cesarean babies, simply because the pelvic passage is now optimized and the baby has more room. It doesn't seem like such treatment would make much more space, but getting into good alignment can actually make enough difference to maximize the space and help make an easier birth.
Chiropractors also place great importance on good nerve function. They believe that a misaligned spine impedes nerve function. They believe that poor alignment can not only affect the body physically by making less room for the baby to get out, but also by causing ineffective, uncoordinated contractions because of poor nerve function. From his article on "The Safety of Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy," Dr. Jason Lindekugel (D.C.) writes:
Chiropractic manipulation seeks to balance the joints of the body in order to normalize nerve function...In restoring joint function, chiropractors are relieving nerve irritation which in turn relaxes muscles and the ligaments of the pelvis and uterus. So, proper nerve function is the goal, not just “cracking” joints.Finally, chiropractors believe that by relieving any misalignments, they will create more space and improve nerve function, lessening the risk for dystocia (slow, unproductive labors) and hopefully resulting in safer, faster, and more effective labors and births.
Some people mistakenly think that chiropractors are practicing obstetrics and manually trying to turn babies into position. This is not true. Chiropractors are trying to create conditions to normalize the body's functions so the mother has the best possible chance at an effective labor and birth.
Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy
But is seeing a chiropractor in pregnancy that helpful? What does the research say?
Traditionally, chiropractors have done research differently than mainstream medicine. They have relied more on case reports and case series rather than gold-standard randomized studies. They often didn't use control groups because they were loathe to deny anyone care, especially in pregnancy. Even when mainstream studies were done, sample sizes tended to be small. So there are limits to many studies done in the past.
However, there are now a number of studies and reviews using more rigorous methodology that are reassuring. Here is a summary of a few.
A 2013 prospective randomized study in pregnant patients with low back and pelvic pain compared usual obstetric care with obstetric care plus additional chiropractic care. It found that those patients who received the additional chiropractic care improved significantly, while those who received just standard obstetric care did not improve at all.
A 2014 study found that the improvement from chiropractic care was long lasting. Nearly 90% of study participants were improved a year later. Several other studies (see references below) have also found significant improvement with chiropractic care in pregnancy, with few adverse events.
A 2012 Canadian review stated:
Massage therapy and chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, are highly safe and effective evidence-based options for pregnant women suffering from mechanical low back and pelvic pain.In 2015, the Cochrane Collaboration, a leader in evidence-based care, reviewed a series of studies on alternative care practices in pregnancy like acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, and osteomanipulation (basically chiropractic care). They found the quality of evidence "moderate," and that osteomanipulative therapy did significantly reduce low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy. Furthermore, any adverse events were "minor and transient."
It should be noted that no matter what the research says, some people will never be comfortable trying chiropractic care, and that's okay. If chiropractic care is not for you, don't feel pressured into it. Women have been having babies for thousands of years without having chiropractic care. Most will do fine without it. However, if you are having lots of back pain or pelvic pain, you might want to reconsider it.
If you are still not sure, you might try exploring the possibility further without committing to it. Ask local midwives and doulas for recommendations of good pregnancy chiropractors, then call and ask if you can do a non-treatment consult about your case. Find out how the chiropractor makes room for the pregnancy belly during treatment and the techniques they might use. See if you can observe treatment during an appointment (if the patient gives permission). Often this is enough to reassure people that chiropractic care in pregnancy is reasonable and safe. However, whatever you decide, remember that it's always your choice.
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| Photo credit: Garden State Chiropractic |
Ideally, people would start seeing a chiropractor before or between pregnancies so that any serious issues can be taken care of before the hormones of pregnancy start softening and loosening the ligaments, making it hard to maintain chiropractic adjustments. The more serious a person's issues, the smarter it would be to start care before pregnancy instead of waiting till after they are pregnant.
However, many people only start experiencing significant pain once they are already pregnant. Others may have limits on the amount of chiropractic visits that are covered under their insurance, or they have no chiropractic coverage and must pay cash. Therefore, many want to try and maximize the benefit of the visits by timing them carefully, and that may mean limiting them to pregnancy only, or even to the last third of pregnancy only.
The problem is that no two people's problems are alike, and there is no one prescription that fits all everyone's needs. The loosening hormones of pregnancy increase as pregnancy progresses, so generally speaking it's better to start treatment sooner than later. However, if you have only a few visits that are covered by insurance or you have limited ability to pay for them out-of-pocket, then you may want to save your visits for the third trimester. However, if you do this and you have really significant alignment issues, you also run the risk of not getting enough treatment to really fix the problem in time. So there is no one answer for every woman. It really depends on the unique circumstances of your particular situation. If you are in a significant amount of discomfort, that usually indicates a problem that should be addressed sooner than later.
Generally speaking, chiropractors prefer to see women before they become pregnant to start resolving any long-standing misalignment issues. Once you become pregnant, most chiropractors want to see you on the same approximate schedule that a doctor or midwife sees you, which is about once a month in the first 2 trimesters, bi-weekly in weeks 32-36, and every week after 36 weeks until the baby is born.
Now obviously, that's the ideal schedule. A lot depends on what's happening with the body. If a pregnant woman comes in as a new patient and has a lot of major alignment issues going on, most chiropractors are going to want to see her weekly (or more) until her alignment issues are better, and then they will go back to the standard schedule noted above.
Other women may not need to be seen even every month. If the chiropractor finds that there is nothing to adjust, then he/she should send you home and elongate the time between visits. Some lucky women find that their pain goes away after a couple of chiropractic treatments and then they're done and never need to go back.
On the other hand, some women need to visit more often than weekly. When treatment is first initiated, frequent visits are important to start retraining the body's muscles and ligaments to "remember" the new alignment consistently. So there may be a flurry of frequent visits in the beginning that slowly space out farther and farther as the woman's body adapts to the new patterns, and then visit frequency comes and goes, depending on the woman's needs. In women with a history of major alignment issues, it's not unusual for the woman to go back to seeing the chiropractor very frequently near the end of pregnancy because the ligaments are so loose by then that it's difficult to maintain any adjustments. It all depends on the needs of the woman and her comfort levels.
However, a chiropractor should not force you to buy a pre-packaged bundle of "x" amount of visits for "x" cost. Some doctors offer this as a way for patients to save money, but the package should be flexible so that if you didn't end up needing "x" amounts of visits, you wouldn't have to have them. Furthermore, a pre-defined schedule of visits cannot anticipate what your body will need and how it responds to treatment; for some people more frequent visits might be needed, while others may need much less. A "one size fits all" package is a sign you should seek out a different chiropractor instead.
Unfortunately, there are bad chiropractors/quacks out there, just as there are quack doctors. Because of this, some people reject all chiropractors altogether. But the reasonable response to quack doctors is not to ignore all medical advice and shun all doctors, but instead to find a better, reputable doctor, one whose treatment philosophy and methods align with your preferences.
The same goes for chiropractors. If you find a bad one, don't be afraid to leave and try another one. Get recommendations from other mothers or childbirth professionals to help guide you to the more reputable and helpful practitioners. Also, there are many different styles of chiropractic care and ways to adjust people. If you don't like one style, keep trying till you find a chiropractor that uses techniques you are comfortable with and seems to "get" your particular body needs. Listen to your instincts; if your intuition is saying that a particular chiropractor is not for you, then find a new one.
Fortunately, most chiropractors are legitimate professionals and are not just out to make a quick buck. They should evaluate your condition, suggest a plan of care, and then keep re-evaluating your need for visits based on how well you respond to treatments. Their care plan should be dynamic and changing in response to your own needs and comfort.
In short, there is no one pattern of visits that you "should" follow. Ideally, you should try to start chiropractic care before pregnancy, and then in pregnancy see the chiropractor monthly, then bi-weekly, then weekly in the last month. However, this schedule is not set in stone and should be adjusted to the unique needs of each person.
Summary
To summarize, the purpose of chiropractic care during pregnancy is to:
- Keep the body well-aligned to make the maximum possible space available for baby to pass
- To optimize nerve function so that contractions can be effective and coordinated
- To balance joints, ligaments, and muscles of the uterine supporting structures so baby has the best chance to assume the easiest possible position for being born
Chiropractic Care for Low Back and Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Sep 30;(9):CD001139. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001139.pub4. Interventions for preventing and treating low-back and pelvic pain during pregnancy. Liddle SD, Pennick V. PMID: 26422811
"...There was moderate-quality evidence...from individual studies suggesting that osteomanipulative therapy significantly reduced low-back pain and functional disability, and acupuncture or craniosacral therapy improved pelvic pain more than usual prenatal care. Evidence from individual studies was largely of low quality (study design limitations, imprecision), and suggested that pain and functional disability, but not sick leave, were significantly reduced following a multi-modal intervention (manual therapy, exercise and education) for low-back and pelvic pain.When reported, adverse effects were minor and transient."Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Apr;208(4):295.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.10.869. Epub 2012 Oct 23. A randomized controlled trial comparing a multimodal intervention and standard obstetrics care for low back and pelvic pain in pregnancy. George JW, Skaggs CD, Thompson PA, Nelson DM, Gavard JA, Gross GA. PMID: 23123166
...We examined whether a multimodal approach of musculoskeletal and obstetric management (MOM) was superior to standard obstetric care to reduce pain, impairment, and disability in the antepartum period. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized trial of 169 women was conducted. Baseline evaluation occurred at 24-28 weeks' gestation, with follow-up at 33 weeks' gestation.... Both groups received routine obstetric care. Chiropractic specialists provided manual therapy, stabilization exercises, and patient education to MOM participants. RESULTS: The MOM group demonstrated significant mean reductions in Numerical Rating Scale scores (5.8 ± 2.2 vs 2.9 ± 2.5; P < .001) and Quebec Disability Questionnaire scores (4.9 ± 2.2 vs 3.9 ± 2.4; P < .001) from baseline to follow-up evaluation. The group that received standard obstetric care demonstrated no significant improvements. CONCLUSION: A multimodal approach to low back and pelvic pain in mid pregnancy benefits patients more than standard obstetric care.Chiropr Man Therap. 2014 Apr 1;22(1):15. doi: 10.1186/2045-709X-22-15. Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: a prospective cohort study with short term, medium term and 1 year follow-up. Peterson CK, Mühlemann D, Humphreys BK. PMID: 24690125
...RESULTS: 52% of 115 recruited patients 'improved' at 1 week, 70% at 1 month, 85% at 3 months, 90% at 6 months and 88% at 1 year...CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnant patients undergoing chiropractic treatment reported clinically relevant improvement at all time points. No single variable was strongly predictive of 'improvement' in the logistic regression model.J Midwifery Womens Health. 2006 Jan-Feb;51(1):e7-10. Chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain of pregnancy: a retrospective case series. Lisi AJ. PMID: 16399602
...This retrospective case series was undertaken to describe the results of a group of pregnant women with low back pain who underwent chiropractic treatment including spinal manipulation. Seventeen cases met all inclusion criteria. The overall group average Numerical Rating Scale pain score decreased from 5.9 (range 2-10) at initial presentation to 1.5 (range 0-5) at termination of care. Sixteen of 17 (94.1%) cases demonstrated clinically important improvement. The average time to initial clinically important pain relief was 4.5 (range 0-13) days after initial presentation, and the average number of visits undergone up to that point was 1.8 (range 1-5). No adverse effects were reported in any of the 17 cases. The results suggest that chiropractic treatment was safe in these cases and support the hypothesis that it may be effective for reducing pain intensity.J Chiropr Med. 2016 Jun;15(2):129-33. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2016.04.003. Epub 2016 May 25. Chiropractic Management of Pregnancy-Related Lumbopelvic Pain: A Case Study. Bernard M, Tuchin P. PMID: 27330515
...A pregnant 35-year-old woman experienced insidious moderate to severe pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain and leg pain at 32 weeks' gestation. Pain limited her endurance capacity for walking and sitting. Clinical testing revealed a left sacroiliac joint functional disturbance and myofascial trigger points reproducing back and leg pain...The patient was treated with chiropractic spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, exercises, and ergonomic advice in 13 visits over 6 weeks. She consulted her obstetrician for her weekly obstetric visits. At the end of treatment, her low back pain reduced from 7 to 2 on a 0-10 numeric pain scale rating. Functional activities reported such as walking, sitting, and traveling comfortably in a car had improved. CONCLUSION: This patient with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain improved in pain and function after chiropractic treatment and usual obstetric management.Further articles: http://icapediatrics.com/resources/articles/pregnancy-and-chiropractic/
Safety of Chiropractic Care, Attitudes Towards Chiropractic Care
JAMA. 2017 Apr 11;317(14):1451-1460. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.3086. Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy With Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Paige NM. PMID: 28399251
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review studies of the effectiveness and harms of SMT for acute (≤6 weeks) low back pain...Among patients with acute low back pain, spinal manipulative therapy was associated with modest improvements in pain and function at up to 6 weeks, with transient minor musculoskeletal harms. However, heterogeneity in study results was large.
CONCLUSIONS: There are only a few reported cases of adverse events following spinal manipulation during pregnancy and the postpartum period identified in the literature. While improved reporting of such events is required in the future, it may be that such injuries are relatively rare.Can Fam Physician. 2013 Aug;59(8):841-2.Optimizing pain relief during pregnancy using manual therapy. Oswald C, Higgins CC, Assimakopoulos D. PMID: 23946024
...As pregnant women move into their second and third trimesters, their centres of mass shift anteriorly, causing an increase in lumbar lordosis, which causes low back and pelvic girdle pain. Increasing recent evidence attests to the effectiveness and safety of treating this pain using manual therapy. Massage therapy and chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, are highly safe and effective evidence-based options for pregnant women suffering from mechanical low back and pelvic pain.J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2016 Apr;21(2):92-104. doi: 10.1177/2156587215604073. Epub 2015 Sep 8. Attitudes Toward Chiropractic: A Survey of Canadian Obstetricians. Weis CA, Stuber K, Barrett J, Greco A, Kipershlak A, Glenn T, Desjardins R, Nash J, Busse J. PMID: 26350243
We assessed the attitudes of Canadian obstetricians toward chiropractic with a 38-item cross-sectional survey...Overall, 30% of respondents held positive views toward chiropractic, 37% were neutral, and 33% reported negative views. Most (77%) reported that chiropractic care was effective for some musculoskeletal complaints, but 74% disagreed that chiropractic had a role in treatment of non-musculoskeletal conditions. Forty percent of respondents referred at least some patients for chiropractic care each year....
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Taking Pics Of Fat People On Planes
USA Today has released a video suggesting that people should “discreetly” take photos of fat people seated next to them on planes, and post them on social media if they don’t get the desired result from their initial complaint to the airline.
The indisputable fact here is that even though plane manufacturers and airlines know that fat people exist, they continue to build planes, buy planes, and create policies about planes as if we don’t.
What USA Today’s video puts into sharper relief is the discriminatory way that this is handled. The focus is only on the experience of thin people, even though fat people are also made uncomfortable by being forced to be squished next to people who may or may not be total fatphobes who would take pictures of us and post them to social media, but USA Today is not suggesting that we get any relief.
Only by dehumanizing fat people could you reach the conclusion that thin people who aren’t happy with the fact that airlines discriminate against fat people should “discreetly” take pictures of fat people and post them online. (Which I’m wondering is possible how, exactly, when they claim to be so squished that they feel they should lodge a complaint? It seems like if you have room to discreetly take a picture, you have room to STFU and get to your destination.)
Perhaps most tragically, this problem is easily solvable. It could, in fact, be solved tomorrow. Southwest airlines has already done it – fat people can get as many seats as they require for free, and those seats are treated as one seat (so if the flight is oversold, the fat people still get their seats, and Southwest follows their overbook policy.) That way people who need space around them can get it (to be clear, there are disabilities that can make being seated without space around you a serious issue, and folks with those disabilities should be accommodated,) and fat people can get the same service that everyone else on the plane is getting.
While there can certainly be hiccups, my partner and I have used this policy all over the country, with enough frequency to get “Fly By” (frequent flyer) status and have never had a single problem. Meanwhile, Southwest just celebrated their 45th consecutive year of profitability so don’t tell me it’s impossible.
People come in lots of different sizes, and failing to recognize and accommodate that should be seen as a business mistake that must be corrected, not a reason to take pictures of fat people and post them to the internet.
Speaking of which, as I mentioned, I fly a lot. And on every single flight I see people with broad shoulders jutting over into the space of their seatmates, I see people with long legs splaying their knees and invading the seemingly sacred space of those seated next to them. But there’s no outcry, no videos telling us to complain to the airline and the world that we’ve been seated next to our long-legged or broad-shouldered brethren.
Because this isn’t just about, or even mainly about, space – it’s about fatphobia. Otherwise thin people would be working alongside fat people to make sure that we can all have the same experience – travel in a seat that accommodates us. Not insisting we be punished for existing through public shaming and double charging.
Instead, far too many people – both thin people invested in fatphobia and fat people struggling with internalized fatphobia – see fat people as the problem, and thin people as the only people whose feelings or comfort matter. The current situation on planes isn’t unfair to those who, by luck of the draw, fit in the arbitrary amount of space that airlines have decided to call “one seat” (based on their profitability and not on the actual size of human asses.) The current situation is unfair to everyone, and the solution isn’t for fat people to stop existing, stop flying, pay twice as much for the same trip, or find themselves being “discreetly” photographed by the asshole seated beside them. The solution is for companies whose business is transporting humans to commit themselves to transporting humans – all humans.
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