Seattle Chiropractor Capitol Hill » Neck Pain

Neck Pain reduced or eliminated by changing your posture

Dr Jared — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:34:10 +0000

poor posture causes neck strain, disc and nerve damage

proper posture while texting and reading

Im sitting here at a local Seattle coffee shop just observing how people relate to their computers, books, and mobile devices and what i see is a room full of people with terrible posture. The effects of poor posture are so directly related to neck and upper back pain that it would be easy for me to pick out who is in pain and who isnt. One of the most common and damaging postural problems is FHP or Forward Head Posture. In ideal head and neck posture the head is held such that the ear canal is directly over the center of the shoulders. FHP is when the head begins to move forward from this position. When you’re texting do you look down at your phone as you type the message? if yes, then you’re in Forward Head Posture. When reading, do you have the book flat on the table and look down as you read? This is FHP. When using your computer, do you round your upper back and crane your neck as you type and look in at the screen? This too is FHP. Consider this…your head is like a 10lb. bowling ball on a stalk (your neck). Seriously, the neck is a thin column of 7 stacked bones with a delicate spinal cord passing though them. Surrounded by more nerves, blood vessels to your brain, and dozens of straping muscles to hold it up. Now… for every inch your head is forward from the center of the shoulder it stretches the spinal cord and adds 10lbs to the load your neck and upper back muscle have to hold. So if you look down to text, the head is about 5 inches forward. This not only compresses spinal discs and stretches the spinal cord, but adds over 50lbs to the workload of your upper back and neck muscles! No wonder your muscles get fatigue! Imagine holding a 50lb bowling bowl in your right arm for even 3-4 hour a day and what will you get? A seriously tired arm! Keep this up day after day and your spine, discs, and muscles will become strained, damaged and undergo permanent degenerative changes. In the early stages this is often painless; in the later stages the pain is often constant. According to the prestigious American Journal of Pain Management, FHP can cause neck pain, headaches, upper back pain, radiating pain in arms, numbness and tingling in hands, and has a negative affect on blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity. And as stated in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter Vol. 18, #3, March 2000, the effects of long term forward head posture lead to “myospasm, disc herniations, osteoporosis and pinched nerves.” In most cases Forward Head Posture is correctable. In our office, we see both early and late stage effects of Forward Head Posture and encourage everyone to change how they interface with their computers, phones, books and many activities of daily living. We’ve had tremendous success, with both early and late stage FHP, by utilizing both posture re-education, specific chiropractic corrective adjustments, and special corrective exercises to actually correct Forward Head Posture and not simply cover up the symptoms temporarily with dangerous pain killers and muscle relaxers. Forward Head Posture is easy to detect and can be corrected with the specific chiropractic treatment program that we offer at The Vital Energy Center. If you or someone you is in pain, give us a call, we’re happy to help!

Chiropractor Capitol Hill Seattle

Seattle Chiropractor Capitol Hill

Chiropractic Capitol Hill Seattle

30+ years of migraines disappear after a gentle chiropractic adjustment!

Dr Jared — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:21:42 +0000

This was another amazing week for our patients at The Vital Energy Center. A long time client of ours referred his friend in who has been suffering from migraines since he was 8 years old. He had never been to a chiropractor before as his regular doctor had discouraged it and only offered medication to relieve the pain, but nothing to address the cause of the migraines. Well Mike (name changed for privacy reasons) decided to come in as his friend had great results here and mentioned that we were different and offered a very gentle and unique approach to chiropractic. On the initial visit, I spoke with Mike for about :20 minutes and discovered that he suffered head trauma when he was a kid and the migraines started shortly thereafter. Everyday, for 30 more years, he was in pain. His medication would only work sometimes and he would often be incapacitated due to the pain. Before conducting the exam, I clearly explained to Mike what chiropractic is, how it works, and exactly what we would and what we were looking for in the exam. During the exam it became clear to both of us that the migraines were a result of cervical (neck) dysfunction. The examine revealed a subluxation (spinal misalignment) in his upper cervical spine (the area where the skull meets the neck) that was irritating his nerve system and causing his pain. We completed the exam and were now ready for an adjustment. Mike was clearly anxious and nervous about his first adjustment, so i patiently explained that it was gentle, specific, painless and he would likely begin to feel better shorly afterwards. A sigh of relief as he lay down on the adjusting table. The adjustment was perfect! Mike sat up with nothing but a blank stare across his face. A quiet moment before a big grin came across his face. I asked if he was ok and he simply said “It’s gone.” Mike was in disbelief that such a gentle adjustment could be so powerful and would it last? I then instructed him on self care exercises and proper sitting and standing posture. A few days later Mike returned. His adjustment was holding, He was still smiling and still migraine free! Chiropractic is AMAZING!! And a fantastic way to eliminate headaches, neck pain, back pain and many other types of physical dysfunction without dangerous drug!! Chiropractic helps your body heal itself!! If you’re like Mike and are experiencing migraines or other pain dont be afraid, give us a call, I think you’ll be glad you did!

Yours in Health!

How do i know whether to use ice or heat after an injury?

Dr Jared — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:04:00 +0000

People often ask me which is better to use to facilitate healing, ice or heat. To determine this, its helpful to understand what ice and heat do to the tissues.

ICE: decreases the flow of circulation, decreases swelling after an acute injury, decreases pain impulses, and INCREASES muscle and ligament tension. Best applied after an acute injury in which a sprain/strain has occurred and where there is swelling. Also, when unusual or strenuous physical activity is followed by muscle or joint pain, its best to apply ice. Never apply ice directly to the skin, wrap the ice pack in a cloth before placing over the injured area. Ice is typically applied for :10 minutes every hour for the first 1-3 days, but its best to consult your doctor for the exact treatment frequency.

HEAT: increases circulation of blood and decreases muscle and ligament tension. Best used to relieve chronic muscle and ligament tension. Moist heat penetrates deeper into the body than dry heat and be sure to dry the area after use to prevent rapid cooling.

Hope that helps!! If you have questions let me know, I’d be happy to help.

Chiropractic Exam Special Offer!

Dr Jared — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:37:00 +0000

Are you or someone you know experiencing neck pain, back pain, or headaches? Did you know that we excel at helping people with these painful and sometimes debilitating conditions? Here’s your chance to get relief today with this amazing offer!

For a limited time, We’re offering our introductory exam for only $77!* (reg. $225). Here’s what we’ll do: an in-depth chiropractic consultation and evaluation including a computerized spinal exam, postural evaluation, and 70-pt muscle evaluation. When we’re finished, if we can help you we’ll tell you right away, and if we can’t, we’ll try to help you find someone who can.

Great Care & a Great Value:
You’ll be glad to know that further care is very affordable – We bill most major health insurance, auto insurance, and labor & industries. We also offer easy payment options if you have little or no insurance coverage. And you can be sure that we’ll treat you with the utmost care and respect in our office.

We’re here to help!
Meaghan, our office manager, is fantastic & she’s available to answer your questions and schedule your appointment.

This is your chance to find out what chiropractic is, how it works,
and how we can help you.

But remember, it’s a limited time offer and i don’t want you to miss
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*By the way, i want you to know there is no pressure, obligation, or hidden fees associated with this offer.
Sincerely,

Jared Kohler B.Sc,D.C.

Core strengthing exercises at work.

Dr Jared — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:19:00 +0000

This exercise is the foundation of core strength and its so simple you can do it just about anywhere. ok, here it goes: One of the most important muscles for core stability is the transverse abdominus. To activate this muscle, you simply exhale as you pull your belly toward your spine, hold for 5-10 seconds, repeat 12-20x. thats it! now there are several variations for this and different points of awareness, but this is the most basic, simple method of beginning to strengthen your core. have fun!

2 yoga postures to avoid

Dr Jared — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:16:00 +0000

we see alot of yoga practitioners in our clinic and many of them complain of neck pain and stiffness that just does not seem to go away. upon examination, i often find that these people have lost their normal cervical lordosis (or natural curve), there are many causes for this from poor reading posture, to head injuries and rear end auto accidents. once the curve is lost it must be restored to prevent deterioration of the discs, joints, muscles, and nerves. most yoga ananas (postures) will not exacerbate this condition, but there are 2 that put the neck under extreme strain and can even cause a disc herniation. what are the 2 posture to avoid…. shoulder stand and plow. i strongly suggest that you dont do them.

Chiropractic helps speed recovery after whiplash injuries

Dr Jared — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:51:00 +0000

After being in an auto accident many people seek care from their primary care medical doctor. They are often prescribed muscle relaxers, pain relievers, and physical therapy. Even though there is a large body of evidence based research that demonstrates that chiropractic care is the treatment of choice and helps speed recovery for neck injuries such as whiplash, some medical doctors still never mention it as a treatment option. The research clearly shows that chiropractic care is often more effective than other forms of care. In 1995, the Canadian Provence of Quebec commissioned a Task Force to study all the scientific research regarding the care of whiplash. After a 3 year review of 10,382 articles on neck injuries they determined that chiropractic adjustments were the gold standard treatment of choice. The other common treatments such as muscle relaxants, cervical pillows, acupuncture, ultrasound, diathermy were rejected as not having any scientific basis for their use. Only chiropractic with exercise were found to be significantly helpful in the recovery of whiplash. So, while it may be important to have a medical evaluation after an auto accident, it is also very important to have a thorough chiropractic evaluation as well, to allow for the best possible chance of recovery and return to normal.

A Simple Postural Change that can eliminate headaches, neck pain, and tension

Dr Jared — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:08:00 +0000

Posture affects all human function, both consciously and unconsciously, from breathing to thinking. Most of us are familiar with the affects of posture on mood. A classic example: If you stand with your back hunched over and your head down, you’ll begin to feel lousy. If you stand up tall with your shoulders back and chin up, you’ll begin to feel better. Not only does posture affect your mood, but it affects the very function of your body as well.

“Spinal Pain, headache, bloodpressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture. The corollary of these observations is thatmany symptoms, including pain mayb e moderated or eliminated by improved posture.” Am. Journal of Pain Management Vol 4. #1 Jan 1994.

One of the most destructive postural problems is FHP (or forward head posture). FHP is when your head is positioned out in front of your shoulders. It develops as a result of holding the chin toward the chest while reading, after rear-end car accidents, sleeping on your back with thick pillows under the head, and due to poor head positioning during computer use.

Why is FHP such a problem? Because it takes the natural curve out of the neck and significantly increases the stress on the spine, muscles, and discs. For every inch that your head is held forward the compressive forces placed on the spine increase 100%. When the spinal discs, and joints are subject to increased stress for a sustained period of time they begin to deform and permanent changes can take place. If left uncorrected, forward head posture can have serious health consequences.

“FHP leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis, and pinched nerves” Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Vol.18, #3, March 2000.

Heres how you can lessen the damaging effects of FHP:

First: Seek chiropractic care! Chiropractic corrective care can significantly reduce the effects of forward head posture on the spine. Gentle adjustments to the spine can help reduce spinal misalignments and stress and help restore the natural curve of your neck and bring your head back over your shoulders. Thereby significantly improve the integrity of the spine and nerve system.

Second: Avoid the “chin-to-chest” posture while reading. Instead, keep your head up, use a bookstand or simply bring reading material up to your eyes instead of your eyes down to the reading material.

Third: When using your computer, set the monitor at eye level so that when looking straight ahead, you gaze at the upper 1/3 or the monitor. Also, use a stand up clipboard or monitor clip for papers that you are working from so as to avoid bending and turning the neck to view papers that are flat on the desk. Many office supply stores have versions of paper stands or copy stands that attach to the computer monitor.

Forth: Use a headset when talking on the phone to avoid a sideways kink of the neck which occurs when you sandwich the phone between your ear and shoulder

Fifth: When sitting for long periods of time, take a moment ever :30 minutes and notice your posture. Then sit up straight, elevate your chest, and bring your head back over your shoulders. Every hour get up from the chair and stand with your back against the wall. Turn your palms forward and lightly squeeze your shoulder blades together. Press the back of your head gently into the wall, hold for 5 seconds and relax. walk away from the wall, but keep that chest elevated and head back over the shoulders. It’s gonna feel strange at first, but your body will get used to it.

Maintaining good posture is a lifelong commitment. And its worth it! By making a few small changes in your posture and having great chiropractic care you’re more likely to avoid the damage and degeneration that comes with spinal and postural neglect and instead have a healthy spine for a lifetime!