Photo Credit: Chelsea McNamara

Have you looked in your purse lately? For a lot of women, their purses turn into a giant black hole that they need to dig through to find their keys, phone, cash, etc. Sure, it’s nice to be prepared, but is your purse weighing you down? The problem with stuff accumulating is the weight factor – it’s not good for you!

Wearing a heavy purse creates uneven balance in your structural system. Adding extra weight to one side of your body increases wear and tear on that side and creates an overall imbalance, which the brain adopts as its “regular” posture over time.

Subluxations or misalignments occur because of these uneven stresses and nervous system irritation can develop. Pain is one sign that your nervous system is being compromised, but the nerves in the area of the body that connect the neck to the shoulders control and coordinate the function of the arms, heart and lungs as well.

So what can you do about this?

• Alternate shoulders that you carry your purse on every day.
• Dump your purse out every month and take out what you haven’t used in the last 30 days.
• Carry a small enough purse that you can only fit the essentials in and aren’t tempted to “fill up” with more stuff.
• Backpacks should weigh no more than 5% of your body weight- the SAME goes for purses!

Ladies, what other suggestions do you have for avoiding a heavy purse?

Photo Credit: stevendamron

With the sudden heat wave over the last couple of days, we thought it would be a good time to reiterate a few important tips:

Drink plenty of water. This one is so important! How much water should you be drinking? Take your body weight in pounds, divide in half and aim for that many ounces per day. Since our bodies are 70% water, not only does it make sense to ingest enough for proper bodily functions but it also keeps soft tissue more pliable and less prone to injury. Want a healthy addition? Add a little bit of lemon!

Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your body, so it’s best to avoid both – especially when it’s really, really hot outside.

Protect your noggin. Your hat and sunglasses are more than a fashion statement: they protect the top of your head, your face and your eyes from the bright, burning sun. The best sunglasses to use have both UVA and UVB protection, so keep that in mind when selecting a pair! For more information about picking sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection, visit http://bit.ly/aRFLEG.

Wear sunscreen. Not all sunscreens are created equally. The Environmental Working Group rates sunscreens on both protective elements and amount of hazardous chemicals soaking into the skin. Check out their recommendations to find the best fit for you and your family.

Get your exercise. Although it’s hard to get motivated when it’s really hot outside, it’s still important to stay active. Some ideas when the temperature rises: go for a swim, run/walk somewhere shady or go to an air conditioned gym.

Photo Credit: RonAlmog

The second week of NFL pre-season football is this weekend, which means college, high school and youth football is just around the corner. Do you have kids, husbands, brothers, dads or friends that like to play? There are a few things you should know.

First of all, chiropractic care is a huge part of football. All NFL teams offer players chiropractic services to help manage and prevent injuries. Running Back Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints – last year’s Superbowl champions – has been receiving regular chiropractic care since he was in high school.

“I look at chiropractic care as important to keeping me healthy and at the top of my game,” said Bush, the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time National Champion while playing for the USC.

He’s not alone. 2010 NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Jerry Rice, and former Wide Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, credits his regular chiropractic visits for his performance. “I did a lot of things to stay in the game, but regular visits to my chiropractor made all the difference,” Rice claimed.

Regular visits to a chiropractor can help football players (and really all athletes) of any age. If you or someone you know plays on a team or scrimmages with friends on the weekends, here are five tips to keep in mind throughout the season:

1. Keep your head up during contact (serious injury typically occurs when tackling with the head down).
2. Avoid initiating contact with the head during blocking and tackling (do not to use the helmet as a point of primary contact).
3. Stay attentive during tackling and blocking drills.
4. Protect your neck.
5. If you are injured or feel dizzy, disoriented, nauseated or have a headache, tell your coach, trainer or chiropractor.

• What you put in your body matters. This includes food, supplements and external products (shampoo, lotion, etc). A good rule of thumb is, “keep it balanced and natural.” Try to find food, supplements and external products that are organic and all-natural, and use a wide variety to maintain balance.
• It’s called “diet AND exercise” for a reason. You can have the best diet in the world, but if you don’t exercise regularly you won’t be as healthy as you could be. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand.
• What you do outside of workouts make a difference. Even if you work out every day, it’s still not good for your body to sit still for large chunks of time. Remember to stand up and stretch every hour.
• Schedule time with friends. Socialization is good for our sanity, and research shows it’s good for our physical health, too. Make sure you fit time with friends into your busy schedule.
• Sleep. Yes, it sounds basic, but most of us don’t get enough sleep at night. At least 7-8 hours is a good goal, although some people need more.

Bonus Tip: Have regular check-ups. Remember to see your chiropractor, dentist and any other health care professional you trust regularly. They will help you stay on track and catch early warning signs of a bigger problem.

What additional tips would you add to this list?

Why maybe? The answer depends on MANY factors including how long the subluxation been there, what your current level of discomfort is,  and what lifestyle factors are involved that are contributing to the problem.

Research shows that the length of time you have had neck pain is directly proportional to how long that neck pain will take to resolve. If you continue to sit at your computer for 10 hours per day and don’t take recommended breaks, it will last longer.

The adjustment works with your body to unblock proper nervous system function so your body returns to a normal state of function. The adjustment does not work like a drug. The process of correction, healing and stabilization takes more time than the covering of symptoms with some chemistry.

Roughly 80% of our practice members feel better after their first adjustment. About 10% feel no change after one adjustment- this is perfectly normal as most people wait weeks to years before seeking care for their bodies and it takes time to repair these patterns. The remaining 10% of practice members may feel some soreness, this is nothing more that muscle soreness as if you exercised the muscles around your spine. This too is a normal reaction that goes away within the first few adjustments.

“Procrastination is the thief of health”- B.J. Palmer, Developer of Chiropractic

What are YOU procrastinating about? What can you do TODAY that will change the quality of your health?

If you are procrastinating calling us, do it now-before something else becomes more important- and there isn’t anything more important than your health!

Amidst a full schedule of work, kids, a significant other, exercise, keeping on top of chores and everything else going on, it can be hard to invest time in friends. Here are a few suggestions for integrating social relationships into an already-busy week:

• Work out with a friend – Call up a friend or two and schedule a weekly or bi-weekly walk / trip to the gym. Chatting on the elliptical or while walking through a park will help keep your oxygen flowing, and provide some mental stimulation.
• Carpool – Does a coworker live near you? Take turns driving! Not only will this keep gas costs down and help out the environment, but it will help you get to know a coworker a little better, outside the confines of the job.
• Share a Meal – Everyone’s got to eat, so why not turn it into a social engagement? Invite another family over for some good food and good conversation.

What other suggestions do you have for spending time with friends during an already-busy week?

When we watch our kids participating in sports, we often cringe at the intense beating that their spines take when they are hit by another person or twisted through their activities. Keeping their spine aligned and balanced is crucial for them to be able  to enjoy a healthy and successful year and have a healthy spine for a lifetime.

More than 40 Million students carry school backpacks.  Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can injure your child’s back, neck and shoulders, which can lead to other health problems.

Heavy backpacks, playground and sports injuries can cause non-structural or functional scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that typically appears in early adolescence. This type of scoliosis  develops as a result of misalignment and pressure on the spine and nerve system. Functional scoliosis often can be corrected by addressing the underlying condition through chiropractic care.

There are so many things to do to prepare for the upcoming school year. As you make your list remember to make an appointment for a “School’s Back” Spinal Exam. This simple examination can determine if your child’s spine is on track or off track.  Chiropractic care can keep your child’s spine and nerve system healthy and insure your best school year ever. Get them started on the right track today!

-Courtesy of The Family Practice

The condition we look for, subluxation, degrades body function over time with very few symptoms. It’s hard to detect and correct without professional training, which is why everyone – even chiropractors – need regular exams and adjustments.

So who is chiropractic care for? Although most people think it’s for those with a back problem, stress related problem or other health problem, it is also good for anyone looking to progress their health, happiness and improve their productivity. Positive side effects include better energy, better elimination, better digestion, more energy and better sleep.

Want more information about how chiropractic care might help you? Call us at 408-979-9999.

1. We don’t eat enough fruit and veggies that are organic and local (11-13 servings per day).
2. The amount of nutrition in our food is rapidly declining (you would need to eat 53 peaches today to get the same amount of vitamin c that was present in one peach in the 1950s).

Although the nutritional supplements world is confusing for most people, there are a few important things to know:

• Not all supplements are created equally.
• You should still eat organic and local fruit and veggies, even if you take supplements.
• Consistency is important (as with anything, sporadic usage won’t give you the same results that regularity will).

To gauge how effective and complete a supplement is and make sure we provide our clients with solid advice regarding supplements, we use a guide called The Nutrisearch Comparative Guide for Supplementation. This private company has researched and compared over 1500 multivitamins and analyzed them to measure:

• Absorbability
• Completeness
• How well it supports bone health, eye health, cardiovascular health, etc.

Each supplement is rated from 0 stars to 5 stars. We carry the Creating Wellness/Purpose Nutrition brand in our office as it’s one of only 3 brands that carry the 5 star rating.

For more information about supplements call (408) 979-9999.