Posts Tagged ‘prevention’

Posture month continued: ADAPTATION

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

ADAPTATION – The 5th Posture Principle

Over the last month, I have been blogging about the Posture Principles:  Motion, Balance, Patterns, and Compensation.  Now we have reached the 5^th Principle:  Adaptation.  Adaptation is the body’s response to stressors.  Our bodies are very efficient in coming up with strategies to avoid pain and stress.  Unfortunately, while we may be able to avoid pain in the short-term, we have unconsciously entered the Pain Cycle.  Remaining in the Pain Cycle by continuously adapting to pain leads to:  (1) compromised movement, (2) “shifting” of the body’s loads, (3) repetitive stress, and (4) further injury.  Once you have reached step (4), you are immediately thrown back into step (1)….and so on and so on.

The good news is this:  MOTION breaks the pain cycle!

To move out of the Pain Cycle and into the Motion Cycle, a great first step is an Aligned Strong Posture.  Posture training leads to balanced motion.  Balanced motion means freely-moving joints, ligaments and muscles.  It is “youthful” motion!  With freer, more youthful motion comes the ability to effectively exercise.  Exercising while maintaining a strong core maximizes the health benefits and helps prevent injuries.   Training your core muscles helps to keep your body stabilized, and results in a stronger posture….leading to balanced motion, effective exercise, trained and coordinated core muscles…and so on and so on! 

We often hear people say, “Use it or Lose it”.  With posture training, you CAN “Use it to KEEP it”!

Because of the great response to Posture Month at Overland Chiropractic, we have extended it into the middle of June.    We are offering our patients, their families, and their friends a Free Posture Photo Analysis.  Please call our office at 913-345-9247 to claim this offer for yourself and a loved one.    Why put off living better and aging well?  Let’s begin, together, today!

Tags: adaptation, back pain, balance, balanced motion, chiro, chiropractic, chiropractor, compensation, cost of pain, Dr. Robert Patterson, effective exercise, health, health care, Johnson County Chiropractic, Kansas City Chiropractic, Kansas City chiropractor, motion, Motion Cycle, Overland Chiro, Overland Chiropractic, Pain Cycle, patterns, posture, posture principles, prevention, stress, stressors, wellness, youthful motion
Posted in Aging well, Alternative Medicine, Balance, Exercise, Healthy Aging, Injury Prevention, Motion, Motion, Motion Cycle, Pain Cycle, Posture, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized, Women's Health, Women's Health, back pain | No Comments »

Tips for Preventing Injury this Summer

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

With the unofficial arrival of summer tomorrow (Memorial Day), I thought I would re-post a blog from last year.  Enjoy your holiday!

Healthy Summer Living Tips

Injury Prevention Take a few minutes to stretch before performing yard work or walking which can go a long way in preventing injury. Here are a few things that you can do while outside.

Stretch the muscle but stop short of producing pain.

Hold the stretch for a count of 8-10 seconds.

Stretch the muscle 2-4 times depending upon how tight you feel.

Hamstrings – Find a stair step or short stool to stretch the back of your leg. Keep your back straight and rotate from your hips. Bending out of your back can produce undo strain.

Quadriceps – Hold on to a chair or put your hand against a wall for balance. Keep your back straight – arching backwards will jam the joints.
Avoid strain on your knee by pulling your heel backwards, instead of up to the buttocks.

Psoas/Front of the hip- Step out with one foot and glide forward while keeping your back straight. You should feel stretch in the front of the hip that is straight.

Shoulders – Stretch your arm across the front of your body as well as overhead. This stretches your shoulders and middle back.

Side bends- While keeping your back straight, put one arm over your head and bend to the opposite side.

Squat- Squatting while holding onto a chair or table is a good way to stretch
your low back.

Calf – Stretching your calves can be done one of two ways. The first way is to lean against the wall and extend one hip backward. Push your heel on that side down to the ground to stretch the calf. Keep your back straight. The second way to stretch the calf is to stand with your toes on the edge of a step. Slowly lower your heels so that they are lower than your toes.

Inner thigh/Groin Stretch- Point your toes forward. Keep your back straight and your pelvis level as you glide to one side and hold.

 

 

 

 

 

Start an Exercise Program – Too many people start programs in January as part of a New Year’s resolution. That’s great if you can stick with it, but I believe winter weather makes it difficult to form those new habits. The weather becomes an excuse to avoid walking outside or going to the gym.

Start simple. Begin walking several times per week. Walk for 15-20 minutes to begin with. You can gradually increase your time. You should walk at a pace at which you could still carry on a conversation with another person. If you have enough air that you could sing while you walk, then you need to step up the pace a little. If you can find a walking partner, that’s even better. It will give you accountability.

Wear good shoes. Good support will reduce strain on your feet, as well as your knees, hips and spine. If one of your arches appears flatter than the other when you are standing, you may need custom orthotics to compensate and reduce your risk of injury.

Stretch before you walk. Again, this will reduce your chances for injury.

Stay Hydrated. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Take a water bottle with you while you walk.

Tags: chiro, chiropractic, chiropractor, Dr. Robert Patterson, Exercise, exercise and fitness, fitness, health, Injury Prevention, Johnson County Chiropractic, Kansas City Chiropractic, Kansas City chiropractor, muscle stretch, Overland Chiro, Overland Chiropractic, Overland Park chiropractic, prevention, senior fitness, sports injuries, stretching, wellness
Posted in Aging well, Exercise, Healthy Aging, Hypokinetic Disease, Injury Prevention, Motion, Motion, Uncategorized, Women's Health, back pain, senior health | No Comments »

Posture Month continued: Patterns

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

PATTERNS – The 3rd Posture Principle     By Kelley Patterson

Just under a year ago, I made a commitment to leave my “couch potato” lifestyle and began exercising on a more regular basis.   To age well, I knew that I needed to get moving.  “Hypokinetic Disease” is a term drafted by Drs. Kraus and Raab in their 1961 book, and it means degeneration which occurs from a sedentary lifestyle.  Hypokinetic Disease includes obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, and Type 2 diabetes.  Peggy Kraus (Examiner.com) writes, “70% of our population have some type of hypokinetic disease… In spite of the fact that exercise reduces body weight, lowers cholesterol level, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep, improves body image, improves mood and lifts depression, reduces risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and osteoporosis (among others), and reduces the need for many common medications in addition to countless of other benefits, more than one-third of Americans do not exercise.”

May is Posture Month at Overland Chiropractic, and Patterns is the 3^rd Posture Principle.  “Patterns”simply refers to the fact that your body’s chain of motion will follow the path of least resistance.   When you are sedentary, when you have a job that requires you spend a lot of time seated, and when you do not exercise on a regular basis, your body will begin compensating for your weaker muscles.  Your brain, spinal cord and nerves will learn to use your stronger muscles more than your weaker ones, and your core and posture will become weak as your body strives to maintain upright balance.

Try this:  Take a piece of paper and fold it sharply.

Now, unfold the paper, and take out the crease.

Can’t do it?  Here’s why:  You can unfold the paper, but once creased, it is always creased.  The paper fibers are distorted in a pattern which becomes the path of least resistance.   Now, think about your body.  Contracting muscles and connecting ligaments, tendons and fascia fold and distort along the creases we create in our body as we, too, move along the path of least resistance.

Posture distortions not only cause fatigue and pain, but set the stage for posture degeneration and premature aging.  

So, what can you do?  You must create a new pattern of motion by:

1)      Restoring motion to areas of restriction; and

2)      Focusing exercise to unused muscles.

Posture and core-strengthening exercises will result in pain-free, balanced motion.  Balanced motion helps you move naturally and age well!

Overland Chiropractic is offering our patients, their families, and their friends a Free Posture Photo Analysis.  Please call our office at 913-345-9247 to take advantage of this offer for yourself and a loved one.    Why put off living better and aging well?  Let’s begin, together, today!

Tags: alleviating back pain, Alternative Medicine, arthritis, back pain, chiro, chiropractor, degeneration, Dr. Robert Patterson, Exercise, health, health care, Johnson County Chiropractic, Kansas City Chiropractic, Kansas City chiropractor, low back pain, lower back pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Overland Chiro, Overland Chiropractic, Overland Park chiropractic, posture degeneration, premature aging, prevention, sedentary lifestyle, wellness
Posted in Aging well, Alternative Medicine, Balance, Exercise, Fatigue, Foot and gait mechanics, Healthy Aging, Hypokinetic Disease, Mechanisms and Treatment of Low Back Pain, Medical, Motion, Posture, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized, Women's Health, Women's Health, back pain, senior health | No Comments »

Posture Month: Continued

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

BALANCE – The 2nd Posture Principle

By Kelley Patterson

Do you remember junior high gym class?  Each year we would have a unit on gymnastics.  Part of the fun was getting the chance to walk on the balance beam.  I remember there were always a few who effortlessly glided down the beam and gracefully leapt off…I was not one of those students!  My gym teacher would shake her head and tell me I didn’t have balance.

Guess what?  My gym teacher was wrong!  Every one of us has balance; if we didn’t, we would fall down!  What she really was talking about was being WELL-BALANCED. 

Posture can be defined as “how you balance your body”.  Keeping your balance is usually something you don’t have to think about, but constantly holding your body upright has real effects on your entire body.   “Good posture means strong balance and control without muscle and joint strain….The key to effectively improving posture is strengthening the core muscles which control HOW we balance,” says Dr. Steven Weiniger, founder of BodyZone.   Balance and Posture must work continuously in unison to keep us steady and upright.   This becomes more and more important as we age.    A December 2010 article on the Centers for Disease Control’s website states that each year, one in every three adults age 65 or older falls.  Falls can lead to moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas.   Among people aged 65 or older, falls are the leading cause of injury death, and they are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.   Falls can be prevented through regular exercise, particularly core-strengthening exercises.

Weak balance leads to back problems, joint stress, poor posture and possible falls.  Balance can be improved at any age!  A key to aging well is balance training.

Try this:  One Leg Balance

1. Stand up straight.  Lift up one leg and count to 30.
2. Stop the first time you have to put your foot down to balance….Don’t cheat!
3. Repeat for the other leg.

Can’t do it?  Here’s why:  If you can’t balance with control on each leg for 30 seconds, or if you flail your arms to keep from falling, then your balance and your core body strength is weak.

May is Posture Month at Overland Chiropractic, and Balance is the 2nd Posture Principle.  Balance training and core-strengthening lead to improved posture.  Improving your posture will improve your motion, leading to effective exercise and better health. 

Overland Chiropractic is offering our patients, their families, and their friends a Free Posture Photo Analysis.  Please call our office at 913-345-9247 to take advantage of this offer for yourself and a loved one.    Why put off living better and aging well?  Let’s begin, together, today!

Tags: back pain, balance, chiropractic, chiropractor, core exercise, core muscles, core training, Dr. Robert Patterson, falls, health, improved balance, Johnson County Chiropractic, joint strain, joints, Kansas City Chiropractic, Kansas City chiropractor, low back pain, lower back pain, Overland Chiro, Overland Chiropractic, Overland Park chiropractic, posture, Posture Month, prevention, sports injuries, weak balance, wellness
Posted in Aging well, Balance, Exercise, Healthy Aging, Motion, Motion, Posture, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized, Women's Health, back pain, senior health | No Comments »

Overland Park Chiropractor Dr. Robert Patterson Encourages Parents To Review Chiropractic Exams for Kids who Suffer from Migraines & Headaches

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

By: Dr. Patterson, Overland Chiropractic
If you have children or grandchild who suffer from headaches, you might find this recent article by Tara Parker-Pope from NY Times interesting. As is generally the case, lifestyle appears to play a significant role in the prevention or management of these headaches. The article states “lifestyle changes like exercise, drinking more water, getting adequate sleep and not missing meals are essential.”

“I can’t say it’s typical that you can completely cure headaches just by lifestyle measures alone, but if you don’t address those things as well you’ll never be able to control them,”says Dr. Philip Overby, assistant professor of neurology and pediatrics at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx.

I see these changes as very doable for the average family. I would also encourage a chiropractic examination. I often find mechanical problems contributing to migraine headaches in my patients. Children do all kinds of activities from carrying backpacks to playing sports and taking falls that can cause these mechanical problems. I also like to evaluate migraine sufferers for food allergies and nutritional/digestive issues.

Returning to Classrooms, and to Severe Headaches

For kids around the country it’s back-to-school time. But for many of them, it’s also the return of headache season.

Doctors say frequent headaches and migraines are among the most common childhood health complaints, yet the problem gets surprisingly little attention from the medical community. Many pediatricians and parents view migraines as an adult condition. And because many children complain of headaches more often during the school year than the summer, parents often think a child is exaggerating symptoms to get out of schoolwork.

Read more

Tags: anxiety children, back 2 school, back to school, child development, children behavior, children research, chiropractic, chiropractic acupuncture, chiropractic adjusting, chiropractic adjustments, chiropractic back, chiropractic decompression, chiropractic doctor, chiropractic doctors, chiropractic kansas city, chiropractic offices, chiropractic physical therapy, chiropractic practice, chiropractic rehab, chiropractic therapy, chiropractic treatments, chiropractor, chiropractor back pain, chiropractor doctor, chiropractor doctors, chiropractor kansas city, chiropractor treatment, chiropractors kansas city, chronic sciatica, education, emotional stress, fall 2010, Halloween, Johnson County Chiropractic, joints, Kansas City Chiropractic, Kansas City chiropractor, Overland Chiro, Overland Chiropractic, Overland Park, Overland Park chiropractic, Overland Park KS, pain joint, pain management, pain relief, parenting, parenting articles, parenting children, parenting support, parenting tips, patient, patient doctor, patient health, patients, pinched nerve, prevention, school anxiety, sciatica, short leg, shoulder joint, spinal, spinal cord, spinal decompression, spinal stenosis, spinal treatment, spine, sports injuries, stenosis, stenosis spinal, stress, symptoms of stress, teaching, the advantages, therapy, vertebra, vertebrae, vertebral, vertebras, wellness, worry
Posted in Cause of Headache, Chiropractic Examination, Diet, Nutrition and Well Being, Migraines and Headaches | No Comments »

Overland Chiropractor Reviews: Are Your Kids Stressed Out?

Friday, August 27th, 2010

By: Dr. Robert Patterson

As our kids return to school, we need to be aware that they face stress everyday just as we do. As adults, we are too often caught up in our own financial, job, and relational stresses that we forget about the stressors that our kids face. Have you ever faced a stressful situation and thought to yourself, “I wish I were a kid again?” You look back to a time when you had less responsibility, and maybe mom and dad were there to help you. If you are honest with yourself, are you looking at the past through rose-colored glasses? Are you forgetting the things that caused fear and hurt and that still hold you back today?

When the new school year begins, many kids will feel anxious about a number of things. There are new teachers, homework, tests, new rules, and maybe new processes to be learned, like how lunch works. Riding the bus sounds simple to us, but to a child it may be stressful. They may worry about being on time, finding the right bus number, where they are going to sit, someone teasing them, and getting off at the right stop.

Our kids are expected to perform at high levels academically, as well as athletically. I believe participation in sports is a great thing and teaches many life lessons. Unfortunately, I have seen too many parents push their kids past a reasonable point of achievement. When sports or other activities cease to be fun for your child, it is time to re-evaluate the importance placed on extra-curricular activities.

As kids get older, peer pressure increases, and self-esteem issues become more prevalent. They are exposed to commercials, “reality shows” (which I hope are not so real), television shows, and internet sites that glorify unacceptable behavior and a false sense of body image.

Let’s not forget the stress that day-to-day “drama” brings on, particularly with girls. As the father of two girls, I have heard stories that shock me. When I read things that kids have written on Facebook, I wonder if their parents have a clue as to what is going on in their kids’ lives. While I love technology, it has made it easier for kids and adults alike to be cruel to one another.

The more I think about it, the happier I am that I am not a kid anymore. I don’t want to leave you depressed. There are things that you can do to help your children deal with the stresses of life. The things you teach them now will help them later in life.

Tips for helping your kids deal with stress:
1. Talk with your kids. Don’t expect that they will tell you everything that is bothering them. It may take some coaxing on your part. Ask your child specifically if she is having difficulty finding the right bus or whom she sits with.
2. Educate yourself about Learning Styles. If you have a child struggling in school, he may learn and organize differently than you do. With our children, I learned this the hard way. You and the teachers may have to come up with different strategies to help your child.
3. Be an advocate for your child. Work with the school counselor and teachers if your child is getting behind. It puts tremendous stress on your child when she feels she has gotten in so deep that she can’t get out. As your children get older, teach them to advocate for themselves first, but never be afraid to get involved. You, not the teacher or school, are ultimately responsible for your child
4. Encourage kids to be the best they can be. Realize we all have limitations. It is okay to set the bar high in academics or sports. People often need to be pushed to reach their full potential. You want to push your child but not break him. Only 3% of high school basketball players continue to play in college. Only .02-.03% of high school basketball players ever make it to the professional level.
5. Monitor what your kids watch. Discuss the problems with behavior you see on television or elsewhere. Make teachable moments out of daily life and behaviors you observe.
6. Monitor your kids’ Facebook if they have one. While kids are able to use technology, they are often not very smart about what they put out there for the world to see. If you let your kids have a Facebook, you are foolish to not keep up with what they are posting, as well as their friends or other peers. Your child could be getting bullied or be involved in dangerous behavior that you are not aware of. Burying your head in the sand will only create problems for you and your child.

Tags: anxiety children, back to school, child development, children behavior, children research, chiropractic, chiropractic acupuncture, chiropractic adjusting, chiropractic adjustments, chiropractic back, chiropractic decompression, chiropractic doctor, chiropractic doctors, chiropractic kansas city, chiropractic offices, chiropractic physical therapy, chiropractic practice, chiropractic rehab, chiropractic therapy, chiropractic treatments, chiropractor, chiropractor back pain, chiropractor doctor, chiropractor doctors, chiropractor kansas city, chiropractor treatment, chiropractors kansas city, chronic sciatica, emotional stress, Johnson County Chiropractic, joints, Kansas City Chiropractic, Kansas City chiropractor, Overland Chiro, Overland Chiropractic, Overland Park, Overland Park chiropractic, Overland Park KS, pain joint, pain management, pain relief, parenting, parenting articles, parenting children, parenting support, parenting tips, patient, patient doctor, patient health, patients, pinched nerve, prevention, school anxiety, sciatica, short leg, shoulder joint, spinal, spinal cord, spinal decompression, spinal stenosis, spinal treatment, spine, sports injuries, stenosis, stenosis spinal, stress, symptoms of stress, the advantages, therapy, vertebra, vertebrae, vertebral, vertebras, wellness, worry
Posted in Emotional Balance, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Overland Park Chiropractor featured in KC Small Business

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Dr. Patterson is featured this month in the Kansas City Small Business magazine and online. His educational article advises business owners on how to promote health in the workplace and how to prevent injuries. Dr. Patterson notes that employees who work on their feet may develop health problems. While these problems may seem small, he says that “Unresolved foot problems and altered foot mechanics also may show up as knee, hip, spinal pain and circulatory problems.” Dr. Patterson includes tips that aid the employer in creating a safer environment. He notes the importance of sharing this information with employees, stating that “The benefit of increased productivity, reduction in sick days and reduction in injuries will far outweigh the cost of education.”

Taking Steps Toward Wellness

Tags: Alternative Medicine, back decompression, back pain, back pain chiropractic, back stretches, bloating, bones, build muscle, business owners, employees, employers, injuries, Kansas City chiropractor, low back pain, lower back pain, prevention, shoes, small business, stress anxiety, stress management, stress reduction, stress relief, stretching, work, work-related stress, workers, workplace
Posted in Exercise, Foot and gait mechanics, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized, back pain | No Comments »

Overland Park Chiropractor Discusses Muscle Imbalance

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

By: Dr. Patterson

Have you ever noticed that one leg stretches easier than the other or that one arm goes farther behind your back? If so, you may be experiencing muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalances can occur almost anywhere in our bodies. We can be imbalanced from side to side or from front to back.

You might ask, what is the big deal about one leg stretching more than the other? In this example, the problem lies in the increased stress that this puts on your pelvis, hips and spine. A tight hamstring creates torque in the pelvis and may lead to pain and early arthritis in your joints. Muscle imbalance impedes your performance and can eventually interfere with your daily and recreational activities. Similar problems occur in the neck and shoulders.

Muscle imbalances develop for a number of reasons. Right or left handiness cause us to use one side more than the other. Work postures or sporting activities may force us to perform one-sided activities over and over. One set of muscles will naturally become tighter than the others. Stuck or dysfunctional joints themselves also lead to imbalances and increased stress. Poor digestion and stress to our organs create muscle contraction. Left untreated, this will cause muscle imbalances such as leg length discrepancies and shoulder contractions.

Stretching some muscles and strengthening others can treat many muscle imbalances. Other times it requires manipulation of the joints or nutritional approaches to relieve muscle contraction. The keys to correction are proper evaluation as to the cause of the imbalance as well as the identification of the muscles to retrain.

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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Cause of Headache, Diet, Nutrition and Well Being, Digestion, Emotional Balance, Enzyme Replacement Nutrition Therapy, Ergonomics, Exercise, Extremity Adjusting, Foot and gait mechanics, Injury and Treatment following motor vehicle accidents, Mechanisms and Treatment of Low Back Pain, Rehabilitation Exercises and Protocols, Stress Reduction, Uncategorized, back pain, headache treatment | No Comments »

Overland Park Chiropractor Reviews Tips to Prevent Lower Back Pain

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

By: Dr. Patterson

We are nearing the month of August, and for many of us, that means back-to-school shopping with our kids. Usually, these shopping trips include the purchase of a new backpack.

Children and adolescents often carry backpacks that are too heavy or are worn improperly. To help prevent injury, please consider the following suggestions from the ACA (American Chiropractic Association) when shopping for a backpack:

1. Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.

2. The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

3. A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.

4. Bigger is not necessarily better. The more room there is in a backpack, the more your child will carry, and the heavier the backpack will be.

5. Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.

6. Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child’s shoulders.

7. The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.

8. If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials or workbooks.

9. Although the use of rollerpacks – or backpacks on wheels – has become popular in recent years, the ACA is now recommending that they be used cautiously and on a limited basis by only those students who are not physically able to carry a backpack. Some school districts have begun banning the use of rollerpacks because they clutter hallways, resulting in dangerous trips and falls.

If your child experiences pain from his or her backpack use, please do not hesitate to call our office for an evaluation.

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Antacids May Increase Your Risk of Osteoporosis

Friday, July 30th, 2010

By: Dr. Patterson

The importance of proper digestion cannot be overemphasized. Antacid medications are one of the leading over-the-counter drugs sold. In fact, in 2009, Nexium was the number two pharmaceutical drug sold in the United States.

Every day I see patients in my office who are taking these medications. Some patients have taken these medications for so long that they have become immune to the fact that they have a digestive disorder, or they feel because it may be an over-the-counter medication that there is no harm in it. I guarantee that it if you have symptoms of heartburn, indigestion, or reflux, it is not because you are suffering from a Nexium or other antacid deficiency. These medications are treating your symptoms, not the cause of your problems.

There are many potential problems with the long-term use of antacids. Today I want to focus on osteoporosis. Studies in recent years have indicated that use of these antacids, either for more than one year or in high doses, increases the risk of osteoporosis in people over 50. University of Pennsylvania researchers found a 44% increased risk of hip fracture in people taking proton pump inhibitor types of antacids. These are commonly known by names such as Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix and Zegerid.

In May 2010 , the FDA finally came out with a warning about the possible increased risk of spine, wrist and hip fractures with the use of antacid medications. They reviewed seven published studies. Six of the seven studies showed an increase risk of fracture.

As a Doctor of Chiropractic and Internal Health Specialist, these findings come as no surprise. Calcium can only be absorbed in an acidic environment. When you reduce the acidic environment of the stomach, calcium will have a more difficult time being absorbed into your system. The good news is that we can improve digestion with the use of enzyme replacement nutrition and diet modification. Specific testing can be performed to determine what your body is having trouble digesting, and we can treat the cause vs. treating the symptom.

If you would like information on how to be tested, please contact our office.

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