Many of our patients have been taught the analogy of our discs being a “jelly doughnut” by Dr. Steve. He found the perfect visual to show exactly what he means!
Here’s a cool video about how a disc degenerates.
Tag Archives: health
Walking Diminishes Lower Back Pain Risk
A Spine Journal study found: “Walking for more than 3 days per week for over 30 min at a time significantly decreased the risk of developing low back pain (21-35%). The risk decreased further with increasing walking days and duration.”
Pretty cool that something as simple as walking can help with pain! Our body was made to be up right and walking. Walking can also help with bone health, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. So get out and go for a walk, its good for your health. Better yet grab your spouse or significant other hold hands and go for a walk together.
Gut Immune Cells Cut Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis
Another great reason to take care of our of second “brain”. Fascinating to see how important the gut microbiome is to our overall health!
More and more research is showing that inflammation in your gut can effect your body. The gut/brain connection is real and should be taken into account when you are sick and not feeling as good as you should. The old adage you are what you eat seem to be right more and more.
Source: http://bit.ly/2TuKrAG
Is too much Screen time bad for you?
We are still learning about the effects of screen time on our children’s brain. Let’s keep this information in mind while our kids are off school during Christmas break!
“In extreme cases, researchers also said that some brain scans of 9- and 10-year-olds who spend more than seven hours a day using electronic devices show a thinning of the brain’s cortex, which usually happens later in development.”
Have your kids go outside and play! It’s better for their brains!
*Need help limiting screen time? Trying printing out a chore/activity chart to have your kids complete for small amounts of screen time at a time! Stocking up on board games will also be helpful during the cold months as an alternative to video games or cell phone use.
https://www.cbsnews.com/…/groundbreaking-study-examines-ef…/
Sugar and Low Testosterone
I came across this article:
The abrupt decrease in serum testosterone levels after an oral glucose load in men: implications for screening for hypogonadism. (1)
74 men underwent a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance. 25% of the men had suppressed Testosterone levels 120 minutes after the test, pretty scary.
This study showed eating too much sugar could affect your hormones.
Tired, lack of energy, lack of sex drive? Maybe you’re eating too much sugar!
Looking to improve your health? Start with Dr. Steve tips: Get adjusted to feel your best, eat your vegetables like an adult, exercise, get 8 hours of sleep, and have meaningful relationships.
Ten tips for better sleep
Who has time for sleep when life is so busy? Have a cup of coffee and you’re ready to go, right? The lack of sleep has a negative impact on one’s health. It has been shown to increase inflammation as well is impairing focus, fat loss, insulin signaling, testosterone production, and cardiovascular health.
Above are some simple tips that could help you. The link below goes into each recommendation into great depth. It’s worth reading.
This book is also a great resource for helping you figure out your sleep profile.
Spinal Manipulation Is The Treatment Of Choice For Pregnancy Related LBP
I had quite a few pregnant females come for treatment of their lower back pain. They did not know chiropractic could help them with there pain!
Did you know:
Spinal manipulation is a safe and effective tool for pregnancy-related low back pain (P-LBP). Multiple studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of manipulation for this population. Evidence-based recommendations for OB/Gyn’s include referral for chiropractic spinal manipulation.
Some facts about lower back pain during pregnancy.
- Researchers estimate that between 45-76% of pregnant women will experience low back pain at some stage of their pregnancy. (1-7) Up to 33% rate their pain as severe. (6)
- Pregnancy-related low back pain (P-LBP) leads to lower quality of life, restricted activity, and disability – with almost 25% of pregnant women taking sick leave for LBP. (2,)
- The recurrence rate for pregnancy-related low back pain is 85-90%.
- Consequently, almost 1 in 5 women who report P-LBP during a first pregnancy will avoid future pregnancies due to fear of returning symptoms.
References
1. Wu WH, Meijer OG, Uegaki K, Mens JM, van Diee¨n JH, Wuisman PI, et al. Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), I: terminology, clinical presentation, and prevalence. Eur Spine J 2004;13:575–89.
2. Pierce H, Homer C, Dahlen H, King J. Pregnancy related low back and/or pelvic girdle pain: listening to Australian women. Abstract presented at the XI International Forum for Low Back Pain Research in Primary Care, Melbourne, Australia, 15–18 March 2011.
3. Diakow P.R.P., Gadsby T.A., Gadsby J.B., Gleddie J.G., Leprich D.J., Scales A.M. Back pain during pregnancy and labor. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991;14(2):116–118.
4. Berg G., Hammer M., Moller-Nielsen J., Linden U., Thorblad J. Low back pain in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 1988;71:71–75.
5. Mogren IM, Pohjanen AI. Low back pain and pelvic pain during pregnancy: prevalence and risk factors. Spine . 2005 Apr 15;30(8);983-91.
6. Hall J, Cleland J, Palmer J. The Effects of Manual Physical Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise on Peripartum Posterior Pelvic Pain: Two Case Reports. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. 2005;13(2): 94-102
7. Weis CA, et al. Prevalence of Low Back Pain, Pelvic Girdle Pain, and Combination Pain in a Pregnant Ontario Population. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2018
Gut Brain Axis (connection)
Ever get really upset or nervous and get butterflies in you stomach? That’s an example of the Gut Brain connection. This connection works both ways.
A recent study adds more information to the connection between the brain and your stomach.
Your gut is directly connected to your brain, by a newly discovered neuron circuit.
The human gut is lined with more than 100 million nerve cells—it’s practically a brain unto itself. And indeed, the gut actually talks to the brain, releasing hormones into the bloodstream that, over the course of about 10 minutes, tell us how hungry it is, or that we shouldn’t have eaten an entire pizza. But a new study reveals the gut has a much more direct connection to the brain through a neural circuit that allows it to transmit signals in mere seconds. The findings could lead to new treatments for obesity, eating disorders, and even depression and autism—all of which have been linked to a malfunctioning gut.
The brain can effect your stomach and stomach can effect your brain. One can effect the other. Here are some symptoms of an impaired gut-brain axis:
- Difficulty digesting foods
- constipation or irregular bowel movements
- increased bloating and gas
- distention after meals
- intolerance to food types such as proteins, starches and/or fats
- frequent abdominal discomfort after eating
I will be posting more information about this topic in the future. So for now please eat your vegetables and cut all junk food. This will help your stomach and your brain.
\https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/09/your-gut-directly-connected-your-brain-newly-discovered-neuron-circuit
More on the Squat
The last post got me thinking more about squatting or getting out of a chair. We have been squatting since we were first able to walk. It’s a fundamental movement pattern. A fundamental movement pattern is one that does not need to be taught. Think of crawling or walking; a baby just does it correctly if their brain is developing well.
Don’t we all wish we could move like this? The flexablity and stability is amazing.
This pattern can be lost. Falls, accidents, injury, sitting to much, and a sedentary lifestyle can all cause changes in the body. So how does this matter? If we use the incorrect movement pattern then stress is placed on the body ( ie the lower back). Other areas of the body could be placed at risk ( the knee).
Here’s how this applies to the real word:
Getting out of a chair.
The wrong way: Back not straight(rounded), head not up.
The correct way: Back straight, head up. This one looks a little more like the baby’s picture right?
The Squat:
The squat is used daily when we pick up thing off the floor.
The wrong way: The back rounded and head down. This posture puts a greater amount of pressure on the lumbar discs.
The correct way: The back is straight and the head is up. The lumbar spine is in a neutral position. The pressure on the disc is much less.
Next time you have to pick up something have some one take a picture of you. If your back is rounded and not straight you are putting yourself at greater risk for back and disc injuries. Call the office and set up an appointment! Dr. Steve can address the issue that preventing you from moving correctly!
Muscular weakness in adolescence is associated with disability 30 years later
Like we need another reason to throw away the Xbox and computer! It’s no secret that kids are playing outside less and less theses days. This habit could lead to disability later in life!
A recent study found that there was a strong association between muscular weakness and disability. A combination of muscular weakness and low aerobic fitness was an especially important risk factor for disability. This adds weight to call for muscular strength and fitness enhancing exercise for adolescents in all BMI categories.
How can you prevent this? Turn off the Xbox and computer. Get outside, go for a walk, ride a bike or throw a football. Do something that does not require sitting!