Image by Adria Richards

Very often after reviewing x-rays where I have identified and measured postural imbalances, patients will ask how these changes could have come about.  They are curious why a hip is higher on one side, curvature in the low back is exaggerated, or the head is held forward.  Time and again I tell patients that have no history of an accident or injury that the position of their spine is largely related to their posture.  Sometimes the possible cause of a patient’s postural distortion is elusive and other times the cause is right before our eyes.

4 Common Causes of Postural Problems:

1. Side carrying

One cause of postural distortion is due to weight being carried more on one side of the body.  Common occurrences are carrying children on the hip, schlepping heavy pocket books and frequent use of heavy duffle bags and briefcases.  My best advice in these instances is to lighten the load when possible (I understand that children only grow), haul items in a neutral posture with chest/back carriers, backpacks or rolling luggage.  And when you have no choice but to sling over a shoulder, alternate shoulders while toting and lay the strap over the opposite shoulder (across the chest).

2. FWIRP – Fat Wallet in Rear Pocket

Ever notice on a pair of men’s jeans that one of the back pockets is stretched out or the material bears a faded, rectangular pattern.  If sitting with FWIRP can change denim this way, what is doing to our spines?

Imagine sitting all day long with a brick under one side of your backside.  The unleveling causes torsion (twisting) of the pelvis and the spine to bend sideways so we can keep sitting upright, instead of leaning.  These changes all happen automatically, so we are not even conscious of the changes taking place.  Now, a brick is an exaggeration for most, but illustrates how a thick wallet in your back pocket can affect the body.  Especially for desk workers and long distance drivers, slimming your wallet and storing it in your front pocket is a good way to avoid FWIRP syndrome.

3. Sleep Posture

If you are a side-sleeper and not using a pillow or cushion between your knees at night, then you are likely contributing to pelvic torsion.  While side-sleeping, if your top knee and leg are not resting on their counterparts below, then the knee is rotating forward, pulling the hip and pelvis into a twisted position.  Eight hours every night (hopefully) and it is easy to see how one hip might find itself higher than the other.  If you sleep side-lying, consider keeping your hips aligned with a pillow between your knees.

4. High Heels

I would be remiss if I failed to address this phenomenon.  Wearing high heeled shoes, especially over 2 inches and worn throughout the day, has a clear effect on low back posture.  Heels cause the pelvis to tilt forward and a corresponding increase in the low back curvature.  Reduce the effects of these changes by wearing shorter heels (2 inches or less) for less time.

So, hopefully you aspire to better posture and can find a way to incorporate some of the recommendations above.  If you have tried some of my suggestions and are still uncomfortable, please call Matthews Chiropractic Center at 704.841.3833 to schedule a consultation and exam.  Better spinal health could be just a call away.

With the summer upon us it’s a good time to review safety in the sun.  June was National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, but it’s never too late to start to protect your skin from the sun and its potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Though the skin is our largest organ, it is often overlooked when we consider keeping healthy.  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and while skin cancers, particularly melanomas can be more aggressive, cancers of the skin are highly curable when detected early.  The most common forms of skin cancer rarely spread and can usually be treated successfully.  Still, the best medicine is prevention.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

Here are some quick tips for protecting yourself from the sun:

1. Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10am – 4pm) when the sun’s rays are strongest and the most potentially damaging.
2. Cover up with clothing instead of leaving skin exposed.
3. Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, nose, head (scalp), ears, and neck.
4. Grab sunglasses that wrap, providing the most coverage, and as close to 100%  UVA and UVB protection as possible.
5. Apply sunscreen early and often.  Remember that sunscreen should absorb before exposure, so plan ahead, especially before going swimming.  Read labels and aim for UVA and UVB protection.

For the best possible protection, combine some of the tips above.  Enjoy your sunny, summer activities and stay healthy.  For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

Runny nose; itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; itchy throat or nose… do these symptoms sound familiar? Well, for seasonal allergies, it’s that time of year again. Unfortunately, many of my patients are among the sufferers. And, most of those patient have mentioned how adjustments have helped them reduce sinus pressure, breathe easier, and generally cope with seasonal allergy symptoms. The recent regularity of these discussions prompted me to do a little digging (research, not yardwork… the pollen bothers me too) and share.

Make Breathing Easier

Easier breathing following chiropractic treatments in patients with asthma has been demonstrated for many years^[1][2]. The mode by which chiropractic helps those who suffer from seasonal allergies is more complicated. In the body, all of our involuntary functions, like breathing and digestion, are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS in turn is composed of two divisions, the sympathetic nervous system, credited with the fight or flight response, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which operates more when the body is calm and at rest.

Calm the Inflammation

Research on the causes of allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nose) indicate that an imbalance in the ANS is a factor^[3]. Just as histamine increases in response to higher concentrations of allergens (pollen, mold, grasses, etc.), the sympathetic nervous system can become over-excited (reacting to inflammation and irritation of the sinuses) by the same irritants^[4]. Certain levels of the spine correspond to the sinuses, and chiropractic adjustments to these areas can help to calm the over-stimulated nervous system response just as anti-histamine would help to reduce the body’s response to pathogens, but without the medication of course^[5]. The take home message being that adjustments don’t just help the spine move better, but areas related to certain spinal levels can see improvements as well.

Thank you Matthews Chiropractic Center patients who have shared their treatment benefits beyond the more common improvements in neck and back pain, headaches, and other spinal conditions. If you have question’s you would like me to answer just let me know.

1. Miller WD. Treatment of Visceral Disorders by Manipulative Therapy in The Research Status of Spinal Manipulative Therapy; 1975 Goldstein M, NINCDS Monograph, Bethesda: US Dept Of Health, Education and Welfare, pp295-301. [↩]
2. Hviid C. A Comparison of the Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Respiratory Function in Patients with Respiratory Symptoms and Patients Without; Bul Eur Chiro Union; 1978; 26:17-34. [↩]
3. Editors. Autonomic abnormalities in asthma. Lancet;1982;1:1224-1225. [↩]
4. Korr IM. Sustained sympatheticotonia as a factor in disease. In: Korr IM, ed The neurobiologic mechanisms in manipulative therapy. New York, Plenum Press, 1978:229-268. [↩]
5. Patterson M. The spinal cord: participant in disorder. J Spinal Manip 1993;9(3):2-11. [↩]

Hopefully many of you are learning the importance of maintaining a healthy spine. Something that I haven’t yet discussed in this space is the importance of our spine’s foundation… our feet. With the spring upon us and many outdoor sports and activities starting again, this is a great time to check the health of our feet and arches.

The feet form the foundation of the skeleton in the same way that a foundation provides a steady platform on which a house can be built. If there is a problem with the foundation, then the structure above may lack stability/balance and be prone to excessive wear and tear/degeneration. In our bodies, improper support of the feet can affect the ankle, knee, hips, pelvis, low back and up the spine. So, the importance of a solid foundation can not be understated.

Supporting the Alignment of Your Feet

The more you move and exercise, the greater the importance of good support and alignment of the feet. Every time the foot strikes the ground information is transmitted to the ankle and up to the spine to inform the body of the foot’s position in space, so that our bodies can maintain balance and know how the position the foot and ankle for the next step. Imagine the number of times that the feet hit the ground when you go for a jog or track down a fly ball for example. Moving over unlevel ground (cross country, rounding the bases) or running while avoiding obstacles (basketball, soccer, football, field hockey) put even greater demands on the feet and ankles.

Foot Levelers has devised the following screening to determine if you might benefit from custom made spinal pelvic stabilizers:

1. Do you stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than 4 hours daily?
2. Do you participate regularly in any physical sport?
3. Have you had a prior injury to your knee, back, or neck?
4. Do your shoes/sneakers wear unevenly?
5. Do you have joint pain while standing, walking, or running?
6. Is one of your legs shorter than the other?
7. Do you have knock-knees or bow legs?
8. Do you have obvious foot problems (bunions, corns, etc.)?
9. Do your feet “toe out” when you’re walking?
10. Do either or both feet appear “flat” with no arch support or extra high in the arch area (strong arch)?

Find Balance

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be a good candidate for Foot Levelers custom-made stabilizers. Whether your feet need improved support or if you simply desire custom fitting, Foots Levelers offers a full line of products including Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers, Shoethotics, and Sandalthotics to help put the spring back in your step. At Matthews Chiropractic Center, we offer custom scanning of your feet and the full catalog of Foot Levelers products. Come in today to have your feet scanned, so you can be more comfortable in all your spring activities.

Dr. Leibman will be conducting a free foot screening at the Matthews Vitamin Shoppe on Saturday, April 18th from 11am until 1pm.

*Images provided by Caselet & Joel Bedford respectively.

When taking history from patients who present with new low back pain, I often find that they could have limited the severity of their injury. Especially injuries that have muscle spasm as a major component. Muscle injuries can be very painful, make it difficult to move, and can cause spinal joints to move improperly or become immobile. These are some of the most common injuries that I see in the office. Weekend warriors, do-it-yourselfers, spring cleaners, and those who work in the yard are all at risk.

Pay Attention to What is Causing Your Pain

Muscle injuries can often become worse within 12 to 24 hours, so when we feel some minor pain, pulling, or tightness this could be the signal to back off. If your are working and lifting or move incorrectly and feel a twinge of pain or something pop, then stop and take it easy. Those who soldier on and figure that it will be okay, many times are the same folks who come crawling in wondering what caused their pain.

Treat With Heat Later, Not First

While it initially feels good and often loosens in the short term, using heat (heating pad, hot bath/shower, hot tub) should be avoided within the first 48 hours after an injury to the low back. If your pain is strong and you are having a hard time finding a comfortable position, try to lie on your back (on a firm surface) with your knees bent. Some patients are comfortable lying on a couch with their legs hanging over the arm (bent knee position).

Some basic tips to follow:

1. Do not use heat
2. Apply ice for 20mins each hour (paper towel between ice & skin)
3. Avoid strong or excessive (painful) stretching
4. Rest in a comfortable position, try to walk slowly periodically
5. Present to Matthews Chiropractic Center for chiropractic care