Tag: Posture

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Prolonged Sitting

 

What are the health implications of prolonged sitting?

 

 

There are a few health concerns that can be linked to prolonged sitting. As explained by the Mayo Clinic and the World Health Organisation this includes a cluster of conditions that make up metabolic syndrome, including:

 

 

  • Increased blood pressure
  • Excess visceral fat and
  • Abnormal cholesterol levels
  • High blood sugar and insulin resistance

 

 

It is observed that prolonged sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. For further reading see Mayo Clinic

 

 

The below article looks at the impact prolonged sitting may have specifically on your blood pressure.

 

 

Neurological link

 

 

Studies have shown there is a neurological link between poor posture and increased blood pressure.
As your posture becomes more forward and slouched this puts more pressure on the heart and lungs, therefore, making them work harder than they need to.
Neuroscientists at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom reported in 2007 that neck muscle cells signal the brain when sensing movement in the neck, possibly ensuring adequate blood supply as the body changes posture. The system, however, breaks down when cells incur damage from poor posture, resulting in blood pressure either higher or lower than optimum.

 

 

Poor posture?

 

 

The human body is designed to be upright and not engage in prolonged sitting. As a consequence of our increase in sedentary behavior, our bodies become more forward, this will erode our health on a daily basis. This can be anything from slouching at a computer or laptop, curling your spine over your iPhone, or spending too much time in a recliner or soft couch.

 

 

If you have a sedentary job or spend most of your day engaging in any of the above activities you may be at risk of undesirable conditions including high blood pressure. Speaking to your health expert is the next step you can take, as they can provide advice on how to make positive lifestyle changes.

 

 

Take action

 

 

There are a range of reasons why your posture can become more forward or slouched and it is important to address them. Apart from seeing a healthcare practitioner, there are lifestyle changes you can make to address poor posture. The Straighten Up App is a great tool to help promote better posture habits. This app is an initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association and can be found here https://chiropractors.asn.au/straighten-up-app

 

 

Contact us

 

You can call either our Crows Nest or North Sydney chiropractic clinic to speak to a licenced practitioner who may help you on the journey toward better posture.
North Sydney phone number: (02) 9955 8055
Crows Nest phone number: (02) 9460 8459
Email us at info@spineandhealth.com.au

Here are the references to the above-mentioned research studies:

[1] The Neurochemically Diverse Intermedius Nucleus of the Medulla as a Source of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to the Nucleus Tractus SolitariiIan

[2] J. Edwards, Mark L. Dallas, Sarah L. Poole, Carol J. Milligan, Yuchio Yanagawa, Gábor Szabó, Ferenc Erdélyi, Susan A. Deuchars, Jim Deuchars

[3] Journal of Neuroscience 1 August 2007, 27 (31) 8324-8333; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0638-07.2007

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Posture and breathing

Can you better one without the other?

This blog post on posture and breathing has been written by Dr. James Zheng. He is one of our Chiropractors from our Crows Nest Chiropractic centre. He talks of the significance of our breathing along with the impact it can have on your posture. If reading this article raises any concerns with your posture and breathing please contact your chiropractor, or health care practitioner.

The way we breathe can impact our whole body, as it helps to regulate vital body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure. It can also reinforce proper body mechanics that put less stress on our bodies as we move.

Breathing pattern dysfunction

Poor posture can lead to breathing pattern dysfunction. This is most commonly seen in people who spend long hours sitting each day. Rounded shoulders and a forward head posture cause the muscles around the chest to tighten and also depress your sternum. That tightening and depression limits the ability of the rib cage to expand and causes people to take more rapid, shallow breaths.

Research on posture and breathing

Research 1. has shown that people with ongoing neck pain or sore/ stiff neck muscles have difficulty using their lungs and respiratory system to their full capacity. Research 1. can be seen below

  1. Pulmonary Function of Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Spirometry Study, Zacharias Dimitriadis, Eleni Kapreli, Nikolaos Strimpakos, Jacqueline Oldham, Respiratory Care Apr 2014, 59 (4) 543-549; DOI: 10.4187/respcare.01828
Contact us

If you have ongoing neck pain, sore neck muscles or you think you need to focus more on your posture and breathing to help better your posture, please contact us.

You can call either our Crows Nest or North Sydney chiropractic clinic.

North Sydney phone number: (02) 9955 8055

Crows Nest phone number: (02) 9460 8459

Email us at info@spineandhealth.com.au

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Chiropractic and Sciatica

Do you have
any experience with chiropractic and sciatica?

 

Pain can occur in the body in various ways, and a common type of pain which is associated with lower back pain is Sciatica. Anyone who has experienced Sciatica can agree that it is difficult to find relief from the pain associated with the condition.

 

Sciatica

Sciatica is associated by an irritation of the nerve roots which emerge from the lower spine. Hence it is classified as a type of nerve pain. The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve found in the human body, and it connects the spinal cord with the leg and foot muscles, so you don’t want to mess with it!

 

Along our spine, we all have rubbery pads between the vertebrae called spinal discs. Our spinal discs act as natural shock absorbers for the vertebrae and ensure smooth movement of the spine. However, when the disc is out of place, it leaves the sciatic nerve impacted, pinched, compressed, and irritated leading to unbearable pain. In some cases, it can arise in some forms of arthritis.

 

The pain is sharp and is felt in the lower back to your hips and buttocks all the way down to your feet. In Australia, it is estimated that 5 to 10% of people with low back pain have sciatica! That is around 200,000 to 400,000 Australians!

 

Sciatica can either be acute or chronic and can last for a longer time if not treated. It is typically associated with a sedentary job or lifestyle. Over the counter medication can only help reduce the pain for some time but when it is not treated, it can return as chronic pain.

 

Chiropractic may be a Solution

 

Chiropractic is a form of health care treatment that focuses on the musculoskeletal system. It is a healthcare therapy aimed to relieve pain by correcting or adjusting mechanical disorders.

Chiropractic deals with body pain and may serve as an appropriate therapy for sciatica relief. It helps to reduce the painful symptoms of sciatica.

 

Are you resident in the North Sydney or Crows Nest area and experiencing lower back pain? We see clients at our North Sydney and Crows Nest clinic who use chiropractic treatment for the relief from Sciatica. We can help.

Written and sourced from:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sciatica

https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/health/article/2017/03/23/despite-escalating-prescriptions-nerve-pain-drug-offers-no-relief-sciatica

https://www.lumc.nl/sub/5038/att/812180307081046/905080238511046.pdf

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/health-conditions-disability-deaths/arthritis-musculoskeletal-conditions/overview

Crows Nest clinic

  • Level 2, 378 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest, NSW 2065
  • (02) 9460 8459

North sydney clinic

  • 701/122 Arthur Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia
  • (02) 9955 8055
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Crows Nest clinic

  • Level 2, 378 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest, NSW 2065
  • (02) 9460 8459

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  • 701/122 Arthur Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia
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