iPods, Blackberries, Cell Phones - a literal pain in the neck!

Cell phones, Blackberries, I-Pods and handheld games have Americans spending a lot of time peering down at their laps. While the gadgets are a source of entertainment and help keep people connected to friends and coworkers, handheld devices are also a source of muscle pain and injury.

"I have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people complaining of pain as a result of their handheld devices," said Dr. Keith Overland, a chiropractor from Norwalk, Conn. Dr. Overland says most of his patients don't realize how much looking down at a gadget can worsen neck, back and shoulder problems.

"We actually ask patients to hold the device in their hands and then take a look at the way they're holding their body," Dr. Overland noted. "We can see almost immediately the cause of their pain – poor posture and overused muscles."

To help lessen muscle soreness caused by popular handheld devices, Dr. Overland and the American Chiropractic Association suggest the following:

• Practice good posture when using any handheld device. Sit in a chair that provides solid back support and keep feet comfortably on the floor.
• Spend 10 minutes or less with your head tilted down looking at the device, and when possible hold the gadget at eye level.
• When at home or in the office, connect the device to your keyboard or computer.
• Take frequent breaks and alternate activities that use different muscle groups.
• Watch for warning signs of overuse such as headaches, fatigue or muscle pain.

If you continue to feel soreness, pain or muscle strain after following these tips, it may be time to visit Bridge Chiropractic.

Build a Natural Defense Against Cold and Flu This Winter

With cold weather knocking on the door, many are concerned about falling victim to colds and flu. Flu vaccine—the most effective way to prevent the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—remains a controversial subject. First, most flu vaccines still contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. Second, because of the unpredictability of upcoming flu strains, the available vaccine often doesn't match the strain of flu that hits the population.

But even if the vaccine corresponds with the circulating flu strain, it is not that effective. A recent study found that the overall effectiveness of vaccines against flu-like illness in the elderly was 23 percent when vaccine matching was good, and "not significantly different from no vaccination when matching was poor or unknown." Well-matched vaccine, however, may effectively prevent pneumonia and decrease hospitalization rates due to pneumonia or flu, according to the study.

Some believe that the best protection from flu is flu itself. Recent research shows that the theory may actually have validity. In the past 20 years, deaths from flu in the elderly—the group most vulnerable to flu consequences—have decreased. At the same time, flu vaccination has increased by 45 to 50%. Researchers concluded, however, that flu vaccine didn't help decrease deaths from flu—people simply acquired natural immunity to the emerging strain of flu, which resulted in fewer flu-related deaths.

With flu vaccine effectiveness unclear, many are looking into natural ammunition against winter viruses.

Garlic
Garlic has been used as a health food for more than 5,000 years and touted for its antibiotic properties and effect on allergies, cancer and general immunity. Research shows that it improves cardiovascular health and inhibits carcinogenic activity. In addition, a recent study found that a group of people treated with an allicin-containing garlic supplement for a period of 12 weeks between November and February had significantly fewer colds than the group that took a placebo (24 colds vs. 65) and recovered faster if infected.

In the group treated with the garlic supplement, 24 people came down with the common cold, which lasted for 1.52 days, compared with 65 people in the no-treatment group who had colds that lasted 5 days on average.

Garlic therapy should be discontinued at least two weeks prior to surgery to prevent excessive bleeding. People on anticoagulants should consult their physicians.

Vitamin C
The role of vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections has been widely researched. The verdict, however, is not in yet. Some studies suggest that vitamin C can affect the duration or severity of symptoms. Others have shown no effect on the symptoms, but suggested that vitamin C can reduce susceptibility to colds.

A recent study compared 29 clinical trials in which participants received 200 mg or more of vitamin C daily. The researchers found that vitamin C prevented flu or colds in people who were exposed to "brief periods of severe physical exercise and/or cold environments." In those who regularly take vitamin C, they concluded that vitamin C plays some role in their defense mechanisms, helping them to recover from their colds faster and reducing the severity of symptoms. People with kidneys disease should not use vitamin C.

Echinacea
Echinacea has been widely used to prevent and treat colds. Research on the plant, however, has produced conflicting results. A recent study that focused on 3 preparations from echinacea root found no clinically significant effects on the common cold. The critics of the study believe, however, that the dose of 900 mg per day was too low.

Echinacea treatment may lead to minor and uncommon abdominal upset, nausea and dizziness. It may be contraindicated in people with autoimmune conditions or HIV.

Tea
Green and black teas have been studied for their effects on the cardiovascular system and cancer. Both show promising results. A recent Harvard study looked at tea's role in boosting the immunity system. Participants who drank five cups of black tea a day for 2 to 4 weeks increased their levels of interferon, an important immune defense hormone—up to 4 times normal levels. Drinking the same amount of coffee for 12 weeks produced no such effects. The researchers suggest that the key was in L-theanine, a substance in tea that increases immune response in fighting bacteria, infection, viruses and fungi. Excessive doses may cause insomnia, headache, dizziness, and diarrhea.

Zinc Lozenges
Zinc lozenges are another home remedy for fighting winter viruses. Although research on this remedy is conflicting, a recent study on zinc gluconate glycine lozenges in school-aged children showed shorter cold duration and fewer colds with the therapy. Zinc lozenges, however, come in different formulations, and more research is needed to assess their effectiveness. In addition, long-term use of zinc lozenges may lead to problems, including impairing the body's immune responses. Excessive zinc in the diet can lead to copper deficiency and may also decrease the levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol in the blood.

Stress Reduction
Because research on natural remedies' role in fighting respiratory infections shows conflicting results, scientists turn to another powerful factor that influences health—stress. Here's what research shows:

• Chronic stress, such as unemployment or interpersonal difficulties with family and friends that last a month or longer, may substantially increase the risk of catching cold
• Children with a history of recurrent colds and flu have higher rates of exposure to stressful experiences, stress-prone personality traits, and signs of emotional disturbance than healthy children
• Stress management reduces the duration of flu and colds

Acupuncture may be effective against preventing and curing the common cold, as well.

Many chiropractors have also noticed that chiropractic adjustments have helped prevent or reduce the duration of their patients' colds. Preliminary results of an ongoing chiropractic study show that chiropractic may increase immunoglobulin A levels and that it decreases the levels of glucocorticoid cortisol, a major component of stress. Chiropractic may affect the common cold through stress reduction; however, more research is needed to confirm this.

Proper Preparation for Winter Outdoor Fun to Prevent Injuries

When snow, ice and frigid weather blast into town, watch out, says the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Winter recreational activities and chores can pose problems for the outdoor enthusiast whose body is not in condition. Winter sports like skating, skiing and sledding can cause painful muscle spasms, strains or tears if you're not in shape. Even shoveling snow the wrong way, clambering awkwardly over snow banks, slipping on sidewalks and wearing the wrong kinds of clothing can all pose the potential for spasms, strains and sprains.

Simply walking outside in the freezing weather without layers of warm clothing can intensify older joint problems and cause a great deal of pain. As muscles and blood vessels contract to conserve the body's heat, the blood supply to extremities is reduced. This lowers the functional capacity of many muscles, particularly among the physically unfit. Preparation for an outdoor winter activity, including conditioning the areas of the body that are most vulnerable,

can help avoid injury and costly health care bills.

"Simply put, warming up is essential," says Olympic speedskating gold and silver medalist Derek Parra. "In fact, when pressed for time, it's better to shorten the length of your workout and keep a good warm-up than to skip the warm-up and dive right into the workout. Skipping your warm-up is the best way to get hurt." Parra, who took both the gold and silver medals during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT, adds that, "You can complete a good warm-up in 15-20 minutes. And believe me, it will make your workout more pleasant and safe."

Derek Parra and the ACA suggest that you start with some light aerobic activity (jogging, biking, fast walking) for about 7-10 minutes. Then follow these tips to help you fight back the winter weather:

• Skiing - do 10 to 15 squats. Stand with your legs shoulder width apart, knees aligned over your feet. Slowly lower your buttocks as you bend your knees over your feet. Stand up straight again.
• Skating - do several lunges. Take a moderately advanced step with one foot. Let your back knee come down to the floor while keeping your shoulders in position over your hips. Repeat the process with your other foot.
• Sledding/tobogganing - do knee-to-chest stretches to fight compression injuries caused by repetitive bouncing over the snow. Either sitting or lying on your back, pull your knees to your chest and hold for up to 30 seconds.
• Don't forget cool-down stretching for all of these sports - At the bottom of the sledding hill, for instance, before trudging back up, do some more knees-to-chest stretches, or repetitive squatting movements to restore flexibility.

After any of these activities, if you are sore, apply an ice bag to the affected area for 20 minutes, then take it off for a couple of hours. Repeat a couple of times each day over the next day or two.

If you continue to feel soreness, pain or strain after following these tips, it may be time to visit a doctor of chiropractic. "I've always believed in chiropractic care," says Parra. "I've used a lot of other treatments for injuries and pain, but the problem doesn't get fixed until I go to a doctor of chiropractic."

When is it time for a child's first spinal exam?

When is it time for a child's first spinal examination?

Should we wait until children complain of back pain before taking them to the chiropractor?

These are two questions which parents frequently ask of their chiropractor.

Throughout most communities, it is a generally well-accepted fact that children should have regular dental check-ups to identify problems at the earliest possible time. In this way, dentists attempt to identify early tooth decay and alignment problems of the teeth, because they know that the earlier the problem is detected, the easier it will be to fix.

Well, what about the potential for children to develop spinal problems? Should children be examined at regular intervals during their growing years to identify spinal problems which may progress to become serious, permanent problems. Unfortunately, the generally accepted view in most communities is that one visits a chiropractor for backache or neck pain, and in the absence of these symptoms, it can be assumed that the spine is doing okay.

When evaluating the spines of adult patients, chiropractors frequently encounter degenerative changes in discs and vertebral joint structures which have been ongoing for many years, without any evidence of symptoms. In many cases, it is only when the spinal degeneration reaches an advanced stage that symptoms of pain and stiffness occur. If the spinal problem causing these symptoms could have been detected at an early age, and the problem had been corrected, then a lifetime of misery due to chronic back pain could have been avoided.

Many of the worst spinal problems, which chiropractors detect on x-ray, show evidence of having been present for many years and can be identified, by the degree of degeneration, as having started during childhood. For this reason, it is recommended that childrens' first spinal evaluation should be early in life when the spine is growing and developing at the fastest rate. Orthopedists have identified that the time when the spine is most likely to develop problems, or for existing problems to worsen, is during periods of rapid growth.

Examination of the growth patterns of a child's spine shows that the time of fastest spinal growth is during the first year of life, when the average length of the spine grows from 24 to 36 cm. This is a 50 percent increase in one year, a rate which is unmatched in any other phase of a child's growth and development. The next fastest growth rate occurs between the ages one and five years when the spinal length increases from 36 to 51 cm, a 42 percent growth rate. Between the ages of 5 and 10, we see the slowest period of growth, 10 cm in five years, or a 20 percent growth rate. The adolescent growth phase is most noticeable for its growth spurts, when a teenager may grow three to four inches in less than a year. the average total growth for the adolescent period is 20 cm in males and 15 cm in females. This represents a growth rate of 25 percent in the females and 33 percent in males.

Now, taking all that into consideration, it can be seen that the period of fastest growth, the first year of life, is also a period of considerable trauma when the child is learning to walk. This phase of a child's development is also the period when the secondary spinal curves are forming in the child's neck and low back. Because the first year of life is such an important one for spinal development, and because the potential for trauma is high, it is recommended that a child's first spinal evaluations should be performed during this period.

Beyond the first year, the child needs regular checkups to ensure that the microtrauma of a child's daily living, such as "rough house" play and falls from bicycles, etc., are not causing spinal problems. Problems which might otherwise go unnoticed, simply because the child does not complain of symptoms.

Spinal growth and development continues right through until the mid-30s, when development of the vertebrae in the lumbar spine is finally completed.

When we plant a tree in the garden, we stake and tie it to ensure that it grows straight during its early years. If we don't do this, and the tree is allowed to bend with the wind for 10 to 15 years, it is then impossible to straighten.

Don't let your childrens' spine develop like an unstaked tree: You don't wait until your children complain of toothache before taking them to the dentist, so why wait until they complain of backache before having their spine checked?