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Trauma... (The reason I see most people)


                So why do some people not seem to need a chiropractor, while others can’t seem to live without one?  How can some people live their lives basically never getting sick, or never seem to be flustered or stressed?

                We seem to need much more help in our society lately.  Mental health issues, cold and flu “seasons”, we’re more obese, and more people seem to need chiropractic care than they did previously.  I’d argue that our whole societal mindset has become such that we are less connected and less healthy in a multitude of ways, but this post, I want to focus on traumas.
                Everyone knows about “throwing your back out”.  They associate it with improper lifting technique and jobs that require more activity, like warehouse workers and construction crews.  Ironically, when care is taken, those who are required to be more physically active for their career are less likely to suffer from back injuries. 
                The most common reason people come to the chiropractor is because they are in pain.  They hurt their back either by picking up something, or they “just woke up with it”.  In both cases, I present to you that the person sitting at a desk all day is more likely to suffer.  Why?  Because our bodies were designed to move.


                The proverbial office worker, sitting behind a desk in a cubicle for 8 hours a day is not getting enough motion in their spine.  Their back muscles aren’t being used the way they were designed.  The posture (even when we are trying to be mindful) eventually goes into a position that adds stress to the joints of the spine.  Many may argue that they workout and so their job doesn’t matter…their back muscles are strong.  In fact, the weekend warriors tend to get injured far more often than both the landscaper and the office worker who doesn’t exercise. 
                The weekend warrior is experiencing an odd phenomenon where their back and core and all their other muscles are stagnant for 40 to 60 hours a week minimum and to offset that, they push those same muscles to a point of potential injury.  Their psoas muscles (responsible for bending your hips) are chronically shortened, then they try and run a marathon.  This can lead to complaints that wouldn’t even be considered an injury.  Low back pain, leg pain, muscle soreness that they can’t seem to get rid of… digestive issues, reproductive complaints and nerve irritation.
                If you’re stuck at a job that requires you to sit all day, make a point to take a short walk every hour for 5- 10 minutes.  This will help your muscles not become completely complacent and weak, and in addition, that reprieve from work for 5 to 10 minutes helps your mind re-focus, resulting in increased productivity.
                Taking a few minutes in the morning and going through a few yoga poses can help keep your spine and back muscles moving more naturally.  Of course, if you do experience a segment that is “stuck”, you likely wont be able to let it work itself out when you sit all day, and that misalignment of the bones in the spine can result in a higher likelihood of injury as well as arthritis and can cause various complaints that aren’t always associated with back issues (like digestive problems or reproductive health issues).  Getting those issues addressed quickly is the best way to ensure complications are minimized.
                What about your kids?  I mentioned in a Facebook post that I never used both shoulder straps as a kid.  I also didn’t bring my books or notebooks home with me (ask my teachers).  Kids these days are carrying more on their little backs and sitting for longer AND they are spending less time playing actively AND they are eating less healthy foods.  It has been stated that this generation may be the first since the industrial revolution that can expect a SHORTER life expectancy than their parents.  Getting you and your children checked by a chiropractor, getting nutritional advice and staying active as a family are crucial if you want your and your children to live your best lives possible.

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