Dr. Gibson: Can Your Job Be a Pain in the Neck?
February 28, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
- by Dr. Jean Gibson, D.C. BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Fayetteville, AR
Have you experienced neck pain after a long day at work? There are many cause of neck pain, but one of the most common causes is related to poor posture, muscle fatigue and stress while in front of your computer or while at your desk. Your head, which weighs approximately 10 pounds, is balanced on your cervical spine (the neck) and is controlled by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It’s like balancing a bowling ball on a broom stick using dental floss and twine – if you don’t keep the bowling ball perfectly balanced on the stick, the ball will pull on the floss and twine, which will stretch and ultimately the ball will not stay in place! While your head will not fall off your neck, the damage done to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments by poor posture does require intervention. Many of us have our work stations set up for us by either our employer or the previous person in the office. We never think to personalize the placement of our computer keyboard, mouse, monitor and telephone to fit our body. Just a few changes in the set up of your office can make a big difference in your neck pain:
- Make sure your desk, chair, table and work station are at the right height for you.
- Position your computer at eye level or just below eye level. You do not want to be looking up at the screen or looking down at a sharp angle at the screen.
- Keep all paperwork as close to eye level as possible. Try not to look up or down at sharp angles or look to the side and back at the monitor.
- Take frequent breaks from your work station. Get up, stretch tired muscles and allow your eyes a rest from your monitor.
- Use a hands free headset or speaker phone. Cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder quickly tires shoulder muscles and leads to issues with not only your neck, but your shoulder also.
If you are already experiencing pain in the shoulder or neck, treatment is necessary. Pain relievers only mask the problem, and you may inadvertently aggravate the problem because your body’s warning system – pain – has been temporarily turned off. A Doctor of Chiropractic will incorporate various techniques to fix any issues with your cervical spine, as well as the muscles and ligaments involved. They can also advise your on stress reduction and posture issues to help your body to function at its peak.
Achieving our Own Inner Celebrity
February 27, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
In honor of the Oscars, I’m dedicating today’s column to the mystique of the Celebrity Body. We will tune in today for many reasons; to see whether there will be any awkward fashion disasters, to spot brilliant new trends, and of course we want to see who wins. Many of us will also be checking out the flawless bodies of each celebrity and wondering just how they do it.
The Simple Fibromyalgia Treatment that’s Nearly Always Overlooked…
February 26, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
The Simple Fibromyalgia Treatment that’s Nearly Always Overlooked…
February 26, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
4 of the Most Dangerous Myths About Washing Your Hands
February 25, 2011 by admin · Comments Off
Becker's ASC Review reveals nine widely held myths about washing your hands. Here are a few of them:
Hot water is better than cold water for effective handwashing
Scientists have found that various temperatures had "no effect on transient or resident bacterial reduction." Not only does hot water not show any benefit, but it might increase the "irritant capacity" of some soaps, causing dermatitis.
Hand sanitizers kill germs more effectively than soap
Using alcohol-based hand-hygiene products is in general not more effective than washing your hands with plain soap and water.
Frequent handwashing or use of hand sanitizers promotes healthy skin
In fact, contact dermatitis can develop from frequent and repeated use of hand hygiene products, exposure to chemicals and glove use.
Soap with triclosan is an effective antimicrobial for handwashing
A recent study compared an antibacterial soap containing triclosan with a non-antibacterial soap. The results showed that the antibacterial soap did not provide any additional benefit. In addition, concerns have been raised about the use of triclosan because of the potential development of bacterial resistance.
