October is Straighten Up New Jersey Month
Statewide Public Service Campaign Sponsored by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors Promotes Spinal Health for All
Branchburg, N.J. — It is within everyone to improve their spinal health, feel better and enjoy improved quality of life.
It is why the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors will spearhead its annual Straighten Up New Jersey campaign throughout October. Modeled after the highly successful and nationally recognized initiative, “Straighten Up America ®”, this free health initiative is designed to empower the people of New Jersey to take on health initiatives to improve posture, structural development and self-esteem.
Throughout the month, chiropractors throughout the state “Straighten Up New Jersey” will offer exercise and health tips, seminars, screenings and program demonstrations staged throughout the state. In addition, free program materials will be available at many ANJC member locations. A list of upcoming events, participating New Jersey doctors and their office addresses can be found at www.njspine.org.
Highlighting the month-long event is International Spine Day, October 16.
Initiated by the World Health Organization in 2000, World Spine Day is designed make people aware of the burden of spinal disability and to help educate individuals in order to improve their spinal health.
“In today’s fast-paced society, we are spending more time behind the wheel and at our desks than ever before. Little time is taken for stretching and exercise and that all adds up to more back pain and spinal problems,” said ANJC Executive Director Dr. Sigmund Miller. “This is becoming alarmingly true with our school-aged children. Through Straighten Up New Jersey Month and World Spine Day, we can coordinate our efforts with the media, educators and professionals to provide tips and lessons on better spinal health for everyone.”
Among the information available to participants on-line and at participating doctors’ offices as part of Straighten Up New Jersey are: “Straighten Up” Overview Articles, “Straighten Up” Brochures detailing recommended stretches and exercises, “Straighten Up” Healthy Lifestyle Guidelines and “Straighten Up” Personal Activity calendars.
About the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors
The ANJC is one of the largest associations of chiropractors in the nation with more than 1,400 members throughout the state. The mission of the ANJC is to educate its members in the latest technology and advancements in the profession, and to educate the public about benefits of chiropractic care. For more information, please visit www.njspine.org or call (908) 722 – 5678.
About “Straighten Up America”®
“Straighten Up America”® is a bold and innovative health promotion initiative designed to empower the American people toward better spinal health and an improved quality of life. This national program also serves as the prototype for an international health promotion initiative. Straightenupamerica.org is a public service website maintained in collaboration with the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations and Life University.
Branchburg, N.J., — From kindergartners to college seniors, more than 40 million students carry backpacks. Studies show that more than 50 percent of these backpacks are overly heavy and pose a serious risk to the students’ well-being. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ANJC), young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and weighty backpacks are a key factor.
The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, one of the largest associations of its kind in the nation, believes that this is a key health issue that needs to be addressed. Along with back pain, students can suffer with headaches, posture problems and various other health problems.
“Research is revealing the negative effects of improper backpack use. Abnormal stress on a young child’s growing spine can have a significant negative impact,” says Dr. Kenneth Freedman, a member of the ANJC and a nationally recognized Backpack Safety America instructor. “Early exposure to back stress can lead to a lifetime of back pain.”
- Choose the right back pack - Choose a backpack that has wide cushioned straps which will distribute the weight on shoulders evenly. In addition, a backpack with a waist strap helps stabilize the load by not allowing the pack to flop around.
- Make sure the fit is right – Make sure the backpack fits properly. The straps should not be so tight that the pack goes above the collar line and the pack should not be wider than the shoulders. It should also be adjusted tightly enough so that it does not hang more than four inches below the belt line.
- Pack correctly - The weight of the loaded backpack should not be more than 15 percent of the body weight of the wearer, particularly with small children. Also, students should pack the heaviest objects first so that they are carried lower and closer to the body. Students should only be packing essential items and if needed, make frequent stops at a locker to exchange books.
- Lift correctly - Check the weight of the backpack. Face the backpack before picking it up. Bend at the knees and make sure to lift with the legs, not with the back. Put on one strap at a time.
- Wear correctly - Use both straps and make sure they are snug. If there is a waist strap, use it. Don’t sling the backpack over one shoulder. Messenger style bags, which get slung over one shoulder, should be rotated so that they’re not being carried over the same shoulder all the time.
Parents should look for some the following warning signs that a child’s backpack may be causing a problem: The child cannot take his backpack off or put it on without struggling; The child has to lean forward to carry his bag; The child has numbness or weakness in the arms and legs; The child has one shoulder that is higher than the other.
“If a parent notices any of these warning signs it is important they speak with their child’s physician or chiropractor immediately,” says Dr. Don DeFabio an ANJC member and parent. “Parents should encourage their child to tell them about pain or discomfort caused by a heavy backpack and they should also discuss ways to lighten the load that is taken home each night.”
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The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors tees up top tips to keep golfers swinging pain free throughout the season
Branchburg, N.J., — With thousands of golfers playing on New Jersey’s more than 250 golf courses, the members of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors are busy treating golfers --both to remedy their ailing golf swings and to help them deal with the aches and pain that can be a result of playing the sport.
“We see it every year, the injuries that occur after the first few months of the golf season as players with aching legs and sore muscles change their swings to try and compensate,” says Tom Basile, ANJC chiropractor located in Parsippany who has been invited to speak before PGA committees on the benefits chiropractic can offer serious golfers.
“The members of the ANJC treat hundreds of golfers each year ranging from club pros to club members to weekend golfers. We’ve found the following to be the best advice to keep golfers in the game and in good health” says Sigmund Miller, DC, executive director of the ANJC.
The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors recommends that golfers:
o Prepare Your Body – Golfers should have a customized exercise routine to address specific weaknesses and/or restrictions related both to playing the game and perfecting their golf swing. For example, if a golfer has had elbow problems in the past, he or she should develop an exercise routine that aims to strengthen the elbow.
o Warm-up – A majority of golfers go straight from their car to the first tee and do nothing more than a few practice swings to warm-up. Golfers should take a brisk 5 to 10 minute walk after arriving at the course to increase blood circulation and warm the muscles then hit 20 to 25 balls, using the full range of clubs, and finish with some light stretching.
o Use the Right Equipment – Most golf pros are able to custom fit each golfer with clubs that are optimal for the individual’s swing. Playing with clubs that are too long, too heavy or too light will affect swing mechanics and increase risk of injury.
o Prevent Injuries Upfront – More than 75% of all golf injuries are caused by poor swing mechanics, usually as a result of muscle weakness due to improper nerve function. An effective strategy for preventing injuries due to poor swing mechanics is to consider having a check-up with a chiropractor who specializes in golf mechanics prior to the start of the golf session and then every 3 months during the season.
o Do Not Play Through Pain – Pain is your body’s warning system alerting you that there is a problem. This is especially true if the pain lasts for more than a day or two or is recurring. “I thought it would go away,” is one of the most common phrases heard by ANJC chiropractors.
o Consider “Dropping Out” – Injuries to the wrist, elbow and shoulder are frequently caused by trying to hit near trees, rocks, roots, etc. If you can’t establish a stable stance and take your normal swing with a normal follow through, taking a drop may be the most prudent play.
o Swing Backwards – One of the big problems with golf is that every movement in the sport is focused in one direction. Over time this can lead to imbalances in the musculature. To help restore balance to the body, it’s a good idea to take a few practice swings backwards both when warming up and before every third hole.
About the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors
The ANJC is one of the largest associations of chiropractors in the nation, with more than 1,200 members throughout the state. The mission of the ANJC is to educate its members in the latest technology and advancements in the profession, and to educate the public as to the benefits of Chiropractic care. The ANJC strives to protect and promote its members, patients and the chiropractic profession by uniting essential resources from throughout the state. For more information, call (908) 722 – 5678.
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New Study Shows Chiropractic Care
Cuts Health Care Costs for Chronic Back Pain
Reduces surgeries, imaging,
hospitalizations
There is now dramatic evidence that
chiropractic care for chronic back pain and neuromusculoskeletal problems is
more effective and less costly than medical care. This is according to a new study published in
the October 11, 2004 issue of the AMA’s Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study, titled, Comparative
Analysis of Individuals With and Without Chiropractic Care, was conducted
by the American Specialty Health Plans, Inc.
The researchers of this study
focused on the four-year history of 1.7 million patients with back pain claims
in California
– 700,000 with chiropractic care coverage and 1 million with the same health
plan but without chiropractic care coverage.
The researchers concluded that if all members of the plan had
chiropractic care coverage, total health care costs would drop y 12 percent and
the plan would save $47.5 million per year.
This would be the result of less utilization of hospital beds, drugs,
surgery, x-rays and, most important, speedier recovery.
The study shows that:
- Chiropractic care cut the cost
of treating back pain by 28%
- Chiropractic care reduced
hospitalizations among back pain patients by 41%
- Chiropractic care reduced back
surgeries by 32%Chiropractic care reduced the
cost of medical imaging, such as x-rays or MRIs by 37%
Reference: Research:
Archives of Internal Medicine October 11 2004
Article: ICA Choice publication
Vol. 3 No.6 December 2004
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Chiropractic for Arthritis instead of
Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra, & Aleve
Medical Research sites drugless treatment for arthrittis
sufferers who can no longer take Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra, and Aleve.
Arthritis is the name given to
more than 100 different diseases that cause pain, swelling, and limited
movement in joints and connective tissue. One out of every six Americans
suffers from some form of arthritis, and unfortunately, the condition can last
a lifetime.
In 1997, Americans made an
estimated 629 million visits to practitioners of "Complementary and Alternative
Medicine" (CAM). A study published in
the Annals of Internal Medicine
found that many arthritis patients used CAM, and that chiropractic
was the most frequently used type of care.
A more significant statistic revealed that 73% of
those trying Chiropractic care, found it helpful.
Reference:
Rao JK, Mihaliak K, Kroenke K, et al. Use of complementary therapies for arthritis
among patients of rheumatologists. Annals of Internal Medicine, Sept.
1999: Vol. 131, No. 6, pp409-16.
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For additional information please visit the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors website: www.njspine.org or call (908) 722 – 5678.
About the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors
The ANJC is one of the largest associations of chiropractors in the nation with more than 1,200 members throughout the state. The mission of the ANJC is to educate its members in the latest technology and advancements in the profession, and to educate the public as to the benefits of Chiropractic care.
