Keep Your Head on Straight!

Rene Cailliet, M.D., director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Southern California, has written about the importance of the relationship between our head and our cervical (neck) spine.

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Gravity, poor posture, the weight of the head or past injury (a car accident) can cause something called the "Forward Head" syndrome. This is where your chin is out in front of your shoulders and chest, causing stress to your spinal cord and brain stem. It’s crucial that your head to sit back, centered above your shoulders.

When your head is jutting abnormally forward, it can add significant pressure to your cervical spine. Besides fatigue, it can produce other health-robbing affects:

  1. Impaired lung capacity
  2. Loss of proper bowel movement
  3. Reduced vitality
  4. Chronic pain

Postural changes reduce your ability to turn and bend and can impair the function of your nervous system. Eventually the entire body can be affected, producing the telltale hunched posture.

Chiropractic care has helped restore the proper relationship between the head and neck for countless millions of people. But it takes time! The Forward Head syndrome takes time show up and even longer to resolve.

Keep a keen eye out for people with this all too common condition and refer them to our office for a no-obligation evaluation.

Dr. Bowman Asks some important questions of interest to West Des Moines residents - Chiropractor West Des Moines Dr. Bowman Asks...

Can those with osteoporosis get chiropractic care?
Of course. When developing a care plan, we consider the unique circumstances of each patient. There are many ways we can adjust the spine. The chiropractic method we select will be best suited to your age, size and unique situation.
Can someone who has had back surgery receive chiropractic care?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. However, what we find is that surgical interventions will often produce spinal instability above or below the involved level. This is will be the focus of your chiropractic care.