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“Dear Dr. Miller:

My neighbor takes her baby to a chiropractor. She says that this has improved his health to the point that he is a much happier boy. I thought that chiropractors were only for people suffering from back pain. I don’t understand this.

Dear Reader:

Many people think chiropractic is only for people experiencing back pain but this is a mistake. Chiropractic actually deals with subluxations. Chirotips.com defines subluxations as “areas of interference to the nervous system caused by pressure or irritation from spinal bones.” A chiropractor can correct these subluxations.

How could a baby end up with subluxations? Birth is a stressful experience for a baby and his or her body can become misaligned as it is being pushed through the birth canal. This can leave the body out of alignment and may lead to other problems such as being fussy, some feeding problems, colic or even other problem areas.

In baby world, the reader is asked to imagine the baby is beyond fussy and is actually miserable and there is nothing that seems to sooth the infant. The suggestion is made that the unhappiness of the baby could be caused by bay’s birth experience and that there is a solution to this problem. In this article the reader is asked to consider whether or not there are any symptoms of birth trauma, to investigate how the birth process could affect a baby’s spine and to find out if chiropractic treatment can help.

In chirotips.com Traumatic Birth Syndrome is discussed. During the second stage of labor the mother is pushing, which puts a lot of pressure on the baby’s spine. As a baby makes the way through the birth canal, its body must flex and rotate and damage can occur to the nervous system in its neck during the trauma involved with the birth process. This damage can range from mild subluxations in the neck to more serious ones that can include central nervous system problems.

With careful adjustments, a chiropractor can relieve the physical discomfort that a baby experiences due to birth trauma. Adjustments on newborns and older infants involve a lot of massage and trigger point therapy and are safe and gentle. Many parents have found that these treatments have made a dramatic and positive improvement in the health and happiness of their babies. This, in turn, creates a huge improvement in the harmony of their homes.

When you take your baby to a chiropractor, it is important to find a chiropractor that has experience with babies. Make sure your chiropractor lets you touch your baby or be near as the adjustment is done. Bring along a favorite blanket or toy to help baby feel more at home.

Consult only licensed chiropractors and don’t be shy about interviewing as many of these professionals as you need to in order to find one that you are comfortable with.

For nearly 100 years, doctors of chiropractic have been treating babies and children with care that is both safe and effective. Their techniques are both gentle and beneficial. All parents want only the best for their children and one of the most important goals is that they be health. When the baby is healthy and happy the benefits are obvious.

When a baby is comfortably settled in his or her home, the happiness of the entire family is improved. Chiropractic can help.”

If you have any questions please call us at 804-559-1100 or leave a comment.

Along those lines there has been a great study that demonstrated people who got regular chiropractic adjustments had higher levels of serum thiol in their blood.  This is wonderful because serum thiol is an enzyme that repairs DNA damage.   How is that beneficial?  It means those people (all things being equal) will have less cancer.  Or less chance at getting it.  That is exciting, and that helps to keep our DNA from becoming our destiny!  So get preventative chiropractic care, it looks like it you and the next generation will benefit!

Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend!

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.”

Mechanicsville, Virginia – Here is some great Q & A about upper cervical chiropractic care.  It comes from the Upper Cervical Blog.  I’ve copied, pasted, combined, and adapted two posts that answer questions and give insightful answers.  The two posts are by: Dr. Brandon Harshe, and Dr. William R. Davis Jr.

Why is the upper cervical area (upper neck) so important to health and well-being?

This is essentially the epicenter of your body. The most important area for communication from your brain to your body. Complete loss of that communication can be devastating . Do you remember Christopher Reeve? Superman had a severe injury to his upper cervical spine which resulted in a 100% loss of function from that area. When you have a upper cervical misalignment you are not losing 100% of the function but you may be losing 30%, 50% or more of the function of your body.

What is Upper Cervical Care?

Says Dr. Davis:

A unique health care solution that focuses on correcting an underlying source of interference to proper body function. Accidents and injuries can tear loose the connective tissue that holds the spine in place. This can create a weakness and allow the spine to breakdown and lock into a stressed position. This most frequently starts in the upper neck since it is the most vulnerable to injury and this leads to, in the standing position, one of the hips often can be higher than the other, laying down one of the legs often can be shorter than the other. The head could tilt to one side. And it can be progressive …so that the longer the spine is locked in this position, the more wear and tear can happen.

And by Dr. Harche:

Upper Cervical Care is a very specific technique in which a misalignment of one or both of the top two cervical vertebrae is reduced. These misalignments cause interference to nervous system communication between the brain and body. The specific direction of the misalignment is carefully analyzed so that restoring normal alignment of one of these two upper cervical bones will be as precise as possible. The specificity of Upper Cervical Care is what makes it so gentle. The top vertebra in your spine, the Atlas, is the only vertebra capable of freely moving and narrowing the opening in which the spinal cord travels through. Because of its relative instability compared to the other 23 vertebrae, the Atlas only requires a quick, gentle force to restore its proper position.

What makes Upper Cervical Care unique compared to other care?

There are many forms of spinal health care today. Many focus on addressing local joint motion by administering a short, quick thrust to a localized area. Upper Cervical Doctors influence the entire spinal columns postural balance by returning the heavy head to a more balanced position on top of the narrow neck. Without any popping, cracking or twisting of the spine. It is a gentle, accurate and precise procedure for correcting the spine. With upper cervical care it is not about adjusting someone thousands of times…it is about holding the correction. Staying in alignment is how a person expresses the potential for health.

Who can benefit from Upper Cervical Care?

Any adult or child who wants their body to function at a higher level. Especially those who have experienced head or neck trauma. Not all individuals are misaligned however. Many children and some adults have been assessed in our office who were found to be in alignment and no care was necessary.

How can such a light pressure make such dramatic changes?

For the same reason why one is able to move a pile of heavy bricks with a light push of a wheelbarrow: leverage. Using the first vertebra and the weight of the head to gain a biomechanical advantage, the doctor places their own body on a calculated angle to ensure the correction is specific to the patient’s individual misalignment. The force generated by the doctor is transferred to the patient in such a gentle and precise fashion that many patients are surprised by the light feel. Although the procedure is subtle in it’s application the results often are not! Our patients typically experience fast changes and long lasting results!

What is Upper Cervical Care?

Upper Cervical Care is a very specific technique in which a misalignment of one or both of the top two cervical vertebrae is reduced. These misalignments cause interference to nervous system communication between the brain and body. The specific direction of the misalignment is carefully analyzed so that restoring normal alignment of one of these two upper cervical bones will be as precise as possible. The specificity of Upper Cervical Care is what makes it so gentle. The top vertebra in your spine, the Atlas, is the only vertebra capable of freely moving and narrowing the opening in which the spinal cord travels through. Because of its relative instability compared to the other 23 vertebrae, the Atlas only requires a quick, gentle force to restore its proper position.

Is Upper Cervical Care painful?

No. As stated above, the specificity of the Upper Cervical analysisallows for a very gentle force to move the Atlas (C1) and/or Axis (C2) in a very specific direction. This allows the body to begin its return to its optimal spinal alignment and thus proper brain to body communication.

Will Upper Cervical Care make me sore?

Usually no. In some rare cases, people might experience more pain after an upper cervical correction simply because their spine is realigning, doing something it hasn’t done in a while, maybe ever. This is similar to exercising for the first time after being sedentary for years. In these cases, healing may take longer.

Is Upper Cervical Care a one time thing?

No. However, the goal of Upper Cervical Care is to have you holding your spinal alignment as long as possible. Depending on the person, this may be days, weeks, or months at a time. It is similar to getting in shape. You won’t achieve the level of fitness you desire after one workout, and the alignment in your spine won’t return to its optimal position after one office visit. It may change significantly, but in most cases, will take time to restore completely. Holding your alignment is what keeps the stress and tension off your spinal cord. This allows your body to function at its highest potential and heal itself optimally. We want you to only come in as often as your spine dictates to us, ie. if you are maintaining your correction on multiple visits in a row then we need to see you less.

Will Upper Cervical Care relieve my pain?

It depends. When the Atlas has become misaligned, it can cause endangering stress or tension on the spinal cord near the brain stem. This can result in any combination of symptoms; from conditions like low back pain and headaches to digestive issues and high blood pressure.

The goal of Upper Cervical Care is not to relieve your pain, but to open up the nervous system communication between the brain and the body so that your body can heal itself effectively. This happens by reducing head neck misalignment. This will not only reduce the stress and tension on the spinal cord, but may also balance the body by returning it to a more optimal alignment.

Often times when these things happen people experience an immediate reduction in their painful symptoms.

If you only practice Upper Cervical Care, does that mean you can’t help the back or other parts of the body?

No. Reducing the misalignment in the upper cervical spine allows the spine to reduce its compensations. If you think about the spine as three segments, it makes more sense. There is the skull, the Atlas (c1), and the rest of the spine from Axis (C2) down to the sacrum. Since the rest of the spine from C2 and below is connected by intervertebral discs and ligaments, it moves similar to a wave when head/neck misalignment is present. Think of it as if the spine has been wound up. This winding up involves vertebral compensations, stress and tension on the nervous system pathways, with often a resulting muscular and/or visceral disfunction.

By reducing head/neck misalignment, the spine is able to unwind, so to speak. As a result, the spinal compensations diminish, the nervous system can communicate optimally with the body, and overall bodily function improves.

In short, reducing interference at the level of Atlas affects the entire body, not simply the upper cervical spine.

At Stover Chiropractic, P.C. I practice orthospinology (otherwise known as Grostic) style of upper cervical chiropractic.  If you have questions, please give us a call (804-559-1100) or explore the website.

Core Exercise Ball Workout – Life123.

By: Rachel Mork at Life 123.com

Exercise balls, also called fitness balls and swiss balls, have been used by physical therapists for decades. Today, the exercise ball workout is showing up in aerobics and yoga classes, personal training sessions, in homes and even at the office as a replacement for desk chairs. Fitness ball workouts are an effective, affordable way to strengthen the core muscles in your abdominals and lower back.

Choosing an Exercise Ball
Exercise balls go by a variety of names, including fitness balls, stability balls, sports balls and Swiss balls. Constructed of soft flexible plastic, exercise balls range in diameter from 45 to 85 cm in diameter when fully inflated. You’ll choose the best size for your fitness ball workout based on your height.

When you sit on an exercise ball, your hips should be level with or slightly higher than your knees. You’re looking for both proper alignment and what level of firmness for the ball is most comfortable for you. Working out with a firmer ball provides offers more resistance during workouts and challenges your balance. Softer balls generally provide your body with more support, making it easier to maintain your balance which is helpful if you’re a beginner.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for inflation and adjust the level of firmness to your needs, taking care not to overinflate.

• 45 cm balls fit most people under 4’11″
• 55cm balls fit most people between 4’11″ and 5’4″
• 65 cm balls fit most people between 5’5″ and 5’11″
• 75 cm balls fit most people between 5’11″ and 6’7″

Benefits of Exercise Ball Workouts
Exercise balls are versatile and can be used for a variety of workout moves, but are best known for assisting you in strengthening the core muscles in your trunk. These muscle groups are responsible for protecting the spine and your internal organs and keeping your body balanced and stable at all times. A strong core results in better posture, keeps your lower back safe from injury and may help relieve any lower back you experience now.

Quality Moves
The reason exercise balls are so effective when it comes to developing core strength is because they destabilize your body, forcing you to engage your core muscles to remain balanced while you’re exercising. In other words, they make you and your core body do all of the work. Even if you already have a good amount of strength in your core, working out with an exercise ball can up the ante, challenging you to work at a higher intensity in a shorter amount of time.

What attracts most people to exercise ball routines is that the routines themselves favor quality over quantity. Forcing your core muscles to work together rather in isolation, like traditional ab workouts, provides your body with the maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time. Instead of performing high repetitions that target one muscle in your core, you’ll engage several muscles at the same time and work them harder in fewer moves.

Good for Beginners and Experts Alike
Not all fitness ball exercises are suitable for all fitness levels. Always check with your doctor before starting a new workout program, especially if you’re recovering from an injury or are just beginning a fitness program for the first time.

When you first start working out with fitness balls, be sure to choose exercises that meet your current fitness level. If you have poor core strength or significant issues with balance, trying to follow the DVD or video that came with your fitness ball may not just discourage you, it could lead to injury.

Look for exercise ball routines are that targeted for beginners, consult with a personal trainer at your gym or your physical therapist, if you’re working with one. Even trading your chair for a fitness ball when you’re sitting at your desk or watching television has an effect: in order to remain upright, you’ll need to begin engaging those cure muscles. As you continue to build your core strength, you can gradually work up to more challenging ways of using the ball.

Sample Fitness Ball Exercises
Fitness balls are an inexpensive, fun way to build your core strength and bring challenge to your workouts. Some common fitness ball exercises include:

• Crunches. Lie on the floor and place your feet on top of the ball so your knees are bent at 90-degree angle. Place your hands behind your head, thumbs pointing down your neck, elbows wide. Engage your abdominals and use them to lift your shoulders and chest off the ground.
• Leg lifts. Lie on the floor and place the ball between your ankles or lower legs. Keep your arms flat on the floor and engage your abdominals as you slowly lift the ball with your legs. When you’ve gone as high as you want to, pause; then lower the ball slowly until it reaches the ground.
• Assisted squats. Stand tall, with your feet hips’ width apart with your exercise ball placed firmly between your back and the wall. Slowly bend your knees, as though you were going to sit in a chair. When your bent legs form a 90-degree angle, pause and hold the position for up to 30 seconds. Stand slowly, rolling the ball up the wall as you go.

Most chiropractors prefer the use of the term “spinal adjustment” as it seems to better describe the correct chiropractic process.  The objective for a chiropractor is to be very specific when giving an adjustment.  A manipulation would imply a non-specific procedure intending to mobilize a joint.  Sometimes this is a great help, but when a person has a subluxation which is interfering with nerve function, they need a specific procedure.  This is what chiropractic has to offer over the gross manipulations that physical therapists, medical doctors, or osteopaths are trained to do.  The result of an adjustment is better mobility, less pain, AND a healthier nervous system.

Lower back pain for people in Mechanicsville is sometimes the result of vertebrae in the spine moving out of their normal position in relation to the overall structure of the back.

The back is a complex system of ligaments, joints, tissues, muscles, and other vertebrae. All must be working in harmony for things to feel good, and a spinal adjustment may be what you need.

A regular spinal adjustment to your spine can help move any misaligned components back into position, and may improve lower back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, sciatic, and even headaches.

Spine adjustments are applied gently by a trained and licensed chiropractor. I am a trained and licensed chiropractor working in Mechanicsville at Stover Chiropractic, P.C..

Come and see us: we’ll develop an individual plan to incorporate the techniques best suited to your individual needs, age, and condition. At Stover Chiropractic, P.C. our specialty is the spinal adjustment.

At Stover Chiropractic, P.C., we offer upper cervical spinal adjusting (Grostic/orthospinology).  If you are looking for a professional spinal adjustment in the area, give us a call at 804-559-1100.