Every day we are alive gravity is constantly pulling on our body. This pulling is a stressor to the human body. As we get older the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons in our bodies tend to weaken and become much more vulnerable to this stress.

Proper alignment and mobility in the joints of the body is vitally important to weak muscle and joints. If any of the bones or joints are not in proper alignment or are not moving well this can create pain (such as low back pain or even headaches), stiffness, weakness, and instability. It is especially important to the aging body to maintain proper joint function.

In my practice I see many “Baby Boomers” who waited until it was too late to take care of a “gravitational” problem. In the absence of too much degeneration I help my patients achieve proper alignment and mobility in their body so they can live life the way it was meant to, pain free!

One way that we can look at how this whole gravity thing works is to look at our bodies like a car. If the front end alignment of my car starts to go “off”, my car starts to pull to one side, it wears down my tires faster, and is very hard on the frame of my car. The same is true of your body in that if there is misalignment in the frame of your body (the spine) then it will wear you down much, much faster. Take a look at the bottoms of your shoes for a second. Is there any wear? If so this may be a good sign that you are misaligned and in major need of a realignment.

If you find that you have any wear in the bottoms of your shoes please consult with a chiropractor today to see if you are a candidate for chiropractic care.

Are you interested in seeing a Bellevue chiropractor? Visit our blog at www.bellevuechiropractorblog.com to find out how to schedule a consultation.

In March, Alternative Complimentary Medicine published a Florida State University study on the results of resistance training and chiropractic on fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that disproportionately affects women. All of the people who are taking part in the research were women.

The volunteers were split into two groups. Both groups were put on a resistance training program. In English, that means working out with weights. One group was given chiropractic care additionally the exercise program. Strength, functionality and improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms were assessed after 16 weeks.

The results? Strength and function improved in both groups. Fibromyalgia symptoms also improved in both groups. Only the chiropractic group showed improved flexibility, balance and endurance. None of those results were startling. Exercise should improve strength and assist in pain relief. Chiropractic is recognized a method for improving range of motion and balance.

There was one very interesting finding. The researchers concluded that adherence to the exercise regimen was significantly higher in the chiropractic group. In fact, in the exercise only group, 50% of volunteers dropped out prior to the end of the 16 week program. In the chiropractic group, it was only around 10%.

What could be the reason for that? In this study we have women who are already suffering. Now they are participating in a body building program. That might have increased pain, at least in the first couple of weeks of the program. This pain on top of their existing burden might have been enough to make them stop on the program. The group that was receiving chiropractic care had a unusual advantage. Chiropractic is a fantastic pain relief remedy and no doubt mitigated a few of the aches along the way. This made it easier for the fibromyalgia volunteers to stick with the program.

So how does all of this apply to you? If you have fibromyalgia, a regular workout routine will help your condition. Fibromyalgia impact was measured by both questionnaire and number of tender points. So exercise nearly every facet of health] is the cornerstone. Chiropractic should likewise be part of your plan to cope with this chronic condition, since it increases adherence. My additional recommendation would be to locate a chiropractor who is proficient in extremity joint adjusting. That is dealing with the joints of the arms and legs. It has been my experience that these joints need a little bit more attention at the outset of any workout program.

Chiropractic Leesburg. Dr. Richard Fink is a Leesburg Chiropractor and acupuncturist. Fibromyalgia patients receive individualized treatment programs that provide relief at Fink Family Wellness, a complete wellness center located in Leesburg, Virginia. 703-779-7909.

In March, Alternative Complimentary Medicine published a Florida State University study on the results of resistance training and chiropractic on fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that disproportionately affects women. All of the people who are taking part in the research were women.

The volunteers were split into two groups. Both groups were put on a resistance training program. In English, that means working out with weights. One group was given chiropractic care additionally the exercise program. Strength, functionality and improvement of fibromyalgia symptoms were assessed after 16 weeks.

The results? Strength and function improved in both groups. Fibromyalgia symptoms also improved in both groups. Only the chiropractic group showed improved flexibility, balance and endurance. None of those results were startling. Exercise should improve strength and assist in pain relief. Chiropractic is recognized a method for improving range of motion and balance.

There was one very interesting finding. The researchers concluded that adherence to the exercise regimen was significantly higher in the chiropractic group. In fact, in the exercise only group, 50% of volunteers dropped out prior to the end of the 16 week program. In the chiropractic group, it was only around 10%.

What could be the reason for that? In this study we have women who are already suffering. Now they are participating in a body building program. That might have increased pain, at least in the first couple of weeks of the program. This pain on top of their existing burden might have been enough to make them stop on the program. The group that was receiving chiropractic care had a unusual advantage. Chiropractic is a fantastic pain relief remedy and no doubt mitigated a few of the aches along the way. This made it easier for the fibromyalgia volunteers to stick with the program.

So how does all of this apply to you? If you have fibromyalgia, a regular workout routine will help your condition. Fibromyalgia impact was measured by both questionnaire and number of tender points. So exercise nearly every facet of health] is the cornerstone. Chiropractic should likewise be part of your plan to cope with this chronic condition, since it increases adherence. My additional recommendation would be to locate a chiropractor who is proficient in extremity joint adjusting. That is dealing with the joints of the arms and legs. It has been my experience that these joints need a little bit more attention at the outset of any workout program.

Chiropractic Leesburg. Dr. Richard Fink is a Leesburg Chiropractor and acupuncturist. Fibromyalgia patients receive individualized treatment programs that provide relief at Fink Family Wellness, a complete wellness center located in Leesburg, Virginia. 703-779-7909.

Subluxation is a term that is frequently encountered in chiropractic care, but what exactly is it? To explain, a vertebral subluxation is a vertebra that is not in its normal range of motion. The subluxation causes interference to the nervous system and disrupts its proper function because it is not in its proper alignment.

Serious health problems can result if a subluxation is ignored for long periods of time since they interfere with a primary pathway of the nervous system, the spinal cord. A subluxation is often first indicated through chronic pain, but subluxations are also often present without any pain and will remain relatively undetected for several years until the pain arises.

A subluxation can greatly damage the nervous system of a person and cause diseases in the organs that the affected nerves interact with. Various conditions ranging from asthma to constipation can result from the dysfunction of the nervous system caused by vertebral subluxation. It is highly suggested that a person undergo a full spinal exam by a chiropractor annually, beginning in early childhood at around the age of nine. The annual spinal exam is a good way to prevent health issues relation to vertebral subluxation.

Vertebral subluxation can cause back pain, which is extremely discomforting. Back pain is said to be a very expensive condition, as it has an effect on the working performance of a person and therefore also impacts the economy. Pain pills are mostly a temporary therapy, but back pain almost always returns on a regular basis.

Minor back pain can result in debilitating paralyzing episodes and may lead to nerve compression and immobility. There is no single therapy and pill to eliminate back pain and guarantee a constant guard against its recurrence. The only way to make sure that back pain is reduced is to restore the flexibility and balance of the spinal region.

Too often, back pain is caused by improper posture during different phases of activity of the body, from sleep to work. The loss of flexibility in the spine is associated with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease, spinal decay, and almost every other condition related to back pain. Proper spinal posture and flexibility of the spine will reduce the incidence of back pain and restore comfort to the person. Flexibility will lead to cartilage not decaying and nerves, veins, and organs not being compressed. A flexible spinal column will led to reduced pain and will be more resistant against future injury and degeneration.

Philip Vincent is a health educator. Need a Virginia Beach Chiropractor? Consider this Chiropractor Virginia Beach.

When you happen to be in pain, you just want back ache relief right now. We will get into techniques to minimize your back pain soon, but it’s necessary to first realize the sources of back soreness so you may perhaps prohibit it from reoccurring once again.

There are various items that may well trigger you to suffer from back soreness and quite a few of them you happen to be in control of. One of the major factors people experience with lower or upper back soreness is poor posture. Numerous of us have extremely terrible posture, and just changing the way we sit or stand will have a huge effect on future back difficulties.

Are you currently carrying extra weight? Being overweight puts a major stress on our backs. Dropping that unwanted fat will take the stress off your spine and help alleviate your back pain. Injuries are possibly probably the most common explanations for back pain. Whether it is a sports injury, car accident, or job related injuries, occasionally the agony is going to be instant, and other periods it’s going to take years to show up.

Arthritis and genetics are an additional huge cause that persons suffer with back ache. Arthritis is usually witnessed in older adults, but can many periods happen to anybody. Often our back discomfort is just from genetics. If your mom and dad suffer with back discomfort, there may well be a very good chance that you’ll too. So, what can you do to obtain back soreness help?

Well, you will find numerous avenues you may take. Some are a longer term approach and some present quicker reduction.

* Anti-Inflammatory medications – These can minimize the inflammation around joints and muscles which will reduce your ache. Please consult your doctor prior to getting any drugs.

* Heat or Ice Packs – Most will discover that applying heat to the place will function best, but ice may well also work in instances in which the agony is from a recent intense activity.

* Weight Loss – As described above being overweight can set a huge strain on your spine, and dropping even a small quantity of weight can possess a massive effect on the pain.

* Chiropractic and Physical Therapy – Treatment options that consist of massages, whirlpool baths, heat application, and exercising may also give you back soreness relief. Regular Chiropractic adjustments may well also assist provide long term alleviation for back soreness sufferers.

* Acupuncture – This really is usually employed with some of the other strategies, but can also produce substantial relief.

* Exercise – Conditioning your core with yoga, Pilates, aquatic exercise, or other exercise programs can give you higher flexibility and strength, that will help ease your back ache.

* Surgery – This really is a last resort alternative for those with extreme agony and injury.

These are just a few of the options that can deliver you back discomfort reduction, there are many more which can provide you fast benefits and usually do not often require healthcare involvement. What exactly is crucial to realize is that you just consider a long term view in fixing your back pain. Make any lifestyle modifications which you can to avoid any additional back troubles.

You do not need to suffer through existence with continuous pain you’ll be able to get back agony reduction. Take the important actions to make certain you no longer have to suffer, so you can start to live a ache free existence.

You may find that lower back pain exercises will help, but if you want back pain relief now, you will want to read our free report Beat Back Pain Today. Get your free by visiting our site.

I would guess that at one point or another you have had some type of pain in your body. This is a pretty safe assumption. I would bet that you have also had some kind of problem that was brought on by something very minor. Let me give you an example. You wake up in the morning and walk into the bathroom and as you go to squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube you drop the lid on the floor. So you bend down to pick it up and zap, lightning sharp pain shoots up your spine and back down again. You try to stand up straight but for some reason it feels like someone is pressing against your back causing you to hunch over and making it impossible to straighten up.

Here’s another typical pain invoking experience. You rush out the door because you are late for an appointment. As you settle into the car you remember that you forgot your keys so you hurry back into the house retrieve them and return to the car. As you start the engine and turn your head to back out of the driveway you feel like someone stuck you with a hot barbecue poker in the back of the neck causing you great difficulty to return your head to a normal position without feeling that searing pain that we all enjoy. So it may not be a toothpaste lid or the turning of your head that provokes you to fall to your knees in agony, but I am almost certain that you have experienced a similar type situation in which the action you performed such not have caused such extreme pain. There are a few different responses to this type of situation.

Let’s talk about a hypothetical right here. If you were hanging out with Hippocrates right now at Starbucks sipping on a Latte and talking about life and science and the human experience, how do you think he would respond if you asked him if it was normal for the body to respond like yours did when you bent over to pick up that heavy toothpaste lid or when you whipped your head around to back the cart out of the dirt road. I would guess that he would first ask you what toothpaste was and then once that was cleared up he would tell you ……NO. This is not a normal physiological response for your body to such a minimal action. The reaction does not equal the action.

Ok, philosophy class is over. Let’s get back to how you would respond to this situation. Here are 5 common mistakes that I have observed from people who experience these types of situations. The first thing I hear is I put a heating pad on the area and it felt great. I am not against heating pads or heat but here is the situation. When you have an acute injury (acute = from the time the injury occurs to at least 72 hours after it occurs) you never put heat on it. Heat opens up the blood vessels which are already engorged even more causing more swelling and fluid accumulation in the injured area. This will result in relaxation for up to 12 hours after heat use and then pain worse than the initial event after the trip to lala land has ended. There are exceptions but for the majority of people please resist the urge to use heat unless you’ve been told by your chiropractor or doctor otherwise.

The second is thinking that it would go away but it has been two to three weeks and the ache hasn’t stopped. Ouch, this one is not good! The real question from me to you is why you thought that the ache would go away. Let me give you an analogy. Pretend the oil light on your automobile goes on, would you continue driving until it went out and just assume that the problem went away. I hope not. This is the best analogy that I can think of to relate to the ache signal that your body is sending you. Don’t pretend there isn’t something wrong. Get to the root of the problem. Come get adjusted by a chiropractor immediately or as soon as possible after the initial event.

#3 is thinking I don’t know why this happened, I am totally healthy, and there is nothing wrong with me. This is my favorite one from the men. For guys, we have to admit to some facts. Women are much better at taking care of themselves then we are. The reason is because they are willing to tell someone when they aren’t feeling well and then they try to get help for it. This is not good in the long run. One little problem + one little problem + one problem = One BIG PROBLEM. The proof is that women tend to live something like 4 years longer than men. Surprise, surprise, I wonder if we men just think Oh well we aren’t going to live as long anyways so why not just put up with what we got and die sooner. This is of course some faulty logic because if we did take care of ourselves we would live longer. Generally speaking, men are much more willing to put up with little problems that they experience.

The forth mistake is thinking is I know that I only need one or two chiropractic adjustments and everything will be fine. The only man I know in history who performed one treatment on someone and they were fine was Jesus. I am not Jesus. I don’t know any chiropractors named Jesus. Normally when people tell me the chiropractor fixed them in one adjustment and I look in their files, or consult with the other chiropractors I see that they have been adjusted 4 times on the low end and 8-10 on the high end (normal, about 6 visits) for an acute problem. My goal is to see you out of ache as quickly as possible so that you can function normally, but my goals do not end there! This leads me to the next common mistake.

#5 is not getting chiropractic adjustments regularly to prevent these occurrences in your life. Now I am not saying that if you get regular adjustments your life is going to be perfect. Life is not perfect. I myself get regular adjustments. I don’t stop getting adjusted all together because I know that if I didn’t get regular adjustments and a flare up occurred, it would be a lot worse than it normally is. Our bodies are not perfect but if we work preventatively to keep things moving and aligned throughout the course of our lives a lot of these irritating pains could be avoided.

The joints of your spinal column are some of the key messengers of your nervous system. If they are not working there is no way for you to know because you cannot see them. Ache is your only signal and by then a lot of times it is already too late. Chiropractors at New Century Spine Centers are trained to detect problems with these joints and help prevent the ache before it occurs. Science has proven that nerve endings are all affected during an adjustment. The goal of treatment is to get you out of ache first of all, but to keep you ache free and fully functioning is the main idea.

Looking to find the best information on spinal decompression therapy, then visit www.BackCareTreatment.com to find the best advice on chiropractic for you.

Okay, if you read my blogs, even on an irregular basis, you know by now that I am a chiropractor who is a bit of an exercise fanatic (nut?). There are so many healthy reasons to exercise that not exercising by some individuals seems unduly resistant to their good health! Well, in a effort to coax those few exercise holdouts, and to say, “here’s an extra bonus,” to those of you who exercise regularly, I offer the results of a new study: According to research led by Brazilian researchers at the University of Campinas, the results of which will be published next week online in the open access journal PLoS Biology, there is yet another good reason to exercise. In addition to keeping the organs of the body functioning properly, helping the musculoskeletal system to stay strong and mobile, and burning calories for weight loss, exercise has also been found to restore the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (which is to say, “feeling full”). This, in turn, contributes to reduced food intake and, ergo, more weight loss.

obesity is an enormous problem of epidemic proportions in this country. Factors such as changing eating habits (from healthy to “fast, fatty, and excessive”) and a sedentary lifestyle (for children as well as adults) have contributed to the obesity problem. It is also postulated that excessive consumption of fat creates failures in the signal transmitted by neurons controlling satiety in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, and that these failures can lead to uncontrollable food intake and, consequently, obesity.

The researchers demonstrated that exercising (in this case exercising obese rodents) showed signals of restored satiety in hypothalamic neurons and decreased food intake. These findings confirmed that physical activity contributes to the prevention and treatment of obesity, not only by increasing energy expenditure, but also by modulating the signals of satiety and reducing food intake.

So, there you go, another good reason to exercise brought to you by your friendly chiropractor in the neighborhood!

Source:
PLoS Biology

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The human body has a natural structure that allows it to perform its daily tasks under the forces of gravity without irritation or imbalance. Because of this structure, we are able to walk, run, stand, and sit with less stress. The natural structure can be seen in our posture. The posture is a window to the form that your spine develops through the stages of growth. As we are born, our spine starts to develop a shape that will give us the stability that our body needs to resist gravity. Initially, we have one curve from being in a fetal position.

As we start to hold our head up, there is a forward curve that forms in our neck. Then, we become more mobile and begin to crawl, which causes our belly to drop down and a forward curve to be formed in the low back as well. This whole process establishes a strong structure for us to be able to stand up and walk and run. When you look at a persons posture who has this structure, from the side, the ears will be line up directly above the shoulders, and the shoulders directly above the hips. From the front, the ears should be level with each other, the shoulders level with each, and the pelvis level.

As we go through life, we are exposed to many different kinds of stresses. These can be physical stresses, mental stresses, chemical stresses, or social stresses. From the food we eat to the way we sit in a chair, if done incorrectly, our body is subjected to a lot of additional stress. This stress can cause the bones of our spine to move out of place, the core muscles that hold them in place to tighten or spasm, and our posture to be pulled out of its neutral position.

When this happens, the nerves of the spine can be irritated leading to a reduced state of function and a lower state of overall health for the body. Everything that happens in the body starts as a nerve signal in the brain and travels down the spinal cord, out the nerves, to every cell, tissue, and organ. If the spine is pulled out of its neutral position, this communication system is disrupted leading to that poor function.

It is important to practice proper posture in your daily activities. From having the right amount of support in the chair that you sit in, using proper form when lifting or exercising, and even sleeping on the right sleeping surface with a pillow that is right for your body type. If your spine does happen to move out of its neutral position, the individual joints of the spine cannot correct themselves.

Chiropractors are trained to detect, find, and remove spinal misalignment in order to restore normal nerve flow and thus improving overall body function. If you are experiencing poor posture or symptoms due to muscles that have spasms or are tight and stiff, a chiropractor should be your first choice in correcting those imbalances and striving toward a higher state of health.

Health problems due to bad posture occurs for many reasons and is nothing new to the spines of humankind. For thousands of years, men and women have hunched over their work, whether pounding rocks to make tools or pounding a keyboard on their computer. Fortunately, chiropractic was discovered in 1885 to remedy many of the problems occuring from bad posture! Since that time chiropractors, like me, have been helping people to correct the musculoskeletal damage resulting from bad posture, as well as providing exercises, gait training, and lifestyle changes to improve posture and avoid problems in the future. Most of us already know that excessive computer use is unhealthy for the human body, so it may not come as a surprise that researchers are cautioning that the very design of laptop computers encourages bad posture among college students (and other heavy users) and can lead to headaches, muscle strain and debilitating neck, shoulder and hand injuries.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Medicine explained in a university news release that the “unified body construction” of a laptop, with its inseparable keyboard and monitor, makes it difficult for users to configure their equipment in a way that minimizes risk to their bodies. For instance, awkward positioning of the fingers and body can cause nerve injury to the wrist and prompt the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome, while poor neck position and shoulder posture can cause muscle strain and soreness in those areas.

Researcher, Dr. Kevin Carneiro, a physician in the UNC School of Medicine’s department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, and his colleagues point out that laptop users can take specific steps to minimize their risk. So, listen up and heed the tips below:

• If you are working at a computer, your body should form 90-degree angles at the elbows, knees and hips.
• Use a docking station and cables to hook up to an external monitor and/or separate keyboard that are moveable to encourage better posture.
• With the help of a docking station, position the computer so you can read the screen without bending your neck.
• Pay attention to the chair you sit in — look for one that is adjustable and comes with back support.
• Tilt the screen so you don’t need to bend your neck, and place the mouse so that your wrists are in a neutral position (one in which they are aligned with your arm and not raised above it).
• Take frequent short breaks every 20 minutes or so — this can help rest muscles and encourage position shifting. Do some shoulder shrugs, gentle forward head rolls, and shoulder scrunches to stretch your muscles.
• Stay hydrated — drinking plenty of water can help keep discs in your back lubricated.

In addition, be sure to watch out for warning signs, such as pain and tingling. These may mean you need to use better posture, take more breaks, or see your chiropractor!

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