Well Adjusted Spine and Your Health
Many patients experience complete pain relief with one adjustment, but if you understand that you can have a problem without pain, you will see that it takes a lifetime of minor tune up visits to stay at your best. It is important to look at the big picture to understand what is going to take place with your body over time. BALANCE and MOBILITY are two very important factors in a healthy spine and body. Decreased balance and mobility can lead to Degeneration of your spine. Degeneration is when your bones and surrounding tissue deteriorate. This can lead to major problems later in life. Degeneration can occur without pain. Pain is the weakest basis for evaluating long-term health. Obviously, pain is an important indicator of a problem and needs to be addressed, but dealing only with pain is not the main principle of chiropractic care. That is because right now, you may have a poorly functioning spine, full of degeneration, but not feel pain yet. Lets look at some general ideas as to what happens the first six decades of life.
CHILDHOOD and the TEEN YEARS
Arthritis is considered to be an older person’s disease, but it can start as early as childhood. Here’s how: in your first two decades of life, you will have indirect and direct stresses. Indirect stress is poor posture and direct stresses are sprains and strains from sports activities or other childhood activities. These stresses left untreated, can lead to degeneration and other problems-down the road. Poor posture is a very subtle stress and rarely causes pain, yet it can lead to degeneration. Poor posture can come from a misaligned pelvis from, as example a fall off a bike, producing a high shoulder and pelvis on one side. This can cause stress in your spine and decrease balance and mobility. Reading and study habits can lead to a straight cervical spine, which is another cause of postural stress. These stresses can lead to weaknesses that could make you more susceptible to injuries and/or degeneration.
YOUR 20’s and 30’s
This period of time is when you start to see the early stages of degeneration and arthritis that actually had its beginning in your childhood and teen years. You may begin to experience diminished flexibility and joint aches and pains. The early signs of joint degeneration begin to appear on X-Ray. These are all signs of long-standing physical decline, yet you may not be experiencing any pain. Symptoms flare up occasionally but are usually manageable with the types of care chiropractors provide. Again, pain is a late response to the process and is a poor indicator of health when you are trying to prevent degeneration and maintain overall wellness. A few visits to your chiropractor may provide temporary relief from your symptoms, but to get to the root of the issue and maintain overall wellness for a lifetime, a few visits won’t be enough.
YOUR 40’s and 50’s
This is the time frame during which we start to see the effects of arthritis and degeneration. Generally this is when our activities start to become limited because of reduced muscle flexibility and joint pain. Chronic pain and lack of mobility is commonplace during this time. At this point, your chiropractor can work with you to fend off the debilitating symptoms and help you maintain as much balance and mobility as possible. Treatment can get your life back and slow down the effects of arthritis and degeneration.
HOW TO PREVENT or SLOW the DAMAGE
Using a combination of proper diet, exercise and regular chiropractic adjustments, you can have an active role in preventing damage (or slowing down the wear and tear process).
DIET- we hear everyday how important it is to eat nutritional foods and maintain a proper diet. This plays a vital role in your overall health and one that is in your total control. It is up to you to follow a nutritional plan and choose a healthy lifestyle. The five keys known to contribute to longevity and good health are:
1) Don’t smoke.
2) Eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
3) Drink plenty of water.
4) Drink alcohol in moderation.
5) Get regular exercise.
EXERECISE
Getting exercise on a regular basis increases your mobility, flexibility and goes hand in hand with proper nutrition in maintaining a healthy life style. Here are some easy tips to get started:
1) Start slow, gradually increasing the intensity of your workout.
2) Always warm up and cool down.
3) Drink plenty of water (8 ounces before, during and after your workout).
4) Listen to your body-stop exercising if you experience pain or dizziness.
5) Wear proper fitting, supportive athletic shoes.
CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS
Being evaluated by your chiropractor even when you are pain free can have a very valuable payoff in the later years. Healthy joints, muscle flexibility and a healthy nervous system will allow you to continue to exercise and be active, which we all know contributes to overall health. Motion is life to a joint and to a person. A properly balanced body absorbs and disperses stresses, while an imbalanced body absorbs and accumulates those stresses. The key to a well-balanced and mobile spine is starting early and continuing to keep your body in balance. This is a lifetime’s approach to overall wellness and health.
