Creative Wellness Newsletter

Newsletter - Fall 2007

In This Issue

• How Your Front Affects Your Back
• Printable newsletter (PDF format)
• Class schedule & registration form (PDF format)

Other Newsletter Issues

• Current Newsletter
• Winter/Spring 2008 Newsletter
• Spring/Summer 2007 Newsletter

How Your Front Affects Your Back

By Simone Ranes, D.C.

An accumulation of fat around the abdomen has been linked to many serious diseases, but it is what this extra weight does to our posture that makes it truly unhealthy. Normal trunk movements, such as bending and turning, are greatly altered due to the limitations imposed by midsection bulk. For every 5 pounds of excess bodyweight, an additional 20 pounds of compressive force is put upon the spine. Recent studies report that over 60% of Americans are at least 20 pounds overweight; that translates into a minimum of 80 additional pounds of force being carried on an individual's back.

Weight is not the only issue. Many activities and postures, such as: pushing, bending and lifting, can substantially increase pressure within the chest and abdomen and may, in turn, increase the risk of muscle strain and spinal disc damage. Respiratory and gastrointestinal infections can easily spread to the spinal fluid and joints, with research finding a significant increase of spinal disc injury following a flu or cold. The lungs, liver, colon and kidneys have supportive connective tissues directly attached to the ribs and spinal vertebrae. Irritation or disease within these and other organs may result in pain, which often is not experienced at the organ itself, but along associated areas of the spine. This "reflex" pain may be mistaken as back pain and the true cause remains untreated.

If you suffer from back pain, or are overweight, do not expect any pill, potion or practitioner to give you lasting relief without first making a daily commitment toward improving your health. The following suggestions are to help keep you healthy, from front to back:

• Take a (deep) breath. Breathing is the most necessary movement associated with total health. Our most important respiratory muscle, the diaphragm, shares an intimate connection with the ribs and spine, to create a healthy flow of spinal fluid around the cord and brain. Consider listening to a meditation recording or attending a class, such as yoga or tai chi, which focuses on deep breathing techniques.
• Strengthen your "core." The muscles of the abdomen, buttocks, and thighs work together to create an internal corset, which automatically improves posture by supporting the torso, spine and pelvis.
• Move your midsection. Organs can sag and give the abdomen a distended appearance. A combination of massage and exercise lifts the organs by strengthening their supportive tissues thus promoting healthy circulation and timely elimination of wastes.
• Eat to live. Let food be your medicine. Replace large portions and processed foods with small portions of high quality natural foods, to minimize empty calorie consumption and maximize nutrient intake. Work with a healthcare professional trained in nutrition to help you to identify possible food allergens, nutrient deficiencies and bad eating habits.
• Hydrate: all day, everyday. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink. Add a twist of lemon or lime to water for improved taste and absorption. Adequate hydration decreases the severity of existing pain, as well as the potential for injury or illness.
• Loosen up. Avoid tight belts, undergarments and clothing that bind the waist decreasing lower body circulation and increasing harmful pressure on the reproductive organs, bladder and bowel.

Sources

1. De Jarnette, M.B. (1984) Sacro Occipital Technique: 1984 Edition. St. Louis, MO. SORSI Publishing.
2. Heun, Scott (2004, May). Your Posture is Your Health. Cited review from American Journal of Pain Management 1994; 4: 36-39. Retrieved May 2007 from http://www.idealspine.com/pages/your_posture_is_your_health.htm
3. Joseph, Thomas. (Updated June, 2007). Low Back Pain. MedLine Plus. Retrieved June 2007 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003108.htm
4. Welborn, T.A. & Dhaliwal, S.S. (2007, February). Preferred Clinical Measures of Central Obesity for Predicting Mortality. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Cited from "What Guys Need". Taste for Life. June 2007.

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