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In addition to slips and falls on the ice, shoveling the driveway is a common cause of back injuries during the winter months. As is the case with most low back injuries, prevention is the most the most important thing to know.  

Here are 7 tips can help you avoid low back injuries during the icy and snowy winter season. 

1. Use an “Ergonomic” Shovel 

This may sound strange, but not all shovels are created equal. There are “ergonomic” snow shovels that can help reduce the pressure on your back while shoveling snow. These strange looking shovels with the bent handles will minimize excessive bending and allow you to bend your knees only slightly and arch your back very slightly while keeping the shovel blade on the ground. 

1. Stretch and Warm up Your Muscles Before Shoveling 

Spend 5 to 10 minutes stretching before heading out to shovel that driveway. Doing stretches for the legs, back and shoulders will loosen up your body and make your shoveling safer for your back. Sit in a chair with your legs extended out in front of you and gently lean forward reaching for your feet. This stretches your hamstrings and is a great way to prevent lifting injuries. You can also try shoveling after going for a short walk, when your muscles are looser and warmed up. 

1. Always Use Proper Lifting Techniques 

Whenever possible, push the snow out of the way rather than lifting and throwing it with the shovel. If you must lift the snow, follow these helpful techniques: 

• Always face towards the object you intend to lift – have your shoulders and hips both squarely facing it. 
• Bend at the hips, not the low back, and push the chest out, pointing forward. Then, bend your knees and lift with your leg muscles, keeping your back straight. 

• Keep your loads light and do not lift an object that is too heavy for you. 
• If you must lift a shovel full, grip the shovel with one hand as close to the blade as comfortably possible and the other hand on the handle (handle and arm length will vary the technique). 
• Avoid twisting the back to move the snow to its new location – always pivot your whole body to face the new direction. 
• Keep the heaviest part of the object close to your body at your center of gravity – do not extend your arms to throw the snow. 
• Walk to the new location to deposit the item rather than reaching or tossing. 

1. Don’t Do Too Much at One Time 

Shoveling small amounts of snow frequently is less strenuous than shoveling a large amount at once. Spend only 15-20 minutes at a time shoveling the snow. Put the shovel down and go do something else. After a short break, return to shoveling for another 15-20 minutes. If you have a massive amount of snow to move, if possible, removing snow over a period of days. In deep snow, remove a few inches off the top at a time, rather than attempting to shovel the full depth at once. 

1. Wear the Right Footwear 

Slippery conditions while shoveling can lead to slipping and/or falls and strains that can injure your back. Shoes or boots with good treads will help to minimize injuries from slipping. You can buy ice and snow grips for your shoes or boots. They are an inexpensive and very useful tool to help prevent slips and falls. Spread sand or rock salt on your sidewalk or driveway to increase traction and reduce the likelihood of slipping on the ice. 

1. If Possible, Stop Shoveling – Invest in a Snow Blower Instead 

If you live in an area where there is plentiful snowfall, a snow blower becomes a common sense and good investment. When used correctly, a snow blower can put less stress on your low back than shoveling. Avoid stressing your back by using the power of your legs to push the snow blower while keeping your back straight and knees bent. 

1. Make Sure Your Spine and Posture is Healthy and Strong 

Having a properly aligned spine is essential to prevention of back injuries. Poor posture represents weakened, damaged and injured areas of the spine. If your Posture isn’t looking so good, it’s time to get it checked. Call our office for a free computerized postural analysis. 

Practicing “chiropractic” means many things to many chiropractors. Some chiropractors do rehabilitation techniques for sports injuries, while others use clinical nutrition methods and lifestyle advice. Others only adjust the spine, leaving the ancillary procedures for other providers to perform. However, the practice of chiropractic invariably has one common thread amongst nearly every doctor in the profession… performing chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments are the foundation upon which the profession was founded and remains the basis of how chiropractors help their patients.   

When someone mentions a chiropractic “adjustment” of the spine, a person will likely either excitedly profess the benefits they have received from chiropractic adjustments; or they will express their fear of getting “adjusted”.  More often than not the “fear” comes from a story of someone’s cousins, best friend’s sister that got adjusted and made her worse. The fact of the matter is that millions of spinal adjustments are performed around the world every day, and those millions of patients return for further adjustments… because they tend to help. There is a reason there is a chiropractor on every corner in the Treasure Valley after all. 

According to the laws establishing and governing the practice of chiropractic in Idaho, an “Adjustment” means the “application of a precisely controlled force applied by hand or by mechanical device to a specific focal point on the anatomy for the express purpose of creating a desired angular movement in skeletal joint structures in order to eliminate or decrease interference with neural transmission and correct or attempt to correct subluxation complex”. This is the lawful definition that every chiropractor licensed in Idaho abides by.  Adjustments are specific and controlled forces to the spine, producing improvement in alignment and movement and thereby lead to improvement in “neural transmission”. This improvement in neural transmission leads to enhancement in the body’s overall ability to function and as a result there is an improvement in pain, function and overall health. 

Concussion is a term that many people know of and have possibly experienced at some point in their life. What a lot of people don’t realize is that concussions are a type of traumatic brain injury with many health effects, both instantly and into the future. Concussions can occur from either direct or indirect blows to the head and there are many signs and symptoms that people can present with. Some signs and symptoms include forgetfulness, mood changes, slowed reaction times, headaches, fogginess, sleep disturbances and/or fatigue, among others. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1.6 to 3.8 million concussions occur in sports and recreational activities every single year. With that many concussions per year, many people decide that ‘rest and relaxation’ is the best remedy to help the brain heal. Unfortunately, this is not the case.  

There are many options to help your brain and body heal post-concussion that many people are not aware of. 

 1-chiropractic care—to help manage the physical symptoms of concussion, like neck pain, headaches, and potentially weakened ligaments through a whiplash-like injury, through specific corrective exercises.  Chiropractic care is generally a low risk treatment, it is a very safe form of care for people of all ages. 

 2- Adding antioxidants into your diet- Brain injuries cause a cascade of free radical formation; therefore, adding supplements into your diet to decrease inflammation and free radicals is very beneficial to helping your brain heal after an injury. Some supplements that have been shown in research and studies to help the brain heal right after and chronically, are omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D. These two supplements reduce inflammation of the neuronal tissues, help stop the cell death process associated with traumatic brain injuries and they also help reduce oxidative stress. According to a study posted in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs in 2011, a six month trial of ginko, vinpocetine, acetyl-l-carnitine, huperzine, alpha-lipoic acid, n-acetyl-cysteine, multivitamins, and over 5 g of omega-3 fatty acids daily yielded improved performance in cognitive testing and increased perfusion (function) in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan.  

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21615001). Other supplements that are known to help with lowering brain inflammation include: resveratrol, curcumin, catechin, and rutin. Feverfew, gingko Biloba and vinpocetine all help to also increase oxygen to the brain, lowering inflammation levels. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has also been shown to increase blood flow to the brain to help heal brain tissue. Lots of research shows that HBOT improves brain blood supply, reduces inflammation, and enhances neurogenesis, which improves recovery after injury to the central nervous system (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3231808/)dfree)Supplementing with Acetyl-L-Carnitine to increase Acetylcoline in the brain has also been shown to help with cognitive processes and reversing neurological decline.  

 3-infrared lighting- Near infrared light has been looked into due to its ability to modify mechanisms related to healing, especially when used at specific frequencies of wavelengths. NIR has been shown to help wound healing, muscle repair, stimulate growth of new blood vessels, and activate anti-inflammatory processes. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4870908/) 

4- Reducing cortisol- Cortisol is a stress hormone that increases inflammation in the body and brain. Any high amount of physical or emotional stress increases cortisol, as well as alcohol intake. Learning ways to help reduce emotional stress and decrease drinking alcohol will help heal your brain after a concussion. There are breathing techniques that help stimulate the vagus nerve in your body, which turn on the parasympathetic nervous system. Breathing in through your belly for four seconds, holding your breath in for four seconds and slowly exhaling will help stimulate this nervous system response. Chiropractic care has also been shown to stimulate the vagus nerve, allowing the body to be in a more-healing friendly state. Humming, meditation, washing your face with cold water and balancing your gut microbiome health can help decrease inflammation by stimulating the vagus nerve.  

 All in all, there are many healthy ways that have been shown to help with the repercussions of concussion. Corrective chiropractic care, certain supplementation methods and practicing a healthier diet will a

We live in a connected world through our technology, but unfortunately there’s a significant negative impact technology can have on our health. With the rise in use of cell phones, there has been a corresponding rise in neck pain and related symptoms (headaches, shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness and tingling in the hands). This new health condition is being called “text neck.”  

Our neck (cervical spine) should naturally have a C-shape when viewed from the side, which allows our joints and discs to be in proper alignment, as well as our muscles and spinal cord to be relaxed. When we look down at our cell phones, the spine loses this natural c-curvature, putting added stress and load on the joints and soft tissues. Prolonged head flexion when using our technology and cells phones can create permanent changes in the neck and soft tissues and lead to a host of health issues, such as neck pain, headaches, fatigue, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, upper back pain, etc. Studies have even found that loss of neck curvature can create lower back pain. (Kai Y, et al. Traumatic thoracic outlet syndrome. Orthop Traumatol 1998;47: 1169-1171)

Another recent study shows that 79% of our population between ages 18 and 44 have their cell phones on them almost all the time. (https://www.nu.nl/files/IDC-Facebook%20Always%20Connected%20%281%29.pdf). That is a large number of people literally addicted to their cell phones. Looking down at our cell phones is a repetitive use injury that takes time. Now it only takes ten minutes stuck in one position to start slowly changing the ligaments of your spine. Your ligaments are the ‘glue’ that keeps your spine intact and when these become weak and stretched out over time, this is when we start to see the loss of neck curvature. When we lose our neck curve, added stress to the joints occur and the degenerative process begins. This has the potential to lead to a life of arthritis and degenerative disc disease; that is, if left that way. 

There are many professions and types of people that are more susceptible to ‘text neck.’ Many people in certain professions spend most of their work day stuck in a head flexed position. This would include hairdressers, estheticians, beauticians, dental assistants and hygienists, mechanics and welders. Teenagers, as well as toddlers and young children, are also very susceptible to having ‘text neck’ due to the amount of screen time these kids are permitted.

The first thing that we can do to avoid text neck is being aware of our postures throughout the day and teaching ourselves (and our children) to use better posture. We need to avoid looking down at our screens and phones and bringing them to the level of our eyes instead. This is easily done with our phones buy bringing our arms up to the level of our eyes and our computer screens up with risers. Taking breaks from our technology and/or avoiding using our technology for long periods of time will also help.

Another time that we are stuck in a head flexed position without our technology is when we are sleeping. Many people like to lie on their sides while sleeping, curled up in a ball; while this may be comfortable, it is essentially doing the exact same thing as staring down at your phone while being awake. Avoid sleeping in a ball by extending your back and keeping your chin away from your chest while sleeping. 

Now it is extremely hard to reverse a neck curve that has lost its natural c-shape with many well-known therapies such as physical therapy or regular chiropractic. There is a specific technique in the chiropractic profession, known as chiropractic biophysics that has repeatedly shown great results at correcting the structure of the neck curve. If you think that this is something that you or your kids may be suffering with or be the cause of your symptoms, please call us for a free consult and examination.

Participation in sports or exercise is an important step in maintaining your health. Exercise strengthens your heart, bones, and joints and reduces stress, among many other benefits.

Unfortunately, injuries during participation in sports are all too common, especially in children and teens. Often, these injuries occur in someone who is just taking up sports as a form of activity, doesn’t use proper safety equipment or becomes overzealous about the exercise regimen.

The more commonly injured areas of the body are the ankles, knees, shoulders, elbows, and spine.

Identifying and correcting biomechanical issues or weakness to joints with your chiropractor is a great way to be pro-active in preventing sports injuries for all ages. In addition, getting chiropractic care for injuries sustained is a great way to minimize their recurrence.

For teens who are either inactive, are injured or suffer from back pain, chiropractic offers effective treatment options. Low back pain has been incorrectly thought of as being something only adults experienced. While it is estimated that up to 80% of adults get low back pain at some time, one out four teens will also get this pain. The same research is also identifying that teenagers with back pain have trouble sleeping and participating in school and social activities. In addition, teens dealing with back pain also have a higher incidence of eating disorders and trouble meeting friends.

The following can cause your teen to have back pain:

• Bad posture
• Leaning over to play video games
• Sitting to long using the computer
• Heavy back packs
• Emotional stresses
• A medical condition
• Sports injury
• Being overweight
• School bags on just one shoulder

In some case rare conditions, a child may be born with spinal disorder. The most common condition is scoliosis, which causes an S-shape curve that is exaggerated. This condition is more common in girls than boys and tends not to be painful. If a parent is concerned they should consult one of our doctors trained to evaluate for scoliosis.

Parents can encourage their children in a number of ways to help prevent lower back pain.

1. First is to maintain good posture.
2. Don’t over load back packs.
3. Warm up before exercise.
4. Stay active and learn how to be safe when engaging in activities like skateboarding, skiing, and playing sports.

Parents consider seeking help from a chiropractor for your teens to help them enjoy a much more active life.

There are many different types of headaches including migraines, cluster, post-traumatic, tension, etc. The most common type of headaches people get is tension headaches, which are a type of primary headache.  There is often an underlying cause of various types of headaches. 

 Tension headaches can affect people of various ages. Although it is common to think of these types of headaches to be caused by stress, that is only one cause. Therefore, people who may not be under tremendous stress, such as children can also get tension headaches. Stress may be thought of as the most common cause. But there are many people who are under significant stress who never get headaches. Factors that influence the muscles of the neck and head can also cause tension headaches. These factors include, injury to the muscles, such as in a trauma or repetitive strain injuries, which may often be work-related. Poor posture also places the muscles of the neck and head under increased strain. Poor posture has been shown to be related to the presence of headaches.1 

 The brain itself does not produce pain signals, as it does not have nerve receptors sensitive to painful stimuli. However, the blood vessels and nerves within the head can produce pain signals, as can the muscles and meninges (layer of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord). The exact physiology of the mechanisms producing the pain is not well understood. Some headaches, such as migraines and cluster headaches begin in the brain with neurologic dysfunction and subsequent blood vessel response. Others such as the common tension-type headache, can begin with a similar central neurologic mechanism, or can start with over activity of the muscles of the head and neck due to injury (for example after a “whiplash”), poor posture, stress or prolonged repetitive neck movement as seen in work related repetitive strain injuries. 

 Headaches are very elusive to accurate diagnosis. A careful history must be done. Headache questionnaires are very common and often a doctor may ask you to keep a “headache diary” keeping note of the duration, frequency, and type of headache, in addition to possible triggering factors, such as stressful events, foods or activities. Sometimes a Computed Tomography (CT) scan of the head is done. This is more precautionary to rule out more serious pathology. In a few cases MRI examination of the head and/or neck may be ordered. X-rays of the neck are often recommended to evaluate the possibility of production of the problem within the neck that could be leading to the production of headache symptoms. 

 Headaches are a neurological problem. Sometimes this neurological production of pain starts from a spinal joint issue. The vertebrae of the spine contain and protect the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Chiropractic Biophysics® care works to improve the function of the nervous system and muscular function by restoring normal structure to the spine and posture through the use of Mirror Image exercises, traction and adjusting. 

“Analgesics”, or pain relieving medications, are often used by headache sufferers.  However, these drugs merely hide the symptoms and do nothing to improve the underlying cause of the headaches. Regular use of these over-the-counter and prescription medications can lead to “rebound headaches” which are actually worse that the original headache they intended to relieve. Medications implicated in rebound headaches include nonprescription painkillers, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Prescriptions such as barbiturates, sedatives, narcotics, and migraine medications, particularly those that also contain caffeine can also lead to rebound headaches. Heavy caffeine intake use can also cause this condition. Typical medical intervention rarely addresses the “cause” of the tension-type headaches. 

 Original research studies and review articles have shown the potential benefits of chiropractic care. In fact, 10 Randomized Clinical Trials (RCT’s) have reported significant improvement with chiropractic care for tension-type headaches and other headaches with neck related complaints in the majority of studies.2-11 See Table 1. Millions of headache sufferers have found amazing relief from chiropractic care. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation so we can find out if there is a way we can help you with your headaches. 

 Table 1. 10 Randomized Clinical Trials of tension headaches and headaches with neck symptoms with majority of studies showing positive effects of chiropractic care 

 References: 

1. Mingels S, Dankaerts W, van Etten L, Thijs H, Granitzer M. Comparative analysis of head-tilt and forward head position during laptop use between females with postural induced headache and healthy controls. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Jul;20(3):533-41 

1. Boline PD, Kassak K, Bronfort G, Nelson C, Anderson AV. Spinal manipulation vs. amitriptyline for the treatment of chronic tension-type headaches: a randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995;18:148-154. 

1. Bove G, Nilsson N. Spinal manipulation in the treatment of episodic tension-type headache: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998;280:1576-1579. 

1. Donkin RD, Parkin-Smith GF, Gomes AN. Possible effect of chiropratic manipulation and combined manual traction and manipulation on tension-type headache: a pilot study. J Neuromusculoskeletal Syst. 2002;10:89-97. 

1. Haas M, Haas M, Groupp E, Aickin M, Fairweather A, Ganger B, Attwood M, Cummins C, Baffes L. Dose response for chiropractic care of chronic cervicogenic headache and associated neck pain: a randomized pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2004;27:547-55 

1. Hemmila HM. Bone setting for prolonged neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;28(7):508-15. 

1. Hoyt WH, Shaffer F, Bard DA, Benesler JS, Blankenhorn GD, Gray JH, et al. Osteopathic manipulation in the treatment of muscle-contraction headache. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 1979;78:322-5.  

1. Jull G, Trott P, Potter H, et al. A randomized controlled trial of exercise and manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache. Spine 2002;27:1835-1843; discussion 1843. 

1. Nilsson N. A randomized controlled trial of the effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of cervicogenic headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1995;18:435-440. 

1. Nilsson N, Christensen HW, Hartvigsen J. Lasting changes in passive range of motion after spinal manipulation: A randomized, blind, control trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1996;19:165-168. 

1. Whittingham W, Nilsson N. Active range of motion in the cervical spine increases after spinal manipulation (toggle recoil). J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24(9):552-5. 

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So for centuries, man has known about the importance of a level and strong foundation to build homes, buildings and bridges on. It’s common sense that a strong and sturdy foundation can support enormous amounts of weight and be able to withstand nearly all types of weather. Many people go to school for years just to learn about the structural integrity and importance of a strong and sturdy foundation. These engineers are passionate about structural integrity and making sure they are safe and sound for any type of structure. 

At Modern Chiropractic Center in Boise, we too are structural engineers of a different sort. We are engineers of the human body. We care about the foundation of each and every spine and we spend each day maintaining and fixing them. 

Each and every spine sits upon your sacrum, also known as your tailbone. It is a triangular shaped bone that sits between your two ilium bones. These bones make up the majority of your pelvis. Now, what’s holding up your pelvis? Your femur bones are. Those are the bones inside your thighs. And as we go down the legs we get into the tibias and fibulas that are connected to your feet and the many bones within those. 

Life happens to all of us, meaning sometimes we are involved in accidents or traumas that may affect our bodies. Sometimes we are born with “anomalies”, which is defined as something that deviates from what is standard or considered normal. That being said, many people have what’s called an anatomical leg length inequality or ALLI. That means for whatever reason, one of your legs are different lengths, this can cause health problems, pains, and degenerations. 

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Chiropractic by Dr. Deed Harrison explains and gives an example of what can happen to the body’s structure when a short leg is present. “For a left ALLI, the thoracic cage will translate to the left side and laterally flex to the right. Often, the pelvis will translate slightly towards the side of ALLI (left in this case). The pelvis will rotate anterior on the short leg side. If the shoulders and feet are aligned parallel, this means that the thorax has rotated posterior in the exact degrees that the pelvis rotated anterior. In other words, the thorax typically rotates posterior on the short leg side.” This paper goes on to say that an ALLI greater than 1 cm was associated with the prevalent and symptomatic Osteoarthritis of the knee of the shorter leg. Dr. Harrison references another study which says, “In a 2009 cohort study of 3012 people, Golightly and colleagues examined the relationship between chronic Knee and/or hip symptoms to ALLI. In 2006 of the subjects, there was an ALLI of ≥ 2 cm. Subjects in their sample with ALLI were statistically more likely to have knee symptoms (p<0.001). After adjusting for several confounding variables, knee symptoms were statistically associated with the presence of an ALLI (OR= 1.41 p< 0.001). 

They stated, “LLI was moderately associated with chronic knee symptoms and less strongly associated with hip symptoms. LLI may be a new modifiable risk factor for therapy of people with knee or hip symptoms”.” (Harrison, 2010) 

Now an even more concerning problem is what it can do to your pelvis and your spine. When you have a shorter leg on one side, typically the sacrum will follow that short side and tilt. For example if you had a short right leg, the right side of your sacrum will tilt to the right and then the spine will follow to the right in the coronal view causing an abnormal curve in your low back. Remember, your sacrum and femurs are the foundation to your spine. How your femurs are positioned usually causes your sacrum and the spine to do the same. Many times having a short leg is the sole reason for having a scoliosis. Scoliosis can rob you or your health, cause pain and stiffness, and even joint degeneration. 

 The doctors at Modern Chiropractic Center specialize in ALLI’s on a daily basis. We take special x-rays, which measure your leg lengths and the angle of the sacrum to see if your foundation is causing the problems you currently have or if they may be a risk factor for future problems. Along with the foundation being off, not only are you at a greater risk of knee pain and arthritis, but low back pain or even scoliosis. 

 At modern Chiropractic Center, we can’t make your leg bones longer and we can’t make your long leg shorter. What we can do is a simple x-ray to determine the length of your legs and the angle of the sacrum and provide a non-invasive and affordable option to even out your legs. We can offer heel lifts specifically designed for your needs. “In a 2005 randomized trial, Defrin et al, found statistically significant improvements in chronic low back pain in patients receiving shoe lifts compared to no treatment in the control subjects. In both the control and lift treatment groups, the measured LLI was between 5-10mm as measured via pelvic radiographs. This important study provides evidence that patients with chronic low back pain with concomitant ALLI between 5-10 mm may benefit from orthotic intervention aimed at leveling the sacral base and femur head heights. They stated, “Shoe inserts appear to reduce CLBP and functional disability in patients with LLDs of 10mm or less”. (Harrison, 2010) 

In 2007, Golightly et al, reported on improvements in twelve (6 males and 6 females) consecutive chronic low back pain patients between the ages of 19-62 years of age with radiographic ALLI between 6.4-22.2 mm. Subjects were treated with orthotic intervention determined by the height that best relieved patient symptoms. Using the visual analog scale and disability questionnaires, statistically significant reductions in chronic pain intensity and disability scores were found.”  

If your are having health problems that you wish you could change; If you have some knee, hip or back pain, stop by our office or call to get your foundation checked out. Lets get those legs and sacrums measured and fixed so your body can sit on a level and strong foundation. 

 A sure foundation is built to withstand all the forces and weather that life has to through at you. 

 Harrison, Deed E. (April 2010). “Leg Length Inequality: Recent Studies & A New Full Length Shoe Lift Orthotic.” American Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Retrieved from: http://www.chiropractic-biophysics.com/clinical_chiropractic/2010/4/12/leg-length-inequality-recent-studies-a-new-full-length-shoe.html 

Picture from Freepik

You’ve wished for it all winter long and it is finally here; spring! The sun starts warming the Treasure Valley and soon enough it will be summer time in Idaho! With the tank tops and shorts also comes your mother’s voice in your head saying, “don’t forget your sunscreen!” Ever since we were little, our parents have warned us about getting sunburned and the horrible consequences we can have from it, such as a variety of skin cancers. From the day that we learned about radiation and the effects it can have on humans, such as UV exposure from the sun, we have feared getting these cancers; this is when the sunscreen industry began. This is also when we started to notice the rise in skin cancers, so this begs the question, “why?”

First things first, the sun is here for a reason. It gives energy to everything in this world and without it, we would not exist. It is essential to life and our health, yet we have been told the only thing it is good for is skin cancer. The sun interacts with our skin when we go outside (without sunscreen) and when it does, something wonderful happens within our skin—Vitamin D production! Vitamin D is not actually a Vitamin…it is in fact a hormone. This hormone is the precursor to every other hormone made in the human body.  Without vitamin D, we would all suffer from many health problems, such as high blood pressure, weak bones and muscles and depression. According to a recent study done in 2014 by the Journal of Neurology; vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of Alzheimer ’s disease. There are also many other studies that show vitamin D deficiency can increase our risk for schizophrenia, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, and heart disease.  So again, why are we as a nation still lathering on the sunscreen if the lack of vitamin D can cause so many health problems?

According to the CDC, more than 60% of the American population uses sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. However, what most people don’t know is that there are many studies that do not support that sunscreen actually reduces the risk of skin cancer.  If sunscreen prevented cancer, we would assume that the rates of skin cancer would decrease over the years of increased sunscreen promotion. In fact the opposite has actually happened. Skin rates have not decreased at all. One explanation is that this is because of HOW MUCH sunscreen we are using, and WHAT KIND of sunscreen we put on our skin. Now we are not saying that we should never use sunscreen, but we need to be sun savvy and be aware of how much exposure time we are getting and what kind of sunscreen we are putting on our body.

Brands of sunscreen that we are used to include Banana Boat, Coppertone, Equate, and Neutrogena. Unfortunately, many of these brands contain hormones such as oxybenzone. Oxybenzone has been linked to health disorders like endometriosis and low testosterone in men because it mimics estrogen in the body. It can also cause allergy-like symptoms like itchy skin in some people. Another ingredient found in popular sunscreens is Retinyl Palmitate, which is a form of vitamin A. Studies have shown that this ingredient actually increases the rate of which a skin tumor or cancer grows. WHAT?? An ingredient in sunscreen, which is SUPPOSED to protect us from skin cancer, actually CAUSES cancer to grow FASTER?! This is why choosing a healthy sunscreen void of these ingredients is essential to being healthy.

The Environmental Working Group has done all the research in finding the best sunscreens to use, whether it’s for yourself or for your kids. Visit https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/ for many lists on which sunscreens to choose from. It is so very important to be out in the sun without sunscreen for a little while, so that we are able to produce the Vitamin D we need to function and stay healthy, but we also need to be sun savvy and know when we have had enough sun exposure. The best times to go out into the sun without sunscreen is early mornings and late afternoon, while avoiding mid day when the sun is at its highest.

So quick recap: 1-UV exposure is essential to vitamin D production. 2-It is OKAY to be in the sun without sunscreen for an appropriate time frame 3-when it is time to use sunscreen, do not use popular sunblock, but instead look for healthy brands that are mineral based and do not contain oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate.

HAPPY SPRING AND SUMMER!!

When a woman experiences pain and discomfort during pregnancy, chiropractic care can prove to be invaluable. Chiropractors are holistic physicians who diagnosis and treat misalignments of the body joints. As a woman’s body transforms to provide room for a growing baby, she can experience discomforts. A common complaint of pregnancy is low back and hip pain, which may be addressed with chiropractic care. Chiropractic care during pregnancy increases the possibility of having a vaginal delivery by ensuring that babies are in the head-down position for delivery and helping the body to transform for birth. When a woman seeks chiropractic care during pregnancy at Modern Chiropractic Center in Boise her body may respond well, and she may be relived of pain and discomfort. Women can feel safe and secure in the knowledge that the Chiropractors at Modern Chiropractic Center are all family oriented and care about all people especially mothers and their precious children.

Low back pain and hip pain are common complaints among pregnant women. Case studies have shown that the occurrence of low back pain (LBP) starting during a pregnancy is between 50% and 80% (1). It has been shown that among women with low back pain of pregnancy, 75% reported no back pain before pregnancy (1). As the fetus grows it will put pressure on all parts of the woman’s body. Hips will widen and open to make room for delivery and the extra baby weight can cause discomfort on the back and hips. Chiropractic care can help to relieve this pain through spinal manipulation when there is a misalignment or subluxation of the musculoskeletal spine. In a study by Dr. Lisi, he says, “Basic science studies have shown that manipulation results in increased joint range of motion, modulated joint kinematics, regional hypoalgesia, and altered muscle tone. Therefore, patients may benefit from increased joint motion and/or decreased joint or muscle pain” (1). When the chiropractors at Modern Chiropractic Center adjust the low back and hip area it relieves pressure on the spinal cord and surrounding nerves. When pressures from the spinal bones are put on the spinal cord it can cause pain, tingling or numbness. Seeking treatment at Modern Chiropractic Center the doctors can correct the curvature of the spine, relieve pressure and you will have relief. It is crucial to note that no adverse effects from chiropractic care during pregnancy occurred in any of the women studied by Dr. Lisi (1). 

Heartburn is often noted as a discomfort during pregnancy and being adjusted by a chiropractor can ease this discomfort. A case study found that nearly 80% of all pregnant women have symptoms and complaints of heartburn, and that the discomforts associated with heartburn increase during the duration of pregnancy (2). As a woman’s body changes and grows to allow space for a growing fetus her shifting organs and diaphragm can cause upward pressure on the stomach; pushing stomach acid up into the lower esophagus. Heartburn symptoms during pregnancy can be treated without the use of drugs by eliminating heartburn-causing foods from the diet. When this proves to be not enough many women may turn to drugs.  Dr. Caroline Peterson says, “Pharmaceuticals [can] alter the biochemistry of the mother’s body at a time when the fetus’s biochemistry template is being established and therefore could have long-term impact on the fetal epigemone” (2).  At Modern Chiropractic Center the doctors encourage healing, starting with the body. Through chiropractic care, this pressure can be released. Peterson states that she reviewed 13 studies about pregnancy-related heartburn and chiropractic. In all 13 studies, chiropractic care improved the symptoms of heartburn with no adverse events noted (2). Treatment of heartburn through chiropractic care has proven to be effective. Chiropractic care is a very important alternative to pharmaceuticals, because it has no side effects. Avoiding drugs whenever possible during pregnancy should always be the goal for the safety of the baby, and the doctors at Modern Chiropractic Center support this.

Pregnancy is a normal, physiological part of a woman’s life. A woman’s body is designed to give birth vaginally, with benefits to the mother and baby. Unfortunately, when the baby presents in a head-up or breech-position, the mother is typically referred for surgery. It is estimated that nearly 3% to 4.6% of single infant pregnancies will result in a breech presentation. Of these breech pregnancies, 86% will be born via cesarean section, resulting in 13% of all cesarean sections in the United States (3). When a woman has a cesarean section she is more likely to have complications as a result of the surgery including uterine rupture. Nearly 87% of uterine ruptures happen in women who have had a previous cesarean section; therefore, avoiding a c-section will decrease the chances of a uterine rupture (4). Chiropractic treatment early in pregnancy may prevent the chances of a baby being in a breech position in late pregnancy.
Chiropractors are doctors of the spine and the nervous system. They treat all types of lifestyles and life changes. Pregnancy is a crucial time for body alignment, and the chiropractors at Modern Chiropractic Center strive for ideal spinal alignment.  Seeking the medical advice at Modern Chiropractic Center during pregnancy can prove to have many beneficial effects with little to no risk to the mother or baby. Being adjusted regularly by a chiropractor during pregnancy can eliminate and/or relieve low back and hip pain. Heartburn during pregnancy can be treated without the use of pharmaceutical drugs with care from a chiropractor. While these symptoms can be treated by a chiropractor, there are many more reasons to seek chiropractic care during pregnancy. When a woman seeks chiropractic care during pregnancy from a licensed doctor of chiropractic she will feel relief from skeletal and joint pain, heartburn relief, and will increase her chances of having a normal vaginal delivery. Contact us at Modern Chiropractic Center in Boise for all your pregnancy and health related needs.

1. Lisi, AJ. (2006). Chiropractic spinal manipulation for low back pain of pregnancy: A retrospective case series. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health 51(1), e7-e10 doi: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2005.09.001
2. Peterson, C. (2012). A case study of chiropractic management of pregnancy-related heartburn with postulated fetal epigenome implications. EXPLORE 8(5), 304-308 doi:10.1016/i.explore.2012.06.001
3. Pistolese, R. (2002). The Webster technique: A chiropractic technique with obstetric implications. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1-6 doi: 10.1067/mmt.2002.126127
4. Zwar, J., Richters, J., Ory, F., de Viries, J., Bloemenkamp, K., Van Roosmalen, J. (2008). Severe maternal morbidity during pregnancy, delivery and puerperium in the Netherlands: a nationwide population-based study of 371,000 pregnancies. An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2008.01713.x