Better Posture for a Better Life

Just what is posture, as it refers to the body? "A position of the body or of body parts: a sitting posture. An attitude; a pose: assumed a posture of angry defiance. A characteristic way of bearing one's body; carriage: stood with good posture. A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behavior; an overall attitude."* Simply put, it is a position and an attitude. You can tell alot about a person through their posture. You can see if someone is in pain, if they are confident, in a bad mood and some people are professional posture readers (body language). Posture tells us many things and it is constantly changing.  Many of us could not get into a "good" posture if we tried, due to all the work we have put into "bad" posture. At some point in our lives, most of us have probably been told to "stop slouching!" Turns out, that was better advice than imagined.

 

Studies now show that there are correlations between posture and life expectancy. One study over 20 years shows that loss of height is related to earlier death. This refers to disk height and increased upper thoracic spine humping (kyphosis). Those losing over 3 cm increased risk 64% over those with 1 cm loss. ^ This is mainly related to increased cardiovascular compromise and lack of oxygen due to stooped posture. The farther you forward flex (slump) your spine forward, it compresses the heart and decreases the distance the rib cage and diaphragm are able to expand, allowing less oxygen in. This affects all tissues and organs in the body. Excessive kyphosis of the thoracic spine is often related to osteoporosis, but it increasingly common in the younger popluation due to the obsession with computers, texting, gaming and sitting long hours.

 

Another four year study shows that increased forward head posture also reduces life expectancy for the same reasons.** Did you  know that every inch you push your head forward, increases the weight of it on your spine by 10lbs?  This also affects balance. Your head usually weighs between 8-10 lbs. and it sits on your spine (kind of like a melon on a stick). It is held onto your spine by many muscles big and small. Increasing the weight of your head  is alot to ask such a delicate system and so your body does many things to compensate which results in a global problem.

 

No doubt you have also heard the saying, "Keep making that face and it will stay that way!" This too is true in that muscles and bones adapt and conform to the forces put on them in order to allow as normal a possible bodily function. There for, sitting long hours at a desk slumped forward, typing (or whatever you do), results in muscle shortening in the upper and lower body into a flexed position. This in turn pulls on the bones creating kyphosis, headaches, back pain, numbness/tingling, and many more problems.

 

What can you do to help fight postural pain and disease? Strengthening exercises for postural muscles, increasing your core stability and getting regular spinal adjustments to maintain alignment are proven to aid these conditions. Finally, the body loves motion. Get 30 min of walking/running/biking daily and get up every hour and perform extension exercises for your upper and lower body. It will thank you later!

 

* American Heritage Dictionary

^University of London, Archives of Internal Medicine

**Journal of American Geriatircs Society 10/2004

 

Who's Responsible For Your Health?

Even the physician's office is not exempt from today's "it's not my fault" attitude. Let's paint a picture: A patient comes to the chiropractor for low back pain. He has had it off and on for years. He has seen other doctors, with short lived success. He wants the doctor to treat him and "cure his pain", but he refuses to do any prescribed exercises and does not finish his course of care. Is the doctor responsible for this patient's failed treatment?

It is no secret that patients come to see doctors and expect to resolve their health conditions. The word "doctor" actually means "to teach". It is the physician's responsibility to educate their patients in how to care for themselves, and empower them to regain their health with positive lifestyle changes. However, it is the patient's responsibility to actually DO IT! There is no person or drug that can make you healthier if you fail to take action. How many people don't take their vital prescribed meds, or diabetics that don't care to monitor their blood sugar, because they don't feel like it. This is not referring to people with financial issues, this is just about the sheer desire to help yourself. From back pain to diabetes to heart disease, YOU have to do the work to change your life. Even small steps over time can be beneficial. You don't have to be perfect to benefit, but you do have to DO THE WORK!

My purpose, as is any other doctor's,  is to help as many people as possible, live the best life possible. To accomplish this, I need you, to help me, help you. WILL YOU HELP?

Yours In Health,

Dr. Laura McChesney, DC
drmcchesneydc.com

Myth About Seeing A Chiropractor

Many people believe that you only need to see a chiropractor when you have a pain in your back, neck, or after an accident. This couldn't be farther from the truth. The whole premise behind chiropractic is to prevent, rather than to chase the symptoms. Once you have symptoms, you have already had the problem for a while, with the exceptions of forceful accidents. When you go to the doctor for a symptom, would you have the symptom if you did not already have the condition? Many conditions take years before there is even a sign, such as heart disease or cancer. For some, they never even have a symptom, such as a fatal heart attack without warning. Our goal is to help prevent the cause by keeping the nervous system operating at its highest level.

Chiropractic is a non-invasive, whole body approach to health. It has many applications from acute injury treatment to wellness to improving athletic performance. There are many people who see chiropractors to give them longevity in their jobs or because they enjoy the way they feel maintaining adjustments. I have attached a link to some legendary athletes who credit chiropractic as a key to their success HERE. I think you may have heard of a few of them. In fact, Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice is such a believer, that he is now a spokesman for Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. To see a few more successful athletes talk about their experience and watch Joe Montana get adjusted, follow this link.

Finally, people like to say that once you go to a chiropractor, you always have to go. Well, most people always go to the denist for check ups. The same can be said for adjustments, and I promise, it is far more enjoyable. Once you are out of acute care and into maintenance, chiropractic patients come back because they feel better, enjoy more productive lives, and are more in tune to their bodies. They come back monthly or several times a year to keep their bodies functioning at it's best. Now, you should beware of anyone telling you that you need several years of care at three times a week, but overall, we just want to help educate patients so that they can enjoy a better quality of life as long as possible.

My mission is the help as many people as possible, to live the best life possible. I hope that this will spur a few people into action, and give chiropractic a chance. Remember, you can interview your doctors, find someone you are comfortable with, that will answer your questions.

Finally, your health is your responsibility, doctors are only here to help guide and educate you. You must take the first steps with diet, wellness, and exercise. Here's to a long, healthy, happy life!!

Sincerely,

Dr. Laura McChesney, DC
Chiropractic Physician
drmcchesneydc.com

Welcome

Hello and welcome to Back To Health, the blog of Ocala, Fl chiropractor Dr. Laura McChesney, D.C. I will be bringing you regular nutrition, research, exercise, health and wellness tips, with some inspirational thoughts sprinkled in. My mission is to inform my patients and friends of not only the benefits of chiropractic, but also the latest in health and medical news. I want to help as many people as possible, to live the best life possible.


"We never know how far reaching something we think, say or do today can effect the lives of millions tomorrow."- Dr. BJ Palmer, D.C.  The Developer of Chiropractic

Sincerely,

Dr. Laura McChesney, DC