Headaches and Posture
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Houston Area Chiropractor Comments: Have you ever glanced at your reflection in a storefront window or mirror as you walked by and noticed your posture? Scary, isn’t it? We all know that we should stand up straight but we soon forget when we get busy and stop thinking about it.
Poor posture is often due to years of standing slouched and this bad “habit” usually starts at a young age. Just look around when you’re in an airport or shopping mall and notice the many people 
have poor posture. In fact, people’s posture may reflect their attitude – if they’re happy, sad or depressed. Poor posture may be related to self-consciousness, especially during adolescence. It is also genetic as we frequently see a “trait” throughout family members with similar postural tendencies.
The most common postural fault associated with headaches is the forward based head and shoulders. From the side, it appears that the head is significantly forward relative to the shoulders, the upper back is rounded forward and the shoulders are rolled forwards and rotated inward. One exercise that helps reduce this postural bad habit is tucking in the chin and pretending a book is balancing on top of the head. The objective is to not allow the book to slide forward off your head and land on your toes!
It takes approximately 3 months of CONSTANT self-reminding before the new “good habit” posture becomes automatic, so be patient. Soon you’ll “catch yourself doing it right” without thinking about it.
Frequently, posture is faulty lower down the “kinetic chain.” The first link of the chain is the feet and the last link is the head. Since we stand on two feet, any change in that first link or the feet, can alter the rest of the chain, especially areas furthest away – the head, resulting in headaches. For example, if one leg is short, the pelvis drops, the spine shifts (scoliosis), the shoulder drops and the head shifts trying to keep the eyes level. A short leg usually needs to be managed with a heel lift, an arch support or combination of both to properly treat the headache patient.
Most health care providers EXCEPT Chiropractic Physicians typically ignore these issues. Chiropractic Doctors are specifically trained to analyze posture and correct it. You can depend on our clinic for up-to-date treatment approaches such as these.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Could Neck Problems Be Affected By Your Posture?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: While most of us have a look in the mirror at least once a day, few of us look at our appearance from a different angle, such as from the side. But, the view from the side can be quite revealing if you suffer from chronic neck pain in Houston.
First, note the position of your head in relation to you shoulders. Is it right above the shoulders or does it lean forward from your chest? If it does, this would be called forward head posture, and can come from a problem in your neck. Lower areas of your spine can also cause this problem. Some of us have increased our weight over the years with much of it added to our abdominal region. Because of this increased core weight, the body must counter-balance the weight gain by causing the lumbar spine to “sway- back.”
While this “sway-back” problem can create pain in the lumbar spine, it can also have far reaching effects in the posture of the neck. Usually someone with a protruding stomach and sway back will have somewhat rounded shoulders and a forward head posture. If treatment is only directed at the neck without considering how other areas may affect the stability of the neck, then the results may be less than optimum.
In an accident, many areas of the body can potentially be injured.
As a chiropractor, I not only look at your primary injuries but also how mechanically one area of the spine can affect a distant area. These more distant areas can cause neck pain by referral or they can impede complete recovery because the body is compensating for abnormal posture or movement elsewhere.
X-rays of the full spine can show this abnormal posture as can a detailed postural analysis from our office.
So do you like what you see when you view your posture from the side? If your posture leaves something to be desired, or you’re wondering whether your neck problem could be improved by changing another part of your spine, then it is important to be thoroughly checked. Just examining the neck after a whiplash may leave some injuries undiscovered. Are there tender spots in other areas of the spine? Does your overall upright posture seem lacking?
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Headaches, Hygiene and Pillows
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Houston Chiropractor comments: We hear about dental hygiene and how to eat right, but when was the last time you considered if you slept well; in a way that does not stress the spine. Most of us know it’s important to avoid head and neck trauma because serious and devastating injuries can occur. Less understood, are how minor and cumulative stresses over time, can affect the soft tissues in the neck.
If you have never suffered a neck trauma, then maintaining good neck habits is less critical. But most of us have had a few kinks in the neck over the years, and we tend to suffer when problems are not prevented in the first place.
Keeping your neck supple and flexible with daily stretches can help many patients. Others may need to do daily controlled exercises to keep the muscles strong. A doctor can advise you on your specific needs. It’s important to be diagnosed properly before starting any stretching or exercising program.
Ever wonder why your neck might be stiff in the morning? Maintaining good spinal hygiene while sleeping is also important. Eight hours of bad posture can be a significant problem.
Because there is naturally an arch formed in the neck when you lay on your back, a pillow can be designed to support the middle of your neck. The best type of pillow is a water filled pillow. These are superior to the typical cervical support pillows which are only good when you are perpendicular to the pillow. The problems arise from those types of pillows when you move during the evening, placing your head at an odd angle. This problem does not arise with water filled pillows since the water can shift with your head allowing optimum support at all times.
Our clinic provides patients with spinal hygiene exercises and advice to care for problems over time. This can be key to you avoiding re-aggravation of your condition and to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Many headache patients seem to benefit when they pay attention to the stresses on their neck. It can be looking at a computer screen with the head down or something as simple as the type of pillow you use while sleeping.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Dr Beecher’s March 19 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 19th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Depression and Negative Peer Relationships At School. Often, the assumption is that problematic peer relationships drive depression; however, it was found that depression symptoms predicted negative peer relationships. No evidence was found to suggest that peer relationships forecasted depression among a school-based sample of adolescents. Child Development, Feb 2012
Health Alert: Weighty Physician? Physicians with a normal BMI, as compared to overweight and obese physicians, were more likely to engage their obese patients in weight loss discussions, 30% vs. 18%, and more likely to diagnose a patient as obese if they perceived the patient’s BMI met or exceed their own, 93% vs. 7%. Obesity, Jan 2012
Diet: Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with muscle weakness, increased fall risk, and bone fractures.
26% of the distal radius fracture patients were vitamin D insufficient (having vitamin D serum levels between 20-32 mg/ml), compared to 11% in the control group.
Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Feb 2012
Exercise: Tai Chi And Parkinson’s. A new exercise study has shown significant benefits for patients with mild-to- moderate Parkinson’s disease. A tailored Tai Chi training program of 60-minute exercise sessions 2x/week for 24 weeks resulted in improved postural stability and walking ability, and reduced falls in the participants.
New England Journal of Medicine, Feb 2012
Chiropractic: Alf! Famous neurosurgeon Dr. Alf Breig reviewed the adverse mechanical tensions on the central nervous system from abnormal postural loads. He concluded that abnormal posture affects the nervous system, which in turn, affects the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a large part in controlling the immune system. Breig, 1976
Wellness/Prevention: Waist-Hip Ratio and the Cardiovascular System. The Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) is the ratio of a person’s waist circumference with hip circumference. The smallest waist measurement is taken just above the navel and is divided by the hip circumference at its widest part. In a thin person, the waist is measured at its narrowest point. For the larger person with a big belly, it is measured 1 inch above the belly button. Hips are measured at the widest point of the buttocks in the lean person and at the great trochanters in larger individuals. If an adult female has a 27-inch waist and 36- inch hips, her WHR is .75. (27 divided by 36). WHR for men: < 0.9 means he has a very low risk of having cardiovascular health problems; from 0.9 to 0.99 means he is at moderate risk of cardiovascular health problems; > 1 means his risk of cardiovascular problems is high. WHR for women: < 0.8 means she has a very low risk of having cardiovascular health problems; from 0.8 to 0.89 means she is at moderate risk of cardiovascular health problems; > 0.9 means her risk of cardiovascular problems is high.
Quote: “You Chiropractic doctors are really miracle workers.” ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s March 12 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 12th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Facebook. Social networking is the #1 online activity, used by 1.2 billion people worldwide. Nearly
one in 5 minutes online is spent on social networking websites, and 75% of that is on Facebook. Facebook has 845 million
active worldwide users. Researchers found the biological signals in the brains of Facebook users correspond to what they describe as the “Core Flow State.” Core Flow is a state that people reach in which their skills are challenged and they are highly aroused and enjoying what they do, a biological signal that makes people want to repeat their experience. Some
studies have found flow is linked to quality of performance and quality of life.
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, Feb 2012
Health Alert: Air Pollution. Air pollution at levels experienced by most Americans or considered safe by the
Environmental Protection Agency is linked to higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke.
Archives of Internal Medicine, Feb 2012
Diet: A Sweet Dessert In The Morning? In a surprising discovery, researchers found that dessert, as part of a balanced
600-calorie breakfast that also included proteins and carbohydrates, helped dieters lose more weight. On average, those in the group who ate dessert with breakfast lost just as much weight as the control group (no dessert with breakfast), approx.
32 lbs. However, after a 16-week follow up period, the no dessert group gained back all but 3.5 lbs and the group who ate
dessert with breakfast lost another 13 lbs, on average. In the morning, the body’s metabolism is most active and able to work off the extra calories throughout the day. Attempting to avoid sweets entirely can create a psychological addiction to these same foods in the long-term. Adding dessert items to breakfast can control cravings throughout the rest of the day.
Tel Aviv University, Feb 2012
Exercise: A Pulse. Champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong has a resting heart rate of about 32 beats per minute. Ideal normal pulse rates at rest, in beats per minute: Newborn baby: 120 to 160; Baby aged from 1-12 months: 80 to 140; Baby/toddler aged from 1-2 years: 80 to 130; Toddler/young child aged 2-6 years: 75 to 120; Child aged 7-12 years: 75 to 110; Adult aged 18+ years: 60 to 100; Adult athlete: 40 to 60. Checking your own heart rate: With your hand palm up, gently place 2 fingers on the thumb side of your wrist. You will feel your pulse beating. Count the beats for one minute.
National Health Service
Chiropractic: Bad Posture. “The beginning of the disease process starts with postural distortions.”
~ Dr. Hans Seyle, Nobel Laureate
Wellness/Prevention: Dare To Compare. Comparing yourself to others with the same health problem can influence
your physical and emotional health. Focusing on similarities between you and people doing well will likely lead to feeling good, as will focusing on differences between you and people doing poorly. But, if you focus on differences between you
and someone doing well, or similarities between you and someone doing poorly, you’ll likely feel worse.
Health Psychology Review, Feb 2012
Quote: “Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.” ~ Jesse Owens
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s March 5 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, March 5th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Think About It… Smoking? In 2010, the number of dementia diagnoses around the world was estimated at 36 million with numbers increasing and predicted to double every 20 years. In a study of 6000+ men (average age 56 years), those who smoked were linked to a more rapid cognitive decline. However, those who quit smoking at least 10 years before the start of the study had similar scores as non-smokers.
Archives of General Psychiatry, Feb 2012
Health Alert: Memory Boost? 6 million Americans and 30 million people worldwide are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease each year. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and the 5th leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older. New research shows that stimulating key areas of the brain can improve memory. A research team looked at 7 epilepsy patients who already had electrodes implanted in their brains. When nerve fibers in the patients’ entorhinal cortex were stimulated during learning, they later recognized landmarks and navigated better, reflecting improved spatial memory. This may lead to neuro-prosthetic devices that can activate during certain stages of information processing or daily tasks. New England Journal of Medicine, Feb 2012
Diet: Soft Drinks, Smoking and Asthma. A high level of soft drink consumption is associated with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 13.3% of participants with asthma and 15.6% of those with COPD reported consuming more than half a liter of soda per day. Furthermore, smoking makes this relationship even worse, especially for COPD. Compared with those who did not smoke and consume soft drinks, those who consumed more than half a liter of soft drink per day and were current smokers had a 6.6-fold greater risk of COPD. Respirology, Feb 2012
Exercise: My Max Heart Rate. This is the maximum number of times your heart can beat per minute (bpm). It is a useful measure for workouts, to gauge training intensities. People over 35 years of age who are overweight or have not done exercise for a long time are advised to have their maximum heart rates clinically tested by a trained health care professional. Max Heart Rate For Adult Males: 220 minus your age. For a 25 year-old man it would be 195 bpm (220 minus 25). Max Heart Rate For Adult Females: 226 minus your age. For a 25 year-old woman it would be 201 bpm (226 minus 25). American Heart Association
Chiropractic: Important Posture. Poor posture is associated with asymmetries in motion, leading to accelerated degenerative spinal joint pathology that will, in time, adversely affect the nervous system. Koch et al, 2002
Wellness/Prevention: Constantly Changing. Your body is constantly sloughing off old cells and growing new ones. For example, you shed 600,000 particles of skin every hour, about 1.5 lbs a year. By 70 years of age, you will have lost 105 lbs of skin. Gray’s Anatomy
Quote: “Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.” ~ Gandhi
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Headaches from Forward Head Posture
Clear Lake Area Chiropractor Comments: John Q. Public has been trained to believe that headache is a problem in the head and headache treatment and relief comes in a bottle.
While it’s true that pain medications can bring relief for a pounding headache, they rarely get at the actual cause of the problem. You have to also consider the long-term problems that can occur when you take these types of pills for years or even decades. Some long-term complications include stomach bleeding, liver and kidney problems. Plus there is the problem of not actually correcting anything and instead masking the symptoms. Pain pills are not one of the five food groups.
For many patients, the problem is not one in the head, but may have a spinal cause. Let me explain how this works…. Normally, the neck is balanced over the shoulders in an upright manner. Some people, however, they develop forward head posture where the head protrudes out away from the shoulder girdle-it looks like the bad posture your mother told to avoid. It is the slouching or turtle problem- your neck should now come out of the front of your chest. This type of posture is often seen in computer operators and others who bend over to do their work. Whiplash injuries can also create this forward head posture by disrupting the natural curve of the neck.
Over time the muscles at the back of the neck become tight and start to tug and pull at the base of the skull. This can cause head pain. Sometimes it’s a dull ache with a burning type of pain full of tension. In other patients, the headache may be more throbbing and to one side. The important thing is to address the actual cause of the problem. This is where chiropractic care is key. By correcting the forward head posture, the head is more balanced over the shoulders. Many patients will report less tension in their shoulder and upper back muscles which were really working over time.
At Beecher Chiropractic Clinic, I try to get at the cause of headaches. Usually it’s not a lack of pills in the diet, and in most patients simply correcting their posture can bring relief. Only a comprehensive examination of the full spine will determine if the cause of your headaches is spinal, and whether chiropractic will be the best option for you to regain your health.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
“Conservative” Treatment for Neck and Back Pain – A Chiropractic Perspective- Part 3 – Functional Training
As a practicing Houston chiropractic orthopedist, I am regularly asked what the difference between me and an orthopedic surgeon is. The simple answer is that I look for a conservative treatment option while the surgeon looks for a surgical treatment option. The term “conservative treatment” is used to describe any treatment option that does not involve surgery. This may be as simple as reassuring you that it is not a serious problem, and recommending that you just watch and wait. However, people with recurring back or neck problems should consider preventive measures. This includes learning how to protect your back and neck and exercising to strengthen your back and neck. Conservative treatment approaches include the use of:
Functional training
DC’s use functional training when you need help doing specific activities with greater ease and safety. Examples of functional training include:
- Posture — healthy posture keeps your spine in safe alignment, reducing strain on the joints and soft tissues around your spine. The time and effort you take to use good posture are vital to spine care, and will help to prevent future spine problems. As you regain strength and control, proper posture and body alignment will be easier to remember and apply with all your activities.
- Body Mechanics — think of body mechanics as putting safe posture into action. It is one thing to sit or stand with good posture, but another to keep safe posture as you actually move with activity. You want to keep your body in its safest alignment as you go about your daily tasks, such as getting out of a chair, taking out the trash, getting clothes out of the dryer, brushing your teeth, and lifting. Safe body movement is especially important during lifting. To avoid extra spine strain when lifting, use these safety tips:
- Plan and prepare for the lift
- Make sure you have good footing
- Straddle your feet with a wide base of support
- Keep the load close to your body
- Keep your spine stable and aligned
- Do not twist or pivot with your feet
- Ergonomics — Ergonomics looks at the way people do an activity. It is possible that even minor changes in the way you do your work or hobby activities could keep your pain and symptoms in check, while protecting your spine from further injury. Ergonomics doesn’t usually involve expensive changes. Even minor adjustments in the way you do your activities can make a huge difference in easing your pain and preventing further problems.
Once your pain is controlled, your range of motion has improved, and your strength is returning, you will be able to continue your therapy on your own at home. Your DC will review some of the ideas listed above to help take care of any soreness at home. You will be given instructions to help you keep working on your range of motion and strength. Before you are done with therapy, more measurements may be taken to see how well you are doing now compared to when you first started therapy.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
“Conservative” Treatment for Neck and Back Pain – A Chiropractic Perspective. Part 1
Clear Lake City TX Chiropractor Comments: As a practicing chiropractic orthopedist, I am regularly asked what the difference between me and an orthopedic surgeon is. The simple answer is that I look for a conservative treatment option while the surgeon looks for a surgical treatment option. The term “conservative treatment” is used to describe any treatment option that does not involve surgery. This may be as simple as reassuring you that it is not a serious problem, and recommending that you just watch and wait. However, people with recurring back or neck problems should consider preventive measures. This includes learning how to protect your back and neck and exercising to strengthen your back and neck. Conservative treatment approaches include the use of:
Chiropractic Therapy
If chiropractic care is recommended, your Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) will start by asking you questions about your spine condition. You may be asked questions about when your pain started, where you hurt, and how your symptoms affect your daily activities. Your answers will help your DC focus on the source of your problem and what he or she will need to do to help relieve it. Your DC will then do an exam that may include some or all of the following checks.
- Posture — imbalances in the position of your spine can put pressure on sore joints, nerves, and muscles. Improving your posture can often make a big difference in relieving pain.
- Range of motion (ROM) — measurements are taken of how far you can move in different directions. Your ROM is recorded to compare how much improvement you are making with each treatment.
- Nerve Tests — your DC may check your reflexes, sensation, and strength. The results can help determine which area of the spine is causing problems and the types of treatment that will be best for you.
- Manual Exam — your DC will carefully move your spine in different positions to make sure that the joints are moving smoothly at each level. Muscle and soft tissue flexibility is also tested.
- Ergonomics — ergonomics involves where and how you do your work or hobby activities. By understanding your ergonomics, your DC can learn whether the way you do your activities may be making your pain worse. Sometimes even simple corrections can make a big difference in easing spine problems.
- Palpation — your DC will feel the soft tissues around your spine to check for changes in temperature or texture, which may indicate that you have inflammation or nerve irritation. Palpation also checks whether there are tender points or spasms in the muscles near the spine.
Your DC will evaluate your answers and your exam results to decide the best way to help you. He or she will then prepare a plan of care, which lists the treatments to be used and the goals that you and your DC decide on to do your daily activities safely and with the least amount of discomfort. The plan also includes a prognosis, which is your DC’s idea of how well the treatments will work and how long you will need care in order to get the most benefit.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
