You’ve probably heard people say, “sit up straight, keep your shoulders back and don’t slouch.” Children usually get that advice from their parents, and like all good advice it should last a lifetime, because poor posture can lead to a painful condition called postural syndrome.

Postural syndrome can cause physical changes to the body and painful side effects. Most people with the condition notice their shoulders are rounded and tend to droop forward. Muscles that connect the shoulders and the back of the neck to the head then tend to pull the head forward, and the resulting position can cause constant, aching pain, stiffness and even burning in the upper and middle back areas, as well as in the shoulders, neck and head. Over time, poor posture can also lead to the development of trigger points (tight muscle fibers), which can refer pain throughout the back and neck, as well as cause headaches.

Poor posture usually develops gradually in people who sit improperly for long periods. Think about how much time you spend sitting. You probably sit in your car, at work, when you’re eating meals and when you’re watching television. And if you’re like most people, you probably tend to sit with a forward bend, which causes your shoulders to become hunched over. This is the opposite of good posture, which is a state of musculoskeletal balance that involves a minimal amount of stress or strain on the body.

Over time, poor posture can cause a muscular imbalance in the body. Normally, there are balanced tug-of-war games happening between the chest muscles (pectoralis) and the upper back muscles (rhomboid, middle trapezius and inferior trapezius) and between he muscles that bring your chin to your chest (anterior scalene and sternocleidalmastoid) and the muscles in the back of your neck (upper trapezius). No muscle group wins, because they all have equally strong players.

The impasse ends, however, when chronic poor posture gives the chest muscles the advantage. The chest muscles then become tight and short, tugging or pulling the shoulders forward. Chronically tight chest muscles cause the muscles behind the shoulders to become relatively weak. At this point, the stronger muscles pull the spine out of its normal alignment, causing postural changes. Now the shoulders are slouched forward and the head, because of its connection, must follow. In an effort to hold the head up to compensate, the muscles in the back of the neck then become tight, ending the other tug-of-war and causing the head to jut forward.

If you have postural syndrome or just poor posture, it’s important that you see your healthcare practitioner as soon as possible. Postural awareness and adequate care can help restore muscle balance and joint health, but since it may have been many years since you started ignoring your parents’ advice, it may take some time for you and your healthcare practitioner to fix the problem.

If you take a look at people with good posture, you will notice several curves that are part of their spine. Their neck and lower back will curve inward, and their shoulder blade area will bend outward. These are the normal curves in people whose bones, joints, ligaments and muscles are healthy. The way the muscles and ligaments connect to the spine and the way the vertebrae are aligned determine this good posture.

Normal spines have an S shape, which consists of three main sections: the cervical at the top, the thoracic in the middle and the lumbar at the bottom. All three sections support the body by holding it in an upright position.

Four major muscle groups that interact with the cervical and thoracic spine help provide this support (although there are several smaller muscles that also play a role). The first is the pectoralis, which comprises two powerful chest muscles that allow you to bring your arms across your body, as if you were squeezing a large ball. The second is the rhomboid, which comprises the muscles between the shoulder blades that allow for rowing movements. The third is the scalene and sternocleidalmastoid (SCM) muscle group, found in the front of the neck, which allows you to bring your chin to your chest, rotate your neck and bend your neck to the side. The fourth is the trapezius muscle group, which is at the back of your neck and allows for neck extension, rotation, side-bending and pulling the shoulders up.

Normally, all these muscles work as a team and stay balanced with one another. They’re playing tug-of-war, but no one is winning. The pectoralis, scalene and SCM in the front pull with equal force to the rhomboids, trapezius and suboccipital muscles in the back.

When you have postural syndrome, however, it disrupts this balance. The anterior chest muscles become so big and so tight that it’s difficult for the weaker muscles in the front of the neck and back of the shoulder blade to support the spine. These weaker muscles become tired, yet still try to hold their position. It becomes uncomfortable for them, however, and they give in again. The battle also places stress on them, and over time they can develop pain that leads to tension in the shoulder, neck and head regions.

Because it takes so long for this imbalance to develop, it’s very common for patients with postural syndrome to get discouraged when they first try to fix their posture. That’s why it’s important for you to see a chiropractor if you suspect you have the condition. You and your chiropractor can work together to fight the syndrome that’s putting you in a slump.

Langford and Karls Chiropracatic would like to welcome our newest Massage Therapist, Elizabeth “Liza” Viktora.  Liza will be joining our office starting Tuesday June 8, 2010.  Her hours of availibilty are Monday 4:00pm to 8:00pm, Tuesday 2:00pm to 8:00pm, Thursday 12:00pm to 6:00pm and Friday 8:00am to 12:00pm.  We are very excited to add Liza to our staff of great Massage Therapists.

Chiropractic’s purpose is to remove interferences to the natural healing power running through the body. When that power is unleashed the healing that results may be profound.

Today we find more parents bringing their children to chiropractors for day-to-day health concerns we’re all familiar with: colds, sore throats, ear infections, fevers, colic, asthma, tonsillitis, allergies, bed-wetting, infections, pains, falls, stomach-aches, and the hundred and one little and big things children go through as they grow up.

Chiropractors Do Not Treat Disease

It’s most important to understand that chiropractic is not a treatment for disease. It’s purpose is to reduce spinal nerve stress, a serious and often painless condition most children (and adults) have in their bodies. Spinal nerve stress interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system, can weaken internal organs and organ systems, lower resistance, reduce healing potential and set the stage for sickness and disorders of all kinds.

When a chiropractor frees the nervous system from spinal stress, the healing power of the body is unleashed: the immune system functions more efficiently, resistance to disease increases, and your child’s body functions more efficiently. Your child can respond to internal and external environmental stresses such as germs, changes in temperature, humidity, toxins, pollen and all the other stresses he/she comes in contact with more efficiently.

So although children with diseases are often brought to the chiropractor, the chiropractor is not treating their diseases but is instead freeing them of spinal nerve stress, thus permitting their body’s natural healing potential to function at its best.

How Is Spinal Stress Caused?

Spinal nerve stress can be caused by physical, chemical and/or emotional stress. Physical stress may start in the womb, with the baby lying in a distorted or twisted manner. Spinal nerve stress in newborns is more common than previously realized. This may be caused by a traumatic or difficult birth which can introduce great stress to the infant’s skull, spinal column and pelvis. Throughout childhood, the normal childhood traumas every child experiences can be a source of spinal and cranial trauma. Most of the time, the pain from the initial injury “goes away” however the damage incurred continues to affect the future function of the child’s nerve system.

How Does the Chiropractor Reduce Spinal Nerve Stress?

This is accomplished first by analyzing the spinal column and related structures for balance and proper function. Where the spinal column is found to be functioning improperly, the Doctor of Chiropractic performs precise corrective procedures called spinal adjustments.

Using his/her hands and/or specialized instruments to gently and specifically correct those abnormal areas, the spine and cranium regain their intended state of balance and the nerve system is freed from stress.

It’s All About Function!

Today’s parents are more concerned than ever about the adverse effects drugs have on their children. Parents are increasingly asking, when handed a prescription for a child’s recurrent problem, “Is this really all I can do for my child? Is there a safer alternative?”

Parents are hesitant to merely mask symptoms with drugs and are worried about side effects. Their desire to achieve a state of true health—has led parents to seek health care options which support their children’s own natural ability to be healthy.

Chiropractic care is one such option. All children function better with 100% nerve function. All children deserve the right to express their fullest potential. Chiropractic care for children is safe, gentle and effective. It allows for the opportunity for maximum potential for well-being.

http://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/what-can-chiropractic-do-for-your-child.html

Nerve interference may occur without a trace of any symptoms.  Therefore, just like brushing our teeth before we get cavities, uncovering nerve interference before symptoms arise is a foundational principle of Chiropractic Health Care.  Pain is typically the last thing to show up and the first thing to go away in the caring for health conditions.  The presence or absence of pain is rarely related to tissue healing.  Research suggests that the healing of the supportive tissues of the spine, mainly the ligaments and muscles continue after the pain is gone.

Combining chiropractic adjustments with other health care considerations such as massage therapy and acupuncture as well as dietary and lifestyle advice truly provide the path to optimal wellness.

Cal Apatite Plus®

Complete Bone Nutrition Purity-Certified MCHC with Ipriflavone and Vitamin D

Cal Apatite Plus provides a unique combination of the same calcium-rich MCHC found in original Cal Apatite©, but with key nutritional factors added to help maintain healthy bone density.

• Features ipriflavone, a unique isoflavone derivative that helps support healthy bone metabolism.

• Supplies vitamin D, an essential nutrient for the maintenance of healthy bones that stimulates intestinal calcium absorption and helps to regulate calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in the body.

Three tablets supply:

• Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol)600 IU
• Calcium (MCHC and dicalcium phosphate)660 mg
• Phosphorus (MCHC and dicalcium phosphate)423 mg
• MCHC†1500 mg
• Ipriflavone 150 mg

Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, silica, and coating (deionized water, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethelene glycol, and carrageenan).

† Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite Concentrate (MCHC) supplies calcium, phosphorus, and trace quantities of other minerals.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

A young spine with few exceptions, usually develops perfectly by the end of pregnancy.  It’s what happens around the time of birth and in the months thereafter, which can sometimes upset the normal functioning of the spine.  Spinal segments can be pushed out of place or jammed by the position of the baby in the womb, or can suffer similar problems , during labor, from the trauma of the trip through the birth canal or from the birthing process itself.  Medical research has identified the fact that many problems early in a child’s life can come from birth trauma.  Spinal problems can also occur as a result of the frequent falls suffered by young infants in the first months of life.  A fall from a bed, a sudden stop in an automobile, or any significant unsupported movement of the head and neck in an infant can induce excessive movement in the spine causing vertebral subluxations.  At the other end of the spine, the act of learning to walk, and the number of simple falls encountered in this way, can induce trauma to the lower spinal segments and to the large sacro-iliac joints of the pelvis.  Young children learning to walk also fall and hit their heads; these apparently innocent, frequently occurring events can also creat spinal subluxations.  Unless a child has an obvious problem, it can be dificult for parents to recognize when a child has spinal subluxations.  It is not always easy for someone other than a chiropractor, highly trained in evaluating the spine, to determine if the child has a problem, just as it is difficult for someone other than a dentist to determine if a child has any cavities.  Both cases take the skills of a trained specialist to perform a thorough evaluation.  There are some signs, however, which parents may look for.  These include the child’s head consistently being tilted to one side, disturbed sleeping patterns, feeding difficulties in the very young infant, or difficulty breast feeding on one particular side.

Glycogenics is a Vitamin B complex and is 10% off the month of April!   B vitamins are important for proper functioning  of your nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver, mouth, muscles, gastrointenstinal tract, and brain.  The B Vitamins are coenzymes that are involved in energy production and are also useful for alleviation of depression and anxiety.

The use of coffee, cigarettes, sugar, and alcohol destroy B vitamins.  People with diabetes and alcoholism need more B Vitamins than most people.  B vitamins are water-soluble and any excess is excreted  and not stored in the body.  Your body needs to replace B vitamins daily.  As we get older our ability to absorb B Vitamins from our food declines so it is important to add a B vitamin complex into your daily routine.

source from: http://www.the herbprof.com/vitBVitamins.htm

March’s supplement of the month is Sinuplex.  Sinuplex®is a Metagenics product which promotes Ephedra-Free Sinus and Lung Support.  Sinuplex features a unique, ephedra-free blend of vitamin C, quercetin, nettle root extract, bromelain, and N-acetylcysteine

Benefits include: 

• Supports healthy sinus, nasal, lung, and respiratory function. ♦
• May help support healthy eicosanoid synthesis. ♦
• Ingredients are carefully selected and manufactured with advanced processing technologies to preserve the potency and stability of delicate components such as bromelain.

In the March 18, 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) was an article entitled Antibiotic Prescribing for Children with Colds, Upper Respiratory Infections, and Bronchitis. The article talks about the prevalent usage of antibiotics in children with problems coming from viruses. As all doctors know, antibiotics are not designed or effective in viral infections such as many upper respiratory infections (URI’s), bronchitis or colds.

In the study sited in the report in JAMA, 531 pediatric files were reviewed whose diagnosis was either colds, URI, or bronchitis. Of these it was determined that 44% of those with colds got a worthless and possibly harmful antibiotic. Of those with URI’s 46% were determined to have gotten antibiotics they didn’t also need. And in those diagnoses with bronchitis an astounding 75% received an antibiotic even though antibiotics would be totally ineffective and possibly harmful.

According to the article’s bottom line: “Antibiotic prescribing for children diagnosed as having colds, URI’s and bronchitis, conditions that typically do not benefit from antibiotics, represent a substantial proportion of total antibiotic prescriptions to children in the United States each year.”

Many medical physicians admit that patients expect and even demand antibiotic usage on their children with these types of problems. Doctors have lost patients from their practice when they have refused to administer antibiotics to a parent who mistakenly believes that form of care is needed.

http://www.chiropracticresearch.org/

5 Medication Free Strategies to Help Prevent Heart Disease:

1) Don’t Smoke or Use Tobacco Products:  tobacco smoke contains more than 4800 chemical, and many of them can damage your heart and blood vessels!

2)Get Active! Things like gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs, and walking the dog all count towards your daily total exercise. You don’t have to exercise strenuously to achieve benefits, but you can see bigger benefits by increasing intensity, duration, and frequency of your workouts!

3)Eat a Healthy Diet! Choose foods low in fat, cholesterol, and salt. Saturated fats and trans fats increase the risk of coronary arter disease by raising blood cholesterol levels.  Add more fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, and low-fat dairy to your diet! And don’t forget about getting in those healthy Omega 3 Fatty Acids (fish oils)!

4) Maintain a Healthy Weight:  In general, Men are considered overweight if their waist is greater than 40″, and women are considered overweight if their waist is greater than 35″.  Even small reductions in weight can be beneficial. Reducing weight by just 10% can decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol level, and reduce your risk of diabetes.

5) Get Regular Health Screenings! Optimal Blood Pressure is less than 120/80. Cholesterol Levels should be checked at least once every 5 years.