Let’s get up and moving this April! Stretching is a great way to increase flexibility and increase muscle elasticity. We stretch all the time whether we are conscious of it or not. The first thing we do when we wake up is stretch. Innately we want to get the body warmed up to start the first activities of the day.
Burn the couch!
Lately I realized that I’ve stopped stretching as much as I used to. Somewhere in my forties I started running (really walk/running) and have experienced that “complete” feeling that runners have after an hour of cardio activity. After a good, intensive run, I feel fantastic and often forget to take time to stretch. Consequently my joints have gotten very stiff and tight and my posture feels off. Now I know how my runners get that way!
Having a Healthy Immune Function From Your Cells Up!
have spent any time in the chiropractor’s office you have heard patients and the doctors’ talk about the immune system. The immune system and nervous system go hand in hand. One of the first things patients notice is that they get colds or sinus infections less and less. This is just the tip of the iceberg!
Chiropractic adjustments influence the body on a cellular level. Recent research shows that a chiropractic adjustment decreases the cytokines. Cytokines are responsible for regulating immune cells, inducing fever and inflammation. Specific adjustments reduce Subluxations consequently it has been noted to decrease cytokine resulting in decreased inflammation, fever and cell death. When cytokines are decreased in the body, it functions at a higher level of efficiency. Ultimately your immune function is better (you get sick less) and risk of serious diseases can be decreased considerably.
It’s All About the Nerves!
We live our lives through our nervous systems. Everything, from our ability to read these words and enjoy a piece of pie, to the beating of our hearts and the actions of our immune systems, is a function of the nervous system. Our ability to comprehend the world we live in, and to adapt appropriately to it, is primarily based on the condition and integrity of the nervous system. Efforts to regain or improve our health and to become all we have the potential to be, is pure folly if we overlook the nervous system. That’s why chiropractic care is the foundation of any serious attempt to restore, improve or maximize one’s health.
Cough, Cough. Oh no! I think I have a cold!
Is this a familiar sound during these cool weather days? It may not be a phrase you use if you have been a longtime chiropractic patient. Ongoing research shows that long term chiropractic patients have 200% higher immune function- compared to a patient that does not receive chiropractic care. Building a healthier immune system naturally is much better for your health than using drugs. Medications, although extremely useful in crises care, can interfere with the body’s natural methods of healing and can even give your immune system a harder time.
Why Chiropractic? It just makes sense!
I was talking with a new patient recently and he expressed that he wished he had started chiropractic care years ago. Then he said, “Once you explained it to me, it just seemed to make so much sense!” I remember when I was in my twenties and I was having daily or weekly headaches and how much I suffered. I remembered showing up frustrated and tired at the chiropractor’s office after I went from MD, to PT to a neurologist with no solution for my debilitating headaches. It was such a relief when my first chiropractor pointed to an x-ray of my neck and said, “Wow, no wonder you have headaches; here it is!” I was past believing that there was a solution for me and was shocked when my debilitating headaches went away within the first three months of care.
Babies get relief from colic and parents get some sleep
That’s right! Chiropractic care can help.
Its 3 am in the morning and your newborn is crying for the 2nd straight hour. The Pediatrician says that there isn’t anything physically wrong with him/her, and that it’s probably colic. You’ve tried the anti-gas treatments and teas- with little to no relief. What is a parent to do?
It’s stressful to try to sooth a colicky baby for hours on end. Unfortunately, this frustration can interfere with important bonding time for mother and baby. There is no known cause for colic. This can make treating it difficult. Some ways to avoid a colic episode in your little ones are: don’t overfeed, dilute juices, be aware of food allergies, decrease emotional stress, and chiropractic care.
Beets for Your Blood ??!!
Happy 2012! The new year is the perfect time to make meaningful health changes and get on the right track. Is your blood pressure in the optimal zone before you consider increasing exercise? Most people know that normal blood pressure should be right around 118/60. This isn’t just an arbitrary number! People who achieve this blood pressure have far less heart disease and strokes. In February we are showcasing “Heart Health”, where we teach patients how to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. As always, this information is free and available to all of our patients and their loved ones.
Here are some basic ways of decreasing blood pressure:
Uncommon Pain, Common Muscles
We are taking a little time discussing common pain conditions, the involved muscle group and the recommended homecare/exercises. In the previous blog I discussed the illio psoas muscle and its relationship with lower back pain. Another muscle within this group is the quadratus lumborum muscle or QL. The QL is a powerful muscle in the the lower back that is primarily responsible for bending your body side to side. There are many reasons why the QL can go into spasm such as having a loss of your normal low back curve, or participating in one-sided sports such as golf or tennis. Patients who sit for long periods of time at a work station environment regularly complain about pain in the QL muscle.
Ilio Psoas and Lower Back Pain
In the previous blog I discussed the Illio Psoas muscle and its relationship with Lower back pain. The lower back muscle group is complex and has many layers. Within this group is the Quadratus Lumborum (QL). The QL is a muscle in the lower back that is responsible for your body bending to the side. This muscle connects to the iliac crest and lumbar vertebrae 3, 4, 5 and the twelfth rib. It is innervated by the intercostals T12 nerve and L2, L3, L4 nerves.