Mechanicsville, Virginia — Subluxations Impact health in many ways. Posture is one of the most obvious changes that can be seen if a subluxation has been present for more than a couple of years. In particular “head forward posture” is common. Common does not mean benign. Check out these extra-chiropractic references that shed light on the problems it causes.

DID YOU KNOW? 

The effects of long term forward neck posture leads to “long term muscle strain, disc herniations and pinched nerves.” Mayo Clinic Health Letter Vol. 18, #3 March 2000



It was noted in regard to Respiratory Dysfunction in Chronic Neck Pain Patients; …”the study demonstrated a strong association between an increased forward head posture and decreased respiratory muscle strength in neck patients.” – The journal Cephalalgia, 2009 Feb 2



“For every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” – Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol 3. 



Forward head posture (FHP) can add up to thirty (30) pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine. This can pull the entire spine out of alignment. –Rene Cailliet, M.D., Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California 



FHP has been shown to flatten the normal neck curve, resulting in disc compression, damage, and early arthritis. – Gore DR, Sepic SB, Gardner GM.

Roentgenographic findings of the cervical spine in asymptomatic people. Spine 1986; 6:591-694 

FHP results in loss of vital capacity of the lungs by as much as 30%. This shortness of breath can lead to heart and blood vascular disease. –Rene Cailliet, M.D., Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California 



The entire gastrointestinal system is affected; particularly the large intestine. Loss of good bowel peristaltic function and evacuation is a common effect of FHP. –Rene Cailliet, M.D, Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Southern California



New Simple Saliva Test Helps Doctors Predict if Scoliosis Will Get Worse

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 16, 2011

Imaged use by permission from Exsodus Images

A saliva-based genetic test that helps doctors determine which children diagnosed with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are least likely to develop a painful and debilitating abnormal lateral curvature of the spine is now available for the first time at Schumacher Chiropractic Clinics, P.A. in Hopkins, Minnesota.

The SCOLISCORE Prognostic AIS Test, developed by Axial Biotech and distributed by DePuy Spine, uses the science of genetics to help the doctors at Schumacher Chiropractic Clinics identify low risk patients, potentially saving them from years of repeated office visits and x-ray exposure, as well as the stress and anxiety associated with the uncertainty of scoliosis curve progression.

Scoliosis affects an estimated 6 million people in the United States. Most of them are children between 10 and 15-years-old. There is no cure. Fortunately, in most cases, scoliosis is mild or moderate and generally does not require medical treatment. However, each year an estimated 30,000 children are put into a back brace for scoliosis and may also have increased health risks due to frequent x-ray exposure.

The SCOLISCORE Test, which uses DNA markers found in the saliva, is designed for male and female patients diagnosed with Mild (10 – 25 degree Cobb Angle) Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS [FREE Stock Trend Analysis]) who are from 9 through 13 years of age, and who are self-reported as Caucasian.

Spine surgeons at 40 medical centers around the U.S. were first introduced to the test and have been defining it’s clinical use since 2008. “We are proud to be the first chiropractic clinic in the Twin Cities to team up with SCOLISCORE to provide this cutting edge technology,” said Bill Schumacher, DC, co-founder of Schumacher Chiropractic Clinic in Hopkins, Minnesota. “Now we can potentially better understand how likely their curve will progress over time and combined with other diagnostic information, allow us to structure an effective personalized non-surgical treatment.”

To administer the test, a saliva sample is collected in the doctors office at Schumacher Chiropractic Clinic and then sent to Axial Biotech for analysis. The confidential test results are typically available within a few weeks. Patients can get a score anywhere between 1 and 200 – 50 or less is considered low risk of having progressive curvature.

The SCOLISCORE Test was developed by Axial Biotech, Inc. and is marketed and distributed by DePuy Spine, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company.

http://www.benzinga.com/press-releases/11/06/p1173352/new-simple-saliva-test-helps-doctors-predict-if-scoliosis-will-get-wor

5 Tips For The Correction Of Forward Head Posture:

Forward head posture is a very common imbalance seen today from excessive cell phone use and from bad posture. Correction of forward head posture takes awareness, resolution of underlying causes, and repetition to make a lasting impact. These five tips will help you get faster results.

1. Focus on lifting your chest, not just tucking your head back.

In most cases, forward head posture is accompanied by rounded shoulders and a slouched upper back posture. In this scenario, simply retracting your head will not correct the problem. In fact, this can cause a jamming of the lower cervical vertebra. A simple instruction to help you lift you chest is to imagine you have a helium balloon attached to each of your chest muscles, and they are lifting them toward the ceiling. Many times, just lifting the chest causes a natural retraction of forward head posture.

2. Perform “chin retractions”.

A great way to re-program yourself to get rid of forward head posture is to perform 10 chin retractions every hour on the hour throughout the day. If you do this throughout an 8 hour workday, along with lifting your chest, you will have done 80 postural corrections! This will help you re-pattern your posture easily and effectively.

3. Ensure you have proper ergonomics in your phone use, car, at work, and at home.

Make sure your computer height is optimal at work and home. Another great trick to do in your car is to move your rear view mirror just an inch higher. This will remind you to sit straight while driving.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER prop the phone up with your shoulder & make sure you lift the phone so that you can look straight on when texting or surfing the web.

4. Eliminate food allergies.

Food allergies, particularly to gluten, soy, and dairy, can cause your nasal passages to clog, and make it more challenging to breathe. Forward head posture is very common to individuals that mouth breathe. Think about it, what do they teach during CPR to help someone open their airway? Tip the head back. In a standing position, this is done by extending the cervical spine, which inevitably leads to forward head posture.

5. Stop doing endless amounts of crunches.

Excessive amounts of abdominal training, particularly crunches, can cause an adaptive shortening of the abdominal muscles, which then pulls down on the upper body, leading to forward head posture. This can easily be corrected by performing an appropriate amount of exercise for the muscles that lift the chest and shoulders back and down.

I hope this is helpful.  If you have any questions give us a call at Stover Chiropractic, P.C.  If you have heard of any other good advice, please comment below.

“We help you heal.”

Here is the link to The Atlas of Life blog:

http://theatlasoflife.com/2011/02/14/dramatic-full-spine-improvements-with-upper-cervical-chiropractic-care-only/

Give us a call if you have and questions.  804-559-1100

Stover Chiropractic, P.C.  ”We help you heal”

In my experience, it seems about 20% of my fibromyalgia patients seem to get amazing results with chiropractic care.  As if my adjustments (treatments) are the silver bullet.  However, most, about 70% respond well, but I don’t feel like I’m the only solution in these cases.  In other words, the pain may be 20% or 60% better, but there are other factors that prevent me from getting better results.  It is still wonderful to see some one take less medication or be able to play with grandchildren, even if I haven’t help the pain completely.  Then the last 10% or so just don’t see any real change under chiropractic care.

Well I was recently directed to NaturalNews, which has an article on fibromyalgia.  It was very much focused on dietary options to help.  I thought it would be helpful to share the information, because like I said, fibromyalgia is multi-factoral.  A close look at diet and supplementation is a great option.  This article brought up several items that were new to me.

Some of the highlights are:

-colloidal silver (new to me)

-proteolytic enzymes

-plenty of omega 3′s and essential fatty acids

-cut back on whole grain foods

-avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners, and foods with bleached flour

-curcumin, magnesium, blackseed oil (Nigella stiva) and herbal oleander extract (for immune system – new to me)

-apples (which have malice acid, found to ease pain and inflammation) – 2 per day

-probiotics

- niacin and niacinamide

Lastly the author ends with some good advice on exercise.  “Do not give up on exercise. People with fibromyalgia often stop exercising because it is painful. However, inactivity weakens muscles and makes them more sensitive to pain. Low impact aerobics, conditioning exercises, such as swimming, stationary bicycling or stretching, are often helpful for people with fibromyalgia.”  Variety is the key.

So hopefully some of this is new to you (like it was for me) and you, or someone you know with fibromyalgia, can benefit.  Check out the article for more detail and links to other sources.

It is the inadequate development of the secondary curves that create the conditions encourage subluxations and lead to scoliosis.  If these conditions are corrected early, complete correction of minor curves is possible, which prevents further progressive scoliotic change.

It should quickly be added that scoliotic changes can occur even with normal secondary curves in place.  However, subluxations and/or disturbances in the righting reflex (proprioception) are present in these cases.

The take home information is how important it is to prevent activities that could be harmful to the normal development of the curves found in the neck and low back.

First some statistics and definitions:

There are four main types of scoliosis as defined on www.spine-health.com.

• Congenital scoliosis. This is a relatively rare form of congenital malformation of the spine. Patients with congenital scoliosis will often develop scoliotic deformities in their infancy.
• Neuromuscular scoliosis. This may occur when the spine curves to the side due to weakness of the spinal muscles or neurologic problems. This form of scoliosis is especially common for individuals who cannot walk due to their underlying neuromuscular condition (such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy). This may also be called myopathic scoliosis.
• Degenerative scoliosis. Scoliosis can also develop later in life, as joints in the spine degenerate and create a bend in the back. This condition is sometimes called adult scoliosis.
• Idiopathic scoliosis. By far the most common form of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, which most often develops in adolescents and typically progresses during the adolescent growth spurt. Because it most often occurs during adolescence, this condition is sometimes called adolescent scoliosis.

“Idiopathic” means, of unknown origin.  Of course many chiropractors will take issue with that designation, however, technically that is the diagnosis name.  To further differentiate, idiopathic scoliosis can be broken down into 3 categories:

• From birth to 3 years old – called infantile scoliosis.
• From 3 to 9 years old – called juvenile scoliosis.
• From 10 to 18 years old – called adolescent scoliosis.

The adolescent scoliosis is by far most common.  I have seen figures of 500,000 to 600,000 children being affected.  Girls are 7 times more likely than boys to get it.  It is the growth spurt in the early teens during which it often develops.  But the cause is not during that time.  The root of the problem starts in early early spinal development.

So, against most medical opinions I agree with Dr. Barge, that idiopathic scoliosis does have know causes.  On page xix Dr. Barge lists them succinctly.  He spends the rest of the book making the case.

They are as follows:

1. Lack of proper development of the normal sigmoid (saggital) curve of the human spine, in particular the lumbar lordosis.
2. Youthful exercise regimens that stress back bends thus reducing (sometimes reversing) the normal thoracic kyphosis; example, gymnastics and ballet.
3. Vertebral Subluxation
   1. Two Factors
      1. i.     Unilateral Vertebral Inferiority
      2. ii.     Foraminal Encroachment – Neuronal Disturbances
      3. Unilateral Sacral Inferiority
      4. A retarded development or disturbance in the righting reflex, proprioceptive spinal balance mechanisms, commonly caused by vertebral subluxations.

There is some controversy as to causes of scoliosis.   Many opinions.  Chiropractors have never been big on the “wait and see” approach (x-ray every 6 months).  It seems the medical field is starting to brace earlier now.  However you do it, the earlier one starts to treat, the easier it is to help.

Research now shows that bad posture not only causes pain, but it can effect organ systems.  Those systems are the respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems.  There is also research that demonstrates that the amount of “slump” one has is directly correlated to earlier death.  Wow.

Chiropractic adjustments are very effective in correcting subluxations which are a cause of postural changes.  However, it could be the case that poor posture or lifestyle could what actually causes subluxations.  It is recommended that everyone, no matter their age, be analyzed for the presence of subluxations.

How do you test of bad posture?
1.  Look in a mirror.  Ears, shoulders and hips should each line up horizontally from left to right.
2.  Stand with your back and buttocks against a wall.  Place your feet approximately six inches from the wall.  Does your head easily rest against the wall?  if is doesn’t, you have forward head posture.
3.  Lie down on your back on a hard surface.  With your head on the floor, you should be looking straight up to the ceiling.  If you feel your head tilt backward, or aren’t looking straight above you, chances are that your upper back curve is the cause of your faulty posture.

What will I feel?
Poor posture certainly doesn’t have to cause pain, which is why the above tests are useful.  But most often fatigue is the first symptom.  Later comes the tension, tightness, pain, and tender muscles.  Remember, whenever the position of your body moves away from its center of gravity, your joints are taken out of their normal, stress-free positions.  Then the abnormal wear and tear starts.  Over time cartilage degeneration, nerve pressure or irritation, and decreased flexibility will occur.  Pain is usually the last symptom to appear.  The most common symptoms at this advanced stage are:
- Muscle pain and tightness
- Nerve pain traveling down the arm or leg
- Joint pain and restriction
- Ligament or tendon pain

How do you improve posture?

1. Be aware.  Practice awareness of your posture.
2. Take regular breaks from sitting at a computer.
3. Check the ergonomics of your workstation.
4. Use a proper pillow.  Don’t sleep on your stomach.  If you sleep on your back, you need VERY little thickness.  If you sleep on your side the pillow needs to be thick and firm enough to keep your head elevated and in line with your spine.
5. Stretch the muscles that are too tight, and strengthen the postural muscles that are weak.  Seek advice on the types of techniques that will complement your health and ability.
6.  For those of you who are comfortable with chiropractic – get adjusted!  When your spine moves correctly, it is more likely to be able to maintain correct posture.

Turns out our moms and grandmothers didn’t know how right they were!