Chiropractic Definition

theres a lot of misinformation about what Chiropractic actually is, so i thought id post the actual definition accepted by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges:
Chiropractic is concerned with the preservation and restoration of health, and focuses particular attention on the subluxation. A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health. A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed, and managed through the use of Chiropractic procedures based on the best available rational empirical evidence.

Core strengthing exercises at work.

This exercise is the foundation of core strength and its so simple you can do it just about anywhere. ok, here it goes: One of the most important muscles for core stability is the transverse abdominus. To activate this muscle, you simply exhale as you pull your belly toward your spine, hold for 5-10 seconds, repeat 12-20x. thats it! now there are several variations for this and different points of awareness, but this is the most basic, simple method of beginning to strengthen your core. have fun!

2 simple postures to relieve lower back pain

there are basically 2 simple postures you can do when experiencing lower back pain or stiffness. The first is simply lying on your back and bringing your knees toward your chest for 3-5 minutes. Do not bounce the legs, but simply hold them toward your chest. your head should be relaxed and breathe easily. The second posture is easily achieved by placing your legs up onto a couch or chair. The hips and knees are at 90degree angles and the head and back are relaxed. maintain this position for 20 or more minutes. If the discomfort persists, call your doctor of chiropractic for an evaluation and adjustment.

2 yoga postures to avoid

we see alot of yoga practitioners in our clinic and many of them complain of neck pain and stiffness that just does not seem to go away. upon examination, i often find that these people have lost their normal cervical lordosis (or natural curve), there are many causes for this from poor reading posture, to head injuries and rear end auto accidents. once the curve is lost it must be restored to prevent deterioration of the discs, joints, muscles, and nerves. most yoga ananas (postures) will not exacerbate this condition, but there are 2 that put the neck under extreme strain and can even cause a disc herniation. what are the 2 posture to avoid.... shoulder stand and plow. i strongly suggest that you dont do them.

Chiropractic helps speed recovery after whiplashi injuries

After being in an auto accident many people seek care from their primary care medical doctor. They are often prescribed muscle relaxers, pain relievers, and physical therapy. Even though there is a large body of evidence based research that demonstrates that chiropractic care helps speed recovery and is the treatment of choice for whiplash injuries, many medical doctors never mention it as a treatment option. The research clearly shows that chiropractic care is often more effective than other forms of care. In 1995, the Canadian Provence of Quebec commissioned a Task Force to study all the scientific research regarding the care of whiplash. After a 3 year review of 10,382 articles on neck injuries they determined that chiropractic adjustments were the gold standard treatment of choice. The other common treatments such as muscle relaxants, cervical pillows, acupuncture, ultrasound, diathermy were rejected as not having any scientific basis for their use. Only chiropractic and exercise were found to be significantly helpful in the recovery of whiplash. So, while it may be important to have a medical evaluation after a whiplash injury, its even more important to have a chiropractic evaluation and treatment to ensure the best possible recovery and return to normal.

A Simple Postural Change that can eliminate headaches, neck pain, and tension

Posture affects all human function, both consciously and unconsciously, from breathing to thinking. Most of us are familiar with the affects of posture on mood. A classic example: If you stand with your back hunched over and your head down, you'll begin to feel lousy. If you stand up tall with your shoulders back and chin up, you'll begin to feel better. Not only does posture affect your mood, but it affects the very function of your body as well.

"Spinal Pain, headache, bloodpressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture. The corollary of these observations is thatmany symptoms, including pain mayb e moderated or eliminated by improved posture." Am. Journal of Pain Management Vol 4. #1 Jan 1994.

One of the most destructive postural problems is FHP (or forward head posture). FHP is when your head is positioned out in front of your shoulders. It develops as a result of holding the chin toward the chest while reading, after rear-end car accidents, sleeping on your back with thick pillows under the head, and due to poor head positioning during computer use.

Why is FHP such a problem? Because it takes the natural curve out of the neck and significantly increases the stress on the spine, muscles, and discs. For every inch that your head is held forward the compressive forces placed on the spine increase 100%. When the spinal discs, and joints are subject to increased stress for a sustained period of time they begin to deform and permanent changes can take place. If left uncorrected, forward head posture can have serious health consequences.

"FHP leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis, and pinched nerves" Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Vol.18, #3, March 2000.

Heres how you can lessen the damaging effects of FHP:

First: Seek chiropractic care! Chiropractic corrective care can significantly reduce the effects of forward head posture on the spine. Gentle adjustments to the spine can help reduce spinal misalignments and stress and help restore the natural curve of your neck and bring your head back over your shoulders. Thereby significantly improve the integrity of the spine and nerve system.

Second: Avoid the "chin-to-chest" posture while reading. Instead, keep your head up, use a bookstand or simply bring reading material up to your eyes instead of your eyes down to the reading material.

Third: When using your computer, set the monitor at eye level so that when looking straight ahead, you gaze at the upper 1/3 or the monitor. Also, use a stand up clipboard or monitor clip for papers that you are working from so as to avoid bending and turning the neck to view papers that are flat on the desk. Many office supply stores have versions of paper stands or copy stands that attach to the computer monitor.

Forth: Use a headset when talking on the phone to avoid a sideways kink of the neck which occurs when you sandwich the phone between your ear and shoulder

Fifth: When sitting for long periods of time, take a moment ever :30 minutes and notice your posture. Then sit up straight, elevate your chest, and bring your head back over your shoulders. Every hour get up from the chair and stand with your back against the wall. Turn your palms forward and lightly squeeze your shoulder blades together. Press the back of your head gently into the wall, hold for 5 seconds and relax. walk away from the wall, but keep that chest elevated and head back over the shoulders. It's gonna feel strange at first, but your body will get used to it.

Maintaining good posture is a lifelong commitment. And its worth it! By making a few small changes in your posture and having great chiropractic care you're more likely to avoid the damage and degeneration that comes with spinal and postural neglect and instead have a healthy spine for a lifetime!