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 chiropractic cure a child's ear infections?
Chiropractic isn't a cure for anything. Nor is it a treatment for ear infections. However, many children who suffer with ear infections also suffer from spinal problems in their neck, compromising nerves to the ear, depressing the immune system and preventing proper drainage. Can chiropractic help? Find out!
If you have a fever, are you sick or healthy?
Chiropractors love asking this question because it gets to the root of the chiropractic difference. Turns out fevers, vomiting, coughing and even sneezing are all healthy responses. It means your body is working correctly. Taking medications to suppress these natural processes can actually prolong your recovery.