Postural Epidemic

In my 20+ years of practice I have never seen a greater issue facing America's health issues then bad posture. You might say that sounds a little bold. However, as I discussed last week, the 30% less lung capacity alone makes posture an issue that must be addressed. One of the biggest selling items during Christmas was tablet PC's, even giving them to 3-6 year olds. Now, I don't have an issue so much with the device itself, that is a topic for another day, it is the fact that it is one more way to sit, and have forward head lean, and too much curvature in the thoracic spine. You add TV, Computers, texting, driving cars, Biking, Sitting at a desk all day, it all adds up to slumped posture and forward head lean. Don't get the wrong idea, I am not against these devises, and activities. This is our new lifestyle,  I am here to make you aware of all of these activities lead to bad posture, and I want to see my patient's and everyone else try to achieve better posture, and still be able to use all the fun, convenient devices we have today. We can expect even more in the future, so are we going to have 12 year old kids looking like they are 60-70 years old, or do we help them to stand tall?

Enough of the pep talk, lets talk about awareness. if you live with other family members, the best way to start to be aware of faulty posture is to have someone look at you. With you back to the person, is your head tilted right or left, is one shoulder higher? look at the hips is one higher? then turn 90 degrees to the person, is your head in front of your shoulders? how much? every inch forwards means that your neck muscles are doing twice the work they should be doing. The head weighs on the average of 15 pounds, if the head is two inches forwards then your neck muscles are holding a 60 pound head. Some studies say it is a straight 15 pound added for every inch, making it 45 pounds. anyway you slice it those poor neck and upper shoulder muscles will be hollering at you. Ever get a massage, which feels so good and is good for you, and by the next day the muscles in the neck and upper back are hard tight and ropy again? that is due to the bad posture. That is why you need to be adjusted first, then see the massage therapist. Get the posture better, then relax the muscles. You can do it the other way, get the massage first then adjustment, but i find it is not as effective.

So you live alone, or no one around to help you, then you can place you back up to a door, or wall. Does your buttock, middle back and back of head hit the wall at the same time? if not what hit the wall first? This is the first way you can start to restore your posture to a healthy level. Just place your back against the wall with all three parts against the wall hold for 1-3 minutes, breathe normally. Do you get pains? spasms of certain muscles? the most common is around the diaphragm region, almost like a side stitch. This is a sign of muscles being over worked.

Why does Chiropractic help in posture? mostly because when I adjust I am restoring the flexibility of the spine. This allows you as you do restoring postural exercises to be more effective, and more stable. All leading to better posture, and better health.

If you have questions, comments on posture, or general health issues, just place those comments in the comment section and i will address those.

Yours in better health, and posture

Dr. Joe