Dr Davis' Back & Wrist Pain Blog

Why Children Need Chiropractic

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

As the father of a 4 year old daughter I know first hand how much chiropractic care can help children. I have witnessed my daughter recover from ear infections, back pain, wrist pain, knee pain, headaches, digestive problems, you name it...at warp speed, from chiropractic adjustments.

After-all, how often do kids fall down every day as they run around and play?

It's makes sense that kids would respond quick to chiropractic adjustments. Things just heal faster when you're a kid. However...what about the misalignments in the spine (subluxations) that don't heal? What if your child does not visit a chiropractor on a regular basis like they should (in my opinion)?

Well...this is a problem. It is thought that most of the problems that adults present with at a chiropractors office are from subluxations that were left undetected and uncorrected from childhood. 

Think about it...How many times did you fall learning how to walk, ride a bike, or at gymnastics?

Do you think maybe something could have been knocked out of position? Do you think it would just go back into position by itself? Actually, the body is always going to make sure all of it's parts are where they are supposed to be. But sometimes it just needs a little help...help from a chiropractor.

Hey...the beauty of it is that chiropractors do not put anything into the body. We do not remove anything from the body. Chiropractors offer the body a very gentle force (especially with children) that the body can use to help restore the subluxation. Does this hurt? NO....not usually.

Do children look forward to chiropractic adjustments? Yes...after the first few sessions. You may have to drag them down to the chiropractor at first...and they may need to watch you get a chiropractic adjustment before they get theirs...and they may even cry a little...but it doesn't hurt...and it's very safe.

Then...after your child gets used to their chiropractic adjustments...look-out...they will run to the treatment table, and they will want to get adjusted first.

Don't you think it makes sense to ensure that the spine is in it's proper alignment during the growth spurts? Heck...if something is out...and lots of times there are no symptoms...and it stays that way as your child grows...it could rear it's ugly head later on in life.

It's sure a lot easier to stay healthy than it is to get healthy.

If you have children and they have never had a chiropractic examination, maybe now is the time.

Oh, I did not even mention the damaging effects of video games, backpacks, and computers have on children's posture. Your chiropractor can help with this too.

If you live or work near the San Francisco Financial District we would love to meet your kids.

Executive Express Chiropractic is open until 9-6pm M-F, and 9-1 on Saturday. We validate parking and accept most insurance.

To schedule an appointment at Executive Express Chiropractic call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online. We can also do a complimentary insurance benefits check for you before you schedule.   

What's the best exercise for low back pain?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

I have been practicing chiropractic in downtown San Francisco for 18 years now. One of the things I have learned is...there really is no "best exercise" when it comes to low back pain. It's more a matter of your overall fitness level, age, and specific spinal condition.

In general...staying fit from things like lifting weights, Pilate's, cycling, running, aerobics, and cross-training, all make sense if the conditions are right and you can handle it.

However, if the conditions are not right...say your back is inflamed and you can't even think about exercise...well, we have to get the inflammation down first (chiropractic care is great for this), then start real easy with exercise, and go from there. 

At Executive Express Chiropractic the exercises we prescribe are all based on the individual, and are very specific in nature.   But at the same time, we want to teach our patients common sense thought processes that they can use throughout their lives as they relate to back pain exercises and exercise in general.

My good friend Dr. Ron Spallone, a chiropractor in Denver, Colorado just posted an excellent article on his blog entitled Guidelines For Choosing The Best Low Back Pain Exercises. Here is an excerpt:  

1. If it hurts, don’t do it
This rule simply means that pain is bad. When you are trying a new exercise, or performing one you know, the exercise should be helping to relieve pain, not increase it. Some things to consider when implementing this rule are: (1) change the resistance (i.e. decrease or increase the weight), (2) change the speed (i.e. slow down or speed up), (3) change the range of motion (i.e. make your movement smaller or bigger). If none of these things helps to decrease the pain you are experiencing as a result of the exercise itself, stop the exercise.

2. If it helps, do it as often as you feel is necessary
Exercise is movement-movement is health. When you find a movement that results in an immediate reduction in your pain, do it for as long as you are able and as frequently as you are able. The only reason to ignore this rule is if increased frequency increases the pain (see #1 above).

Good stuff. It's really a lot of common sense. But if you get it down, you can avoid injuring your low back by only doing the back exercises that make sense for you and avoiding the ones that don't.

If you live or work in San Francisco and would like to find out what low back exercises make sense for you, give Executive Express Chiropractic a call at 415-392-2225.

In Denver, you can reach Dr. Ron  Spallone at 303-980-5699.

How do you know if you have a disc herniation?

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

We have have been helping chronic back and neck pain patients in downtown San Francisco for around 18 years now at Executive Express Chiropractic (formerly Front Street Chiropractic).

One of the more common conditions we encounter are cervical and lumbar disc herniations.

So how do we know when a patient has a herniated disc?

Well...usually there are certain subjective complaints such as radiating arm or leg pain (one or both extremities), weakness of grip or foot drop, numbness and tingling in the feet or hands, abnormal gait, deep muscle pain, chest pain, and even night pain.

Often times patients with herniated discs in the low back have pain when they get out of bed, but once they start moving around it dissipates.

Or, the patient simply is not responding to conventional chiropractic care and we send out for an MRI, which confirms disc herniation. In fact, lumbar or cervical MRI is considered the Gold Standard when it comes to diagnosing a herniated disc.

But get this...You Can Have A Herniated Disc And Not Even Know It.

That's right...sometimes there are no symptoms at all. In fact, many people die with disc herniations and never even knew they had them. 

But these are not the patients we are concerned about. We are concerned about the sub-set of herniated disc patients that have lumbar disc herniations or cervical disc herniations that have symptoms (that are interfering with their lives). And the only way for YOU to know (if you have a herniated disc) is to get checked out by a doctor that specializes in the spine, like an MD, orthopedic doctor, osteopath, physical therapist, or chiropractor.

And, just because you have herniated discs (if it turns out you do) does not automatically mean you will need back surgery. Often times conventional treatments such as chiropractic or physical therapy will help you...and herniated discs can heal themselves (this is controversial).

In my practice, we incorporate nonsurgical spinal decompression into our treatment protocols. We do this when chiropractic fails to deliver results for herniated disc patients...it's a next step. 

In addition, we also integrate Active Release Techniques (ART), exercise, and cold laser therapy, as well as home/work modifications such as sleeping positions and ergonomic instruction.

Sure, sometimes back or neck surgery is the only solution, but more often than not the nonsurgical approach seems to work just fine. That's been my experience anyway.

If you think you may have a disc herniation (or you have been diagnosed with one), and you live or work near downtown San Francisco, we would love to hear from you.

To schedule an appointment at Executive Express Chiropractic at the SF Embarcadero Center (we validate parking), simply call 415-392-2225 or request an appointment online.

 

Q and A with Dr. Wayne Wolfe, MD of One Medical Group in Downtown San Francisco

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Once per month we profile one of the outstanding medical doctors, physicians assistants, or nurses of One Medical Group in downtown San Francisco. Meet Dr. Wolfe.    

                                                  
           What is the Biopsychosocial approach you employ in care of your patients?

 

    Most people only go to the doctor when their lives are affected by illness. I try to help the patients get back into their lives, what an illness may have taken away. I find out what a person likes or wants to do, and then I see how their current health status will either interfere or support them achieving their goals.  This involves looking at the illness itself and how it affects one’s life, and then trying to modify the disease and one’s life to create a balance that is tolerable and acceptable.

    This starts with education of the patient.  I enjoy educating the patient whether it is the first bit of education they receive, or expanding the knowledge of someone that has done extensive research. This starts with listening to my patients. As simple as that sounds, it is a common comment that I get from patients. “You are the first doctor that really listens to me” This is one of the things that is great about One Medical’s approach. The accessibility to and time with patients allows the doctor to listen, educate, and provide appropriate care during a visit and provide good follow up care when necessary. It’s very rewarding for the doctor and I think for the patients.

 

Your past experience was in a pain management clinic…what is your approach to health and treating patients?

 

Pain affects people’s lives in every single way. I utilize a multidisciplinary team approach in treating pain in order to improve function. My job is to be the centerpiece of a care team to help them decrease their pain and improve their function. This means that I assess the pain management needs of the patient and treat them utilizing  whatever means are appropriate. This may include surgery, medication, psychological care, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc

What is the trend you have seen in pain management.  Is, it leaning to new more drugs or away from that?

 

Pain management is now moving toward working on treating the brain. Neural plasticity work is the direction that healthcare/pain management is going. Neural plasticity is how the brain, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system all interact to create certain pain states. Neural plasticity works on these pain states through movement, sound, visualization, smells, and more to create a new neural pathway to change how the brain interprets and deals with the pain.  Medications have a role to free the person to use their brain and body if the pain has overwhelmed their ability to do so.

 

 

What are your keys to a healthy life?

- Find and pursue what makes you happy.

- Be honest about what’s important to you.

- Take care of your body and mind so you can attain your goals.

- Minimize stress and maximize healthy habits.

 

 

To make an appointment with Dr. Wolfe or any of the doctors at One Medical Group San Francisco, please call (415) 291-0480

 

Wayne Wolfe, MD

Specialty

Family Medicine

Expertise

Annual Physicals

Birth Control Counseling

Cardiovascular Disease

Chronic Pain Management

Diabetes, Hypertension, Lipid Disorders

Diet and Nutrition Counseling

Lifestyle Modification

Men's Health

Preventive Health and Education

Psychiatric Care

Smoking Cessation

Stress Management

Women's Health

Wayne Wolfe, MD received his BA from Vassar College and completed his residency at University of Rochester. Prior to One Medical Group he divided his time as a primary care physician at University of California, Berkeley and at Bay Area Pain Medical Associates in Mill Valley. He is board-certified in family medicine and completed a fellowship in Addiction Medicine at UCSF. His approach to medical care utilizes the biopsychosocial approach to evaluate and treat medical issues and how these issues affect a person’s life. Outside of the office Wayne enjoys spending time with family, activities pertaining to the ocean, music, rugby,

Executive Express Chiropractic San Francisco February 2010 Newsletter Sneak Preview

 

Swedish Scientists Discover How To

Help Men Live Longer And Healthier Lives?

Wait ‘Til WOMEN Hear About This!

Also This Month: Your Baby - What one Doctor says reduces the risk of SIDS to almost ZERO, an overlooked cause of insomnia, can outdoor second-hand smoke kill you, and what’s harming police officers’ health and why it is probably affecting YOU TOO!

                                                                

S

an Francisco – If you are a man – and want a simple (well, kinda) way to live longer… or … if you’re a woman who wants to know YOUR role in a man’s longevity… then you are going to find this very interesting.

            But first, here’ s a little question.  If a man is given the choice between brains and beauty – which do you think he will choose?

            Do we really have to debate this?  Sure, not everyone places the same importance on beauty.  But it doesn’t take much to look around and see what’s going on in Hollywood, etc.

            Looks are important.  And not just for women.  In fact, there is a study that shows attractive people make more money for the same jobs than unattractive people. 

            This held true for both men and women – and in all kinds of jobs.  Good looking doctors and lawyers make more than not so good looking doctors and lawyers.

            Should it be this way?  No.  But…

It Is What It Is!

            And, there is NOTHING anyone can do about it.  So… life goes on…

            Now, about this “how men can live longer” thing.  It’s really quite simple.

            According to an October 18, 2009 article in The Sunday Times, Swedish scientists have discovered men probably should be paying more attention to the brains of the women they marry… than their bodies.

            This is because scientists found, according to the article, “that long life and good health have nothing to do with a man’s education and everything to do with his wife’s.  Men married to smart women live longer – simple.”

            It’s believed the key is a woman’s ability to process information about healthy lifestyles and passing it on to her spouse.

            In other words, smarter women tend to ban their husbands from eating 2 buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken and A Big Mac as a nightly bedtime snack.

            Moderate exercise is usually a topic of frequent discussion – until the man knows what’s best for him and does what he’s told!

            So, at least according to this article, a man’s future is clear:  IF you want to live a long, healthy life… it’s…

Brains Over Beauty!

           

Now for important information to consider if you have an infant or are planning on having a child someday.

            Dr. Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, is the author of two books:  (1) Good Nights: The Happy Parents’ Guide to the Family Bed (and a Good Night’s Sleep) and (2) Listening to Your Baby.

            He has 23 years of pediatric experience and was the first male to become a certified lactation consultant.

            According to Dr. Gordon, “The official position jointly proposed by the [Consumer Product Safety Commission] and the crib manufacturers' lobbyists will cost many babies their lives.”

            He goes on to explain, “Babies sleeping on a safe surface with sober, non-smoking parents respond to their parents, and the parents respond to them. The chance of SIDS occurring in this situation is as close to zero as we can measure. For better or worse, most babies have never sneezed in their parents' beds without their parents knowing it. How could they possibly stop breathing without our immediately being aware of the problem and quickly stimulating them back to a regular, safe respiratory pattern?”

           

What’s more, Dr. Gordon says babies in a crib in a separate room from their parents will breastfeed less and be more susceptible to infections – including life-threatening ones.

            Dr. Gordon states the best possible surveillance and safety system for your baby is for him or her to sleep in the same bed with you.

            What about a baby being suffocated when sleeping in the same bed as the parents?

            According to the article by Dr. Gordon, James McKenna, Director of the University of Notre Dame’s Mother-Baby Sleep Laboratory, says no.

            His research shows no sleep arrangement is 100% safe but many more children have died from suffocation in cribs than in beds with their parents.

            And here’s something you may find shocking:  Dr. Gordon says that in 23 years of pediatric experience, he has never had a case of SIDS in his practice.

           

In Dr. Gordon’s own words, “Vitally, all of the families I have cared for sleep in the same bed with their babies for either the entire night or the major part of it. These families succeed at breastfeeding and succeed at raising babies and children with fewer episodes of ear infection, pneumonia, and other illnesses than they would be expected to have, according to medical texts.

 

Newborn babies breathe in irregular rhythms and even stop breathing for a few seconds at a time. To put it simply, they are not designed to sleep alone.”

            This newsletter is not agreeing or disagreeing with Dr. Gordon.  The purpose of this article is to bring up important issues you may want to look into so you can make an informed decision.

 

                                     Outdoor Second-Hand Smoke Harmful?

First came smoking kills the smoker.  Then, research showed something a little more shocking –smoking was also bad for people who did not actually smoke themselves, but were exposed to second-hand smoke of others. This is why smoking has been banned in most public indoor places.

Now a new study shows something even more disturbing: second-hand smoke outdoors is bad for you too. 

 

According to a November, 2009 study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, a nicotine byproduct known as cotinine was found to be up to 162% greater in those exposed to second-hand smoke outdoors than a control group.  According to the article, these levels are a potential public health issue.

 

What’s Harming Police Officers’ Health May Harm You Too!

Police officers often work the night shift from 8pm-4am.  This, combined with overtime, can lead to short and unrestful sleep.  A new study published in the current issue of Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health (Vol. 64, No. 3) shows this combination of night work, overtime and shortened sleep can contribute to the development among police officers of metabolic syndrome, a combination of unhealthful factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), primarily heart disease and stroke.  In the study of 98 police officers, 30% working the night shift had metabolic syndrome compared to 21% of the general population.  The officers had a higher overall rate, but everyone should be aware of the importance of both the amount and quality of sleep they get.

 

And don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health talk to us. Contact Executive Express Chiropractic with your questions (415-392-2225). We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in your lifelong good health.

                                                                                   Altadonna Communications ©

 

Chiropractic Care and The Olympic Athlete

                                                         
                                         By: Dr. Dave, Schlute, D.C.

Back in 2003 I took a trip to Vancouver, Canada for New Year’s and while I was there, I had the privilege of heading up to Whistler to hit the ski slopes. The surrounding area was in the beginning stages of preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Well, 6 years later here we are just a couple of weeks away from the start of the Winter Olympics there. With so many people and athletes converging over to western Canada for the festivities, one might wonder how all of the athletes are able to stay injury free and in peak shape while they are there competing at the games. Various treatments help keep the athletes feeling well, however Chiropractic has quickly become the leader in treating any sports injury over the entire length of the Olympic Games.  I will discuss an example of athletes who need Chiropractic care, how prominent Chiropractic has become in Association with the Olympics, and finally determine who qualifies to receive Chiropractic care.

Imagine what a bobsledder’s body endures in one run down the track. It springs down the track pushing a heavy sled and at the opportune time, hops into the sled and crouches down while other people pile in around it. It’s then shaken, jostled, and bumped around while screaming down a banked track at over 80 miles an hour, then brought to a quick stop. A bobsledder will do this over and over on a daily basis, dramatically increasing the chances of a bone getting misaligned or an injury to develop. Whether it’s a bobsledder getting jostled in the sled, ice skater falling on the ice, mogul skier getting bumped on every run, or a snowboarder flying through the air and landing hard on the ground, every athlete needs Chiropractic care to keep their spine and joints perfectly aligned and healthy from the stress placed upon it.

How prominent has Chiropractic become in conjunction with the Olympics? Dr. Michael Reed was the first Chiropractor to serve as Medical Director of the Performance Services Division of the United States Olympic Committee at the Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado (my old stomping grounds), and was one of four chiropractors sent to Beijing to treat American athletes at the 2008 Olympic Games. He is serving as the medical director for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This position entails, along with the chief medical officer for the 47 member medical team, coordination of care for all members of the U.S. delegation. Chiropractic is vital to every athlete in the Olympics.

It’s quite impressive that Chiropractic can help keep elite Olympic athletes healthy and competing at such a high level, however just about anyone can take advantage of the incredible benefits that Chiropractic provides. Ranging from weekend warriors, to housewives, to office workers, etc…all have stress and all can benefit enormously from Chiropractic care.

The Olympics are exciting to watch, but the drama rises even more when every athlete is performing at their best and can give it their all. Chiropractors are leading the way in keeping them in tip-top shape!

To schedule an appointment with a doctor at Executive Express Chiropractic, please call (415) 392-2225. Or, request an appointment online on our secure server.

                                                                                                      
                 

Swimming To Get Fit: A Personal Training Tip From Equinox Fitness in Downtown San Francisco

 

by fitness trainer

Yu Hannah Watanabe

 

Many gym members peek into the pool and shyly walk away. Some don’t engage in swimming due to physical insecurities. Others have technical issues with their stroke, making swimming an inefficient exercise at best, and risking injury at worst. Regardless of a person’s reasons for not swimming, it still consistently remains underappreciated for the totality of the physical benefits it provides. In this article I will explore the advantage of swimming compared to other impact sports, the most common inefficient mistakes made in a swimming form, and lastly the best way to get a cardiovascular workout no matter what your fitness level is.

 

Swimming is unique from other workouts in that it is non-impact, leaving a large door open for therapists and doctors to rehabilitate, strengthen, and help maintain a healthy lifestyle for their patients. Running is an equivalent calorie burning exercise to swimming, however every running step creates a stress of six times the body weight! Repetitive stress is placed on the joints, tendons, and muscles in the lower body, ultimately creating imbalances and injuries to the lower limbs. Alternatively, impact cautious individuals may choose a safer route of water, where bodies become afloat with support of millions of water molecules. While providing a safe haven for those with back, knee, hip, or weight issues, the loss of impact also allows for increased body awareness, strength, and proprioception, creating a fit individual without damaging joints.

 

An average person will jump in the pool and do all they can to propel themselves forward while being completely inefficient with their swimming stroke. Inevitably, their bodies will be flat, butt will be dropped, and arms will be flailing in survival mode. A true stroke should have an anchor-like catch in the beginning (biceps), propulsion of the body past the hand anchor (deltoids), and a full extension of your hands at the end (triceps), as well as having the back engaged the entire time.  The core is the epicenter for swimming as it is in daily life, helping to keep back pain away and supporting good posture. It is a region that gym rats love to spend hours working on, though it is more time efficient to do full body movements incorporating the core instead of isolating it. Swimming works the cardiovascular system and tests core strength while challenging both the legs and arms- consequently, it is a true full body workout. Though swimming is of the highest caloric expending activities, most individuals use only half of the muscles that swimming targets do to inefficiency.

           

Regardless of knowledge and ability, anyone can have an effective workout in the pool.  A simple kicking workout will have anyone out of breath in minutes. It is highly cardiovascular, can be made into an anaerobic set, and is easy to master. Commonly, kicking is improperly done from the knees, firing only the quads, and the body moves forward abruptly with every kick.  The correct kick should feel like a steady glide, with the power coming from the abs and working nearly every muscle, from the butt to the hamstrings. Kicking should be thought of as machinery with two opposing movements rather than two separate movements. This means kicking up should be focused just as much as kicking down. By focusing on only letting the heels coming out of the water and listening for a continuous thunderous noise, you will ensure a tight kick. Holding onto the kickboard, go a full lap at full force. If you’re doing it right, you should be breathless. 

 

In conclusion, swimming provides a non impact exercise that is both challenging to master as well as effectively training the body either aerobically or anaerobically regardless of a person’s fitness level. 

 

Hannah went to UCDavis where she received her B.S. in Exercise Biology.  She swam free, fly, and IM events as a Div. 1 swimmer, placing 3rd at Big West conference. She is an elite personal trainer at Equinox Fitness San Francisco.

All Executive Express Chiropractic patients who would like to try Equinox Fitness Center for one week FREE and get one Fitness Guided workout with a personal trainer such as Hannah, please call Carly at: (415) 593-4000. Or ask one of our doctors for an official pass.

USA TODAY Reports Children Spending 53 Hours Per Week With Digital Media (hunched over?). Parents Should Lookout for Forward Head Posture (FHP) and it's Damaging Effects on Health

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

As the father of a 4 year old daughter I am concerned about how she spends her time. And could any of these activities lead to known health problems...or even worse...health problems we don't even know about yet? That's kind of the way it works isn't it? We find out after the fact that something we have been doing day in and day out is bad for us. But a lot of it is common sense.

Anyway....according to the article in USA Today (1/20/2010, front page), children between the ages of  8-18 are spending an average of 53 hours per week engaged with digital media (mostly TV), such as computers, iPods, cell-phones, video games, etc. 

Here is an excerpt from the article entitled: "USA Today: Kids' digital day: Almost 8 hours" based on research done by The Kaiser Research Foundation:

Kids these days spend so much time with electronic media — cellphones, iPods, video games and computers — that it might as well be a full-time job: more than 53 hours a week, a study finds.

Compared with peers a decade ago, young people spend 79 more minutes of free time each day listening to music, watching TV and movies, playing video games and hanging out online. Nearly twice as many now say they do at least two of these at the same time.

The findings, out today in a Kaiser Family Foundation survey of 2,002 people ages 8 to 18, show that young people spend seven hours and 38 minutes using media in a typical day — up from six hours and 19 minutes a decade earlier.

About the only thing that seems to be fading: ink. Though daily book readership has held steady at about 47% since 1999, the percentage of young people who say they read a magazine every day has plummeted from 55% to 35%. It's worse for newspapers, down from 42% to 23%.

All sorts of potential problems come to mind...including the potential connection between cell phones and cancer. The most obvious potential problem...and one that I have been dealing with for years in my San Francisco Chiropractic clinics is Forward Head Posture (FHP) and Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI).

In fact, a reporter from the New York Times contacted me last week because he was in the process of putting together a feature story on the relationship between modern technology and RSI in children. He wanted to know if research existed that could validate what doctors and medical personal are reporting as far as an increased incidence of RSI/CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome), and FHP in children. I told him I was not aware of any formal research and put him in touch with some of the chiropractic researchers that I know that may be able to help. My research is done at my clinic and by observing people.

Heck...all you have to do is look at kids posture these days to see that Forward Head Posture (FHP) is a big problem. After-all, the body will adapt to it's external environment. If the external environment is being hunched over all day (especially during the growth spurts), then FHP will develop...it's that simple.

It's the repetition of FHP movements combined with poor ergonomic postures that cause the body to adapt. FHP can lead to all sorts of health problems including headaches, neck pain, back pain, allergies, and arthritis...to name a few. And the thing is...it's easily preventable with exercises, chiropractic care, and ergonomic instruction. Well...maybe not so easy because we are dealing with kids. But it is preventable and correctable and your chiropractor can help. 

In fact, at Executive Express Chiropractic, January 2010 is Posture Awareness Month. You can bring in your kids for Free and we will check them for FHP, scoliosis, CTS, and RSI. Most of the problems adults present with most likely could have been prevented if they would have had chiropractic care when they were younger (in my opinion). And kids are easy to treat. They respond quick, don't need a lot of treatment, it's safe, and they look forward to the treatment (after they get used to it anyway).

So sure, we need to be concerned about electromagnetic fields from all these electronic devices...and the fact that none of these activities typically involve exercise...and the things we don't even know about yet. But we know about how these activities effect posture...and it happens quick...so the time to have your kids checked is NOW.

To schedule a complimentary posture exam for yourself or your kids at Executive Express Chiropractic...call 415-392-2225. Or check out our Posture Awareness Month promo page to schedule online.

 

    

Posture Is More Than Just The Way You Look

San Francisco Chiropractor Comments:

Your Posture Is A Window To Your Spine. Your Posture Is A Reflection Of The Position Of Your Spinal Bones, Muscles, Ligaments, And Tendons On The Inside Of Your Body. 

                                                

Executive Express Chiropractic (formerly Front Street Chiropractic) has been the San Francisco Financial District's posture improvement headquarters for almost 18 years. 

The nervous system controls every function in you body. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The bones of the skull and spine house and protect the brain and spinal cord. The alignment of the bones (vertebrae) also creates the openings (foramina) where the nerves (which are branches off the spinal cord) exit so they can travel to all the body parts with the information from the brain.

The brain and spinal cord are the only organs in the body to be completely encased by bone...that's how vital to life they are. In fact the brain and spinal cord are really the same organ. The spinal cord is simply an extension of the brian. When the brain exits through a hole in the back of your skull called the foramen magnum, which means "large hole" in latin, it becomes the spinal cord.

                             

Then the nerves branch off the spinal cord like branches on a tree. Those nerves exit from in between the spinal bones (there are 24 of them: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar) and split and subdivide until they reach everywhere. Every cell in your body is either directly or indirectly controlled by nerves. And when you consider there are some 6ooo billion cells in the body...that's a lot of nerves. In fact, if we were to melt away everything on your body but your nerves...we could still recognize you.

So what does this have to do with posture? 

Well, when you have good posture...when your ears, shoulders, and hips are level from the front (see image above), and your skull is positioned properly as we look at you from the side (we should be able to draw an imaginary vertical line from your ear, through your shoulders, knee, and ankle: this is called the plumb line)...and your body weight is balanced evenly right to left, along with a normal pedal foundation (no flat feet or pronation), this creates an optimum environment for the nervous system to function (free of pressure and interference).  

                        
 

When one of the 24 bones of the spine loses it's normal relationship with the bones above or below, it can cause the entire spine to shift out of alignment (vertebral subluxation) which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves resulting in pain and dysfunction.

This is the connection between good health and good posture. When you have good posture the nervous system functions better. Since the nervous system built your body...it's the first organ to form in utero, then it controls and regulates everything until you are born, while you are being born, then after you are born until you die, you can see why it makes sense to take care of it.

It just so happens that when your posture is good you look better too. So not only are you healthier on the inside...you reflect this health on the outside with your good posture.

Chiropractors are posture experts. We locate, identify, and correct vertebral subluxations. We know that Optimal Posture=Optimal Health. We seek to restore normal spinal position and posture so the body can function with less nerve interference. 

So if you have been concerned about your posture...and you should be...get checked out by a chiropractor. And don't leave your kids at home while you go. Most spinal problems adults have are the result of spills and falls when they were a kid. Chiropractic is safe and gentle and should start early...just like dental hygiene starts early.

January 2010 is Posture Awareness Month at Executive Express Chiropractic. All patients, friends, and guests are invited to come down to our clinic for a complimentary Electronic Posture Exam. You will receive a take home Posture Kit,  which includes specific exercises and recommendations to improve your posture (Value $199). Simply call 415-392-2225 to schedule your Free Posture Exam. 

Or, request an appointment online and use the code "POSTURE" in the referral source field of our secure online intake form.    

                                

How do you know if Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression is working for you?

San Francisco Spinal Decompression Doctor Comments:

We have helped hundreds of SF Bay Area herniated disc pain sufferers return to more normal lives with lumbar and cervical nonsurgical spinal decompression.

Usually, patients start feeling better after the first couple of weeks...sometimes after the first couple of days...and sometimes not until the end (the protocol is 20-24 sessions over 5-8 weeks)...and everything in between. Every case is different...and there's no way to know until the end of the treatment protocol what the treatment outcome will be. 

Sure, someone who starts feeling better right away is likely to achieve a favorable outcome. But just because someone gets off to a slow start...maybe they even get more sore in the beginning...does not mean the treatment will not help. In fact, soreness is fairly common...and it's not uncommon to be sore all the way through the decompression therapy, but at the same time be getting better. Kind of like what happens when you start a new exercise program. After-all, the treatment is physical.

At our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Center we monitor how a patient feels (subjective data) and how a patient's body is functioning (objective data) every day and direct the treatments accordingly. 

About half way through cervical decompression therapy or lumbar decompression therapy we do a re-exam and decide whether or not specific core spinal exercises and stretches should be introduced. Some patients are not ready yet. 

Some patients tell us they feel "looser" or they can move better, or sleep better, or they have more energy...stuff like that (in addition to less pain).  We call these "signs of life" and they are a good thing.

Chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, sciatica, radiating arm pain, numbness, tingling...these are all signs and symptoms of nerve pressure from disc bulges or herniations (or other neurovascular compromise)and as they subside it tells us the nerve pressure is abating.  When this happens...well...it's just different with everybody. 

My Advise: Stay the course and let the treatment unfold. Keep your appointments. Do your exercises and home care...and give spinal decompression a chance. In the end, chances are...you will be glad you did.

To schedule an appointment at our San Francisco Herniated Disc Treatment Center, call 415-392-2225 and ask for a complimentary consultation.