Health & Wellness News

SEPTEMBER 2014

Kids are back in school! Back to homework, computers, sports, instruments, backpacks, sitting at non-ergonomic desks and continuing to text friends whenever the moments arise. All of these activities create stress on the spine and can ultimately effect our kids nervous system and overall health.

This issue is dedicated to educating parents on what can be done to keep our kids from getting 'text neck'. Below you'll find information on how to help our kids correct their posture and their desk ergonomics. We also have a treatment special to help the whole family achieve optimal wellness through corrective spinal care.

Remember your nervous system controls and coordinates ALL systems in the body. Without a healthy spine, messages get interrupted and the health declines. Chiropractic adjustments eliminate pain and restore health! Until our next adjustment...

Yours in Health,

Dr. Heidi & The InnerMovement Wellness Team

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The Messages Your Neck Is Sending

We spend hours in front of the computer and on our smart devices responding to messages, however we're ignoring the ones sent to us by our bodies.

Too much texting and tilting your head down can become a pain in the neck for many. An excessive amount of leaning your head forward and down, can result in what some people call "Text Neck."

"Text Neck" is defined as overuse syndrome involving the head, neck and shoulders, usually resulting from the repetitive use and strain on the spine from looking in a downward position. This abnormal position increases stress on the muscles, causes fatigue, muscle spasms, and even stress headaches. For every degree of motion to the front or side that you move your head, the stress on your neck is magnified beyond just the weight of the head. And long-term increased stress on the other structures in your neck, such as the discs and joints, can have negative effects.

Here are a few suggestions to help avoid "Text Neck":

Modify the position of the device and hold at a neutral, eye level, instead of always looking down.
Take breaks and change or alter your position.
Engaging in routine exercise promotes a strong, flexible back and neck, reducing the effects of "text neck" or any repetitive stress on the musculoskeletal system.
Commit to regular Spinal Adjustments as well as regular Therapeutic Massage to correct the forward head position, and neck/shoulder tension created by repetitive texting.

How Texting Can Give You A Permanent Pain In The Neck (Forbes.com)

Is "Text Neck" already a pain in your... well, neck? Try our Spinal Health Special treatment combo this month!

What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?

Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) are conditions caused by placing too much stress on a joint. These conditions vary in type and severity however most RSIs are linked to the stress of repetitive motions at the computer or overuse injuries in sports. RSI in kids may occur from heavy computer or video game use, texting, playing musical instruments, or the repetitive motion of sports like tennis.

An RSI occurs when stress is placed on a joint, pulling on the tendons and muscles around the joint. When the stress occurs repeatedly, the body does not have time to recover and becomes irritated. The body reacts to the irritation by increasing the amount of fluid in that area to reduce the stress placed on the tendon or muscle.

Conditions that are the result of RSIs include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome: swelling inside a narrow "tunnel" formed by bone and ligament in the wrist. Often caused by repetitive use of a computer mouse, repetitive typing, writing or filing, carrying bags while traveling for work
Cervical radiculopathy: disk compression in the neck, often caused by repetitive cradling of a phone on the shoulder or forward head position while driving or on of the computer.
Lateral Epicondylitis: elbow soreness often called "tennis elbow". Often caused by sports involving rotation of the forearm and wrist. Also can be caused by carrying a heavy purse or briefcase
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: compression of nerves exiting the "thoracic outlet" located in the front of the shoulder. Often caused by rounded shoulders/poor posture at the computer.

Taking preventive measures can help make sure you and your kids don't develop these conditions. Want to know more? Ask Drs. Heidi or Neha how to avoid RSIs.

September is Childhood Obesity Month healthy food heart

According to the Centers for Disease Control:

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.
The percentage of children aged 6-11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12-19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.
In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.

Obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and are at a high risk for pre-diabetes. In addition, obesity and overweight are associated with a higher incidence of certain cancers.

The good news? Childhood obesity can be prevented. Family eating and exercise habits have a profound influence on children. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for kids to eat healthier and be more active. And research is beginning to show that we may be able to train our brains to crave healthy food.

Recipe Of The Month