Bad posture is a present day health epidemic that is unfortunately ignored.{{more}} Posture is the window to your spine. The spine has a powerful relationship with the brain, spinal cord, and overall organ functions.
This close connection means that poor posture and spinal health will lead to an overall decrease in brain and organ function.
Nobel Prize recipient Dr. Roger Sperry says that the spine is the motor that drives the brain. According to his research “90 percent of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine.” Only 10 percent of our brain’s energy goes into thinking, metabolism, immunity, and healing. Sperry demonstrated that 90 percent of brain energy goes into processing and maintaining the body’s relationship with gravity.
One of the worst types of health problems people experience is a loss of the natural curves of their spine.
Ideally, we should have a 40 to 45 degree curve in our neck that many chiropractors refer to as “the arc of life.” This curve helps to protect the brain stem and the spinal canal for the spinal cord and nerves that travel to every region of our body. Subluxation is the term for misalignments of the spine that cause compression and irritation of nerve pathways affecting organ systems of the body.
Subluxations can manifest as pain, but because only a small portion of spinal nerves transmit pain sensations (10 percent) they are often unnoticeable. Losing the arc of life in the neck, forward head posture, and scoliosis are three of the most dangerous forms of subluxation. Subluxation patterns such as forward head posture and loss of the neck curve are most often created by trauma and/or poor posture habits.
Our society today spends at least 3 to 4 hours a day slumped in front of a television, computer, and texting. These behaviors cause the head to shift forward and create a lasting posture pattern called forward head posture. This ‘forward head posture’ can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage pulling the entire spine out of alignment and may result in the loss of 30 percent of vital lung capacity.
As forward head posture decreases lung capacity, it affects the body from effectively oxygenating cells. This can lead to asthmatic conditions, blood vessel problems and heart disease. The oxygen deficit affects the entire gastrointestinal system leading to altered nutrient absorption and peristaltic activity. Lowered oxygen states also decrease endorphin production turning the perception of non-painful sensation into pain experiences. At Advanced Spine and Sport, we specialize in corrective care techniques that reduce or eliminate forward head posture and restore the natural curves of the body. This is done through gentle and specific adjustments as well as corrective rehabilitative exercises to address postural abnormalities and create lasting objective postural changes.
Studies have shown that corrective based chiropractic care effectively reduces forward head posture and enhances the arc of life.
Dr. David Durso, D.C. is a board certified chiropractor in the state of Connecticut. For more information visit advancedspineandsport.com or call for an appointment at 203-553-9300.