Can Poor Posture as a Child Impact Health in Adulthood? Good posture is developed from good habits, which is why it is so important to encourage children to stand up straight. Otherwise, bad habits can develop which can lead to issues later in life. Many adults with chronic back pain can trace their issues back to a childhood injury or a lack of proper posture habits established as kids. Children are at a greater risk for back and spine injuries because they are in the still growing and tend to be more active than adults. Studies show that injuries are more common among children who engage in sports or recreation regularly, and nearly one third of all injuries experienced by children are related to sports. Stresses and traumas that occur during childhood can also lead to spinal dysfunction later in life. Furthermore, the heavy backpacks our kids carry can contribute to postural problems and cases of spinal dysfunction. There is a correlation between a lack of proper spinal maintenance and the development of scoliosis in children and teens. What’s more, it seems that children who practice proper spinal health habits have far fewer health problems than those who do not. Read more…
Believe it or not, too much homework can be bad for your health. But don’t worry kids, there are things you can do to ensure that homework is painless! And no, we don’t mean avoiding assignments. Though school is in session for most, it’s never too late to talk about backpack safety. This week’s blog discusses the trouble with heavy backpacks and provides tips to keep in mind when shopping for a backpack. Backpacks, Back Problems According a recent U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study, more than 75% of students ages 8-12 suffer from increasing back pain inflicted by carrying their schoolwork and supplies in backpacks or similar totes. This is no surprise considering, some of our younger elementary school students are literally carrying one third their body weight for prolonged periods of time and distance. That puts a lot of stress on a body in the midst of development. Student back injuries are now widespread. 96% of the pupils monitored regularly haul much too heavy a pack on their back. Backpack Safety Tips 1. Children should not carry backpacks that exceed more than 10% of their body weight — which translates into a 5 to 10-pound load for elementary Read more…
Pregnant? Experiencing Back Pain? Give this a Read!
5 Summer Sports That Can Cause Back Pain
Summer is officially here meaning Summer sports are in season. This week’s blog discusses five sports that are known to cause back pain, so that you can protect your spine when participating in your summertime activities! 1. Football All contact sports are rough on the body, but football is especially rough. Even as a spectator, my body starts to hurt after seeing someone take a big hit. One common back injury football players are plagued with is called a stinger “a sports related injury to the nerves around the neck or shoulders.” 2. Running Running is a well-known perpetrator of back pain. Its repetitive and high impact nature will often lead to, or worsen back injuries. Why is this? Your spinal discs are your body’s shock absorbers. Similar to the shocks on a bike or car, they are susceptible to wear and tear especially, if used often and for long durations. One common type of back pain runners experience is sciatica — a shooting pain that radiates from the back into the legs. Those experiencing back pain should consult a health care professional before running to ensure the action will not aggravate the problem. 3. Golf Though golf is one Read more…
Common Spinal Disc Problems You May Suffer From
Do you suffer from sharp pains every time you bend? Back pain of this nature is often the result of a herniated disc or “pinched” nerve: both caused by preventable spinal disc problems. Common Spinal Disc Problems Our spinal discs are filled with fluid. The discs’ job is to provide spinal flexibility and shock-absorption, every time you move. However, when stress locks the spine in the wrong position, discs lose their flexibility and become dry, leading to the development of tiny rips. Disc herniation is the result of a disc’s fluid leaking through these rips. As a result: 1. The disc becomes thin and vertebrae start rubbing together. 2. The fluid presses onto the nerve, and pain ensues (often referred to as a “pinched nerve”) Common causes of disc herniation and pinched nerves include: • Body position (like constantly leaning on elbows, or habitually crossing legs) • Poor posture • Injury When a pinched nerve is caused by a minor injury from lifting something heavy or twisting the wrong way, pain will likely only last for a few days before healing. However, if the pain and symptoms last longer than a few days, or seem to worsen, that could be Read more…
Not all office chairs are created equal. The difference is always in the details. Just because a chair looks sleek and modern and is “certified ergonomic” doesn’t mean it’s the best option for your personal wellness situation. Today we break down the five vital features every office chair shares to ensure your time spent sitting is done in as ergonomic a chair as possible. Understanding your chair and its features will help you operate it correctly and sit comfortably without the pain and strain associated with the wrong chair adjustments. 1. Base Let’s start from the ground up. Your office chair’s base is the foundation for its stability. Most of today’s popular office chairs feature 5 Star rated bases, capable of providing adequate support for most people. The casters, or wheels, are an important consideration when selecting a new chair, and what type of caster you need all comes down to your office flooring. There are two styles of casters to know: carpet and hardwood casters. I’ll let you guess which one’s for which floor, but choosing the right caster makes a big difference in the chair’s mobility. Avoid using the plastic carpet-friendly casters on a hardwood floor or tile Read more…
As chiropractors, we come across a lot of patients who self diagnose and sometimes come up funny stories It’s sciatica… I know my brother had the same thing. It’s just normal headaches everybody has them. I don’t know how it happen, I swear I was doing NOTHING! Must be age. I’m getting old. One of my favorite: ”I don’t think it’s my joint’; it’s my muscles causing me pain”. Muscles would be the only cause of pain, according to a number of our patients. In a neuro-musculoskeletal disorder, the part ‘’musculo’’ represents only a third of the word and the same goes for an actual physical problem. In fact, there is rarely one thing causing your problem, it is often multifactorial. Let me explain, What is Pain? It is nothing more than the interpretation of a sensation by your nervous system. So, without nerves we could not feel the pain… We could also not feel anything else, move, breath, think, react, or just live. Pain is a sign of alarm to let you know something is wrong in your body. From there you have the choice to listen to it or to ignore it. Fun fact: Pain transmission in your Read more…
Cardiovascular Disease: Are You At Risk?
Young and Old Are Affected By Cardiovascular Disease. In the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s 2010 Annual Report on Canadians’ Health they warn of a “perfect storm” of risk factors and demographic changes that will place an unprecedented burden on Canadians fragmented cardiovascular care system.
Do you Suffer with Arthritis?
If you or someone you know suffers from Arthritis then you understand just how debilitating this disease can be. Arthritis is a systemic disease (the whole body) that dramatically affects the joints…
Run to your Chiropractor
Did you know that the Greek word for chiropractic actually translate as “done by hand”. Chiropractic care is a non-medicinal way that we can treat physical ailments through hands on adjustments.