by Dr. Danielle Gray, Restore Chiropractic
The answer is no, it is never too late. Did you know that your posture and being
misaligned has a direct affect on your overall health and not just neck pain or
back pain? You can take steps today to
improve your overall health by improving your posture and making sure that you
are in proper alignment.
It’s all
connected.
Poor posture and being misaligned affects
your health from your head to your toes because your body is interdependent. It’s all connected. Misalignments create a domino effect with
your health. When your head is shifted
off center (either forward or sideways), your body becomes imbalanced because
it’s center of gravity has been shifted. For every inch of Forward Head
Posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional
10 pounds. Imagine trying to carry a
bowling ball and your head on your neck!
If your head is not on straight, the
rest of your body will compensate to keep itself balanced over the feet with the eyes level to the horizon.
This is accomplished by the head, shoulders and hips tilting or twisting which
distorts the spine. As this progression
occurs, the body must compensate elsewhere to alleviate the stress/tension
created from the imbalance. This
improper body alignment develops unstable environments structurally and
decreases the function of the nervous system.
The nervous system controls everything in your body. When there is
interference to the nervous system’s function, it can cause or contribute to
all kinds of symptoms and illnesses.
This means that a misalignment in the spine can disrupt the body’s
function leading to symptoms of pain, organ dysfunction, decreased range of
motion, balance issues, arthritis and just an overall loss of health.
90 percent of the brain’s energy output is used in relating the
physical body to gravity. Only 10
percent has to do with thinking, metabolism, and healing. Consequently, poor posture and being out of
balance will cause the brain to rob energy from thinking, metabolism, and
immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture relationships and
processing. Published research studies
indicate that when body balance is restored, the body enters a healing cycle
that alleviates pain and symptoms, elevates the immune system, increases blood
and oxygen circulation, improves balance, normalizes nervous system
communication and creates more optimum body performance.
As described in a paper published in
conjunction with the White House Counsel on Aging, “Chiropractic is a health
care discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative powers of the body to
heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic
focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and
function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship
affects the preservation and restoration of health.
What can you do at home to improve your posture and body balance?
1.
Be mindful of your posture
·
Evaluate areas where you spend the most time to
make sure that your environment is ergonomically sound.
·
Post a note or set a reminder to check your
posture regularly. Chin up, shoulders back, back straight, feet on the floor. Imagine a string attached your chest and it
is being pulled up from the ceiling.
2.
Take frequent breaks.
·
If you are reading or watching TV or other
activities that are more stationary, move around and change positions
frequently.
·
Limit game playing, personal computer work and
tablet time to 30-60 minutes. If you are
going to spend more time, take a break every 30-60 minutes and do something
else for a few minutes.
·
Spend 10-15 minutes one to two times per day
resting on your back with a pillow under your knees. Resting for even a few minutes, especially in
the middle of the day can have profound effects on your nervous system function
and on your posture.
3.
Stretch and Strengthen.
·
Stretches such as shoulder rolls or neck stretches
can be incorporated into your daily routine.
Stretch and strengthen both your front and back muscles for even
balance.
It is important to understand that
poor posture and being misaligned may not cause pain right away. Do not wait until the symptoms arise. Take control of the situation before it
controls you. If you are experiencing
health problems, it is never too late to restore your health through improved
posture and alignment. Visit a
Chiropractor today for a complete balance, posture and alignment examination.
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