Thoracic Area

Backpack Causes

How Kids’ Backs Respond to Backpacks

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

 

Using a backpack allows a child to carry a number of schoolbooks and items in a practical way, distributing the heavy load across the strong back and shoulder muscles. The risk, however, is overload, which can strain the back, neck, or shoulders.

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The back will compensate for any load applied to it for an extended period of time. A heavy weight carried in backpacks can:

• Distort the natural curves in the middle and lower backs, causing muscle strain and irritation to the spine joints and the rib cage

• Lead to rounding of the shoulders

• Cause a person to lean forward, reducing balance and making it easier to fall

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Check out what Dr. Kleinman has to say about our children’s backpacks!

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Digestive Issues

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Whether you’re suffering from chronic heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or another digestive problems, you’ve probably spent more than your fair share on money on over-the-counter and prescription medications to alleviate your symptoms. While these drugs may provide symptom relief, they do not treat the underlying cause of your digestive issues, and thus, you are essentially in a never-ending cycle of trying to treat your problem with no cure. Believe it or not, your digestive system is entirely linked to your nervous system, and your nervous system has complete control over various aspects of your digestive function. For example, the nerves in the thoracic and lumbar regions of your spine control the pace at which your body digests food. If any of the numerous nerves in your spine are functioning improperly, problems with digestion can easily arise.

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A chiropractor can safely, gently and non-invasively correct subluxations in your spine through chiropractic manipulation. This involves the chiropractor using the hands to gently guide your vertebrae back into their proper places. This will take the strain off of your nervous system and allow it to function at its optimum level once more, thus, helping your digestive issues subside. After a few visits to a chiropractor, you may find that your symptoms are completely gone and you are no longer relying on medications to function. Chiropractic manipulation isn’t just effective at treating digestive issues in adults. Studies have shown that this form of medicine is particularly effective at relieving digestive issues in infants, primarily those suffering from constipation and infrequent bowel movements.
Chiropractic manipulations are safer than many medications often taken or prescribed for digestive disturbances. For example, long-term use of laxatives can cause a host of problems to develop and can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Many people suffering from digestive problems have found almost immediate relief from their conditions after seeing a chiropractor for a week.

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Spinal Stenosis​

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Traditionally, spinal stenosis was treated with surgery. Today, many patients seek alternative methods for treatment, including chiropractic care.

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One of the primary methods of treatment that chiropractors use to treat spinal stenosis is spinal manipulation, a technique that uses gentle hand movements to subtly change the positions of the vertebrae of the spine. Spinal manipulation takes pressure off the spine, helping to relieve pain and discomfort. Spinal manipulation helps treat spinal stenosis at its source by correcting the actual problem, rather than masking the pain, like pain medications.

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In addition to spinal manipulation, chiropractors use a variety of other techniques to help patients with spinal stenosis remain active and comfortable. These techniques include:

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Massage therapy: Massage therapy works in conjunction with spinal manipulation to improve blood flow and heal injured parts of the body. Massage therapy also improves quality of life for patients by increasing their level of comfort.
Stretches and exercises: Chiropractors teach their patients how to perform stretches and exercises that help to reinforce the effects of spinal manipulation. Stretches and exercises allow patients to take control of their own healing by giving them something they can work on in their free time while at home.

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Lifestyle advice: Chiropractors administer lifestyle advice to their patients to help patients avoid problems that would exacerbate their condition. Changing postures, using better chairs, changing sleeping habits and other lifestyle adjustments can help patients with spinal stenosis live happier lives.

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Compared to traditional methods of treatment, chiropractic care has many advantages.

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Non-invasive: Chiropractic care involves no invasive surgical procedure. In fact, chiropractic treatments can all be done without much interruption to a patient’s normal daily routine.

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No recovery time: Because spinal manipulations involve no surgical procedures, there’s also no recovery time, which means there’s no time away from work and no time spent laying in bed waiting to feel better.

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No addictive pain medications: Chiropractors don’t prescribe pain medications for any reason. Instead, they use chiropractic treatments to relieve patients of their pain.

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Natural: Everything about chiropractic care is natural and gentle for patients young and old.

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Carpal Tunnel

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Rather than using drugs or surgery to treat symptoms, chiropractic works with the body’s own natural healing abilities to restore optimal health and function. Carpal tunnel relief may seem outside the scope of chiropractic, but it’s actually right up a chiropractor’s alley and it is also something that is very common that many chiropractors treat. The methods most chiropractors use to treat carpal tunnel include manipulation of the wrist, elbow, and upper spine, ultrasound therapy, and wrist supports.

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Tips for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Consistently stretch before, during, and after work

• Take regular, frequent breaks

• Wear wrist splints

• Use correct posture ad wrist position

• If you work in an assembly line try to rotate different jobs among other employees

• Have your work area assessed for proper ergonomics