Posture issues affect not only adults but kids as well. If you have a posture deficit chiropractic care can help.
Call our office today to set up a consultation (360) 260-6903.
Transcription
Hey, it’s Dr. Troy in Vancouver Washington.
Today’s topic is spinal posture.
You know a lot of people come into our office and go, well I think I have headaches or have back pain or my shoulder hurts because I have bad posture. I say, well how do you know you have bad posture? They said well I look in the mirror and my head’s tipped, my shoulders elevated, or maybe my pelvis is rotated to one side, or a doctor told me I had a short leg. So, those are all signs that you have some postural issues.
Now one of the ways we analyze is through a postural exam, posture evaluation. The other way is we take an x-ray. For example in the neck there is supposed to be a nice 45-degree curve, we call it this cervical curve or the arc of life.
When you lose that curve, we can actually see that evident on the x-ray, so when you lose the curve it’s going to put tension on the cord inside the vertebra and the nerve root to come out which can lead to dysfunction and over time it can lead to degeneration.
We’re seeing it now more and more with kids. When we say, kids, we say eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve-year-olds. They have backpacks, they’re leaning forward, they’re looking down all the time texting. So now there’s a condition called textures neck where these kids have text issues, they have neck pain, they’re even getting carpal tunnel, shoulder pain.
These are all things that chiropractic can help you with and if you’re not getting checked to see if there’s dysfunction in the spine eventually it’s going to lead to degeneration and loss of joint integrity. That’s really what chiropractic is all about.
So, if you’re interested in improving your post)re or you know you have a postural deficit and want to get checked and maybe get on a game plan to help improve that call our office (360) 260-6903. We’re here in Vancouver Washington, be happy to schedule you for a consultation with one of our doctors to see if we can help you.
More Information On Posture Problems
Finding accurate statistics on posture is difficult because bad posture generally is not considered a condition in itself, but a symptom of something worse, such as scoliosis or a vertebral misalignment. For example, the Arthritis Disease Center has found that as many as 80% of the population suffers from back pain during their lifetime, and poor posture is a leading contributor. (http://www.goupstate.com/news/20100511/experts-say-posture-matters-the-good–and-the-bad)
Causes of Bad Posture
Our modern lifestyle is a big factor in the increase in bad posture cases. More and more people are working sedentary office jobs, and even at home, they are hunched over their mobile devices. For example, the tendency of people to lean forward with their head, whether it’s to type over their laptop, look down at their phone, or watch TV from bed, leads to chronic spinal issues.
The average human head weighs eighteen pounds, and when it is not aligned properly with the back and spine, it puts extra pressure on the muscles and skeletal system to remain correctly positioned. Over time, bad habits form and this bad posture can become routine, leading to all sorts of problems for the body.
Other factors that lead to bad posture are obesity and a lack of exercise.
Some Tips on Posture
You can begin to rectify your bad posture with some corrective exercises and habit modifications you can do at home. When sitting in a chair, for example, you should keep your feet flat on the floor with your legs bent at 90 degrees. Keep your head straight above your shoulders. Standing properly, meanwhile, involves keeping your ears above your shoulders and your shoulders directly over your hips. The hips should be slightly forward of your ankles.
Other tips include the following:
- You should avoid sitting on your wallet all day, as this will lead to an imbalance;
- You should alternate the side you carry things on, such as purses, groceries, etc.;
- Carry backpacks using both shoulder straps, rather than just one,
- If you work in a sitting position, be sure to stretch every 20 to 30 minutes;
- Replace a sagging mattress.
Posture Problems and Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors are trained back and spine specialists who focus on skeletal and muscle anatomy. There are many techniques at our disposal that can help patients begin to offset years of bad habits and move towards better posture. If you are dealing with chronic pain, we will thoroughly examine the causes and work with you to develop a regimen that will address the core issues underlying it.
Our methods include therapeutic massage, spinal decompression, stretching, strengthening exercises, and orthotics. If necessary, we’ll do extensive measurements to ascertain the amount of deviation along different points of the neck and spine, which will help guide the recommended treatments. We’ll also suggest lifestyle and habit changes that will help to permanently correct any behaviors that induced your bad posture in the first place.
Summary
If you or a loved one is suffering from bad posture, the sooner you correct the problem the better the chances of success. Come to Zenapatic Chiropractic for a FREE consultation to assess the severity of your bad posture. Our trained medical staff is committed to helping all of our patients lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
Posture Chiropractic Care Case Study
Transcription
What are you being treated for?
More of a substation in my neck. I’ve been with Dr. Troy for a long time and he keeps putting me together.
How are the chiropractic adjustments helping you feel?
I have straightened up quite a bit.
Are you able to stand a little bit straighter?
Yeah and I can keep working and that’s good.
What would you tell your friends about chiropractic treatment?
It sure helps. Some health problems interfere with a chiropractor you know like back problems, neck pains, and you know it does help.
