Chiropractic Care Improves Posture

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Posture & Ergonomics

Poor posture negatively impacts the health and appearance of individuals – back and neck pain, poor circulation, shallow breathing, fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, premature aging of the spine and poor self-image.

Chiropractic care, which includes spinal manipulative therapy of the thoracic spine or mid-back area, teamed with stretching and strengthening exercises improves overall posture including a condition known as postural kyphosis.

Thoracic kyphosis is an increase in the normal thoracic curvature of the spine. Postural kyphosis most commonly presents due to a number of factors, such as:

• Sitting with slouched posture
• Texting
• Carrying heavy bags or backpacks
• Watching television
• Breast development leading to insecurity, which causes shoulder protraction
• Heavy manual work
• Fashion trends – wearing high heels

Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) - who receive a minimum of seven years of higher education – are primary care professionals for spinal health and well-being.

Spinal manipulative therapy increases joint mobility and has shown to improve muscle function, improve movement and flexibility by decreasing hypertonicity or tightness in the muscles and alter the tone of the muscle.

About the Study

Materials and Methods

Thirty female participants between 20 and 39 years old were recruited for this study because most cases of postural kyphosis occur in females. The women were broken into three groups – Group 1 received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to restricted thoracic spine segments; Group 2 received chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to restricted thoracic spine segments as well as stretch and strengthening exercises; Group 3 received stretch and strengthening exercises only.

Methodology

Group 1 received treatment once a week for 6 weeks. Groups 2 and 3 received three treatments a week for six weeks. Postural advice on how to sit and stand correctly was given to all three groups.

Results

All three groups had a significant improvement in their posture, however Group 2’s treatment protocol, consisting of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy to the thoracic spine in combination with stretch and strengthening exercises, yield the best results. Group 2 decreased the postural kyphosis or curvature of the spine.

Source:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306422936_Chiropractic_manipulative_therapy_of_the_thoracic_spine_in_combination_with_stretch_and_strengthening_exercises_in_improving_postural_kyphosis_in_woman

World Spine Day - October 16th

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Straighten Up & Move - World Spine Day

Americans' Perceptions of Chiropractic

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The second "Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Report: Americans'Perceptions of Chiropractic," validates chiropractic as a valuable option for neck and back pain. 

Conditions Treated by a Chiropractor Near Me

Chiropractic care helps back-related leg pain.

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Back-Related Leg Pain / Sciatica

Back-related leg pain is often disabling and costly. In people with back-related leg pain, spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) plus home exercise and advice (HEA) provided more short-term improvement in pain and ability than HEA alone, according to a 2014 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The trial consisted of 192 adults with subacute or chronic back-related leg pain who were randomized into two groups. Over the course of twelve weeks, one group received SMT along with HEA and the other group received only HEA. During this time, patients worked with chiropractors, exercise therapists, and a personal trainer to receive efficient instruction and treatment to relieve back-related leg pain.

Chiropractic care including the use of spinal manipulation therapy in conjunction with home exercise and advice offers a safe and conservative approach to effectively reduce hindering and costly back-related leg pain.

Chiropractic care improves quality of life in older adults

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Chiropractic Improves Quality of Life in Older Adults

Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) play an important role in the treatment and management of health conditions in the older adult. An estimated five million patients treated by DCs are 65 and older. By 2030, nearly one in five U.S. residents is expected to be age 65 or older.

Spinal pain is a significant musculoskeletal problem among older patients. Bad spinal health can impact nerve function of the legs, which impacts the potential for strength to be stored. The prevalence of disabling and non-disabling back pain in community-dwelling adults is six percent and 23 percent, respectively, and is on the rise making it more important to be proactive when it comes to spinal hygiene. Maintaining quality of life requires chiropractic care.

As primary care professionals for spinal health and well-being, doctors of chiropractic – who receive a minimum of seven years of higher education – help the elderly population maintain health, quality of life, reduce injury, prevent falls and improve physical function through various techniques such as spinal adjustments*, strength training, balance exercises and additional wellness methods.

*Adjustments and various techniques are adapted and suited to support the needs and comfort of the older patient.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306193/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20732584

On-Site Corporate Health Clinics - The Growing Role of Doctors of Chiropractic

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On-Site Corporate Health Clinics

Originally conceived by large employers at least 70 years ago[1] as a center for treating work related injuries, adding a benefit for high-wage employees, or minimizing employees’ time away from work,[2] on-site corporate health clinics have evolved into a new and expanded model. Today, these clinics reflect post-health care reforms and address a myriad of challenges: control and reduce health care costs, enhance access to primary care, and function as a medical home for employees and their dependents.

Employers increasingly consider on-site corporate health clinics as a vital component of corporate health and wellness strategies that aim to measurably improve employee productivity, integrate wellness initiatives, and provide an employment benefit comparable to other employers. In some cases, these clinics result in better control of corporate health care expenditures through on-site screening for chronic diseases and active condition management.

That’s a tall order for any health care delivery model, but one that continues to earn market confidence. In 2009, Fuld & Co., a research organization, predicted that the number of corporate on-site health clinics would swell to 7,000 by 2015, and would serve about 10 percent of the U.S. population under age 65.[3] Several organizations tracking this trend, as well as the ever increasing scope of services offered, have provided key statistics:

• National Business Group on Health shared in a 2013 survey that 44 percent of large employers have on-site corporate health clinics, and nine percent were considering the introduction of one.[4]

• Mercer’s (New York) most recent National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, released in November 2012, indicated 37 percent of firms with 5,000 or more employees reported they offer occupational and/or primary care services through an on-site corporate health clinic, compared with 32 percent in 2010. Another 15 percent indicated they are considering installing a clinic within the next two years.

• On-site corporate health clinics were slightly less popular with mid-size employers. About 30 percent of employers with > 500 employees said they currently offer on-site services, while nine percent said they may begin offering on-site occupational health services, and 15 percent said they are considering offering primary health care services by 2014.

• The National Association of Worksite Health Centers (www.nawhc.org), the nation’s only nonprofit association supporting employer sponsors of on-site, near-site, mobile health, fitness and wellness centers, studied U.S. employers during the period of Nov. 2013-March 2014. There were 275 total responses: 116 of respondents were employers indicating that they had an on-site or near-site clinic. Results are shown for those with <1000 1="" and="" employees="">10,000 employees:

Results of 2014 National Survey of Onsite Clinic Operations and Policies

EMPLOYER ADOPTION OF ON-SITE CLINICS

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[1] Brugh, Victor M., M.D.; McCarthy, Mac; Why Establish On-site Care: Employer-Sponsored Medical Clinics: Much More Than Convenience Care; Benefits Quarterly, first quarter 2014, International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists; https://www.iscebs.org/Documents/PDF/bqpublic/BQ1_2014.pdf; Accessed October 27, 2014

[2] Boukus, Ellyn R, Cohen, Genna R., Tu, Ha T.; Growing Employer Demand for Workplace Clinics; HSC Research Brief No. 17; Center for Studying Health System Change, December 2010; http://www.hschange.com/CONTENT/1166/; Accessed October 27, 2014

[3] Fuld & Company; The Growth of On-Site Health Clinics, 2009; http://www.yourhealthstat.com/files/article/The%20Growth%20of%20On-Site%20Clinics%20(Feb%202009).pdf; Accessed January 6, 2015

[4] Towers Watson/National Business Group on Health. (2013). Reshaping health care: Best performers leading the way. Retrieved from http://www.towerswatson.com/en-US/Insights/IC-Types/

Survey-Research-Results/2013/03/Towers-Watson-NBGH-Employer-Survey-on-Value-in-Purchasing-Health-Care.

Chiropractic care provides athletes with a competitive edge

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“The care provided by a doctor of chiropractic can help athletes reduce the risk of injuries, accelerate recovery time and improve health through improvements in range of motion, flexibility, balance, muscle strength and other key factors. Chiropractic care provides athletes with the competitive edge to fuel peak performance and succeed during their time at the Olympics.”

– Dr. Botelho

Champions of Chiropractic