September 2014 Newsletter

What is the Difference Between Wellness (Healthcare) and Medical Care (Sick Care)?

Wellness care seeks to turn on the body’s natural healing ability, not by adding something to the

system, but by removing anything that might interfere with normal function, trusting that the body would know what to do if nothing were interfering with it. Standard medical care, on the other hand, seeks to treat a symptom by adding something from the outside - a medication, a surgery or procedure.

Most insurance companies only pay for sick care leaving it up to you to take care of your health.  When you work out in the gym or buy healthy food, you don’t present your insurance card at the register for payment. When you want to make your house look better or create better function in your kitchen, you don’t use your home-owners insurance.  Yes, wellness does cost money, but medical care costs more.

“Health exists when the normally constructed body properly performs its functions” (D.D. Palmer - founder of chiropractic).  In reality we are never sick, just losing our health or ability to perform the functions we were designed to perform.  When we are sick we are not suffering from a prescription deficiency.

If you were to only eat healthy foods would you be considered healthy?  Probably not because some people eat very healthy and are very sick.  What if you were to exercise health into the human body?  Exercise may be helpful, but what if you are sick?  It is difficult to exercise if you can’t get out of bed.  Health can only come from within the body.  It is important to find out what is obstructing the body from healing from the inside and correcting it in order to be healthy.

Don’t wait until you notice symptoms such as pain to seek care.  Not of all the nerves in the human body actually cause pain.  Imagine all of the other nerves that may be compromised at this point which affect your ability to digest, fight disease, move, breathe, pump blood, detoxify chemicals, think, etc.  “Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel" (Kevin Trudeau).

3 Easy Tips for Back to School

It's back-to-school time already, and that means trips to school, scraped knees, books, back packs, and school sports. The activity can be great for you and the kids, but heavy back packs and bad posture can hurt your kids and their backs.

So here are 3 Easy Tips that will help keep the entire family healthy for back-to-school:

1. The Right Pack for Your Back:

Did you know that backpacks are the leading cause of shoulder and back pain in children? Too many children carry backpacks hanging down to the middle of their thighs. We immediately think about the impact the weight has on the child’s spine. Here is a checklist created by the American Chiropractic Association when choosing a backpack for your child and loading the backpack:

• Is the backpack the correct size for your child?  The backpack should never be wider or longer than your child’s torso, and the pack should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
• Does the backpack have two wide, padded shoulder straps?  Non-padded straps are not only uncomfortable, but also they can place unnecessary pressure on the neck and shoulder muscles.
• Does your child use both straps? Lugging a heavy backpack by one strap can cause a disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, low-back pain, and poor posture.
• Are the shoulder straps adjustable?  The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. The backpack should be evenly centered in the middle of your child’s back.
• Does the backpack have a padded back?  A padded back not only provides increased comfort, but also protects your child from being poked by sharp edges on school supplies (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack.
• Does the pack have several compartments?  A backpack with individualized compartments helps position the contents most effectively. A quality back pack is only as good as the way it is packed! Make sure the heaviest objects are close to the body and any bumpy, odd-shaped objects are placed on the outside, away from the back.

2. Smart Studying means Smart Ergonomics

Hit the books but help your back! When you are studying or reading, use a book stand so that your book is at eye level. This will reduce the amount of strain on your neck and shoulders from having your book lay flat. It also has the added bonus of giving you extra desk space!

3. Good Students have Good Posture

Sitting in class with good posture will reduce the strain on your neck, shoulders and low back. It will also help keep you attentive during class! Sit with your shoulders back, chin tucked in and a gentle "C curve" in your low back. Don't arch your lower back or slump forward. Your ears, shoulders and hips should be in a straight line. Make use of your breaks! Between classes stand up, walk around and stretch.