The Adjuster

The Newsletter from Experience the Hands Chiropractic,  A Hand  in Your Healing          

Vol. 1 No. 1 2008           332 West Broadway, Suite 1204, Louisville, KY 40202     502-581-8151

 The Buzz         

                          from Dr. Bea Hoyos

 Greetings Everyone! Welcome to our first issue of The Adjuster, the Newsletter that has a Hand in Your Healing.   With so many questions to answer, as well as keeping you informed about spinal health and wellness, The Adjuster has been a year in the making.  

As the cold winter is behind us and we look forward to warmer weather, be aware that Spring Stress can increase health risks.  Whether it may be spring cleaning, a long drive, gardening or an occasional dinner at the grill, here are a few health tips to help protect your back and general health.  

Lift heavy items with your legs, not your back. Items such as large package of mulch, charcoal, soil.

  When lifting, hold the objects close to your body instead of bending forward at the waist. Also try to maintain a slight arch in your low back and bend the knees before standing up with the objects.

 When cooking or standing for a long period of time, elevate one foot with a foot rest or stacked books about six inches off the floor. Alternating each foot will relieve back and legs muscles.

 When traveling, try to get plenty of rest before the trip, allow extra time to get to your destination, pack light, and use a well balanced wheeled luggage when you can.

 Avoid heavy loads on your shoulders from bags with shoulder straps.

 Place a pillow or folded towel behind the small of the back when sitting for a long period of time, such as traveling by plane or by car. The towel helps maintain the arch in your low back and supports the rest of the body. It also relieves the discs and joint structures of the spine from unnecessary pressure.  

Spend at least 10 minutes of warm up exercises before you garden. Use kneepads to protect your knees from the hard ground. Ice your knee for 15 minutes after you garden to reduce possible swelling in the knees.  

Many health problems that occur during the spring season are simply due to fatigue, so please get enough rest over the coming months.

   Remember, chiropractic is not just about your spine, it’s about your Health.

Best Wishes, Dr. Bea

Condition of the Month: 

Headaches

A comprehensive U.S. study reported that 10 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe disability from various forms of headaches. It is estimates that 90% of migraine sufferers can benefit from a program of chiropractic care… yet only 1 in 5 migraine sufferers seek treatment.

Do you or do you know of someone who suffers from headaches?

Don’t wait; choose the best drug free treatment for headaches: chiropractic care!

Questions For Dr. Bea

Question: “Could the stress at work really be making my low back hurt?”  - D.J. Louisville, KY                          

Answer: There are three types of stresses your body has to overcome. The body has to endure physical, emotional and chemical stress.  If your body is overwhelmed by any of the three, or all three, your body starts to breakdown.  An example of a physical stress would be: whipping your head forward then back as a result of a car accident, using your shoulder to hold the telephone, or not lifting properly.  Placing too much physical or mechanical stresses on your body, even for a short time, can wear your body down and cause pain to set in.

Examples of emotional stress would be: divorce, death in the family, getting married or even taking final exams at school. The body may wear down and fall into a depression, which can change our posture adding a physical stress. As the depression progresses, it can change the chemistry in your body. Perhaps by how your body perceives pain, not getting enough sleep, or loss of appetite.  By changing the chemistry and mechanics of your body negatively, you start hurting in the places were your body is weakest.

For you, your weakest area maybe your low back.   So take a look at the chair you are sitting in, ask for a telephone headset, move the computer to the correct height for you to relieve the physical stress.  For the emotional stress, get enough rest, find ways to relieve your stress, exercise, counseling, or find a hobby.

Get periodic chiropractic adjustments so the interference of the physical stress on your spine can be removed to allow your spine to work properly. In the end, your body will thank you for it, by breaking down less often or at least slowing it down.

Your Most Valuable Asset

Patients who learn more about the body and how the body works, know what to expect and may have the answers before the question is addressed to the doctor.  My patients share information with me about their bodies, and guess what? Not all bodies are the same, so they may not respond the same with each treatment. But I have seen over and over that when patients discontinue their care plan too soon and the symptoms of pain returns within three months.

So tell me, do you ignore the “Check Engine” light on the dash of your car? I know that you don’t, if you did, you know that the car starts to break down very quickly, perhaps effecting other parts of the engine and knowing that it will cost you more money to fix the problem. Well, if the pain you have in your low back is a warning sign, why are you ignoring it? Yes, the pain may come and go, but then you notice it is not going away as often.

Many people choose to wait until the pain is unbearable to see a chiropractor. By then, so much damage tissue, inflammation may be occurring that it would take more than a few visits to “fix’ the problem. So I ask you, if your health and your body are priceless, why would you take better care of your car than you would yourself?

Each Month we will be promoting Patient Education Events: Come in and visit to learn more…

March 2008 – March into Proper Posture Madness – Learn more about the proper posture to prevent spinal degeneration.

April 2008 Spring into Spinal Action – Get that Body Moving with exercise, sports or even gardening.

May 2008 – Mothers and Mothers To Be Month – learn more about fertility, pregnancy and postpartum chiropractic care.