At least 70 percent of America’s 30 million elementary school students use computers, according to a recent New York Times article. As a result of this increased usage, doctors of chiropractic are treating more young patients suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are either designed for adults or poorly designed for children. Many children are already suffering from repetitive motion injuries (RMI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders.

A recently published study conducted by a team of researchers from Cornell University found that 40 percent of the elementary school children they studied used computer workstations that put them at postural risk. The remaining 60 percent scored in a range indicating “some concern.”

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One of the more common causes of back injuries during the winter months is snow removal - especially the wet heavy kind, so think before you shovel. 

Using the wrong body mechanics when shoveling snow can put undue stress on the lower back and lead to a painful muscle strain, or possibly more serious back injuries, such as a herniated disc or disc degeneration.  Remember cold air makes it harder to work and breathe, which adds some extra strain on the body.

Warm up - get your blood moving with a brisk walk, marching in place, or another full-body activity. Then, stretch your low back and hamstrings (the large muscles in the back of the thigh) with some gentle stretching exercises. Limber up your arms and shoulders with a body hug.

Click here to read...Shoveling_Final.doc 

With age, our physical responses, vision, recovery mechanisms, and inner-ear functions become less dependable. 

As people age, they become less aware of where their feet are. They think they know, but they are mistaken. Errors like that can lead to falls. Because we age from day to day and not overnight, we don’t realize that things we ignored in our earlier years can injure or even kill us later on. A pile of magazines or newspapers left on the floor, an unsecured throw rug, lamp cords, and poor lighting on the way to the bathroom have tripped up many older adults.

In our youth, our physical responses, vision, recovery mechanisms, and inner-ear functions are so good that we expect them always to be that way. With age, however, all of these strategies become less dependable. A sedentary lifestyle increases the rate of decline. Older adults who are concerned about preventing or delaying such a decline will want to engage in a program of regular exercise tailored to the patient’s needs by the doctor of chiropractic. One of the better forms of exercise for this purpose is tai chi, which consists of gentle Asian dance-like moves. Tai chi has been proven to improve balance. Walking also benefits balance and strengthens the lower body, which typically grows weaker with age.

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