Join Our Back Fact E-Letter

Each month Dr. Schumacher sends out an informative "Back Fact" e-letter.  The e-letter provides helpful hints to prevent daily injuries as well as how to stay healthy.  They are short, easy to read and often include a coupon.   To join, type your name and email address below and then click the Go button: Join Our Mailing List Email:

Back Fact #42 (May 2010):  “Bending,” now that’s something we all take for granted (until we end up in the chiropractors office.)  Over the past month or so I have seen an increase in severe low back pain due to improper bending.  For most people bending is simple and easy.  That’s the problem, “it’s simple and easy.”  Think when you bend.  Use your legs.  Never twist or lean when you bend.  Never bend and lift anything without bending your legs.

Back Fact #41 (April 2010):  A little over a month ago after I dropped off my daughter and her friend at school I noticed on the street corner allot of flowers, candles and pictures next to the traffic signal light pole.  I found out later that two small children and their mom had been killed in an automobile accident at that intersection.  I then learned that the person who caused the accident was TEXTING and DRIVING.  I am a texting nut.  My whole family keeps in touch via text.  But I have had to train myself to put my cell phone out of reach when I drive.  Texting and death are becoming too common.  There is no reason why you need to sacrifice your own life or that of another just to a text.  Try considering your car that one place of solitude.  Make it a place where you can think and enjoy the scenery.  We are surrounded by so many forms of communication that many people never take the time to just stop and meditate.  So please obey the law and don’t text and drive.               

Back Fact #40 (March 2010):  Can exercise be the cause of your back problem?  (Now don’t use this statement as a reason for not exercising.) But he answer to that question is sometimes YES. Everyone in different thus every type of exercise is not for everyone.  Nor is the amount or intensity of exercise for everyone.  If you find that during your exercise routine or following your exercise routine your back problem begins or gets worse, you need to modify your routine.  The best way to do this is to cut the frequency or intensity in half.  If you do multiple types of exercise, modify one at a time.  If your exercise is an aggravating factor to your back problem, this should make a big difference.            

Back Fact #39 (February 2010): 

Do you or someone you know suffer from neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, or back pain? Do you work on a desktop or laptop computer?  If so, your “ergonomic” computer posture maybe causing your pain!   As most of my patients know, I try and educate them on what is causing their problem internally, as well as what could be causing their problem externally. For some people seeing is believing, and thus actually seeing how you work on your computer and the physical set up of your work station can give me allot of information.  I can then teach you how to limit those aggravating factors.   Therefore I am offering FREE of charge (for a limited time) on-site ergonomic evaluations.  With the approval of your company/boss I will come to your office and spend approx. 30 minutes evaluating and suggesting ways to limit any computer stress.  To set up an appt., reply to this email with Ergo in the subject line.      

Back Fact #38 (January 2010): Can driving your car be bad for your back?YES! If you think about it, your body has to twist and bend in various directions just to get in the car.  Then your low back and hips are forced into a confined space, but your legs and feet need to move frequently.  In addition, the muscles, ligaments and spinal joints of your neck, upper back and shoulders are forced to contract and relax on a regular basis.  This doesn’t even include changing the channel on the radio.  So, how do you properly support your back while driving? First, make sure you take your time getting in and out of your car.  Second make sure your seat is in an upright position.  Finally, keep your hands below the level of your shoulders (even if you have to lower the steering wheel.)

Click here for WATCH MY BACK FORM

Back Fact #32 (May 2009):  The headline reads “Chiropractic delisted in Alberta” Canada!  Chiropractic care has now been removed from the government subsidized healthcare in Canada just to save money.  Wow!!!   No matter what your views are about “national healthcare” we must always be concerned about accessibility and quality of care.  Most, if not all, government sponsored healthcare around the world has not been successful in providing efficient accessibility and quality of care.  Please take the time to read and listen to both sides of this issue.  Chiropractic has always been pushed aside by the medical profession as not truly necessary.  For those of us who have experienced chiropractic we know that’s not true.  Our current system may not be great but we do have the best accessibility and quality of healthcare in the world.  I am now stepping off my soap box.  God Bless, Dr. S.

Back Fact #31 (April 2009): Are you tired, run down, pooped half way through your day?  If so you’re probably suffering from a lack of sustainable nutrition.  What I mean by this is that you are probably not taking in enough nutrients to sustain your body throughout the day.  Even those of you who eat properly may need an extra boost.   As most of you know I don’t sell a lot of nutritional products out of my office but I came across a fantastic product called Nanogreens which contains the bio-nutrients of 10 servings of fruits and vegetables.  Wow!!!  Because of all those nutrients your body can maintain its energy for the entire day.  I personally take Nanogreens every day.   Just imagine for only $45 a container you can get 10 servings of fruits of vegetables every day for an entire month.  If you would like to purchase or sample this great product, stop by my office.  Or for more information go to my website and click the “Nano - Products” button. 

Back Fact #28 (October 2008):

 

“Why does my back hurt, Doc?” is a question I hear almost every day.  As a physician I try to figure out what physiologically is causing someone’s pain.  But the real question should be “Doc, can you help me figure out what I am doing to cause my back pain?”  Throughout my 16 years of practice I have determined that some people just have “bad backs.”  But even those people do things to aggravate their backs.  Take a moment and think about your back.  How do you sit, stand, sleep, walk, drive, exercise, watch TV, read, work on your computer, talk on your phone/cell phone?  All of these activities can cause pain if done incorrectly.  If you think you are doing some of these activities wrong and thus causing your pain, let me know?  I can show you how to do them correctly. 

 

Did you know our office is now part of Take Shape For Life?  TSFL is a nutrition and weight loss program.  For more information check our optimizeyourlife.tsfl.com.  

Back Fact #26 (July 2008):  {Better late than never}

 

A lot of people wonder why the chiropractor always recommends you come back and get adjusted on a regular basis.  There is actually a long list as to why you should keep your spine in alignment, but I thought I would give you three that I feel are the most important.

 

1.  Your spinal column houses your spinal cord which controls everything from your head down to your toes. 

2.  A large percentage of your body’s muscles are attached directly to the spine and thus the majority of your physical movement cannot be done without your spine.

3.  Every major organ, except the brain and the heart, are controlled via the nerves from the spinal cord. 

 

So, take a moment and think about how your body would feel if your spine wasn’t functioning at its best.  Taking a small amount of time out of your busy schedule on a regular basis to maintain your spine just might keep you healthy (and out of pain.)

 

Remember:  “An aligned spine keeps the mind alive!”

Back Fact #25 (June 2008):

While walking or standing our FEET are the most important asset we have.  So why do so many people not take care of their feet by wearing non-supportive shoes?  Let’s look at one type of footwear that can be very hazardous to your back’s health; The Flip-flop.  Now don’t go ballistic on me, I do own and wear a pair of Flip-flops.  They’re o.k. for moving around the house or short distances, but beyond that they are a hazard.

 

When the body lifts the foot off the ground it then begins to predict where and when it will place the foot back on the ground.  When the foot is completely encased with support the body can predict with great certainty how the foot will land.  But with Flip-flips or other non-supportive shoes the body has to re-position its foot multiple times when the foot hits the ground in order to land properly on the Flip-flop. This is because the Flip-flop or other non-supportive shoes float in the air when the body picks up the foot.  Therefore the body will use the ankles, knees, hips and low back to compensate for the multiple corrections it will have to make when landing on a Flip-flop.  Eventually this can lead to ankle, knee, hip and low back problems.  Now, how much work do you think your feet, ankles, knees, hips and low back would have to do to walk around Disneyland for a day in a pair of Flip-flop?  

Back Fact #24 (May 2008):

Driving!!!  I was thinking the other day after watching people drive down the freeway that our driving postures Suck!  Most people drive with the seat reclined back so far they can barely reach the steering wheel.  As you know from my past “Back Facts” posture is very important in preventing back problems.  Most of us will realize that our posture at work/school is poor or maybe the 15 year old sofa is not good for our backs but very rarely do we think of our car seat (or driving posture) being bad for our backs. 

 

Thus, Dr. Schumacher’s infinite wisdom of the day, SIT UP!!  If you have your car seat in a more upright position you won’t have to reach with your arms and therefore flex your back which puts undo strain on the muscle, ligaments, and nerves of the spine. 

 

Did you know that “on October 1, 2007, 23 students began their first semester at the first chiropractic school in Spain.”  Cool!!!   (Dynamic Chiropractic April 22^, 2008.)

Back Fact #23 (March 2008):

Wow, time sure does fly!!  I have been so busy this month that I just realized I forgot to send everyone my “Back Fact.”  I know everyone checks their e-mail everyday waiting for my “Back Fact” (ha ha!)   

This month’s topic is SLEEP!  The majority of the population may not realize how valuable sleep really is to our bodies. It is so important that the body can force itself to sleep whether we want it to or not.  Your body needs 8 hours of sleep to accomplish its goals.  During that time period the body can heal minor problems such as soft tissue injuries, infections, cuts etc . . .  Nutrients throughout the body are redistributed to help regulate proper body functions.  The body will also regulate breathing and heart rate to increase oxygenation of the blood.  These are just a few of the many things our bodies do while we are asleep.  I know a lot of you have busy lives but try and find the time to let you body heal/regulate itself with 8 hours of sleep. I guarantee it will make a big difference in how you feel. 

Back Fact #22 (February 2008):

A couple weeks back I attended a seminar presentation with a college of mine called “Understanding Subluxation Neuroanatomy to improve patient care” by Dr. Dan Murphy.  Now you’re probably thinking, too many big words I don’t understand!  That’s o.k., I don’t expect you too. The reason I bring this up is that I found the information he provided fascinating, because it is proving that a chiropractic adjustment has a greater effect on the human body than most people think. 

 

Dr. Murphy is a very well known and respected doctor in both the chiropractic and medical profession.  He spends countless hours reviewing medical research associated with the spine, as well as why and how chiropractic impacts the human body.  During his hour and half presentation he showed research article after research article from medical journals that showed how powerful a chiropractic adjustment can be on the body.  One article that stood out in my mind was a study done to see which treatment both reduced pain and increased joint synovial fluid (basically, joint lubrication.)  It compared acupuncture, Viox and Celobrex (two most commonly prescribed drugs for arthritis) to chiropractic adjustments.  The chiropractic adjustment was 10 times more effective than acupuncture and 70 times (yes, I said 70 times) more effective than Viox and Celobrex.  This study was published in one of the world’s most respected medical journals, SPINE.  Wow!!!!

Back Fact #21 (January 2008):

Well it’s another new year and time to think about our lives and how we might want to change over the next year.  Of course, everyone always thinks about their body’s and becoming healthier.  This is great and I wish most of us would stick to our new plans, but we don’t.  I would like to give you my thoughts on the matter.  (Of course you saw that coming.)

 

I believe the reason most changes don’t take place is we think we need to make a major shift in our lives in order to change something.  For example, how much we weight or how we look.  Start with baby steps!  If you want to loose weight, start by cutting out one fatty food in your diet (ie. fast food or soda.)  If you want to begin an exercise program start by walking 3 times per week for 10-20 minutes during lunch.  The same goes for pain.  Start by evaluating your daily activities to see if any of them may be contributing to your symptoms.  If you think something does, modify or eliminate it.  {If you need help with this let me know?} 

 

Remember – Baby Steps!  {It took God 7 days to create the world. It’s going to take you a little longer to make a change in your life.)

Back Fact #20 (December 2007):

Merry Christmas!!!  I hope and pray everyone has a wonderful and save Christmas and New Year. 

 

As I was thinking about what to write I realized that I have sent out 19 “Back Facts” so far.  Wow how time flies.  So I decided to go back in my archives and reprint one of my favorite pieces of advice.  My very first “Back Fact.”  I would everyone to print this e-mail and tape it to their computer monitor so they will have a reminder that in order to keep our bodies healthy and pain free we need to stay in motion. 

 

Our body's are designed to be in motion.  Therefore sitting at a computer for hours at a time is physically demanding on both the body and the spine.  So, Take a Break! Every 30-45 minutes get out of your chair, walk down the hall or around your desk, and sit back down.  Try it!  It will make a difference, both physically and mentally.

 

Did you know that some research has come out to show that food colorings and sodium benzoate maybe contributing factors to ADHD.  So watch what you are feeding your kid, it maybe the cause of their hyperactivity. 

Back Fact #13 (April 2007):

 

When my wife and I go on a “kid-free” vacation we always seem to end up at a hotel that has a SPA attached.  I am not into pedicures, manicures, or facials but my wife loves them.  But I realized that one of her favorite treatments is a nice relaxing massage.  (Of course a nice relaxing massage works for me as well.)  As you know my practice not only focuses on chiropractic but also relaxation.  Too many people now days are too stressed and don’t take the time to just relax!  So, in addition to the wonderful “thumper” massager and heated dry-hydro massage table, I have added massage therapy to the treatments offered at my office.  This type of massage therapy is designed to both relieve muscle pain and relax your body. 

 

If you would like to know more or schedule an appointment, please call or e-mail me.  We have appointments available at 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  They book up fast so don’t make your “stressed out” body wait. 

 

Did you know that according to Dr. Manny Alvarez of FoxNews.com 4/3/07 “…almost half of all sports-related injuries treated in emergency rooms involve children between the ages of 5 and 14. While an active child is increasingly important in an age of obesity, an over-zealous sports schedule may be putting your child at risk.”

Back Fact #12 (February 2007):

 

Have you ever really thought about what you eat?  Well, I have!  As I sat down to eat my lunch last week I began to wonder what my body was going to feel like after eating a “Brent’s Deli” pastrami sandwich.  At first I didn’t care, because I love a good pastrami sandwich, but then I started thinking of the FAT content.  Then I wondered how many nutrients are in the sandwich?  I am not an expert in nutrition and as many of you know my parents owned and ice cream parlor when I was growing up.  But most of us should have been taught in school or by our parents what types of food were good for us and which ones were not. 

 

Here is one simple way to determine if what you have eaten is useful for your body. 

 

How do you feel after you have eaten it?”

 

Good food for our bodies should not make us feel stuffed, tired, wired or even hungry.  They should make us feel satisfied.  So the next time you eat, think about how your body will feel, and then decided if that food it the right food for your body. 

 

Did you know that according to the New York Times web site “Americans are besieged with more diagnosis than ever before.”  The article “discusses two areas that are contributing to the diagnosis epidemic.  The ‘medicalization of everyday life and the medicalization of childhood.’” ChiroWeb 2/12/07

Back Fact #10 (December 2006):

 

Merry Christmas!  Well it’s that time of year again and many of us are trying to “show-up” our next door neighbors and have a better decorated yard.  Others have found the need to see how many packages they can carry, with one hand, from one end of the Mall to their car. 

 

This time of year is filled with many unnecessary and avoidable injuries.  I would like to point out two that are most commonly seen in my office.  First, the “strained neck and arm” from reaching too far to place lights on the trim of the house while standing on a ladder that is not firmly planted on the ground.  The second is from lifting and carrying too many or too heavy of packages.  This causes injury to both the arms/shoulders and back. I could go into the biomechanics of how to avoid these injuries but I think most people know that if they overextend a certain part of their body it will become injured. 

 

So, my “Back Fact” is THINK FIRST!  If you know you can’t reach it, don’t try.  If you already have 5 shopping bags from Nordstrom, don’t enter Crate and Barrel until you have dropped those bags off at your car. And remember your grandkids are heavier than you think.