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Decade by decade, your spine goes through a process of degeneration from childhood through your 50s and beyond. Fortunately, diet, exercise and chiropractic care can slow the damage.

In childhood and teenage years, posture can begin to cause changes in the spine as well as stresses from sports activities or childhood traumas. In the 20's and 30's, flexibility may decrease and joint pain and aches may increase. Signs may be not being able to run, jump, swim and stand like you used to. Symptoms begin to flare up. In the 40's and 50's, signs of arthritis begin to become evident.

Much of this can be prevented through proper diet, exercise and chiropractic adjustments. The key to a well adjusted spine is starting early and continuing to keep your body in balance. this is a lifetime's approach to overall wellness and health.

A study at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, conducted by Dr. Heidi Haavik-Taylor, found chiropractic adjustments may alter the way the brain and nervous system function. The signals sent from the adjustments to the brain, via the nervous system, reset muscle behaviour patterns.

It is amazing that each day we find out more about how the adjustment affects the body. It is certainly an exciting time in chiropractic.

A recent study caught the attention of ABC news. In a University of Chicago study in the Journal of Human Hypertension, blood pressure was reduced by 17 points in those receiving a specific upper neck adjustment versus those receiving a fake adjustment. On the program, a medical doctor was intrigued by the potential of this study.

The theory is that by having alignment of the spine in this area the sympathetic nervous system which controls blood pressure functions better. It would be imaginable that other areas which are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system would work better as well.

The ability to take a comfortable, deep breath affects many aspects of life. For an athlete, a singer, a woodwind player, a public speaker and on and on, breathing is important. A small Australian study found that deep breathing and spinal mobility may be closely related. Significant improvement in lung volumes was found with those receiving adjustments in the study. It also helped those who exercised to receive an even better response. The mechanism is that spinal misalignment or restriction can disturb breathing. Chiropractors correct spinal misalignment thereby relieving the mechanical restrictions to breathing.

Full time chiropractors have practiced in Thailand for almost 15 years, primarily in the capital city of Bangkok. Despite treating thousands of Thai people, the expatriate community and foreign tourists, these pioneer chiropractors had been practicing without the benefit of a legally licensed profession. Chiropractic is at last a legalized profession in Thailand and 18 chiropractors recently were granted their first licenses.

Snowboarding! I could certainly imagine why someone who competes in snowboarding would need chiropractic care. Marc Schulz discussed this with "To Your Health" magazine. He felt the same as some other athletes we have discussed in the past in that chiropractic has helped him to stay in the profession longer. He was also able to avoid back surgery. Actually, he stated there is no way he would be able to snowboard without chiropractic.

Benefits, Child's First Adjustment, A Wellness Lifestyle

Many times people will first see a chiropractor as an adult for some type of problem. Sometimes degenerative changes are found. The original damage may have occurred many years ago. Therefore spinal check ups for youngsters may prevent future serious problems and improve overall function.

An adjustment for a child is quite simple and gentle. ( about the pressure for checking if a tomato is ripe) The concept is the above down inside out concept.
Above (brain function), Down (spinal cord), Inside (nerve supply), Out (to every tissue of the body, including muscles, organs and glands)

When the nervous system is functioning at its optimal level, then you and your children are experiencing a true expression of health. Like dentistry, chiropractic, when started young provides your child with a way to attain full-body health that lasts a lifetime.

Chiropractic was also recently featured on Montel. Montel talked about the tremendous benefits he received under care and showed him being adjusted at the chiropractic office.

Chiropractic received a positive plug on " The Today Show " during a segment on chronic pain treatments. NBC News Chief Medical Editior Dr. Nancy Snyderman said, " chiropractic of course comes into mind." She futher advised against narcotics and said surgery should be used as a last resort.