The Science of Chiropractic
How Is Your Posture?
Abnormal posture is linked to the development and progression of many spinal conditions and injuries including: increased muscle activity and disc injury, scoliosis, work lifting injuries, driving and sitting aches and pains, sports injuries, back pain, neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder and ankle injuries and many other conditions.
Furthermore, postural faults in adolescent years have been established as one of the causes of pain syndromes and early arthritis in adulthood. Therefore, posture should be checked and corrected in children before more serious problems can occur.
According to the American Journal of Pain Management, “Posture affects all human function, consciously and unconsciously from breathing to thinking.” Posture as a cause of health and disease is a paradigm shared by many.
As Thomas A. Edison, once stated: “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
What Is Normal Posture?
In normal posture, the head, ribcage and pelvis are perfectly centred on each other. Optimal postural balance is shown by the alignment of the postural parts along the black line in.
From the front, the spine is perfectly aligned with gravity but from the side, the spine has three curves which support your body weight and allow for movement. A person with abnormal posture will have altered spinal alignment and function. Your exercise program will emphasise correction of faulty posture.
Forward Head Posture?
Your head weighs the equivalent of a bowling ball. This bowling ball weight must be supported and balanced on your shoulders by your posterior neck and upper shoulder muscles. Have you ever tried to hold a bowling ball in front of you with your arms extended away from your chest? If so, you know that it takes much less effort to hold a bowling ball against your chest. This same mechanics apply to your head posture. It takes much less energy to support your head when it is centred over your shoulders.
Based on a body weight of 118 lb, your head weighs approximately 9.2 lb. Consequently, with your forward head posture of 1.9 in, according to Rene Cailliet, MD, the effective weight on your neck and upper back muscles is now increased by 17.4 lb*in making the head feel like 26.6lb*. This increased load can cause pain, degenerative disc disease and spinal arthritis.
What Causes Spinal Health Problems?
Vertebral Subluxation is the term used to denote spinal health problems or misalignments. These subluxations can have huge impacts on posture, health and spinal discs.
They are caused when your body fails to adapt to stresses including:
PHYSICAL STRESS – car accidents, poor posture, falls, inactivity, repetitive motions etc.
CHEMICAL STRESS – poor diet, pollution, alcohol, smoking, drugs etc.
EMOTIONAL STRESS – grief, worry and anxiety, work stress, relationships etc.
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TESTIMONIALS
“Since coming to the clinic my health is so much better. I take less tablets for headaches and shoulder pain. My sleep is much better. I can move without pain and my energy levels have increased.”
“Over the months I have noticed a great reduction in symptoms- no pain killers required, can shop longer without noticing lower back pain as previous. Generally feel increased energy and mobility.”
“Just being able to settle down and sleep without having to keep adjusting my position as my neck was hurting, so feeling more alive in the morning.”