The Principles of Chiropractic

The Principles of Health and Chiropractic

The Principles of Health and Chiropractic

What is a principle? A principle is a fundamental law or code of conduct. I think of the Golden Rule as a principle that we can use to guide and enrich our lives. The Golden Rule encourages us to treat others, as we ourselves would like to be treated. I know if the Golden Rule guided all my words and actions then my world would be enriched. Chiropractic has principles too. To the extent that we are successful in translating these to the patient, they will naturally experience greater levels of health and fulfillment. I have written down the basic principles of Chiropractic that are the most important to your health and that of your family.

1-There is a powerful healer within all of us. Its mission is to keep our bodies healthy and needs very little assistance from us. We call this the Innate Intelligence of the body. Innate simply means inborn or indwelling. It is the Life that is within you and is even now beating your heart without your effort. It is present in every cell.

2-This Innate Wisdom of your body uses the nervous system as a pathway from the brain to the cells of the body. Through the nervous system, Innate Intelligence coordinates and controls every cell and every function in the body.

3-Interference to the nervous system interferes with the mission of Innate Intelligence, which is to keep your body healthy and in the proper balance.

4-Spinal misalignments (subluxations) put pressure on the nervous system and interfere with this Intelligence and its ability to carry out its mission, which is maintaining health.

5-Interference to the nervous system (subluxation) is often silent or without symptoms until the final stages of the disease process, therefore, spinal care should begin long before symptoms arise.

6-Correction of the subluxation restores our body’s ability to heal and function as intended.

7-Spinal misalignments or subluxations are a natural consequence of physical, chemical and emotional stressors in the environment, which occurs on a daily basis. Subluxations should be kept to a minimum throughout the life of the individual.

8-For optimal health, spinal care should begin as soon after birth as possible and be maintained throughout the life of the individual.

Ergonomics for Construction Workers

This is a great article that I just read by the ACA and
By Chris Sorrells
Construction tasks place the body in numerous risky positions. Cramped working areas, working overhead and at floor level, heavy material handling and repetitive tasks are just some of the risk factors construction workers face. The University of Iowa found that 70 percent of construction workers experienced low-back pain over a one-year period. When working in construction, keep in mind the following strategies. 
Minimize Awkward Postures
Overhead work places static loads on the neck, back and arm muscles. Standing on a stool, ladder, scaffolding or platform can minimize this reach and bring the work into a safer position. Stands or jacks can hold materials in place for overhead installation.
If tasks require work at lower surfaces, sitting on a stool, bucket or the floor can minimize crouching. Knee guards or a padded surface can protect the patella while the worker is kneeling. Knee dollies or kneeling creepers also facilitate easy movement. For forward-leaning tasks, such as floor tiling, a creeper with chest support can be helpful. In addition, workers should plan their work to alternate kneeling with standing in order to stay productive while giving tired muscles a break.
Bar owners have long known that you can stand more comfortably in one place if there is a rail to alternately place your feet. Use a brick or other surface as a lifted foot rest when standing still. Shoe inserts or custom orthotics can also make standing more comfortable.
Digging
When most people shovel, they twist their body in one direction, bend over and then further twist their spine to toss the dirt. To avoid this risk, a long-handled tool can help decrease bending and minimize twisting of the spine. Alternately using the shovel on the left and right side of the body can reduce fatigue and muscle imbalances. In addition, keeping the wheelbarrow close helps to minimize the throwing distance.

Handling Tools
Improper or poorly designed tools place the user in awkward postures leading to tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and strain. They also require excessive force, creating fatigue and pain. While there are numerous ergonomically designed tools on the market now, learn proper wrist positioning using the following key points:
• Avoid handles that end in the palm as they create local contact stress. Add padding or sleeves to lengthen and soften such handles.
• Look for soft or cushioned handles without sharp edges or grooves, which keep the wrists straight.
• While handles with ridges for the fingers seem to aide grip, they actually increase the risk for injury owing to the increased contact stresses.
• The handle diameter for tools such as hammers and screwdrivers should be between 1 ¼-inch and 2 inches. Precision tools require smaller handles of between ¼ inch and ½ inch in diameter. 
• Power tools create less torque than air tools, reducing forces.
• While the hand or knee should never be used as a hammer, it is common in tasks such as laying carpet. Try to avoid this harmful habit.

Organizing Tool Belts 
Carrying 20 pounds of imbalanced tools has many negative effects on the spine. Rearrange the tools to balance the load. For example, remove the tools you won’t use during the day to lighten the load. When you take a break, you should remove the belt to give your back a rest.
Belts with wide suspenders help distribute the weight between the hips and shoulders. Bucket-style tool belts are also a good option, as tools can be kept close but not place unnecessary strain on the spine.
Loading Vehicles
Heavy items should be placed close to the tailgate or doors to minimize reaching. Avoid reaching over the side of the truck to lift items. Utilizing truck lockers and bins allows better organization of items and minimizes reaching and crawling into the truck. Roll-out truck beds are also a good investment.
Minimizing the Effect of Vibration
Jackhammers, drills, impact wrenches and other power tools place construction workers at risk for hand-arm vibration syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome, reduced circulation, paresthesias and pain. Vibration syndromes are often hard to treat, so prevention is important. Anti-vibration gloves, rest breaks and keeping the hands warm are beneficial.  
Whole-body vibration occurs when workers sit in forklifts, cranes and other heavy equipment. Proper maintenance, use of a gel cushion on the seat and releasing hold of controls when not actively using them can help minimize the impact.
Reduce Your Risks
Many construction tasks, from turning a screwdriver to using equipment controls, require repetition. Learn to self-initiate rest breaks and alternate heavy and light tasks. Analyze which tasks you perform routinely to develop a personalized stretching program, counteracting the sustained postures you use on the job. Strengthening muscle groups opposing those you use at work is also vital to preventing future injury.
Chris Sorrells is the president of www.ErgonomicsSimplified.com, a free online resource for health professionals. He can be reached at Chris@ErgonomicsSimplified.com.
ACA News Extra...
Material Handling Tips
• Plan ahead. Keep heavy or awkward items close to waist level and away from the floor to minimize lifting effort. Use rolling carts or dollies to move items.
• Lighten the load. Break items into smaller quantities when possible. Can you open the box and take things out individually? Can you order extremely heavy items like concrete and mortar in smaller, lighter bags?
• When you turn, move your feet first—never twist your body.
• Try to work at waist height. This is where you are strongest and safest.
• Get a grip. Use handles on boxes when possible, and be sure you have a secure hold.
• Minimize reach. The farther you reach, the harder you work.
• Widen your stance. Spread your feet about shoulder width to increase support.
• Tighten your stomach muscles, keep the back straight, and use the legs when lifting.
• Get help. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that no item heavier than 50 pounds should be lifted by one person. While workers routinely lift more, being aware of the recommendation may make them less apprehensive about asking for help.

Keep Going

Here are a few good thoughts that one of my friends just sent me.  I think it is very valuable.

Sometimes life will present you with an unexpected detour. Sometimes you'll spend a lot of time and effort, and end up right back where you started. Such times are no reason for despair. Rather, they provide an opportunity for renewed determination and commitment. Sometimes, things will not go as you planned. When that happens, keep in mind that much of life's richness comes from its unpredictability. Rather than cursing the detours that life throws your way, explore what they have to offer. Even though you're not moving in the direction you intended to go, you can still make positive progress.

No moment is wasted when you live it with passion and purpose. Every sincere effort brings a valuable reward, even though the result may not be exactly as you planned. Getting there the fastest is not nearly as important as making the most of every moment. Value and enjoy the journey, even when there are detours along the way

Chiropractic Explained!!!!

The nervous system is your body's "master system". It controls every function in the body - right down to the cellular level. When your nervous system doesn't work right, you don't work right. It's as simple as that. The philosophy, art and science of chiropractic involves finding and removing problems in the nervous system so you can function at your highest level!

Wellness tip of the Week!

It's time to wipe the plate clean. Yes, a new decade means a fresh new take on eating in a clean and healthy way. I'm looking at 2010 as a wakeup call when it comes to making nutrition conscious choices. Maybe the goal is to lose 50 pounds or those stubborn last 10. Or perhaps you just want to feel less sluggish and avoid those afternoon slumps. The key is twofold: what's on your plate and how you move. Today, I'll focus on what you're eating.


I have a few great ways to toss Ben and Jerry out of your house and replace them *Hang out in the produce aisle. Think of the produce aisle at your local grocery store as one of your primary shopping areas and really take a good look at what's offered. The fun part here is to buy a new vegetable each week and then go on the Internet or figure out a recipe to cook it in a healthy way. With most veggies, you can never go wrong stir frying in a little extra virgin olive oil with some fresh herbs or garlic. Once a week make a large pan of roasted veggies in your oven. Cut your veggies, drizzle with olive oil and then toss with some salt and pepper. Bake until brown, eat with your meals and save the leftovers for wraps and salads. When you have them handy, you will eat them.

*Remember your protein choices. Too many people are still doing meals that are just one big carb bomb. Remember that protein is necessary at every meal including breakfast. Don't just have your steel cut oatmeal, but make sure to add two poached eggs. Make sure to add the whey protein to your shakes. Dinner shouldn't just be some pasta with cheese. Try some fresh wild salmon with veggies or some great grilled chicken with a wonderful salad. When you eat protein, you will feel full and satisfied.

*Stop eating chemicals. Make a vow this year to take as many food chemicals out of your life as possible. This means nixing the diet sodas and boxed meals. Really read the labels and if you can't pronounce it then don't eat it. Remember that many so-called healthy sports drinks are also full of sugar and chemicals. One great benefit of getting rid of these chemicals is your skin will look brighter and glow.


*Don't do artificial sweeteners - at all! Switch to the only sweetener I use which is xylitol, and just use a little bit. Get rid of all of the rest of the chemical gunk sweeteners. If you have a stash at home or in your bag or purse then get rid of them. Make sure you read labels because many foods are full of these chemicals.


*Make healthy lateral switches when it comes to foods. I don't want you to just deny yourself, but make conscious lateral shifts. For example, if you love soda then switch over to sparkling water with some Emergen-C in it. It's a delicious mock-tail that tastes great. Soon, you won't even miss your soda anymore and may actually come to hate the taste of it. (Believe me, it's true).

*Modify your coffee habit. Many of us have been kidding ourselves over the years about our little 800 calorie midday or morning coffee pitstops. It's time to realize that adding sugar, chocolate and whipped cream to coffee turns it into a very high calorie dessert. I'd rather opt for plain coffee and add a little organic Half & Half plus xylitol.

*Realize that fat isn't the enemy. You should make sure to have the right fat or healthy fats like coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil. The fat from nuts is also perfect for good health. Many people rid their lives of fat and then use sugar as a replacement for flavor. Don't fall into that trap.

*Work on retraining your taste buds. You might think that you can't live without sugar, but I bet that you can lose your taste for it. The key is to take it out of your diet and then retrain your taste buds to love the taste of spice and a bit sour. You'll be amazed that suddenly anything sugary will taste too sugary and you won't like it anymore. That's the key to freedom from a sugar addiction. Break the habit and then lose your taste for it.

*Finally, don't live in denial. If you occasionally - and that doesn't mean every single day - want a special treat then use my three-bite rule. Take three ladylike bites (even if you're a guy) and then you're done. You will get your taste and not over indulge in a good thing.

GP's Not Following Low Back Pain Best Practices!

  Here is a very interesting article!

Low Back Pain and Best Practice Care

A Survey of General Practice Physicians

Christopher M. Williams, MAppSc; Christopher G. Maher, PhD; Mark J. Hancock, PhD; James H. McAuley, PhD; Andrew J. McLachlan, PhD; Helena Britt, PhD; Salma Fahridin, MHSc; Christopher Harrison, MSocHlth; Jane Latimer, PhD

Archives of Internal Medicine 2010;170(3): 271-277.

Background  Acute low back pain (LBP) is primarily managed in general practice. We aimed to describe the usual care provided by general practitioners (GPs) and to compare this with recommendations of best practice in international evidence-based guidelines for the management of acute LBP.

Methods  Care provided in 3533 patient visits to GPs for a new episode of LBP was mapped to key recommendations in treatment guidelines. The proportion of patient encounters in which care arranged by a GP aligned with these key recommendations was determined for the period 2005 through 2008 and separately for the period before the release of the local guideline in 2004 (2001-2004).

Results  Although guidelines discourage the use of imaging, over one-quarter of patients were referred for imaging. Guidelines recommend that initial care should focus on advice and simple analgesics, yet only 20.5% and 17.7% of patients received these treatments, respectively. Instead, the analgesics provided were typically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (37.4%) and opioids (19.6%). This pattern of care was the same in the periods before and after the release of the local guideline.

Conclusions  The usual care provided by GPs for LBP does not match the care endorsed in international evidence-based guidelines and may not provide the best outcomes for patients. This situation has not improved over time. The unendorsed care may contribute to the high costs of managing LBP, and some aspects of the care provided carry a higher risk of adverse effects.

Make 2010 a great year!!!

A little late but still great advice!!!

This Year 2010

Mend a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Write a love letter.

Share some treasure.

Give a soft answer.

Encourage youth.

Keep a promise.

Find the time.

Forgive an enemy.

Listen.

Apologize if you were wrong.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind and gentle.

Laugh a little.

Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Take pleasure in the beauty

and wonder of the earth.

Speak your love.

Speak it again.

Speak it still once again.

~ANONYMOUS~