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Good Posture is a Conscious Decision

11/16/2014

by Bruce

Everybody does it: you walk past a store window, see your reflection, and you get a quick snapshot of what you really look like when you’re just being yourself. So, most people might think “my hair looks a little off today” or “I really like this sweater”…but do you ever think “I am NOT standing up straight”? Well, you should. I know, it sounds like nagging, but you really have to make a daily effort to have good posture. It’s more than a “looks thing”... bad posture can really take a toll on your overall health. For one thing, slumping can worsen your mood, even contribute to depression. But it’s the physical effects that are most problematic. When you walk or sit in a crunched position, your internal organs are bunched up, and your blood flow is restricted. No wonder you feel a little off when you slouch. Digestion, breathing, cardiovascular performance: all are hampered when you don’t have good posture. So I want you to think about it, literally, and see what a difference it can make in just a few days.

Imagine a line running from your tailbone to the top of your head. That’s the line you want to feel lengthening as you walk, sit or exercise. The middle of your chest is the pivot for this line. Here’s how you get it right: keeping your head centered over your shoulders, move your shoulders back and extend your head toward the ceiling without lifting your chin. You should feel your whole frame lifting, taking the pressure off your heart, diaphragm and digestive tract. Yes, it takes effort to do this on a consistent basis. You have to remind yourself, and it can be tiring to constantly train your back to line up. But if you do it every day, pretty soon you’ll become used to it, and your posture will improve.

I’ve been practicing chiropractic medicine for a long time, and I can say that “natural” perfect posture is extremely rare. More often, when you see someone with that confident position, shoulders back, head up, and a straight spine, it’s because they worked to make it that way. Bad posture isn’t something you have to live with. Make the daily decision to improve your posture, and you’ll be amazed at the benefits.

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What's In Your Bones?

11/16/2014

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by Bruce

Ever looked at pictures of an ancient skeleton and wondered “What are those bones made of, so that they can last that long?” Any archaeological dig of a prehistoric civilization usually turns up lots of human bones…often still in pretty good shape. So the conclusion might be “well, whatever they are made of, it’s really tough stuff”.

Well, turns out that living bone is a whole lot different from the stuff remaining in those ancient relics.

A misconception is that bones are mostly minerals, like calcium. The fact is that while we’re alive, your bones are a combination of dynamic living tissue, with a mineral foundation. Collagen, in fact, is the main component of living bones. It’s what the flexible framework is made of −yes, bones are somewhat flexible, but as we all know, they can break. Calcium is the other component, and it’s the part that can still exist thousands of years (under the right conditions) after the skeleton’s original owner departs. A fascinating part of the story is that bone tissue is constantly being renewed throughout your life. Through a process known as resorption and formation, special cells break down old tissue, while hormones help create new tissue, ”new bones”. The formation of new bone tissue peaks around age thirty…and that’s when you can start to consider what “osteoporosis” might mean for you. Osteoporosis can create thinning and weakening bone tissue; sometimes so severe that a person can suffer broken limbs from only minimal pressure on the bone. The best strategy is to promote bone strength all through your life, and avoid the problems associated with thinning bones in later years. And the good news is, it’s really not that difficult to do.

So let’s simplify the matter: if you want to keep strong bones, you need to eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, regularly perform weight-bearing exercise (pump some iron!) and otherwise follow a healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake. That’s the ideal. Of course, no one is perfect, but if you’re doing things mostly right, you’ll probably enjoy having healthy bones your whole life. Next time you’re in to see me at the clinic, ask about bone density testing and whether you’re at risk for any unusual bone health problems. See you soon!

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Dr. Bruce Yong

Bruce is a long-time Doctor of Chiropractic in the Santa Barbara area. On this blog, our hundreds of patients and friends can get the latest news about what's going on here at the clinic, new healthcare and treatment options, and some personal details about what we've been up to!

Dr. Bruce Yong

Good Posture is a Conscious Decision

What's In Your Bones?

Dr. Bruce Yong

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