The Problem: Muscle Imbalance

The Solution: Neurologically-based Corrective Exercises

Are you performing your YWTL, stretching, and posture exercises daily? While it is essential to perform aerobic activity and resistance exercises, it is also essential to perform the corrective exercises and core exercise that you learn in the office.

Due to increased sitting and poorer posture, muscle imbalance is becoming extremely common. What is muscle imbalance? Muscle imbalance occurs in a systematic fashion. Muscles get tight and shorten, mostly in the upper trapezius (muscles in the upper back and shoulders), suboccipitals (muscles at the base of the skull), erector spinae (postural muscles that support the spine), iliopsoas (long muscle that attaches and functions in the spine, the pelvis, and the thigh), and hamstrings (muscles in the back of the leg). In response, there is lengthening and inhibition of the lower trapezius (muscles in the middle back and shoulders), deep neck flexors (muscles in the front of your neck), deep abdominal muscles (your core!), and the gluteal muscles in your buttocks.

Here’s why this happens, certain muscles which relate to the fetal position, static work postures, or slumping have a tendency to become overactive and even shorten, while other muscles which relate to the neurodevelopment of upright posture or dynamic joint stability tent to become inhibited or even weak. Having poor constrained posture and sedentary lifestyles promotes this imbalance between overactive and inhibited muscles.

The problem is that muscle imbalance leads to faulty movement pattern. The prone leg extension test is a test that is used to evaluate the function of the muscles in the lower back and simulates the muscle recruitment pattern during walking. The activation of muscles when lying on your stomach and lifting your leg should occur in the following order (right PLE exercise): right gluteus maximus (buttocks), right hamstring (back of the leg), left lumbar erector spinae (opposite lower back muscles), right lumbar erector spinae (same side lower back muscles), left thoracolumbar erector spinae (opposite middle back muscles) and lastly right thoracolumbar erector spinae (same side middle back muscles). Where you aware that ALL of those muscles were involved with lifting your leg?!

When the order of muscle recruitment is different from this normal pattern, the stability of the pelvis, lower back, and even the middle back to some degree, are decreased, hindering the body’s mechanical efficiency. This means that if the muscles in the lower back are being activated first, the lower back is doing all of the work to lift your leg so it is working harder than it should. This predisposes you to injury, degeneration, and premature aging.

As you know, chiropractic care is used for several outcomes-pain relief, corrective care, and maintenance/wellness care. The exercises that we do in the office are designed for corrective rehabilitation of the muscular system and restoration of function. The ultimate goal is to improve your physical performance capacity so that you can handle the demands of your activities of daily living.

At My Family Chiropractic, we utilize the Insight Subluxations Station to look at the sEMG “pattern View”. This analysis is a unique, patent pending sEMG application that only the Insight provides. Of primary importance to the chiropractor is the way muscle energy is being distributed throughout the spine. Patterns can demonstrate ‘efficiency’ or they can exhibit lack thereof. Think of it sort of as the motor systems ‘miles per gallon’ rating. A person’s somatotype or age may affect sEMG amplitude signals. But with the Insight’s breakthrough pattern view, clinical impressions will not be skewed due to these factors. Colors and the shape of the lines serve as visual cues to easily assess the results.

Make your appointment today to see what your muscle scan reveals!

There is more to subluxation (misalignment of the spinal bones) than back pain, neck pain and a pinched nerve. Some of the scariest consequences of subluxations come from the possible global effects on your body. For examples, when most patients investigate their subluxations they are often concerned about the potential health problems that may arise in the tissues that the specific nerve supplies at the level of their subluxations (If they have a T1 subluxation, the nerve at that level supplies the heart and lung tissue). Their concern, and rightly so, is will this subluxation cause heart or lung problems? The research and case studies indicate that this is a possibility but even more importantly subluxations may cause even more serious global health problems in your body.

Global Effects of Subluxations:

Impaired Immune Function: Arguably one of the most important keys to a long healthy life is a healthy immune system. Research now reveals that your subluxations may seriously impair the function of your immune system. The research of Dr. Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute and professor in Environmental Health at New York University, indicates that one’s immune response and susceptibility to serious disease is negatively affected by subluxations. Another study reveals that the quantity and quality of your white blood cells are negatively affected by subluxations.

Decreased Mental Function: Nobody would want their mind to be clouded and be unable to process information and think clearly. A chiropractic study demonstrated that an individual’s mental efficiency may improve 1,500-3,000% after a chiropractic adjustment. In another study, researchers discovered that brain stem function improved following a chiropractic adjustment.

Altered Emotional Stability: We usually don’t relate our emotional states to whether we need an adjustment or not, however, our emotions are intimately related to our nervous system function. Studies reveal an amazing connection between altered neurochemistry and emotional states to the subluxation. Many studies reveal that chiropractic care can offer fascinating results for patients with ADD/ADHD, panic attacks, nightmares, anxiety attacks, irritability, and general states of loss of well-being.

Damaged Genetic Potential: New research is now indicating that subluxations can alter the genetic expression of your genes. This has devastating consequences to your health and your future as a human being.

An Early Unnecessary Demise: In 1994 Dr. TN Lee authored a lengthy article that postulates that the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is involved in all disease processes and explains that the causes and cures of all diseases are mediated by our central nervous system. Everyone must be checked on a routine basis for neurologic interference caused by subluxations at a Wellness Chiropractic office if they desire to stay healthy. Another study reveals that subluxations negatively affect the visceral (organ) input centers and output centers in your brain stem. This indicates that almost any subluxation at any level may result in almost any kind of health challenge. Finally, the autopsies performed by Dr. Henry Windsor M.D., correlated that nearly 100% of diseases these people suffered from were related to a curvature in the spine or a spinal problem that damaged the nerve that supplied that specific organ.

What impact are subluxations having on your health? As you now know, often times their effects may not be felt or even realized until the damage has been done. Doctors of Chiropractic are the only medical professionals trained in the detection and correction of subluxation. If it’s been a while, we encourage you to visit your chiropractor today.

One third of American adults are estimated to have high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure can lead to a number of medical conditions including heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke. The causes of high blood pressure are not completely understood, but we know that a variety of factors not only increase the risk of developing high blood pressure but also continue to exacerbate the problem.

Age, race, sex and heredity are uncontrollable factors; however, there are many factors within your control to manage and reverse high blood pressure. These include all aspects of living a healthy lifestyle (eating properly and avoiding risk factors such as using tobacco or excessive alcohol), exercising regularly learning how to manage stress effectively, massage therapy, and chiropractic care.

Chiropractic can decrease high blood pressure? The Answer is YES! Most people try to address high blood pressure by taking medications. The problem with this approach is that it treats the effect, high blood pressure, but not the cause. The drug approach also subjects patients to serious side effects.

In 2007, WebMd reported that a chiropractic adjustment to the upper cervical region can significantly lower high blood pressure, as shown in a University of Chicago placebo-controlled. "This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination," study leader George Bakris, MD, told WebMD. "And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems," adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago.

Stress has also been shown to be a contributor to high blood pressure. At My Family Chiropractic we utilize technology that allows us to identify areas of stress. The heart rate variability (HRV) assessment is an excellent indicator of one's overall state of health. Above we show a series of digital images from three HRV assessments. The further the indicator dot is from the midline and the green area, the more stress is present. Notice how after 12 chiropractic adjustments the indicator moves closer to the midline and after 24 visits is within the green area, indicating better health and improved nervous system function.

Yes, chiropractic care is a powerful ally in the fight against heart disease and many other conditions including headaches, neck, back and shoulder pain, sciatica, digestive challenges, and more.

During the month of February we're joining forces with chiropractors from across the globe to offer Chiropractic Health Exams at a reduced fee that everyone can afford. For only $14 you will receive a complete health evaluation, which includes a consultation with Dr. Keri Herro, a series of state of the art health evaluations (including the HRV), and a complete report of the findings. This is a $149 value! Call our office at 813-741-9999 today to schedule your appointment.

Happy Valentine’s Day! While your mind may be on your sweetheart, please don't forget the most important person to your life...Yourself. According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation's biggest killers. That’s why we’re asking that you show your heart some affection today!

At an average of 70 beats per minute, keeping up with your heart doesn’t sound like an easy task. However, here are six things you can do to stay on top of your heart health and live long and strong.

1. Stop smoking. Nicotine provides a stimulant and a depressing effect…both are damaging to your heart and quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to keep up with your heart. It dramatically cuts your chances of getting heart and respiratory diseases, cancer and emphysema. If you have already had a heart attack quitting will reduce the risk of a second one.

2. Lose weight. Excess weight puts extra stress on your body and extra strain on your heart. Losing weight will not only make you feel and look better, but your heart will thank you every day.

3. Reduce unhealthy fats while adding healthy fats. We’ve been conditioned to think that fat is bad and will make us fat. In reality, it is about the source of the fats. We want a diet high in unsaturated fats to help your heart. Great sources of unsaturated fats are avocados, olive oil, and any type of nut.

4. Choose whole foods over processed. Processed and sugary foods make you feel lethargic and de-energized. Try eating more fruit and vegetables, unrefined carbohydrates (seed breads, wholegrain cereals and pasta), and soluble fiber (oats, kidney beans, peas, and baked beans), which may also help reduce cholesterol.

5. Exercise. Your heart is a muscle and is strengthened through exercise. Regular exercise improves heart function and lowers your blood pressure and blood cholesterol. 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day is recommended for heart health (60 minutes to reduce weight).

6. Reduce stress. When we stress, our heart stresses. One of our practice members told me a great story about her friend who has a bowl on her counter and each day she gets a piece of paper, writes down her “stresses”, and places them in the bowl for God to handle. What a great idea!

I wish everyone a happy Valentine’s Day and if you follow these tips, you won’t miss a beat!