Poor posture has become an epidemic in our modern day world, and it’s much more serious than people imagine.

Posture is one window into the spine, and the spine is what connects the brain to the body.  This powerful relationship affects organ and even cellular function.  Because of this connection, poor spinal health from poor postural habits leads to a reduction in brain and organ function.

Vertebral subluxations are the misalignments of the spine that cause nerve irritation.  While they may manifest as pain, many spinal nerves do not transmit pain or sensation.  In these cases, they may go unnoticed by an individual.  When there is subluxation, less signals are getting to the brain, meaning there can actually be less perceived pain signals by the individual.

Neck Posture

The natural curve in the neck should represent a backwards “C” shape and measure at 40-45 degrees.  Many chiropractors and neurosurgeons refer to this curve as the “arc of life” because it is in place to help protect the brain stem, spinal cord, and nerves that travel to every part of the body.

One pattern of subluxation is the forward head posture.  This is often created by whiplash trauma or poor posture.  For example, an individual who works at a desk leaning forward to see the computer day after day is likely to display such posture and subluxation pattern.

Lack of this curve along with forward head posture can also be caused by birth trauma (especially with forceps or vacuum delivery), sports injuries, car accidents, or falls.  In today’s world, where people spend hours each day in front of a computer, TV, and or a cell phone (texting) poor posture can cause the head to shift forward and create a lasting forward head posture.

This is harmful to one’s health and well being because the head can be compared to the weight of a bowling ball, and when shifted forward it pulls and stretches the spinal cord along with it. Rene Cailliet, University of California’s director of physical medicine an rehabilitation notes that “this forward head posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage pulling the entire spine out of alignment and may result in the loss of 30% of vital lung capacity.”

Decreased lung capacity affects the body from effectively oxygenating cells. This could lead to asthmatic conditions, blood vessel problems, nutrient absorption problems, and heart disease. A lowered oxygenated body also depletes endorphin production which can turn the perception of non-painful sensation into pain experiences.

A 2009 study by Mornignstar and Jockers showed that by correcting the forward head posture through chiropractic care lung function was dramatically enhanced.  As more oxygen gets in to the body, blood flow into every organ system of the body dramatically improves overall function.

Uneven Shoulders

Another pattern is a raised shoulder or asymmetrical shoulder heights. Handbags and gym bags are trending to become larger in size, which may not be a good thing for your health.  As you can see in the x-ray above the body compensates for the weight of the shoulder bag.  The neck leans away and the shoulder carrying the load rotates backward and is often raised up .  These adjustments are done subconsciously to help balance the extra load.  However, over time muscles can become strained and sprained and the posture can become long-lasting, even when the bag is released.  This leads to chronic neck and back tension, headaches, along with overall decreased function in the body.

If you are experiencing neck or back pain or other symptoms from poor postural habits, chiropractic can help!  Dr. Sara Hillesheim, chiropractor at Relief Plus Chiropractic, helps people everyday gain relief and better function.  Relief Plus Chiropractic is located at the intersection of Minnetonka Blvd and County Road 101 in Minnetonka MN near Wayzata MN.

Headaches are common, yet they are not normal. Yet they are a regular part of life for many Americans, and as a nation we spend billions of dollars each year on prescription and over-the counter medication for headache relief. Unfortunately the drugs can have harmful side effects that are worse than the headaches themselves!  For example, NSAID’s a type of medication that includes brands like Advil, Motrin, and Excedrin have side effects like stomach bleeding, ulcers, liver failure, and even headache!

In addition, even if you are able to escape the side effects, the drugs are simply covering up the symptoms, and not addressing the cause. At Relief Plus Chiropractic we focus on finding the cause of the problem, and every headache has a cause.

What Causes Headaches?

Headaches are a symptom that something is wrong.  Factors contributing to headaches are varied.  Muscle tension, high blood pressure, hormonal changes, sinus infections, and/or blood sugar changes are just some of the potential factors that can contribute to headaches.

Some doctors may order expansive testing such as CT scans or MRI.  However, this type of testing isn’t always effective as it has been reported that only one in 11,200 patients with headaches have a problem that shows up on MRI or CT scan.

Easing Headache Pain DrugFREE

Try these simple methods for reducing discomfort temporarily:

• Get regular massages, especially in the upper back and neck.
• Apply an ice pack to the area of pain.
• Use a heating pad on the shoulders and upper back to help ease muscle tension.
• Reduce Stress
• Soak a towel in water, roll it up and stick it in the freezer.  Use the towel to support the neck as you lie down to rest for 5-20 minutes.
• Maintain a peaceful environment avoiding loud noises and bright lights

How do I Prevent a Headache?

• Workout on a regular basis to maintain flexibility and stimulate circulation to the head.
• Sleep on your back or side, but avoid sleeping on your stomach.  A cervical pillow is best for supporting the head and neck curvature.
• Don’t smoke
• Use good posture to help with good alignment of the vertebrae in the neck and upper back.
• Find time to unwind with meditation or going on a walk.

Chiropractic for Headaches

Chiropractic addresses the cause of the problem by working with the nervous system.  The brain and nervous system control and coordinate all other body systems. If there is an area of the spine that has lost function, the spinal nerves are irritated creating interferences with the communication that occurs between the brain and the body. Regular chiropractic adjustments positively affects the transmission of the nerves and the body’s ability to heal itself.

A major study done in 1995 compared drug therapy to chiropractic care in the treatment of headaches.  It found 82 percent of patients who were given drug therapy experienced side effects such as drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, and heart-related problems.  Those who received chiropractic care experienced NO SIDE EFFECTS.  Furthermore, it found that after four weeks of treatment, patients who had used the drugs began having headaches again while those in the chiropractic group continued to have headache relief as well as higher levels of energy!

If the tiny bones in your neck are not supporting your head properly, it can affect your muscles, nerves, and even blood supply to the brain.  Chiropractic for headaches is not treated like an aspirin.  Repeated visits, even when you feel better will help retrain and strengthen the muscles that support the spine. If you know anyone who suffers from headaches, let them know they can be drug free and that chiropractic can help! They will thank you!

Everyone knows that pregnancy brings change.  In fact there are millions of different hormonal and chemical reactions in both mom and baby, all of which are controlled and coordinated through the nervous system.  Pregnancy is a time that requires a nervous system that can adequately respond to all the changes in the body.  Now more than ever is the time to maintain a healthy nervous system!

Often women will accept pregnancy discomforts such as heartburn, constipation, headaches, nausea, when they can be helped with chiropractic care.

With increasing weight gain in the abdominal region, there is also an increasing pull of the lower spine.  Additionally breast size increasing can cause upper back problems.  This can change your gait and center of gravity which can be the perfect storm for neck and back pain.

As you get closer to labor the body also secretes a hormone called Relaxin, which loosens ligaments. This effect can exaggerate spinal problems.  Rib pain can also happen more frequently during pregnancy as the baby moves and grows causing the lower ribcage to expand and shift.

Recent studies show that chiropractic care during pregnancy allows for increased comfort during pregnancy and delivery as well as a decreased need for pain medication.  In one study, Dr. Joan Fallon found women under chiropractic care had a 24% reduced labor time with their first pregnancy and 39% reduced time in labor with second or third pregnancy.  Another study showed a 50% reduced need for pain medications during labor.  The risk of back labor, sharp pain and contractions in the low back, is significantly less when chiropractic care is received throughout pregnancy.

Also, a study by Dr. Irvin Henderson MD (AMA Board of Trustees) was able to show that “Women who received chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester were able to carry and deliver their child with much more comfort.”

This is exciting!!!

Spinal Care Tips During Pregnancy

• Refrain from wearing high-heels
• Avoid lifting heavy objects
• Avoid standing with your hands on your hops and pushing your belly forward
• Rather than sitting up from a lying position using your abdominal muscles, turn to your side and push yourself up with your arm
• Allow other young children to walk whenever possible rather than carrying them
• Perform regular moderate exercise and gently stretch your body daily
• Strengthen the pelvic floor before, during, and after pregnancy
• Use Cat and Camel type stretching for pelvic rocking
• Squatting helps prepare for labor
• Have your spine checked by a chiropractor regularly

Along with your spine, It is also to prepare you mind for birth.  Childbirth is instinctual and inherently safe and uncomplicated.  Chiropractic care is a great way to promote balance between mind and body.

Correcting misalignments in the spine releases chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins which increase our sense of well-being.  Studies show that those who receive chiropractic care are less affected by stress, have more energy, think more clearly and have a greater quality of life.

During labor, body position is important.  When the mother is on her back the apex of the sacrum can close off crucial space needed for the baby to get through the pelvis.  This position is the main reason why so many births are traumatic, labor is slowed, the mom becomes fatigued and overcome with pain, so the use of epidurals, forceps, episiotomies, vacuum extraction and caesarean increases.

The preferred position is squatting which allows gravity to help and keeps the pelvic outlet open better.

Continuing chiropractic care post pregnancy is also beneficial.  Chiropractic care has also been shown not only to help new moms produce more milk, but it also reduces the chance of postpartum depression.

We are not always aware of spinal misalignments or nerve dysfunctions, and they can exist like irritating noise in the background of our lives which affects our moods and well-being.  Left unresolved, it can result in sickness and disease.

At Relief Plus Chiropractic in Minnetonka MN, we have adjusting tables designed for comfortably treating pregnant patients.  Dr. Sara Hillesheim also has been certified in Webster Technique, which helps the baby lie in optimal position for delivery.

Is stress avoidable?

Marriage, New House, New Baby, Promotion at Work…..These aren’t your typical forms of stress; these are pretty happy times!  But these examples are life changing and therefore STRESSFUL as we adapt to the major changes.  Stress is all around us, some of it exciting and good and some not so good.

It is impossible to get through life avoiding stress; the truth is, it’s always going to be there.  It can leave your head spinning and if long lasting,  it can be harmful to your health and well-being.

What is your stress level?

Stress is very interpretive.  What’s stressful to one person might hardly upset another person.

Stress is not measurable, yet it is hard to deny its existence.  However most of Western medicine fails to take stress into consideration in the overall level of health of an individual.  Height, weight and blood pressure are all measured, but there is no “stressometer.”

Although it’s immeasurable, stress does create a physiological response.  As you might know, when you feel stressed, your muscles tense up, the stress hormone Cortisol rises, blood pressure goes up, perspiration increases along with a number of other responses.

Over time these frequent responses can lead to sickness and disease.  In fact, what do we call stress?  The Silent KILLER – because it’s the number one trigger to the number one cause of death.  The number one cause of death is heart attack in the United States and most of Europe.

You can live with high cholesterol or high blood pressure, but if you have a high stress environment along with those things going on, it’s not a good situation to be in.  Therefore, you MUST learn to manage your stress.

Manage Your Stress

Physical exercise is one of the best things you can do to decrease your stress. Studies show that 20 minutes per day of stress relieving activity can decrease your stress level. If you can’t fit in 20 minutes daily, you should put in a minimum of one hour per week.  Start to schedule these types of activities into your routine:

• Meditation and prayer
• Music without lyrics
• Yoga
• Massage therapy
• Nap
• Read a book
• Be Optimistic
• Plan and prioritize
• Eat healthily
• Give yourself ample time to complete a task
• Know your Limits and learn to say “no”
• Talk to a friend
• Feeling nervous?  Consciously slow down  your breathing
• Laughter!

Chiropractic and Stress Management

Chiropractic care has been shown to benefit those with chronic stress. A healthy nervous system maintained with chiropractic care allows for the body to more easily adapt to a stressful environment.  This decreases the potential for physiological stress response which over time can lead to disease.

Your brain and nervous system are your master control of your body.  All other systems depend on your nervous system to function properly.  Since stress affects nearly every system, a balanced nervous system will allow a healthier stress response.

Chiropractic can also reduce the potential dangers of stress.  For example stress can lead to prolonged muscle tension, which can affect the structure of your body and put pressure on the nerves.  Good chiropractic care benefits the heart, reduces headaches, help with breathing, improve sleep quality, along with many other beneficial effects.

Chiropractic also helps a variety of health conditions, such as low back pain, neck pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, sports injury, auto injury, headaches, ear infections, insomnia, fatigue, carpal tunnel, sciatica, and a number of other conditions.

To learn more visit our Minnetonka Chiropractic Office, located at the intersection of Minnetonka Boulevard and County Road 101 on the border of Minnnetonka and Wayzata MN.  We have helped hundreds of patients achieve a higher level of health! Call our office at (952) 681-2863 today!

See more at www.reliefplusmn.com