Got Pain?

#ThinkChiropractic

TRY CHIROPRACTIC FIRST!

Here’s why:

Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study.

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Apr 15;38(8):627-34.

Conclusion: The results of this trial suggest that chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) in conjunction with standard medical care (SMC) offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning when compared with only standard care, for men and women between 18 and 35 years of age with acute low back pain (LBP).

The Chiropractic Hospital-based Interventions Research Outcomes (CHIRO) study: a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of clinical practice guidelines in the medical and chiropractic management of patients with acute mechanical low back pain.

Spine J. 2010 Dec;10(12):1055-64.

Conclusion: This is the first reported randomized controlled trial comparing full clinical practice guidelines-based treatment, including spinal manipulative therapy administered by chiropractors, to family physician-directed usual care (UC) in the treatment of patients with acute mechanical low back pain (AM-LBP). Compared to family physician-directed UC, full clinical practice guidelines-based treatment including chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy is associated with significantly greater improvement in condition-specific functioning.

Pain, disability, and satisfaction outcomes and predictors of outcomes: A practice-based study of chronic low back pain patients attending primary care and chiropractic physicians.

JMPT. 2001 Sep; Vol. 24, Issue 7, Pg. 433–439

Conclusion: Chiropractic care compared favorably to medical care with respect to long-term pain and disability outcomes. Further study is required to explore the advantage seen for chiropractic care in patients with leg pain below the knee and in the area of patient satisfaction. Identification of patient and treatment characteristics associated with better or worse outcomes may foster changes in physicians' practice activities that better serve these patients' needs.

Primary Spine Practitioner

Back-to-School Backpacks: F4CP Alerts Parents About Weight Overloads, Impact Upon Posture and Health

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ – August 02, 2016 – According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics, students bearing excessive weight in their backpacks can develop long-lasting back pain, among a multitude of serious health conditions including neck pain, tingling and numbness of the arms and shoulders, headaches, muscle spasms and postural decline. As the back-to-school season quickly approaches, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), the leading voice of the chiropractic profession, calls attention to the safety concerns associated with carrying heavy backpacks and validates the significant impact of postural habits on overall health.

“Over time, the heavy weight of a backpack can cause an unnatural alignment of the spine as students are forced to offset the pressure by arching the back or bending forward at the hips,” states Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president, F4CP, who notes that the weight of a backpack should be no more than five to 10 percent of an individual’s body weight. She continues, “To help combat backpack-related postural stress, students should consider bags that offer multiple compartments and tightened, padded straps worn on both shoulders to help appropriately position and distribute weight.”

In addition to the added stress that backpacks place on the spine, students who are prone to slouching, rounding the shoulders, or protruding the head forward may experience further pain from sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) – who receive a minimum of seven years of higher level education – specialize in spinal health and wellness and are specifically trained to provide hands-on care that helps to naturally align and strengthen the spine, as well as counsel patients about nutrition, exercise and proper body positioning tips.

“Addressing postural habits is especially important while children and adolescents are still growing, as they are more inclined to implement strong body mechanics at an early age, essentially avoiding the impact of improper alignment later on in life. The slogan to remember for good posture is practice makes permanent, so practice good posture,” shares Dr. McAllister. “To prevent backpack-related pain or discomfort, I recommend consulting a doctor of chiropractic to learn more about how to reduce the risk of injury and back pain, and to improve overall spinal configuration, muscle support and health.”

For additional information regarding the importance of backpack safety and the value of chiropractic care, please view the F4CP’s public service announcement here.

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress    

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) informs and educates the general public about the value of chiropractic care. Visit www.f4cp.com or call 866-901-F4CP (3427). Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube.

The Health Benefits of Good Posture

F4CP

Good posture is the position which is attained when the joints are biomechanically sound and able to move in the direction they are designed to and the spine is aligned. Maintaining good posture involves learning how to train your body to move and function where the least strain is placed on bones, joints and soft tissues. Additionally, a body that is in equilibrium will attain its alignment and continue proper mobility.

Benefits of Good Posture

Posture Checklist

Training your body to sit upright can be a challenge. Follow this posture checklist to learn the proper way to sit with good posture:

Ø  Keep a straight back, maintaining all three natural curves in the spine

Ø  Distribute weight evenly on both hips

Ø  Keep head and neck aligned over shoulders

Ø  Sit back in a chair – the back should be supported by the seat back

Ø  Adjust chair so that the hips are slightly higher than the knee

Ø  Support feet on the floor or a footrest

Ø  Avoid being seated for long periods of time; move around at least once every hour

Ø  Do not twist or bend back from a seated position

Good Posture: What can it do for you?

There are many health benefits associated with having good posture, such as a spike in self-esteem and self-image, reduced negative mood and increase in positivity!

Good posture can:

Ø  Optimize breathing and circulation

Ø  Maintain bones and joints in correct alignment so muscles are used properly and efficiently

Ø  Reduce or prevent abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in degenerative diseases (Example: Arthritis)

Ø  Decrease stress on soft tissues: ligaments, muscles, tendons, discs

Ø  Prevent the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions

Ø  Prevent fatigue, including muscle fatigue

Ø  Prevent postural strain or overuse

Ø  Prevent neck or back pain

Ø  Contribute to a healthy image or appearance

Start today! Practice makes permanent, so practice great posture throughout your day.

Alexis Lignos

Marketing Director

Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

201-641-1911 x 52

alexis@f4cp.com

www.f4cp.com 

Sources: http://ergonomics.ucr.edu/posture.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25222091

What Everyone Should Know About Chiropractic

Post by Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness, PLLC.