San Leandro Chiropractor

Chiropractic Care Can Help with Text Neck Problem

January 22, 2016 by drburt

Chiropractic Care Can Help with Text Neck Problem

Are you currently reading this while hunched over your phone?
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If so, here’s a very scary wakeboard call: Chiropractic Care Can Help with Text Neck Problem.
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Most people spend an average of two to four hours a day slumped over their smartphones, according to the study, and that awkward position isn’t doing any favors for your neck and back.
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We know you won’t be throwing out your phone, tablet, or e-reader anytime soon. That’s fine, just be sure to use it with proper posture, which means your ears are aligned with your shoulders and your shoulder blades are back in the neutral position.
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How is Texting Hurting Your Health?

Let’s first put the situation into perspective. Mobile device usage has increased significantly and will continue to do so into the future. According to text-neck.com, Americans spend 2.7 hours per day on average communicating and socializing on their phones, and they spend even more time looking down at their mobile devices for web searching and other uses.

They go on to say that 75% of the world’s population spends hours daily hunched over their handheld devices. Studies also show that people under the age of 30 send an average of 3,000 text messages per month. That’s approximately 100 text messages a day!

Perhaps an even more unsettling thought is the fact that young children and toddlers are now given phones and tablets as play toys. One study found that 75% of children under 8 have access to a smartphone or tablet. It’s also been reported that in the U.S. alone, nearly 1 in 5 kids under the age of 8 use a mobile device at least once a day.

The problem with all this time spent with the head flexed forward is that it increases the risk of developing what has been termed as Text Neck.

What is a Text Neck?

Text neck is the term used to describe the neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at your cell phone, tablet, or other wireless devices too frequently and for too long. And it seems increasingly common. Recently, a patient came in to my practice complaining of severe upper back pain. He woke up and was experiencing severe, acute, upper back muscle strain. I told him I believe the pain is due to the hours he was spending hunched over his cell phone. Diagnosis: Text neck. Of course, this posture of bending your neck to look down does not occur only when texting. For years, we’ve all looked down to read. The problem with texting is that it adds one more activity that causes us to look down—and people tend to do it for much longer periods. It is especially concerning because young, growing children could possibly cause permanent damage to their cervical spines that could lead to lifelong neck pain.

Chiropractic Care Can Change Your Posture From Clarke Kent to Superman

January 16, 2016 by drburt

Chiropractic Care Can Change Your Posture From Clarke Kent to Superman

It’s not always easy, or for some people even possible, to maintain good posture. This is because our bodies adapt to our day to day life and environments. As the structure of the body changes it often results in the commonly seen forward slouching, internally rotated shoulders and compressed rib cage due to the nature of most people’s jobs – sitting in front of the computers for avery prolonged periods of time. Ideally the chest should be out, shoulders back, head high and chin tucked in.

Manual therapists such as doctor of chiropractic can make a massive difference to your body’s structure and function. We work on the mechanical aspects of the body aiming to find and treat restriction and dysfunction. Once the structure of the body improves and returns to a balanced and neutral state, maintaining good posture will come easily and naturally.

You shouldn’t be constantly having to try and force yourself to sit up straight or stand properly. The body is designed to be that way naturally but many of us have unknowingly retrained it to adopt unhealthy postural habits which then become the norm.

Did you know your posture affects the way that you as well as others view and think of you? Good posture signals confidence, health and strength. Other people subconsciously pick up on these subtle signals and behave accordingly. Poor posture increases the likelihood of developing stress related conditions such as anxiety as it can affect the release of the stress hormone cortisol.

How can I find the cause of my Bad Posture?

There are a few simple tests you can do which will help you find out what the cause of your bad posture is.

1. Stand in front of a mirror and put yourself into a ‘good’ posture position, which will most likely feel very strange. You might even feel a bit self-conscious standing in this new position, but if you are able to achieve this ‘good’ posture, you don’t have a problem with joint or spinal flexibility. It is therefore likely to be habitual.

2. Now hold this posture for as long as possible. You might start to feel certain parts of you starting to ache. That is most likely due to muscle fatigue as a result of poor endurance of your postural muscles.

3. If you are unable to adopt the ‘correct’ posture, it is a sign that you lack the mobility to do it, either because of joint restriction, pain or muscle and ligament shortening.

4. If you feel less pain holding good posture, it is a fairly obvious sign that your bad posture is a direct cause of the pain, or at least part of the cause.

So how can I improve my posture?

If you look at the 4 points above, whichever category you fall into, the direct recommendation for you would be.

If point 1 and 2 are true for you, then you will improve by holding that ‘good’ posture more often until you are able to do it all day or by doing specific postural exercises to strengthen you muscles. A chiropractor can help you with this.

If you fall into category 3, you need help. It would suggest you might need chiropractic treatment to help you, combined with an exercise programme. Contact a chiropractor and have a proper evaluation and have the underlying problem dealt with.

If you fall into category 4, you should try to adopt your ‘good’ posture immediately and continue. If you feel unable to do it for any length of time, you might need chiropractic treatment to help you.

If you want to improve your posture, self confidence and the impression your body makes on others call 5104812225 or email me to book an appointment now.

What kinds of exercise equipment are suitable for novices?

November 11, 2015 by drburt

What kinds of exercise equipment are suitable for novices?

In today’s hectic life, where taking out time for oneself has become almost unimaginable, youngsters are trying to take out time by exercising their way out. In this context, the youngsters should be guided to exercise in the right way. Any untoward pull of muscle can lead to serious consequences and care should be taken to ensure that no injury takes place. Initially an exercise regimen can be an intimidating experience. A trip to your neighbouring gym can seem very daunting and young people are most likely to get stunned by the assortment of apparatus’ and exercise equipment.

Not all exercise equipment are suitable for all body types and beginners should understand what is required and appropriate for them and their bodies. Whether the exercise routine is for strength, weight loss, lean muscle gain, or overall fitness, routine workout can help one figure things out and start off with the right note toward his or her health and fitness goals. There are chiefly two types of equipment that are important and apt for beginners and they are free weights and machines. Free weights are the most fundamental type of bodybuilding equipment. Free weights are called so because there are no affixed pulleys, cables, pins, or weight stacks and they consist of barbells, dumbbells, and weight plates only. Unlike free weights, machines allow one to perform a diverse range of exercises and are normally easier to rely on and safe than free weights. A number of machines intend to work on individual muscles, whereas some other machines incorporate a number of tools and gears that works on the whole body. With each new day and a new machine, a new muscle gets trained, which is good for the overall fitness in young people.

The exercise equipment most suitable for novices are the leg press machine for overall leg exercise, the hack squat machine for developing the outer seep of the thighs. A Leg Extension machine helps in warming up their quadriceps and the knee joints before proceeding on to squats or leg presses. The Leg Curl machine is used for hamstring exercises and calf machines are of two types – Standing Calf Raise machine which works on the upper calf muscles and the Seated Calf Raise machine which tones the lower calf muscles. The Leg Abduction machine which works on the inner thighs and Adduction machine which works on the outer thighs. Then there is the Lat Pull down machine for the back where the movement is similar to a chin-up but this a better alternative. Coming to the isolation of the pectoral muscles (chest) the Pec Deck Machine is the best. And last but not the least Cables and Pulleys for exercising the entire body using the small attached handle.
For a beginner, using proper equipment can be the best method for developing each body part. Special strength building workouts will make the regimen more productive and the muscle stimulation will be at its maximum. Machine based workouts provide better support for the weaker areas and allows the intended muscle to be isolated and strengthened before progressing to free weight. The best situation is to take in both the free weight and machine exercises in your workout regimens and this way you can get the best of both.

Health Benefits of Flaxseed Oil

August 31, 2015 by drburt

Medicines that are produced using natural and organic ingredients are always the best for the human body. The requirements of the body for proper nutrients such as the vitamins in optimum amounts and minerals are necessary for the proper functioning of our body. The most popular and the traditional approach to the disorders have led to the invention that provides a remedy for the common problems. Flaxseed is the healthy alternative to chemically produced medicines that help to heal the problems associated with the internal organs of the body.

Flaxseed is a seed of a particular type available from the plant Linum usitatissimum and the oil extracted from this seed is used to produce and make medicines for the problems exhibited by the human body. The medicine also helps to heal the metabolism problems with the inclusion of flaxseed oil capsules that are made from the seeds of this particular plant.

Miracles exhibited by Flaxseed oils :

Flaxseed products and medicines are used by people to heal the problems associated with high cholesterol. Cholesterol is only a simple problem, whereas flax seeds are also used to deal with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), high blood pressure, vaginal infections, anxiety, heart diseases and dry eyes. Such acute problems are solved with the production and availability of flaxseed oil capsules. This has shown the world a better way of dealing with human health problems with the help of organic medicines.

People also use flaxseed oils extracted from the plants to take preventive measures against prostate and breast cancer. This oil also has a greater impact on the problems associated with the weight loss. This product is also used as a natural cosmetic product to deal with skin problems such as roughness and skin irritations.

Flaxseed oils are natural bearing products that provide the human body with herbal remedies.

Other than medicinal purpose, flaxseed’s are also used in the manufacturing industry. It is the vital ingredient for paints and soaps. Flaxseed oils are also used to work as the agent for waterproofing. In the daily household cooking oil also includes the derivatives of the flaxseed’s. For people who have problems associated with intake of pure extracted flaxseed, vegetarian flaxseed oil capsules have been produced by the pharmacists.

Consumption amount of Flaxseed :

The amount of Flaxseed intake by the human body is not mapped. There is no fixed dosage for consumption of flaxseed, but the vegetarian flaxseed oil capsules come with a proper concentration of the oil and also includes prescribed amount of consumption for daily use. This capsule can also be used by people who have the problem of constipation in their day to day life. The best way to know the appropriate dosage of flaxseed is to consult your personal doctor or dietician.

The health benefits of the flaxseed are many, and they can be used naturally by mixing with several forms of liquids and foods or can be eaten with the bakery products. Grinding of the flaxseed is common for better absorption of the minerals by the foods.