A Great Loss

Recently my cousin, Norris Erickson, DC passed away. He was not just a relative but a friend, mentor, and collegue. This is what I wrote as a tribute to him.

Neil Armstrong died yesterday. As I was reading his obituary it struck me how there are many similarities to Norris’s life story. Both had humble beginnings being born in a small town and moving around quite a bit in childhood. Both became fascinated with a principle (chiropractic/aviation) early in life and never lost that fascination, in fact, turning it into a passion. As with Neil, Norris served our country proudly if only for a short time in the military. But that shaped him in lasting ways and gave him a sense of patriotism that guided his life to the end. Both pursued higher education related to their lifelong passion and set off to make a difference for people. They took risks, not carelessly but necessarily. Each kept working toward a goal bigger than himself.

As he could, Norris started giving back to others. Early on he mentored other chiropractic students including myself. Then he became a leader among the alumni of the college and worked to keep the college focused on its mission. While Neil became a professor officially, Norris frequently returned to Palmer to provide insight to the students and unofficially became their teacher of life and chiropractic philosophy. Eventually he “adopted” whole classes to be even more involved.

While Norris didn’t have a singular “one small step for a man” moment, he regularly made steps towards the “giant leap” that is now transforming healthcare and people’s way of thinking about their body. Instead of ever more increasing drugs and surgery, Norris wanted people to think about how their body worked. He deeply wanted us to realize and understand the often discounted or ignored innate intelligence that drives each and every one of us. He fought hard in the headwinds of a society that took the phrase “better living through chemistry” and tried to apply it to the body without any regard for our inborn healing and regulating abilities.

Norris’s obituary points out his service in many organizations. But during his life I seldom heard him mention the leadership roles he had taken. Often he would talk about events from the Shriners, the Legion, or the Mason’s but never in the context of what he did. A great example was when he was instrumental in bringing the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall to Aurora. His statement to me was “we are bringing the wall to Aurora” not “I”. I didn’t know his key role in this until reading his obituary. But that was typical for Norris, get out there, get the job done, and not worry about who gets credit for it.

This is what is said of Neil as well. His family released a statement that I believe applies just as much to Norris. This is an excerpt: "[he was a] reluctant American hero [and had] served his nation proudly…While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves." Even the part about young people around the world fits him because he had substantial influence on Palmer chiropractic students who come from all over the world.

And finally, Neil Armstrong’s family responded this way when asked how best to honor Neil, “For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty…” I can’t think of a better way to honor Norris either.

Some Tips for Good Posture

Excellent posture is not only beautiful to look at, but it also reflects self-confidence. This can be beneficial in any environment where you want to be more impressive, like at a job interview or on a first date! Improper posture causes misalignment in your spine, and this can put excessive stress and strain on muscles, joints and the supporting connective tissues.

Forward head position occurs when the ear is not centered over the middle of the shoulder (from a side-view). Because the weight of the average head is approximately that of a large bowling ball, for every inch it drifts forward relative to your shoulder, 10 times more weight is exerted upon the muscles, joints and ligaments of the neck and upper back, causing strain in these tissues. This occurs most commonly when sitting in front of a computer screen or television. To avoid it, position the screen at the level of your eyes, preferably directly in front of you.

Slouching occurs when the upper back is over-curved and the shoulders round forward. This makes a person look tired or dejected, and is one of the most unattractive postures. It also alters the curvatures of the entire spine, so it is the least desirable in that respect too. Postural muscles of the lower back are placed under a tremendous load, increasing the likelihood that these tissues will become irritated or inflamed.

Pay attention to your posture when sitting or standing. If you know you are out of position, correct it. Instead of “pulling your shoulders back”, imagine standing as if you are a quarter-inch taller. The thoracic curve will balance out, and your chest should naturally rise, thereby allowing the shoulders to gently fall back into position. Head position will be more centered, taking stress and strain off the area where the head meets the shoulders.

Is that pill worth it?

Iatrogenic illnesses, or problems directly resulting from medical intervention, are the third leading cause of preventable deaths in North America, with most of these due to over-medication. Only heart disease and cancer lead to more deaths annually.

Most people take too much medication and don't get enough exercise.We have become a society of “need it now”: we have fast-food, fast cars and want faster and better technology all the time and this is spilling over into the healthcare industry. Most people nowadays are seeking that “quick fix”—that one-treatment wonder or one pill that will make them instantly better. We need to start taking care of ourselves. We need to shift to a more health-based paradigm and get back to the basics. The solution will not be found in the treatment of our problems, but in the prevention of them. A headache is not the indicator that the body needs more Tylenol! We need to reduce the amount of stress we are exposed to in our environments. We need to take control of our own health, and stop handing it over to a system that is inherently flawed.

Chiropractors have been working diligently for over a hundred years under the basic premise that “the power that made the body heals the body”. They adjust spines to remove vertebral subluxations—helping take stress away from the spine. Alleviating pressure from the sensitive joints and nerves of the spine works to facilitate a better mind-body connection, thus helping to improve the general health and wellness of the whole patient, no matter what condition they are suffering from. Since nothing is added or taken away from the body, it is the most natural, safe and effective thing you can do to enhance your health. Regular chiropractic adjustments help prevent sickness by making the body work better.

Sleeping Habits

While comfortability will vary from person, here's a quick comparison of different sleeping positions:

On your back
- Rank: The best
- Pros: Sleeping on your back on a medium-firm mattress helps to best support the natural curves of your spine. You should use a light or down-filled pillow, as thicker pillows can push your head too far forward.
- Cons: This position may contribute to snoring.

On your side
- Rank: Acceptable alternative
- Pros: Can adequately support your spine, but requires proper pillow selection. Be sure to use a firm pillow to separate your head and shoulder and a pillow between the knees to maintain pelvic alignment.
- Cons: Sleeping in this position has been linked to wrinkles and breast-sagging.

On your stomach
- Rank: Worst
- Pros: NONE
- Cons: Turning your head to one side while you sleep is bad for your neck. Also, if you have a soft mattress, your low back is almost guaranteed to be sore in the morning when you wake up from this position. If you can avoid it, DO NOT sleep in this position.

Exercise and Academics

If you want your child to do better in school, you should make sure your son or daughter gets plenty of exercise. Research indicates physical activity can impact a child’s brain as much as the body.

In a review of exercise studies published earlier this year in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers uncovered compelling evidence that children who participated in regular physical exercise achieved better academic performance.(1)

Researchers argued that physical activity increases the amount of oxygen and blood to the brain, which in turn boosts cognitive function. As well, exercise develops brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - a protein that exerts significant influence over the creation of neurons. BDNF is primarily found in brain areas important for learning, memory and higher thinking. Laboratory experiments showed mice that were exercised increased their production of BDNF considerably compared to sedentary mice. Exercise also increases production of mood-lifting endorphins and this may give kids the confidence to tackle academic challenges.

Research published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology showed that elementary school children who had good aerobic fitness were more likely to excel in reading and mathematics. However, strength training was not associated with improved academic performance. In their conclusion, the study researchers remarked: “These findings suggest that fitness was positively associated with neuroelectric indices of attention and working memory, and response speed in children.”(2)

Most experts agree additional human studies are needed on exercise and its impact on academic performance, but so far the research shows promise.

1. Physical Activity and Performance at School - Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(1):49-55.
2. Aerobic Fitness and Neurocognitive Function in Healthy Preadolescent Children - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: November 2005 - Volume 37 - Issue 11 - pp 1967-1974.

The Connection Between Body and Mind

Have you ever felt intense back pain that you thought was caused by “sleeping funny?” Have you ever bent over to tie your shoes, but were not able to straighten up afterward? When intense back or neck pain happens seemingly out of the blue, one of the things you may be experiencing is psychosomatic pain. This is defined as a pain that can manifest physically, but originates from mental or emotional causes.

A simple example of this is what physically happens to your body during a negative emotion, such as anger or fear. If your computer hard drive crashed and important files were lost, you would feel more tense. As a result, your muscles would be tighter and your normal range of motion would be decreased, leaving you more likely to experiences strains. Normal, everyday motions such as tying your shoes or looking over your shoulder can become difficult.

This imbalance can even be magnified by pre-existing conditions. Chiropractors work to maximize your muscle and joint movement, therefore minimizing your chances of physical pain from your state of mind.

Is it just a cold, or is it Sinusitis?

Sinus infections - or sinusitis - are very similar to a common cold, and because of this, can be hard to distinguish. Sinusitis is actually more likely to arise after contracting a cold and if your condition remains for more than seven days it is likely a sinus infection. Symptoms include mucous discharge and blockage, headache, fever, facial and teeth pain, bad taste in the mouth, and coughing to expel mucous. Sinusitis can also be caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus, with each requiring a different treatment.

Some ways to manage symptoms include the following:
•Drink lots of fluids to thin mucous.
•Breathe steam through the nose to keep the nasal passages moist. This can be done in the shower or with a bowl of hot water.
•Place a warm cloth over your face to cover the nasal area to relieve pain and pressure. Hold the cloth for ten minutes and repeat throughout the day.
•Decongestant sprays or pills can help free up nasal passages, but excessive use can actually cause more congestion.
•Nasal cleansing - a neti pot and other similar devices flush out proinflammatory substances.
If these procedures do not help, perhaps antibiotics are necessary. You should ask a doctor if they are right for your condition, as they only treat bacterial infection and overuse can lead to antibiotic resistance.

Inflammation

Is all inflammation bad for you? No, some inflammation is necessary to heal your body. When you damage muscles, tendons or ligaments, you often see inflammation and reduced function in the affected areas. The inflammatory response allows tissue repair and limits further damage by restricting movement in the injured area. However, excessive or chronic inflammation prevents healing, and your body becomes more susceptible to disease. Besides joint related diseases like arthritis, inflammation can be a key contributor to heart disease, stroke, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

One main contributor to inflammation is free radical molecules. It is not possible to completely stop your body from producing free radicals because it is part of natural metabolic processes. In fact, every time you breathe, you create free radicals. However, you should know the steps you can take to limit the production of free radicals and reduce inflammation in your body.

Our environment and lifestyle can contribute significantly to the development of inflammation. Avoid exposure to pesticides by eating organic food. When it comes to diet, consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, kale and spinach. For protein rich sources, opt for fish over meat. Legumes and nuts are also good sources of protein. Exercise to keep your body in an appropriate weight range. Stress also promotes inflammation, so learn stress management techniques to keep it under control. Feel free to ask me for more tips on improving your diet and lifestyle.

Curing and Preventing Carpal Tunnel

Whereas traditional medicine tends to focus in the area of the pain, chiropractors consider the entire kinetic chain. Dysfunctional neurological patterns in the neck can cause abnormal firing patterns in different muscles, including the ones that lead into the wrist and hand. Therefore, it is important to consider the mechanics of your neck and upper back. Vertebral subluxations in these areas could be one of the main contributing factors to your CTS!

In addition, chiropractors also know how the alignment of the bones in your wrist and elbow could be the cause of your symptoms. When joints are not aligned properly, the resulting inflammation and pain can cause spasm of the muscles in the area of the subluxation, plus irritation of the surrounding soft tissues. This alone could be the cause of the swelling and irritation of the tendons in the carpal tunnel. Sometimes, just a quick and gentle adjustment applied to one of the bones in these areas can help relieve the pressure.

When it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome, like any other maladies in the body, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! You should always...

• Consider the ergonomics of your workstation. Repetitive movements are not the problem—it is repetitive movement when your muscles and joints are at a disadvantage, leading to repetitive strain and pain.
• Take regular breaks when your job requires repetitive tasks. During your break periods, a little bit of stretching (of the tight muscles) can go a long way.
• Seek help when the CTS symptoms are just beginning to show up. The earlier you attend to these aches and pains, the better the chances of coming to a quick resolution of this painful condition.

If you start to feel the symptoms of CTS, feel free to contact me. Chiropractic care can be a very effective tool to reduce the symptoms of CTS. I can conduct special tests to help determine the cause of the problem, and adjustments delivered right away can help prevent it from becoming a painful, chronic problem.

Identification of Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve entrapment syndrome. It is a painful condition caused by irritation or compression of the median nerve. Patient complaints are usually limited to the thumb and index finger, but in some cases may also involve the rest of the hand, the wrist and even the forearm.

This syndrome derives its name from the location where the nerve irritation/compression most often occurs—in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. Anatomically, the bones of the wrist are positioned in an arch-shaped arrangement that leaves enough space for nerves, tendons and blood vessels to pass to the hand and fingers—this area is called the Carpal Tunnel. If the passageway of this tunnel becomes crowded, the resulting pressure on the median nerve can result in any of the symptoms mentioned above.

One of the most commonly reported causes of CTS symptoms is inflammation of the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel. However, irritation of the median nerve can also be caused by displacement of one of the carpal bones, or irritation of the nerve at other locations—such as the neck, shoulder or near the elbow. Activities known to contribute to this type of syndrome are those associated with repetitive contraction of the small muscles of the hand: like typing, knitting or sewing.

Chronic Pain

A recent new patient has reminded me that many people consider their chronic pain as hopeless or even worse as normal. A frequent source of chronic pain are the muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons of the body. Once these areas are injured, they often heal with a greater concentration of nerves in the tissue. That makes them more sensitive than normal tissue. Healing of these parts called "soft tissues" is seldom perfect but in many cases it is very far from what could even be considered good. The degree to which this tissue becomes more normal again is the degree to which it will be stronger and produce less pain.

Fortunately, with appropriate chiropractic care, these tissues can be stimulated to remodel further towards normal. This will result in better mobility and less pain. In fact, that recent patient who had been believing her condition mostly hopeless was pleased to report (and I was pleased to hear) that she was feeling almost normal again after just a few weeks of treatment!

Thumbs Up

Again recently a patient has come in with a chief complaint of thumb pain. At first you might think, "do chiropractors even work on thumbs?" That is a common question but the answer is emphatically Yes! In fact, we can help many conditions involving the extremities such as the shoulder, wrist, hip, knee and foot. Also what I frequently see is that the person with these problems has usually had them for a long time. Perhaps they have been helped to some degree by other treatments but the patient has given up hope that they will get completely better. Thankfully, in most cases, we can clear up the problem completely. It usually boils down to a lack of correct motion in the joint. That is also what we are dealing with in the spine. Please ask us about your extremity problems and quit accepting that pain as normal.

March in Redmond

No, I'm not talking about a protest in the streets. It's March, spring is just around the corner even as the snowflakes still fly occasionally. It's also the time of year that people start thinking about their yards and doing more activities outside. It's really a terrific time because we need that fresh air and sunshine after a long winter. When you notice that the sun is out, make a special effort to go outside. Take a walk, do a little gardening or whatever. Your body will appreciate the break from your regular activities and you can start getting some vitamin D again. The sun is still pretty low which makes it harder to stimulate D plus it's still a bit chilly to be outside without a bunch of layers. But it's at least a beginning. Bring on the Spring!

Spinal Alignment

Although alignment is important for your whole body, chiropractors specialize in alignment of the spine. The spine (comprising 24 vertebrae plus the sacrum and coccyx) creates a hollow tube in which the spinal cord - a sensitive collection of nerve tissue - can be found. The peripheral nerves originate from the spinal cord, and then branch out to all other areas of the body. The spinal cord plus all peripheral nerves function collectively as the communication network that allows the brain to monitor and regulate the entire body – via electronic signals. If the spine is not aligned properly, this can disrupt this important messaging network of nerves and nerve impulses, leading to dysregulation and disease in any area of the body!

As early as 1921, medical scientists were revealing the importance of the spine. In a landmark study conducted by Dr. Henry Winsor, he showed that ‘minor curvatures of the spine’ (subluxations) were directly associated with organ disease in 50 human cadavers. Out of 139 diseased organs found in the dissections, 128 of these cases directly correlated to abnormal minor curvatures of the spine in the exact location of the sympathetic nerve supply to that organ! And, for the 9 other diseased organs, minor curvatures of the spine affected the adjacent segments, in areas where nerve filaments could still exit the spine to supply those organs. Dr. Winsor concluded that there was nearly a 100% correlation between minor curvatures of the spine (vertebral subluxations) and diseased organ tissue!

Proper Alignment

You may have heard chiropractors such as myself saying that proper "alignment" is good for your health, but what does it really mean to have good alignment?

Depending upon its intended purpose, a joint is designed to move in a number of different directions (i.e. a hinge joint, or a ball-andsocket joint). Alignment helps to insure the proper balance of stability and mobility. When the alignment of the two connecting parts is ideal, the joint will function as it was originally intended. When the connecting parts are out of alignment, natural movements ar restricted. Different parts of the joint make contact with each other, creating friction and resistance.  Increased friction also results in requiring more energy to perform routine motions.

Not only can this affect functionality, but it also leads to abnormal wear and tear – causing the lifespan of the joint to shorten. Think of the body: the knee joint functions as a simple hinge, with movement in two directions – flexion and extension. If there is misalignment coming from above or below the knee, this can lead to excessive friction and heat in the knee itself (inflammation), which can lead to early degeneration (osteoarthritis).

Happy New Year

May your new year be filled with success, growth, and great relationships!