Are Your Kids Playing Video Games For Long Periods Of Time?

If you answered, yes, to either of these questions you are a prime candidate for developing what is termed, Forward Head Posture.  Forward Head Posture grows more and more pronounced as the time passes with continued bad posture when standing and sitting.  The long term outcome from playing video games for long periods of time or from sitting in front of your computer for long periods day after day is likely Dowager’s Hump.

Forward Head Posture Likely Results In A Dowager's Hump in Old Age

Dr. Elizabeth Welch shared this recent article with the Chiropractic Journal on Forward Head Posture and its likely outcomes whether you are male or female. Poor posture today will definitely be a problem for you tomorrow.

Forward Head Posture (FHP) is a condition where the head extends out in front of the shoulders creating an insidious breakdown of the musculoskeletal system throughout the entire spine. In a “normal” posture, the middle of the shoulder should align with the external auditory meatus. While detecting FHP in a patient is a simple process, correcting it is another thing altogether.

FHP affects much of the population – men and women, adults and children, alike. Whether due to computer ergonomics, carrying a heavy backpack, a weak core, or trauma causing muscle imbalance, the fact is that the public is more affected by FHP today than ever before.
When a child carries a heavy, book-laden backpack, the head is forced forward to counter balance the weight, resulting in abnormal stress to the discs, joints, nerves of the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Positioning computer screens too low, coupled with the repetitive motion of moving the head forward to read the screen, is another primary cause of FHP.

When kids play video games or watch TV in poor posture, the repetition of sitting in one position for long periods of time causes the body to adapt to this bad posture. In fact, the bent-over posture of a 60-year-old woman with a dowager’s hump, has its seeds in the posture of a 16-year-old girl slumping in front of a TV or computer for hours on end.

Despite ample evidence that posture affects physiology, function and balance, the medical community does not give FHP proper attention. We in the chiropractic community, on the other hand, see this potentially devastating condition for what it is – a true malady. (“Forward Head Posture leads to long-term muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis and pinched nerves.” Mayo Clinic Health vol 18 #3 Mar2000.)

We can treat this condition with an “active care program.” This is great not only for the patient’s health and well-being, but it can also significantly contribute to your income streams. Part of your active care program should include a self-help component, so you empower your patients for a lifetime of good health.

Although it’s great to have systems in place that utilize a variety of different therapeutic exercises when billing for active care services, if your emphasis is on using exercise machines – or even bands, Bosus’, balls, etc. – the patient can only benefit while in your office, as it relates to changing muscle memory and reducing FHP. That is, if you’re even focusing on reducing FHP and core strengthening. If not, your patients are missing out on this huge benefit of care, postural improvement.
In addition to providing active care in the office, teach your patients how to properly exercise key posture muscles when at home, in the gym, or at work. This will result in changing muscle memory to achieve and sustain a neutral neck, as well as shoulders that are loose and upright, and at the same time develop a stronger core. We all want this result!

The exercise program should address the following five aspects of fitness that all work together for good health:

• core
• strength (supports calcium uptake)
• cardiovascular
• flexibility
• posture (or balance).

Read the entire article from the Chiropractic Journal here to find out more about Wellness and discover how you can avoid Foward Head Posture…..

These custom orthotics are comfortable, durable, and fit in many styles of shoes.  The best part though is how much better they make you feel when the lower back pain disappears and the knee strain is no more.   Here in the manufacturer’s own words is a brief outline of what Foot Levelers can do for your well being.

Why Foot Levelers

Would you wear eyeglasses that weren’t prescribed for you? Or take an over-the-counter drug for a problem that requires a prescription drug?

Of course not — you take care of your health and do what is right for your overall well-being.

Support for your
entire body

Most orthotic companies only support one arch. When only one arch is being supported the problem shifts to another part of your body. Stabilizing Orthotics support the three interconnected arches of your foot, the plantar vault. The structural support for the entire body’s equilibrium is gained from your feet’s plantar vault.

Specifically made for YOU

Unlike generic, over-the-counter orthotics, our Stabilizing Orthotics are individually designed for your unique postural problems — not just problems with your feet. We believe that correcting imbalances in your feet can properly align your spine and pelvis.

Our Stabilizing Orthotics offer more than just short-term symptom relief. They also promote whole-body wellness for your life.

Dr. Sykes highly recommends Foot Levelers because he has seen the amazing results in so many people whose poor foot posture and walking habits have caused misalignment of the feet, ankles, knees, hips, spine, and shoulder.  All of these can result in pain in one or more places.

In addition, ladies who regularly wear high-heeled shoes and/or carry a heavy shoulder bag run extraordinary risks of developing poor foot posture coupled with strain on the shoulders and back when carrying heavy shoulder bags.  However, damage caused by  the wearing heels and toting the heavy shoulder bags can be treated effectively with Foot Levelers.

Many suffer greatly from the stress placed upon their knees and lower back from changes in the feet.  Sometimes these can make all the difference in how you feel.  Low grade constant pain simply tires the body leaving the person feeling fatigued and sometimes unable to do the simple things in life.

Click here on this Foot Levelers link and discover more about Foot Levelers.

Little Girl With Ear Pain

We must keep walking and holding each other, because there are several more hours to go until the sun rises and the doctor’s office opens.  My beautiful baby girl is in absolute agony again for the fourth time this year and there is nothing I can do to comfort her.  She and I are both at our breaking points.  Sweet thing, she cannot talk yet, but I just know in my heart this is another ear infection.

Chronic Ear Infections -  Studies by Pediatricians and Chiropractors Show Similar Results

Given my past experience, the odds are that I am correct in my assessment of her condition.  From what I have seen and read chronic ear infections are the leading cause for small children and infants to be brought into the doctor’s office.  Today, it is interesting to note that physicians holding membership in the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the doctors who belong to the Academy of Family Physicians are advising parents to “watch carefully and wait” before  immediately beginning antibiotics for an obvious ear pain.  What they have learned is, that more often than not, the ear infection or ear pain resolves itself without antibiotic treatment.  In only a small number of cases is the antibiotic medicine needed.

Chiropractic Adjustments Helped 84% of Children With Chronic Ear Infections

Concurrently, studies were being done to measure the effectiveness or efficacy of the manipulative adjustments Chiropractic care administers to its patients who exhibit the symptoms for chronic ear infections.  In fact, a recognized study completed in 1997, which involved a test population of 332 young children varying in age from less than one month to five years, who were treated by chiropractic adjustments for oititis media or ear pain.  104 of the youngsters in the study group had confirmed diagnoses of “chronic” otitis media.  This special group of kids were adjusted five times each for the ear problem.  All were followed closely after the adjustment treatment was given.  Only sixteen percent (16%) of the 104 diagnoses as “chronic” had a recurrence  of an ear infection during the subsequent six months.

To be crystal clear on the findings from this study with the chiropractic group of 104, if we restate these numbers in a positive manner, i.e. the numbers of the chronically ill were such that eighty-four percent (84%) became symptom free from their chronic condition for a full six months following only five adjustments each for ear pain or infection.

Due to the astonishing results of the chiropractic treatments for ear infection of 1997, more studies were undertaken to confirm or deny those initial results.  The real questions was, “Could chiropractic care for those suffering from chronic ear infections produce equal or better results for patients than would the results of conventional care from the pediatrician ?”  The startling results of once such study published by the Pediatrics Journal in 2003 was that the youngsters receiving the chiropractic adjustment type therapy had less recurrences of Acute Otitis Media, and fewer if these children ever required surgery to correct this problem.  Equally as important, these same children were more likely to test normal following a tympanogram unlike the children who did not receive the adjustment therapy.

For parents who have not seen or heard about the results of this and other studies done on chronic  ear infections in children, a complete list these studies along with the results of each can be found at this website, Chronic Ear Infections – Study List.   The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) maintains this website housing these studies along with the works describing the role of chiropractic care and treatment of children.

Certainly, here at Sykes Chiropractic Life Center, we believe this data and study work is good, but what really matters to parents is making sure their children are healthy and free from pain.  Parents just hope their children are healthy and able to be successful in their studies at school, the sports they love, and the life they’ve been given without having to suffer with conditions like recurring, painful ear infections.  No one wants or should have to endure endless nights holding screaming, hurting children and feeling helpless to soothe them.  If your children are suffering from chronic ear infections or you know of those who do, please have them contact our office for a consultation.

The sooner the better is the best time for the initial office visit, so that preventative care can take the place of the curative care and the suffering with the condition itself.  The best and most informative appointments take place when choices are not being led by pain or discomfort.  On the other hand, if symptoms are already present, do make an appointment and come in immediately.  Should pain be evident, we will find a way to work you into our schedule today.

Numbness & Pain in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may be what you have, but your doctor will properly diagnose you.  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome causes hand pain and numbness in both the hand and fingers, and tends to wake most people in the middle of the night with burning hand pain.  If left untreated it can lead to muscle weakness and damage to the fingers and hand.  This is caused by pressure on the nerve in the wrist, the median nerve, which controls the hand and first four fingers.

Carpal Tunnel is aggravated by vibrations such as when you hold and operate a circular saw.  It is also aggravated by repetitious motions such as typing or playing the piano.  Many of the causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are work related and are recognized as such.  Workers compensation insurance will generally cover its treatment.  Assembly line workers, computer operators, grocery store cashiers, and others whose jobs include repetitive motions of the hands and wrists are at risk for developing Carpal Tunnel.

 Chiropractic Care can reverse Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in many patients and can keep you from having carpal tunnel surgery on your hand or hands. Because the median nerve

Cross-section of the Carpal Tunnel in the Wrist

runs from your fingers to your spine, ring specific tests will be given to see if the spinal nerves are also involved.  The median nerve actually connects to the spinal cord through several openings between the bones in the lower part of the neck.  If these bones are misaligned, referral pain in the extremities can be common.  Your chiropractor will be able to determine if both your spine and your wrist are in need of adjustment or whether it is only at the wrist area.

In our illustration of the cross-section of the wrist, you can readily see how the carpal “tunnel” is formed by bones in the wrist. The median nerve, tendons and blood vessels pass through this opening. If one or more of the bones forming this tunnel should collapse or be out of place, inflammation, nerve pressure and painful symptoms can result.

Carpal Tunnel Adjustment Using the Activator Method

Without surgery or drugs, if given time for proper chiropractic care, excellent results have been produced reversing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  The chiropractor will perform Activator adjustments where needed and will advise you as the the steps you should take to avoid further irritation to the median nerve while your body heals itself naturally.

Splitting, Throbbing Headache

Headaches for some are so commonplace, they are thought to be a part of normal, everyday life.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Headaches, like other forms of pain, are trying to tell you there is something wrong happening to your system.  Headaches come in varying degrees of intensity and may be caused by toxic fumes, certain preservatives, overindulgence in alcohol, and the stress from your life in general.

Most headaches can be prevented by simply learning your body’s tolerance levels for certain outside irritants and you practicing avoidance of those things.  Stress, on the other hand, is frequently created by outside factors beyond your control that you must manage from within.  The good news is that controlling the pain from stress headaches may not be as hard as it sounds.

Stress makes you tense, mentally and physically.  It can cause you to involuntarily

Subluxation Illustrated

tense up your muscles, particularly those in your upper back and neck.  When you become this tense, your spine cannot move freely and it is not unlikely that some of the bones or vertebrae in your back get out of place.  This misalignment is called a subluxation.

This subluxation, or misalignment, of the bones in the neck causes them to lose range of motion and usually to pinch off sensitive blood vessels and nerves to surrounding tissue and to the head, upper back, shoulders, arms, and hands.  When these nerves and blood vessels become irritated, the irritation can manifest itself in splitting, throbbing headaches.

Many people simply pop a pill, an aspirin, or an ibuprofin product seeking headache pain relief.  Others however, treat the cause and not just the headache symptom.  They seek chiropractic care especially when they are aware of a stiff neck, tension in their upper back, and the everyday stress they are under.

Headache Relief Has Meaningful Benefits

Each patient is unique and their response time varies accordingly.  They all share in common the greatest benefit of all…  leaving drugs behind after receiving chiropractic care for natural headache pain relief.

Millions suffer with painful sinus headaches and allergy symptoms daily, but it

Sinuses of the Face

needn’t be so.  Chiropractic Care offers a gentle way to shift the facial bones back into place allowing the sinuses to drain.  Allergy symptoms and sinus headaches will soon disappear after the sinuses can drain.  Allergy symptoms are an immunological reaction by our bodies to an irritant.

Sometimes our bodies overreact to irritations around us and manifest that reaction in the form of a runny nose, a facial or sinus headache, pain, and/or congestion. The chiropractor gently moves the facial bones back into place, the sinuses drain, and the body is at peace with itself not having to fight any longer the allergy symptoms and the pounding sinus pain.  Chiropractic intervention is a natural way of relieving the stress on the nervous system caused by constant allergy symptoms and allowing it to regain control of the immunological process.

Allergy and Sinus Pain Relief Is Possible After the Stress is Gone

When the nervous system has been compromised by the stress caused outside irritants, it cannot protect the body as well as it can when the stress is gone.  However, when the nervous system is operating on all cylinders, it can aid the immune system.  Like so many other areas, chiropractic care has been found to eliminate allergies in many people.  If you are suffering needlessly, come to Sykes Chiropractic Life Center for the best allergy and sinus pain relief. Let chiropractic care make the natural difference in your life.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain results in untold suffering and millions of dollars of lost wages  every day.  Improper sitting or lifting, trauma, inherited spinal abnormalities, or overexertion, are just some of the more common causes for lower back pain.

Chiropractic doctors often consult with neurologists, radiologists and orthopedic specialists when designing care programs for patients with disc involvement.  Chiropractic care is safer and more effective than surgery.

Many of the pain-sensing nerves of the spine are in the facet joints, the two interlocking Magnetic Resonance Imaging “fingers” at the back of each spinal bone. The normally smooth surfaces on which these joints glide, can become rough, irritated and inflamed. Surgical treatment often involves removing these facet joints, exposing the spinal cord.

Watch This Video Clip On How The Activator Effectively Repositions The Spine Without Surgery

Bulging Disk in Lower Back

The chiropractic approach is to help restore a more normal motion and position of affected spinal bones with specific chiropractic adjustments.

The simplicity and success of this approach has been documented in numerous research projects and has helped many patients avoid risky surgery.

Find out if your low back pain is a chiropractic case and not a surgical case.  Millions of patients have discovered positive results and avoided needless and painful surgery.  Chiropractic care is safer and often more effective than back surgery.

If you are reading this page, it may be that either you or someone you care about has lower back pain.  If you are in great pain, call us now at (772) 466-4006.  We will find a way to work you in today.

Chiropractor In Port St Lucie Area

Lower Back Pain Relief

Whiplash

Whiplash is a deceleration – acceleration type injury caused when the body is suddenly thrown backward then forward such as when an occupied automobile is struck from behind or when the car is in a collision and suddenly stopped while in forward motion.  The neck is thrown much beyond its normal limits and the weight of the head in motion can tear muscles, tendons, and ligaments which support the neck.

The neck portion of the spine, without its normal soft tissue support, is rendered unstable and the resulting symptoms can range from headaches to pain in the arms, shoulders and hands, to blurred vision and dizziness, to pain the lower back and legs.  In order for the neck area to heal properly, the chiropractor must adjust the neck vertebrae back into place and continue those adjustments while the soft tissue heals and becomes strong enough to hold the neck in place properly again.

Whiplash treatment must begin immediately for the best results. 

This reduces the inflammation, swelling, and the formation of scar tissue.  If begun early, the prognosis for full recovery is bright and the patient will not be forced into the use of addictive pain medications.

Many think health is merely the absence of pain or symptoms.Today, more and more people are interested in wellness,a higher level of health. Many are beginning to

Reading Together Outdoors

recognize that our bodies need to move or engage in exercise and to be fed nutritiously.  Most of those seeking wellness want to truly enjoy living by being at their very best physically, mentally, and socially.  These people have grown beyond simply wanting to feel better or to prevent health problems.  They know true health is only possible with an optimally functioning nervous system.

Chiropractic care is crucial, even when you’re not in pain.  The dental profession moved beyond the acute care of simply removing damaged teeth, and became a profession of periodic checkups to maintain oral health.  Likewise, the chiropractic profession has moved beyond bad backs and neck problems and is now aggressively pursuing wellness and family care to prevent the damage to the nervous system the acute and painful stage represents.  Chiropractic Family Care steps in and monitors everyone for signs of potential future health problems.  It is important to remember degenerative conditions happen over a lifetime and not in a moment.

The chiropractic wellness approach to better health means adopting a variety of healthy habits for optimum function on all levels: spiritual, mental, and physical.

With its focus on the nervous system, chiropractic care is an important part of the wellness lifestyle. The nervous system controls the function of virtually every aspect of our lives. Maintaining a properly functioning nervous system is essential if you want to be your very best.

Few things as complicated as your body can be “fixed” and then ignored. That’s why your chiropractic doctor may recommend a schedule of regular chiropractic checkups. Like maintaining your teeth, your car, your family, or your faith, maintaining the

Wellness Is An Aura

integrity of your nervous system requires an ongoing investment.

Good nutrition, exercise, chiropractic care, and other preventive measures are part of a wellness lifestyle.

Those who want to be their very best add regular chiropractic care to their other health practices. The pleasant result is often more vitality, endurance and the capacity to enjoy life to its fullest.