Back Clinic Posture Team. Posture is the position in which an individual holds their body upright against gravity while standing, sitting, or lying down. A proper posture visually reflects an individual’s health, ensuring the joints and muscles, as well as other structures of the body, are working properly. Throughout a collection of articles, Dr. Alex Jimenez identifies the most common effects of improper posture as he specifies the recommended actions an individual should take to improve their stance as well as enhance their overall health and wellness. Sitting or standing incorrectly can happen unconsciously, but recognizing the issue and correcting it can ultimately help many individuals develop healthier lifestyles. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 850-0900.
The body’s pelvic region has many functions crucial for functionality with the host. The various muscles surrounding the pelvis help provide stability to the body’s core, allow circulation to the heart in the cardiovascular system, support the reproductive and abdominal organs, and much more the body requires. The pelvic joints’ various muscles also allow hip mobility and function for the lower body extremities. When traumatic injuries or abnormal activities start to affect the pelvic floor muscles, the various issues can affect the functionality of the pelvic region and cause problems in bladder control for both the male and female bodies. Many of these issues correlate with trigger points surrounding or on the pelvic floor muscles that can affect how the vital organs operate in the body. Today’s article examines the pelvic floor muscles, how trigger points correlate with pelvic pain, and managing pelvic pain is associated with trigger points. We refer patients to certified providers who incorporate multiple techniques in the lower body extremities, like pelvic pain treatments related to trigger points, to aid individuals dealing with pain symptoms along the pelvic floor muscles near and surrounding the pelvis. We encourage and appreciate patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis, especially when it is appropriate. We understand that education is an excellent solution to asking our providers complex questions at the patient’s request. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Are The Pelvic Floor Muscles?
Have you been experiencing bladder issues that constantly make you go to the bathroom? Have you been dealing with severe cramps that mimic sciatica pain? Or does it hurt when you are sitting down? Many of these issues correlate with muscle pain associated with trigger point pain along the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles are a unique anatomical body location with a balance of different pressures (visceral, muscular, or liquid) that play a fundamental role in the body’s lower extremities. The pelvic floor muscles have four divided compartments but have different parts and functions to allow optimal bodily function. The four pelvic floor compartments include:
Anterior or urinary (bladder)
Medium or genital (uterus in women, prostate in men)
Posterior or anterior (anus, anal cavity, and rectum)
Peritoneal (endopelvic fascia and perineal membrane)
Some of the functions that the pelvic floor muscles allow the body to perform properly include proper contraction for sexual function, allowing respiration in the abdominal organs, maintaining bodily fluid actions like going to the restroom, and maintaining good posture by working together with the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral columns of the spine. Studies reveal that the spine’s autonomic nerves, which include the sympathetic and parasympathetic, help supply the posterior and anterior compartments in the pelvic floor. When traumatic factors affect the pelvic floor muscles, it can lead to correlating issues regarding trigger points in the pelvic muscles.
How Do Trigger Points Correlate With Pelvic Pain?
The pelvic floor has four different components to allow the muscles to function properly when traumatic factors start to invoke pain-like symptoms that can affect pelvic functionality in both the male and female body, thus developing trigger point pain associated with pelvic pain. For the female body, trigger points along the bulbospongiosus muscle (part of the pelvic floor muscles) may cause aching pain in the perineal region. In contrast, in the male body, trigger points along the retroscrotal area may cause discomfort while sitting erect. According to the book, “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction,” written by Dr. Janet G. Travell, M.D., stated that many individuals that are dealing with trigger point pain along their pelvic floor muscles would often complain about feeling localized aching pain in their anal region and may experience painful bowel movements when going to the bathroom.
Studies reveal that myofascial trigger points develop “muscle contraction knots” of the pelvic floor muscles, may be identified in many patients suffering from pelvic pain syndrome (urological, colorectal, and gynecological), and are associated with trigger points. Trigger points are tricky when diagnosing where the pain is located since myofascial pain syndrome mimics other chronic conditions of the surrounding muscles, causing referred pain. Additional studies reveal that the location and severity of pelvic floor myofascial pain was significantly correlated with various pelvic pain symptoms that can affect both males and females with different conditions. When doctors recognize that their patients are dealing with trigger points associated with pelvic pain after an examination, they devise a treatment plan and work with other specialists to manage trigger points and reduce pain in the pelvic region.
Top 3 Pelvic Floor Exercises- Video
Have you been dealing with urinary issues that make it tricky to go to the bathroom? Do you have trouble finding a comfortable position when you are sitting down? Or do you feel pain radiating down your buttock and leg? Pelvic pain is a common issue that can affect both men and women that can cause various pain symptoms that correlate with trigger points along the pelvic floor muscles. When trigger points affect the pelvic floor muscles, it can lead to referred pain that connects with pelvic pain in the body’s lower extremities. Many factors can affect the pelvis, like issues affecting the digestive, reproductive, or urinary systems, a trauma in the surrounding pelvic muscles that causes them to be weak or corresponding issues on the hips and lower back. Trigger points associated with pelvic pain may be tricky. Still, they can be treatable with different therapies that can reduce the pain and help strengthen those weak muscles in the pelvic region. The video above demonstrates three other pelvic floor exercises that can help support the pelvic muscles and reduce the trigger points from reoccurring in the pelvic area of the lower body.
Managing Pelvic Pain Associated With Trigger Points
Various treatments can manage pain associated with trigger points through multiple therapies that can reduce pain-like symptoms along the pelvic floor muscles. Many therapies, like trigger point therapy and muscle training, can help reduce the pain along the pelvic floor muscles and bring back bowel function to the pelvic region. Studies reveal that doctors provide a range of protocols designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and the different muscle groups around the pelvic area while improving function. However, treatment alone can only go so far, as people must take corrective actions to ensure that the trigger points do not return in the future. Movements like corrective posture exercises focusing on the lower back, hips, and pelvis and eating a fiber-rich diet can reduce pelvic pain. This allows the individual to get their lower half mobility back.
Conclusion
The pelvic floor muscle has four divided components that will enable optimal bodily function that has different jobs in the male and female bodies. The pelvic floor muscles have many crucial functions that provide the host stability in the body’s core, allow circulation to the cardiovascular system, and, most importantly, support the reproductive and abdominal organs. When issues affect the pelvic floor muscles, it can lead to pelvic pain associated with trigger points that can disrupt many from going to the bathroom or disrupting sexual functionality. All is not lost, as various therapies can reduce the pain and strengthen the pelvic muscles in the lower body. This allows lower body mobility back to the host and prevents unnecessary issues from reoccurring.
References
Bordoni, Bruno, et al. “Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Pelvic Floor.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 18 July 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482200/.
Marques, Andrea, et al. “The Status of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Women.” Canadian Urological Association Journal = Journal De L’Association Des Urologues Du Canada, Canadian Medical Association, Dec. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2997838/.
Meister, Melanie R, et al. “Pelvic Floor Myofascial Pain Severity and Pelvic Floor Disorder Symptom Bother: Is There a Correlation?” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6732028/.
Moldwin, Robert M, and Jennifer Yonaitis Fariello. “Myofascial Trigger Points of the Pelvic Floor: Associations with Urological Pain Syndromes and Treatment Strategies Including Injection Therapy.” Current Urology Reports, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2013, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23943509/.
Raizada, Varuna, and Ravinder K Mittal. “Pelvic Floor Anatomy and Applied Physiology.” Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2617789/.
Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 2:the Lower Extremities. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
The Adams forward bend test is a simple screening method that can help with scoliosis diagnosis and help in developing a treatment plan. The exam is named after the English physician William Adams. As part of an examination, a doctor or chiropractor will look for an abnormal side-to-side bend in the spine.
Scoliosis Diagnosis
The Adams forward-bend test can help determine if there are indicators for scoliosis.
It is not an official diagnosis, but the results can be used as a starting point.
The Adams test will reveal signs of scoliosis and/or other potential deformities like:
Uneven shoulders
Uneven hips
Lack of symmetry between the vertebrae or the shoulder blades.
The head does not line up with a rib hump or the pelvis.
Detection of Other Spinal Issues
The test can also be used to find spinal curvature issues and conditions like:
Kyphosis or hunchback, where the upper back is bent forward.
Scheuermann’s disease is a form of kyphosis where the thoracic vertebrae can grow unevenly during a growth spurt and cause the vertebrae to develop into a wedge-like shape.
The Adams test by itself is not enough to confirm scoliosis.
A standing X-ray with Cobb angle measurements above 10 degrees is required for diagnosing scoliosis.
The Cobb angle determines which vertebrae are tilted the most.
The higher the angle, the more severe the condition and the more probable it will produce symptoms.
Computed tomography or CT and magnetic resonance imaging or MRI scans can also be used.
Forward Bend Test
References
Glavaš, Josipa et al. “The role of school medicine in the early detection and management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.” Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 1–9. 4 Oct. 2022, doi:10.1007/s00508-022-02092-1
Grossman, T W et al. “An evaluation of the Adams forward bend test and the scoliometer in a scoliosis school screening setting.” Journal of pediatric orthopedics vol. 15,4 (1995): 535-8. doi:10.1097/01241398-199507000-00025
Letts, M et al. “Computerized ultrasonic digitization in the measurement of spinal curvature.” Spine vol. 13,10 (1988): 1106-10. doi:10.1097/00007632-198810000-00009
Senkoylu, Alpaslan, et al. “A simple method for assessing rotational flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: modified Adam’s forward bending test.” Spine deformity vol. 9,2 (2021): 333-339. doi:10.1007/s43390-020-00221-2
Look how young children position their backs. There is a natural S curve, and their movements are effortless. As the body ages, too much sitting, slouching, and inactivity can cause muscle fatigue and tension leading to posture issues. Rounded shoulders describe a resting position that has shifted the shoulders out of the body’s natural alignment, which can worsen if left untreated. Chiropractic care can realign the shoulders, as well as the spine, and restore musculoskeletal health to optimum levels.
Rounded Shoulders
Rounded shoulders are an excessive thoracic kyphosis referring to an uneven forward rounding or curvature of the middle and upper back. Rounded shoulders shift out of proper alignment with the spine, causing posture-related problems like shoulder/neck/back discomfort, tightness, stiffness, and pain. Overall unhealthy posture contributes to the following:
The head constantly being in a forward or backward position
Headaches
Body aches and pains
Muscle fatigue
Chronic back soreness
Bent knees when standing or walking
Body movement dysfunction
Joint problems
Potbelly
Rounded shoulders
Body responses to rounded shoulders include:
Chronic musculoskeletal aches and pains
Breathing problems
Limited body function
Impaired mobility performance
Increased mental and musculoskeletal stress
Causes
Rounded shoulders are typically caused by unhealthy posture, but can also be caused by muscle imbalances from, for example, overfocusing on building chest strength but neglecting the core and upper back. Other causes include:
Standing and sitting for long periods
Stress
Lack of physical activity
Environmental factors
Too much exercise, sports, and physical activities
Musculoskeletal Imbalance
Postural imbalances anywhere in the body can cause rounded shoulders.
For example, when an individual tilts their head forward to look at their phone, the upper back has to round forward to hold the head. Constantly tilting can begin to generate an unhealthy muscle memory causing the neck and shoulder muscles to remain in a semi-flexed position that starts to become the norm.
Another example is when the arms are held out and in front for prolonged periods, like driving, typing, and cooking, the chest muscles get shortened. As time goes on, this causes the shoulder blades to move forward on the ribcage, making the upper back and shoulder area hunch awkwardly and unhealthily.
Stress
When the brain perceives a threat, the body physically prepares to take action through the fight or flight response. Common reactions include:
Jaw tensing
Tightening the abdominal muscles
Holding one’s breath
Rounding the shoulders
Stressors can include:
Job worries
Money issues
Relationship problems
Family responsibilities
All can cause changes in the body that result in rounded shoulders.
Environmental Factors
Respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, and allergies can affect the body’s breathing and the ability of the diaphragm to contract and relax correctly.
Ribcage restrictions caused by chronic breathing problems can result in the thoracic/middle back tightening up, causing excessive shoulder rounding.
Exercise and Physical Activities
Exercise and physical activities can contribute to rounded shoulders because of the long periods of spinal flexion. These can include:
Bike riding, martial arts, and swimming.
Knitting requires the arms to be out in front.
Gardening requires kneeling and being hunched over.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic massage, and decompression therapy can unlock tight shoulder and chest muscles. A chiropractor uses gentle targeted adjustments to relieve pain, restore function, and retrain the muscles.
The doctor will look at the individual’s resting position while standing.
An individual with slumped shoulders can slouch, even when standing up straight.
Their hands will likely face behind them, with their thumbs pointed at each other.
Once the adjustments are made, a correct standing posture will make the hands face the body with the thumbs facing ahead.
Exercises will be recommended to strengthen the core and stretches to maintain the adjustments.
Posture Chiropractic
References
Fathollahnejad, Kiana, et al. “The effect of manual therapy and stabilizing exercises on forward head and rounded shoulder postures: a six-week intervention with a one-month follow-up study.” BMC musculoskeletal disorders vol. 20,1 86. 18 Feb. 2019, doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2438-y
Go, Seong-Uk, and Byoung-Hee Lee. “Effects of scapular stability exercise on shoulder stability and rehabilitative ultrasound images in office workers.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 28,11 (2016): 2999-3002. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.2999
Kwon, Jung Won, et al. “Changes in upper-extremity muscle activities due to head position in subjects with a forward head posture and rounded shoulders.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 27,6 (2015): 1739-42. doi:10.1589/jpts.27.1739
Lee, Do Youn, et al. “Changes in rounded shoulder and forward head posture according to exercise methods.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 29,10 (2017): 1824-1827. doi:10.1589/jpts.29.1824
Park, Sang-In, et al. “Effects of shoulder stabilization exercise on pain and functional recovery of shoulder impingement syndrome patients.” Journal of physical therapy science vol. 25,11 (2013): 1359-62. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.1359
The body is designed to move. For individuals who spend a significant amount of time driving each day, whether for a living or a long commute, over time can lead to headaches, neck and back pain, sciatica, and increases the risk for serious injury. Chiropractic can retrain individuals to practice healthy driving posture. This is accomplished through decompression and massage therapy combined with recommended stretches/exercises, and an anti-inflammatory diet will bring pain relief and help prevent injury.
Healthy Driving Posture
Two main reasons driving impacts the back are poor posture and being in a fixed position for an extended period. Individuals who regularly drive for more than 4 hours a day are more at risk. An unhealthy driving posture can lead to an increased risk of discomfort/pain in the:
Over time these issues can become chronic, making the body vulnerable to various injuries.
Back Pain Symptoms
Sometimes back pain needs immediate medical attention if any of the following symptoms present:
Inflammation in the back.
Swelling on the back.
Constant pain does not go away or ease up after resting or movement.
Pain in the upper back that radiates to the chest.
A high temperature.
Unexplained weight loss.
Loss of bladder or bowel control.
Numbness or tingling around the buttocks or groin area.
Driving Recommendations
Spine Support
Slide the tailbone as close to the back of the seat as possible.
Leave a gap between the back of the knees and the front of the seat.
If the vehicle doesn’t allow for the proper position, a back support cushion can help.
Raise The Hips
If possible, adjust the area you sit on, so the thighs are supported along their entire length.
The knees should be slightly lower than the hips.
This will increase circulation to the back muscles while opening up the hips.
Sitting Too Close
An individual should be able to comfortably reach the pedals and depress them through their full range with the entire foot.
A safety study found that drivers whose chests were closer to the wheel were significantly more likely to suffer head, neck, and chest injuries in front and rear-end collisions.
Proper Height
Ensure the seat raises the eye level a few inches above the steering wheel to allow sufficient clearance between the head and roof.
Seat Angle
The angle of the back of the seat should go a little beyond 90 degrees to 100-110 degrees places minimal pressure on the back.
Leaning too far back forces the individual to raise/push their head and neck forward, which can cause neck pain, shoulder pain, and tingling in the fingers.
Headrest Height
The top of the headrest should be between the top of the ears and the top of the head.
It should slightly touch the back of the head when sitting with a healthy driving posture.
This exercise activates the abdominal and external oblique muscles.
Press the lower back into the car seat.
Inhale and tilt the pelvis forward to create an arch in the lower back.
Hold for 3 seconds, then release.
Repeat ten times.
Posture is more than just how one carries themselves. The effects of unhealthy posture can carry over into an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Whether it’s caused by injury, stress, work, or sports, a professional chiropractor will help you get back to optimal health.
Driving Position
References
Cvetkovic, Marko M et al. “Assessing Post-Driving Discomfort and Its Influence on Gait Patterns.” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 21,24 8492. 20 Dec. 2021, doi:10.3390/s21248492
Pope, Malcolm H et al. “Spine ergonomics.” Annual review of biomedical engineering vol. 4 (2002): 49-68. doi:10.1146/annurev.bioeng.4.092101.122107
Tinitali, Sarah, et al. “Sitting Posture During Occupational Driving Causes Low Back Pain; Evidence-Based Position or Dogma? A Systematic Review.” Human factors vol. 63,1 (2021): 111-123. doi:10.1177/0018720819871730
van Veen, Sigrid, and Peter Vink. “Posture variation in a car within the restrictions of the driving task.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 54,4 (2016): 887-94. doi:10.3233/WOR-162359
Practicing improper/unhealthy postures throughout the day can severely fatigue the mind and body. Children’s postural health is vital to their overall health and energy levels to perform tasks, school work, and play. An unhealthy posture causes the body to lose its ability to dissipate forces evenly and correctly. Symptoms like soreness, pain, tightness, and irritability can begin to present, which is the body’s way of letting the individual know something is off. When the body is in proper alignment, the spine disperses body weight correctly and efficiently. Chiropractic adjustments can effectively counter the unhealthy posture effects, and simple postural exercises can strengthen the body, increasing healthy posture habits.
Children’s Posture Health
Healthy posture is more than simply sitting and standing up straight. It is how the body is positioned, meaning the head, spine, and shoulders, and how it moves unconsciously like a walking gait. An uneven gait or awkward body position can indicate a problem and cause long-term consequences to a child’s health.
Challenges
Kids and children are constantly hunched, slumped, and slouched over device screens. This constant awkward positioning adds weight to the spine, increasing the pressure, which can cause issues ranging from headaches, mild neck pain, low back pain, and sciatica. Severe health effects from poor posture include:
Shoulder problems.
Chronic pain.
Nerve damage.
Difficulty breathing from prolonged hunching-over.
Spinal joint degeneration.
Vertebral compression fractures.
Poor alignment of the muscles begins to restrict postural muscles from relaxing correctly, making the muscles stay stretched or slightly flexed, causing strain and pain. As a child’s body grows, practicing unhealthy postures can drive continued awkward positioning, abnormal spine growth, and an increased risk for arthritis later in life.
Chiropractic Adjustments
A chiropractor will check for any imbalances, like a hunched back, one shoulder higher than the other, or a pelvic tilt/shift. Through a series of adjustments, chiropractic releases the muscles, relieves pressure on ligaments, allows the postural muscles to relax and realign to their proper position, prevents further muscle overuse, strain, abnormal joint wear, and helps reduce fatigue by conserving/utilizing energy as the muscles are functioning correctly and efficiently.
Exercises
Simple postural exercises can help maintain children’s postural health.
Place hands next to the chest so that they are underneath the shoulders.
Gently press the chest upward.
Keeping the legs on the ground.
Look straight ahead.
They only take a few minutes, but the objective is consistency. Doing the poses for one week won’t immediately change unhealthy posture habits. It is developing consistent healthy postural habits that generate improvement. They should be done at least three times weekly to build strength and endurance.
Kids and Chiropractic
References
Achar, Suraj, and Jarrod Yamanaka. “Back Pain in Children and Adolescents.” American family physician vol. 102,1 (2020): 19-28.
Baroni, Marina Pegoraro, et al. “Factors associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren: a cross-sectional population-based study.” Journal of epidemiology vol. 25,3 (2015): 212-20. doi:10.2188/jea.JE20140061
da Rosa, Bruna Nichele et al. “Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA): Expansion, Content Validation, and Reliability.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 19,3 1398. 27 Jan. 2022, doi:10.3390/ijerph19031398
King, H A. “Back pain in children.” Pediatric clinics of North America vol. 31,5 (1984): 1083-95. doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(16)34685-5
Everyone is trying to find what exercise works for them as they start looking for ways to improve their health and wellness. Many individuals who begin to work out would go with finding a personal trainer or a gym that helps incorporate muscle strength training and cardio training to improve their heart and lung capacity to make the body feel good while strengthening their muscles. One of the unique forms of exercise that involve both the heart and muscles is dancing. Dancing is a great way to not only improve musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health but can help reduce overlapping conditions that a person is dealing with in their bodies. Today’s article looks at how dancing helps with musculoskeletal health, affects the heart and brain, and how chiropractic care goes hand in hand with dancing. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular therapies to help those with heart and muscle issues. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Dancing For Musculoskeletal Health
Have you ever noticed people take a cardio class with music playing in the background and see them happy afterward? How do athletes incorporate cardio into their exercise regime to improve their mobility and flexibility? Or how do particular video games make you get up and move around? All these scenarios imply that cardio exercises like dancing may help improve musculoskeletal function. Dancing is one of the many aerobic exercises that can help improve a person’s social skills and is something that can be taken up early while providing many beneficial qualities like:
Increase strength
Improve gait and balance
Reduce functional loss
Reducing the risk of falls
Rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries
Stabilize core muscles
For the musculoskeletal system, dance would be considered an isometric exercise involving different muscle groups like the hips, shoulders, back, and abdominals without using the joints. When a person is dancing, each of the various movements is related to strengthening the core muscles by working thoroughly with the abdominals. Dance can even help improve posture by maintaining strength and enhancing stability in the body. Studies reveal that dance’s impact on individuals with chronic issues like Parkinson’s disease associated with motor and non-motor symptoms can increase their quality of life. So what does that mean? It means that dancing, even for just one song, can help with movement and foster balance, flexibility, and muscle endurance through repeated tasks while associating with accessible, social, and attractive aspects of a person’s physical abilities.
How Does Dancing Affect The Heart and Brain?
Dancing not only helps with musculoskeletal issues, but it can help improve brain and heart function in the body. Studies reveal that moderate-intensity dancing was inversely associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. What dancing does to the heart is that it makes the body intake more oxygen to the lungs, which relates to the heart beating faster and circulating the blood to be transported throughout the entire body. But how does dancing correlate to brain health? Let’s look at dance fitness classes, like Zumba, and use it as an example. Studies show that dance fitness classes provide several health benefits that could reduce mood disorders like depression and anxiety while improving cognitive skills. This means that dance fitness classes like Zumba do repetitive movements to the beat of the music that engages the individual to repeat the steps while having fun. When the muscles begin to do repetitive movements, this motor function sends the signal to the brain, making the person remember the movements later, known as muscle memory. When an individual suffers from neurological disorders like dementia or Alzheimers, dancing could potentially be involved with music therapy, allowing the individual to reduce the risk of developing neurological disorders from progressing further.
How Does The Body React To Dancing?-Video
Have you felt terrific after listening to a good song? How about feeling like you just had a workout? Or have you noticed certain areas in your body like your abdominals, legs, and back looked more toned? All these are beneficial signs that you should add dancing to your regime. The video explains what happens to the body when people are dancing. Dancing could potentially be a mediator for many athletes that play sports.
An example would be football and ballet. How do football and ballet relate to each other? Football utilizes efficient and precise movements that benefit every position on the field, while ballet requires speed to make them flawless on stage. Combining the two, many football players will increase their speed and agility associated with ballet to avoid tackles, jump higher, catch passes and avoid injuries on the field. Dancing is an excellent way to get some cardio exercises in, and combined with other treatments can make a difference in a person.
Chiropractic Care & Dancing
Like all athletic individuals, professional dancers utilize various treatments to recover and improve their performance. Treatments like chiropractic care are safe, effective, and widely used by young and professional athletes that want to prevent injuries from progressing. Chiropractic care for professional athletes and the general population can help prevent and treat injuries like back and neck pain or aggravating conditions like sciatica through spinal manipulation. Chiropractic care also helps restore an individual’s original well-being while increasing their strength, flexibility, and mobility. By working with an experienced chiropractor, an individual can regain their stamina by adopting new ways to prevent injuries caused by spinal complications from reoccurring in the body.
Conclusion
Dancing for 30 minutes to an hour can be used as part of an exercise regime and could potentially reduce chronic issues that affect the body’s brain, heart, and muscles. Dancing could also enhance a sports athlete’s performance by increasing their agility, endurance, and performance. Combined with chiropractic care, individuals will begin to see improvements in their range of motion, flexibility, and even an increase in their brain function to dance longer and improve their health and wellness. So whether you are a professional or not, dancing is for everyone.
Reference
Barranco-Ruiz, Yaira, et al. “Dance Fitness Classes Improve the Health-Related Quality of Life in Sedentary Women.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 26 May 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7312518/.
Gyrling, Therese, et al. “The Impact of Dance Activities on the Health of Persons with Parkinson’s Disease in Sweden.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, Taylor & Francis, Dec. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8547839/.
Merom, Dafna, et al. “Dancing Participation and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Pooled Analysis of 11 Population-Based British Cohorts.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2016, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26944521/.
The ribs are designed to protect the lungs and heart and assist breathing. Twenty-four ribs start at the shoulders in the thoracic spine region and run down the mid-back covering the front, back, and side of the chest. Almost all ribs are attached in two places, including the spine in the back and the sternum in the front of the chest, by cartilage joints. Trauma, poor posture, intense coughing, sneezing, and heaving are a few factors that can cause mechanical rib dysfunction or rib misalignment.
Rib dysfunction and misalignment are typically caused by unhealthy postures like slumped back and rounded shoulders, weakened posterior muscles, and repetitive stress from work, sports, and intense physical activity. Any ribs can become misaligned, causing dysfunction and stress on the body. A chiropractor can adjust and reset the rib as they do for misaligned and compressed spinal joints.
Rib Cage Design
The ribcage is flexible and expands when inhaling. Each rib is attached to the spine by three joints in the back and the breastbone in the front. Breathing is an involuntary reflex that is impossible to avoid movement in these joints. The joints are small but allow flexing, so the ribs rise and fall with each breath. These rib joints can become inflamed from rib misalignment causing movement problems that can restrict breathing.
Rib Misalignment
Rib misalignment symptoms can include:
Difficulty breathing.
Difficulty when trying to sit up.
Dull, achy, deep pain next to the spine or under the shoulder blade.
Unexplained back pain.
Pain when moving or walking.
Painful sneezing and/or coughing.
Tenderness and pain in the front of the chest.
The formation of a lump over the affected rib.
Swelling and/or bruising in the region.
Numbness in nearby or surrounding ribs.
Radiating pain from the back to the front and vice versa.
Improvement when pressure is applied to the affected rib.
Rib Dysfunction
Up to 50% of emergency room visits for chest pain symptoms result from non-cardiac factors, with the majority being rib misalignment and the muscles and joints around the rib cage becoming irritated/inflamed.
Causes
There can be several reasons for a misaligned rib. The more common causes include:
Unhealthy Postures
Unhealthy postures stress the body that can place pressure on the posterior portion of the ribcage.
With time, the ribs can start to shift out of alignment.
Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sports
Working out intensely can cause the ribs to shift out of position.
Weight lifting improperly can cause the body to shift along with the muscles involved not being strong enough to handle the added weight and movement, causing rib misalignment.
Pregnancy
As a woman’s body changes, the weight shifts to the front.
This can create a downward pull on the rib cage, increasing misalignment risk.
Intense Coughing or Sneezing
Excessive or severe coughing, associated with asthma, bronchitis, or pneumonia, can significantly strain the ribcage.
Coughing from a common cold can generate stress to cause a rib to dislocate.
Sneezing hard can also cause a rib to shift out of place.
Illnesses associated with constant coughing and sneezing can increase an individual’s susceptibility to rib misalignment because of the weakened state of the muscles.
Intense Vomiting
Vomiting intensely or heaving can cause the condition.
Vomiting does not necessarily involve the lungs, but the convulsive action can cause a rib shift/pop out.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic can diagnose and treat rib misalignment/dysfunction by using various stretching or massage techniques to loosen the area, making the muscles more flexible, then applying firm pressure to realign the rib back. The treatment plan will include specific stretches, postural exercises, diet, and other recommendations to prevent rib problems.
Spinal Decompression In 90 Seconds
References
Flodine TE, Thomas M. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: Inhaled Rib Dysfunction. [Updated 2021 Aug 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560751/
Jawed, Muzamil. and Bruno Bordoni. “Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: Muscle Energy Procedure – Exhaled Ribs.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 19 February 2022.
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