Stay Healthy During Holiday Season

Whether you're scheduled for a long road trip, shopping for a small army of friends and family members, wrapping dozens and dozens of gifts or camping out in the kitchen to get all your cooking complete, major holidays can easily put your body at risk of injury. Prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, extensive walking, awkward positions, overeating and plain old mental exhaustion are all common when the holiday season comes into full swing. Here are a few common sense tips to assist in keeping you healthy and pain-free this holiday season:

• Traveling: bring water and small snacks to stay well hydrated and to keep your blood sugar levels stable, wear comfortable shoes and clothing, bring along a small blanket and travel pillow, bring all required travel documents as well as any maps or reservations for rental cars and hotels, be careful and obtain assistance when handling heavy/bulky luggage and gifts - use a push cart or dolly and obtain assistance whenever appropriate and/or possible


• Shopping: bring water and small snacks to stay well hydrated and to keep your blood sugar stable, wear comfortable shoes and clothing, have your shopping day pre-planned in regards to locations to visit and gifts to purchase, use shopping carts when available and take gifts to your vehicle frequently rather than risking injury by lugging pounds of gifts from store to store, be careful and obtain assistance when handling heavy/bulky gifts


• Cooking: maintain proper posture while at the counter/sink, alternate between sitting and standing positions, take frequent breaks, stretch often, careful when using knives and other sharp objects


• Gift Wrapping: maintain proper posture, stretch frequently, be careful not to leave scissors or sharp cutting objects on the floor where they can be accidentally stepped on or where they can be accessed by small children or animals, be careful and obtain assistance when moving or wrapping larger or bulky gifts


• Holiday Eats and Treats: do your best to avoid over indulgence of those holiday eats and treats, maintain activity levels to counter act all that holiday feasting, avoid driving when you've consumed those holiday spirits


• Treat Your Body To A Holiday Gift: if you find those aches and pains creeping in or just want to be in tiptop shape this holiday season, stop by your chiropractor's office and treat your body to the most valuable gift of all... the gift of health!
  

Author: ChiroPlanet.com. Source: Dr. Neil MacKay, DC. Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2006.

Ergonomic Nutrition

Robert Silverman, D.C. says neither ergonomics nor nutrition can bring about the degree of optimal health that an educated "marriage" of the two offers - and he has the clinical outcomes to support his perspective. Dr. Silverman runs a private clinic in White Plains, N.Y., specializing in diagnosing joint pain and soft-tissue management.

Ergonomic Nutrition Basics
Dr. Silverman says that because everything in the body is connected, conditions cannot be treated with a single modality. "Ergonomics - including good posture and proper exercise - really only works well when we make sure the nutrients the body needs to build healthy tissue and repair damaged tissue are provided.

"If a patient practices incorrect ergonomics, we are going to see some breakdown in the body. An emphasis on nutrition helps us slow the resulting breakdown and degeneration

If an injury occurs, good nutrition allows us to build tissues and structures back from the inside out at a biochemical level."

by Carol Marleigh Kline, JACA Online editor

Nervous System Circuitry

Your spinal cord is like the information superhighway with the “circuitry” necessary to run your body:

Sensory Nervous System: Taste, touch, sight, sound and smell are examples of sensory organs sending messages to your brain.

Motor Nervous System: Motor nerves control how your muscles work, such as standing or walking, coordination and balance.

Autonomic Nervous System: The autonomic nervous system controls cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory and many other involuntary functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System: The sympathetic nervous system has a deep connection with your hormonal system to secrete adrenaline and alert your entire body to impending danger, real or imagined (ie, fight or flight).

Like an electrician, we’re interested in the circuitry of your body. The moving bones of the spine are often the source of “brown outs,” short circuits and blown fuses. If you think chiropractic is only about your back, think again!

ANJC Health eNews: Association of New Jersey Chiropractors October 2011 Issue

USA Weekend: Chiropractic Care Works

A recent edition of USA Weekend touted chiropractic care and yoga as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies that work.

The article cites a review of 270 studies that found that spinal manipulation works just as well as pain medication for reducing the intensity of low back pain. The article went on to briefly explain how spinal manipulation works and listed the health care providers that offer the treatment.

The full story may be read at http://bit.ly/nIbsDX.

Information provided by American Chiropractic Association.

Victoria Beckham Feeling Better Thanks to Chiropractic

Victoria Beckham was spotted out and about in Los Angeles for the first time since giving birth in July to daughter Harper Seven. She was looking tired and wearing flat shoes instead of her usual six inch Louboutin shoes.

Beckham, the mother of four had been suffering with a herniated disc and is seeing a Doctor of Chiropractic to ease the pain.

You can read her tweets at http://bit.ly/q6nVhS.

Health Care vs. Sick Care

Traditionally, we see doctors when we have some type of obvious ache or pain. Yet, waiting for these obvious symptoms to appear before finally seeking help is becoming an increasing burden on our health care system, our economy and our well-being.

And while it may be called “health” care, it’s actually sick care.

Chiropractors are leading the way with real health care that’s designed to keep you well. Not surprising, it’s called wellness care. And the research is astonishing!

A recent analysis published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics looked at 311 chiropractic patients aged 65 years or older who had been receiving “maintenance” chiropractic care for five years or longer. When compared with subjects who were not receiving chiropractic care, they had half as many medical doctor visits and overall had healthier habits.

Other studies further confirm what a growing number of our own patients have been telling us: it’s actually less expensive to stay well, than it is to get well.

InMotion Stabilizing Orthotics: Proven on Mount Kilimanjaro

Dr. Dan Moore had a burning desire to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. More than 10years after setting his sights on this feat, he did it, all with the help of Foot Levelers’ individually designed InMotion® Stabilizing Orthotics. Dr. Moore credits the Celliant® in the InMotion® for helping him reach the top. Celliant® has been shown to increase tissue oxygen up to 10.2% in active patients.*

“My InMotions were far superior to other insoles. I needed orthotics that could take the beating.”

Foot Levelers’ individually designed Stabilizing Orthotics support all three arches in the foot, leading the industry with its patented Gait Cycle System®. The InMotion® provides shock protection, energizes performance and results in quicker recovery. Celliant® stimulates blood flow and increases tissue oxygen levels. Dri-release® helps remove moisture four times faster and silver helps control odor and bacteria.

Optimal Family Chiropractic uses Foot Levelers technology. We have the ability to screen our patients for foot imbalances to ensure that they receive the best possible care.

Cell-Phone Elbow

Minimize the Perils of Mobile Technology
By now, most people have heard of BlackBerry thumb. Recently, there has been talk of a new repetitive strain injury called “cell-phone elbow.” As technology advances, allowing us to do more tasks on smaller equipment, our bodies often pay the cost. With a growing potential for injuries from tools we rely on, it’s a good time to educate your patients about what they can do to minimize their risk.

Addressing Cell-Phone Elbow
Dr. Peter Evans, director of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at Cleveland Clinic, recently coined the term “cell-phone elbow” to describe the paresthesias, pain and weakness some people experience from excessive phone use. These symptoms can progress to atrophy, weakness and clawing of the ulnar digits, affecting daily living tasks, as well as typing and writing.

Cell-phone elbow is not a new diagnosis but simply a new name for cubital tunnel syndrome. The two biggest controllable risk factors for cubital tunnel syndrome are prolonged flexion of the elbow at greater than 90 degrees and pressure placed directly on the ulnar nerve as it passes around the underside of the elbow. With technology allowing for full Internet access, social networking and entertainment to be performed from cell phones, more people spend greater time using them. The more time spent staring at that little screen, the longer people keep their elbows bent, which diminishes blood flow to the nerve and results in injury. Compounding the problem is resting on the flexed elbow when using the cell phone at a desk or in a car, which leads to direct nerve compression, in addition to elbow flexion.


Doctors of chiropractic can play a key role in educating patients about the risks of excessive time holding a phone to the ear and looking at a screen. If your patients experience overuse symptoms, it is also important to help them analyze the other activities they do that may contribute to the problem. Sleeping with the elbows bent and habitually crossing the arms, as well as working on a surface that is too high, pinch the nerve and should be addressed.

To eliminate prolonged elbow bending, remind patients to use headsets, which free the hands to take notes or type, eliminating the need to pinch the phone between the ear and shoulder. Simply showing patients what happens to the vertebrae and nerves in this extreme side-bent position is often enough motivation to get them to begin using a headset.


Avoiding Posture Pitfalls
The popularity of texting, combined with the increasing amount of time spent in front of a computer, will very likely contribute to worsening posture. Teens and young adults are particularly at risk. Many people find it challenging to maintain their posture in everyday tasks. When you add staring intently at a small screen for long periods, it is easy to fall into a slouched, head-forward position.

Teach your patients to sit upright with the head over the shoulders while using the phone. If the PDA is to be used for lengthy typing, see if an external keyboard can be used. Resting the forearms on a pillow while texting or typing will also help minimize neck tension by allowing the upper traps to relax. Cue patients to look down with the eyes and gently tuck the chin to maintain a healthier posture.

In addition, make sure the screen is easy to read. Straining to see what is on the screen leads to jutting the chin forward, shifting work from the spine to the muscles to hold the head up. Avoiding use of PDAs while in bright sunlight can help.

While they describe conditions known before recent advances in technology, terms such as “BlackBerry thumb,” “Wii-itis” and “cell-phone elbow” don’t simply give new names to old problems. If these new terms help the public begin to recognize how everyday tasks can place them at risk for injury, maybe our patients will take ownership of their own health, instead of passively expecting others to “fix it.” Our role is to help them move in that direction.


By Chris Sorrells, OTR, CHT, CEAS. Chris Sorrells is the president of www.ErgonomicsSimplified.com, a free online resource for health professionals. He can be reached at Chris@ErgonomicsSimplified.com.

Life vs Ergonomics: Part 2

Part 2 of 2

The Aging Body
We know that muscle loss is a huge problem with aging,” says Dr. Bautch, “so we want to be careful with that.” While people who have been exercising aggressively all their lives may be able to continue exercising, aging tends to make people more sedentary. “Our bodies don’t like great changes, so if I get more sedentary and then go out and play softball or football on weekends, the chances of injury become tremendous. We decondition faster as we get older than we recondition.

Compliance: Challenges and Solutions
As doctors of chiropractic know, most patients are compliant as long as pain is the driver. After the worst of the pain subsides, they tend to want to start living like they did before injury slowed them down. To offset this very human desire, doctors need to look at numerous factors involved in helping a patient get better—and stay better.

Dr. Bautch says that when it comes to prescribing a home exercise program, quality cannot be the only criterion.

“I prefer to teach the exercises to my patients so they can gain a kinesthetic feel for them," says Dr. Morris. I prefer to teach the exercises to my patients so they can gain a kinesthetic feel for them. I include errors that patients routinely fall into. If I feel there is a risk that the patient will perform the exercise incorrectly, which is common, I teach him or her to perform it both correctly and incorrectly so the difference between the two can be appreciated. I never allow patients to perform an exercise at home unless they have mastered it in the office, which includes doing it correctly and incorrectly. The percentage of my patients who returned and performed their exercises wrong dramatically diminished after I initiated this strategy.”

Building Patient Motivation: Tips from the Field

• Dr. Christensen says it’s important not to overload patients with exercises since that will lead to noncompliance. He also asks the patient to agree to perform daily exercise with a regular time set aside. Keeping a journal that records repetitions and sets may also be helpful, he adds.


• Dr. Kurtz says that clear goals or benchmarks to reach for and someone to hold patients accountable so they will continue to do their prescribed exercises are valuable motivators.


• “If the doctor looks very fit and looks like he exercises, patients are more apt to perform their exercises.” Dr. Aspegren also looks for patient red flags that may indicate problems ahead, such as smoking, obesity, a blue-collar background, or basic lack of motivation.” When such patients are identified, he says, “We try to spend a little more time with them. We make sure we emphasize the importance of performing their exercises to reduce the need for care and to help reduce the relapse rate that permeates many musculoskeletal-type injuries.”


• Dr. Bautch says because it takes 21 days to develop a habit, he reminds his patients of what they should be doing every time they talk.


• Dr. Morris puts his own twist on compliance. “One of the keys to motivating patients to perform their exercises is to find out what they have lost that they are passionate about. I have found that by listening to my patients and letting them explain their concerns, their fears, their frustrations, and their desires, we generally find reasonable rehabilitation strategies together that comfortably motivate them to continue.”

By Carol Marleigh Kline, MA, JACA Online Editor
Chiropractic Home Exercise Programs—Ergonomics & Compliance (Part II)
J Amer Chiropr Assoc 2006 May;43(4):2-6

Life vs. Ergonomics: Part 1

Part 1 of 2

Most patients—most people—know little about spine-related ergonomics:

• Some sit hunched in place over a keyboard or in front of a computer screen for hours—and they can’t figure out why they have headaches and tight shoulders.
  


• Some watch TV from the soft family sofa with backs flexed into a loose “C” shape—and they don’t understand why their backs hurt.


• Some torque the body while lifting heavy items—which can easily lead to pain and a chiropractic visit.
  

And the list goes on. The doctors we spoke with generally believe that a home exercise program should also have an ergonomics teaching component. Scott Bautch, DC, DACBOH, says it’s extremely important to get people to be “posturally friendly,” adding, “The closer the body is to neutral, the better the joint function. The farther you get from neutral, the more detrimental it is.”

Whole-Body Involvement
The chiropractic profession, says Dr. Aspegren, has led the idea of whole-body involvement for years—even when the injury is supposedly to a discrete part of the body. “That’s where much of medicine is transitioning now—going away from the pathoanatomical model, where we just look at the area that’s hurt—just that little area, such as a disc injury and that’s all—to more of the biopsychosocial model, which is a much more widely focused, much more broadly scoped technique. With some of the techniques that are coming out, like Graston, the research is showing how the fascia connects throughout the whole body, and how this affects multiple areas. This is very important, particularly when working with athletes.”

Dr. Aspegren says he is a great proponent of aerobic exercise. “For the most part,” he says, “it’s been shown that aerobic activity is one of the foundational forms of exercise for our injured patients. The literature points out that it is helpful in the profusion of blood into the injured area. That helps to dissipate inflammatory by-products, such as enzymes that exude from the disc, for instance. Aerobic exercise can be used to regulate pH levels that sometimes plummet with a disc pathology. If we can get blood into the region of an intervertebral disc that in the adult is avascular, by-products of inflammation are flushed out and nutrients are diffused inward.”

Dr. Bautch agrees that aerobic exercise can be valuable during the acute phase—within patient tolerance. He says even Clarence Gonstead had patients walk after their adjustments. And he points out that Dr. Gonstead had an Olympic-sized pool built so patients would get moving even if they had to be supported in part by water.

Part 2: The Aging Body, Challenges and Solutions for Compliance and Building Patient Motivation

By Carol Marleigh Kline, MA, JACA Online Editor
Chiropractic Home Exercise Programs—Ergonomics & Compliance (Part II)
J Amer Chiropr Assoc 2006 May;43(4):2-6

Nat'l Chiropractic Health Month: TechnoHealthy!

In 2008, almost 162 million smart phones were sold, surpassing laptop sales for the first time.

More text messages are sent per phone than phone calls. The average number of text messages per month per phone is 357 compared with 204 cell phone calls.

A stdy at the University of Queensland in Australia found that text messaging is the most addictive digital service on mobile or Internet, and is equivalent in addictiveness to cigarette smoking.

Modern technology such as smart phones and texting is bringing people together in new ways…but it also has the potential to take a toll on our bodies and our health.

This year for National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM), the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) asks chiropractic patients and the public the question, “Are you TechnoHealthy?”

As experts in ergonomics, doctors of chiropractic can help their patients use technology safely, avoiding unnecessary injury and strain, or treat the aches and pains that may already exist. Being TechnoHealthy also means knowing when to unplug and reconnect with the world around you through exercise and other wellness activities.

ACA encourages doctors of chiropractic nationwide to participate in National Chiropractic Health Month this year and help tackle a serious public health problem today: the overuse and misuse of technology.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

Enjoy Byram Day on October 1, 2011

After rescheduling due to rain, we're looking forward to Byram Day this Saturday, October 1 from 12:00 to 5:00pm. Byram Day will be held at Neil Gylling Park, Mansfield Drive in Byram Township, NJ. Opening ceremonies will be at noon.

This year's theme is "Volunteers Build Our Community." Where applicable, Byram-based vendors (i.e. scouts, non-profits) have been asked to promote volunteerism in some way, as well as provide information about, and sign-up sheets for the volunteer opportunities available to community members.

Byram Day draws thousands of visitors each year. There will be carnival rides, pony rides, incredible food and plenty of shopping.

Optimal Family Chiropractic will have a tent on the field. We'll provide literature about chiropractic care and conduct non-invasive neck and foot scans. The scans are fun and show individuals if they have possible subluxations of the neck or imbalances of their feet. Dr. Brenda Rooney will be available to discuss the scans and talk about wellness.

Enjoy the Hackettstown Street Fair this Sunday!

The annual Hackettstown Street Fair will be held this Sunday, September 25 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. The Fair will be located on Main Street in Hackettstown and offer a variety of enjoyment for everyone. There will be crafters and artists, vendors, music, food, games, clowns, dancing and inflatable rides including a moon-walk.

Come stroll through Hackettstown on Sunday and enjoy the event.

Admission is free!

Is Your Body Merely a Collection of Parts?

In school you learned that the human body was divided into different parts. The mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines made up the digestive system. The bones made up the skeletal system. And so on. This has contributed to the widely-held belief that you and I are merely a collection of parts, a belief that stands in the way of better health. It’s responsible for:

Isolation: Incorrectly thinking that organs and tissues operate independently of each other rather than together as part of an integrated whole.

Mechanism: The belief that we’re simply a collection of parts in which identical inputs (drugs) should produce identical results in all subjects.

We chiropractors go beyond mechanism to embrace what’s called vitalism:

Wholism: Each “part” has a purpose that contributes to the whole.

Intelligence: You and I can learn, create and adapt to our environment.

Self-healing: Cut your finger and your body can heal it. Mechanisms can’t.

Since the nervous system regulates these vital processes, chiropractic care is the centerpiece of the growing interest in vitalism.

ANJC Health eNews is provided on behalf of local member chiropractors and published monthly by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors.

Join the Fun on Byram Day and Netcong Day!

This weekend there are two community events that will provide lots of entertainment for children and adults. On Saturday, September 10, Byram, New Jersey will celebrate Byram Day between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm at Neil Gylling Park, Mansfield Drive, Byram Township.

Byram Day draws thousands of visitors each year. The fun filled day begins with a 5K Race at 9:00am. The main stage opens at 12:00 noon with an Opening Ceremony celebrating "Volunteers Build Our Community." A number of volunteer organizations will be on hand to exhibit what they do to enhance our community. Rides for children and games for kids and families continue throughout the day. Something new to try this year is an Obstacle Course sponsored by RDA Fitness guru Rob Austin. Adults can shop the vendors, view the Classic Car and Truck Show or attend school in the Historical School House.

Food is available throughout the day, and music will be provided in the picnic area, so come for lunch and stay and enjoy a leisurely dinner.

Come one and all to the Netcong Day Annual Street Fair on Sunday, September 11 between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. The day will be filled with family fun, lots of vendors and crafters to visit, food, entertainment, free children’s rides, community booths, games and activities. A 5K race at 10:30 am will precede the day's activities.

Both events are family oriented and filled with fun.

Optimal Family Chiropractic will attend both days and provide educational information about the many conditions that can benefit from chiropractic care. We will provide non-invasive neck scans and foot scans. Neck scans can identify subluxations of the neck. Foot scans show if feet have flat or high arches, both of which can negatively affect feet, knees and back. Stop by our tent if you attend.

Chiropractic Care for Children

Chiropractic care can have an immense impact on the wellness of a child. However, many parents may be unaware of the benefits it can have on their children’s health. This unawareness can provoke apprehension, resulting in theories against the matter, such as:

Children are fragile; chiropractic treatment is not the same for a child as it would be for an adult.

Availability of medications that relieve pain and cover a vast array of diseases.

Children are simply too young for treatment.

Unawareness of chiropractic methodologies and practices. If parents are unsure about the benefits of chiropractic care themselves, why would they send their kids there?

Encouragement is key for parents that are apprehensive. They should be fully informed of the benefits, the safety factors, and the positive outcomes that come from chiropractic care. It is important to explain how children can be highly vulnerable to long-term injuries from daily activity. As children are constantly growing and adapting to the natural transformations, they become prone to long-term injuries, or developing musculoskeletal disorders that can last for many years.

According to Dynamic Chiropractic, “children's bones and muscles are more elastic and heal faster. At the peak of adolescent linear growth, the musculoskeletal system is most vulnerable because of imbalances in strength and flexibility and changes in the biomechanical properties of bone.”[1]

Chiropractic care can help prevent children from developing:

Long-term musculoskeletal dysfunctions

Imbalances in the body

Dependencies on medications

In a To Your Health article, “The same treatments we administer to adults are just as safe for children. Ailments that adults commonly come into our offices with happen to children as well. Chiropractic techniques performed on children are modified so the procedures are gentler for the child's particular body type.”[2]

Another way a chiropractor can help prevent children from the development of postural and musculoskeletal disorders is by ordering them Stabilizing Orthotics. Many children suffer from pronation and the low arches in their feet can disrupt normal gait patterns and create postural imbalances later in life.

In an article concerning children’s foot health, Dr. Brian Jensen states, “Foot problems from childhood can interfere with adolescent (or adult) spinal function, which can result in poor biomechanics and accelerated degenerative changes in the knees, hips, and spine.”[3]

Children that are monitored and treated by a chiropractor can reduce the risk of developing postural disorders and other ailments that typically go unseen. Parents should be encouraged to have their children routinely examined. A few steps towards prevention can make a great difference in long-term postural stability in a child.

[1] Pate, Deborah. (October 21, 2010). Musculoskeletal Development and Sports Injuries in Pediatric Patients. http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?t=34&id=54950
[2] Wong, Kevin M. (August, 2007). Chiropractic for Growing Bodies. http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=932
[3] Jensen, Brian. (Nov/Dec 2006). Can Orthotics Help Kids? Transitions, NYCC

Adapted from Foot Levelers' Notes.

Barefoot Running

Until recently, most of us considered athletic shoes an important and essential part of our athletic training gear. Every year since the mid-1970s, the big running shoe companies have introduced new product lines based on shoes with increased cushion and support. Today, however, there has been an uprising among subgroups of runners, cross-fitness enthusiasts and weight lifters: Less shoe is better, and no shoe is best.

The premise behind barefoot running is essentially that the intrinsic muscles, joints, ligaments and mechanoreceptors of the feet require stimulation to function properly. And this optimal function is inhibited by highly supportive and cushioned shoes.

If you’re interested in trying out barefoot running, consider this advice before you begin.

• Start with walking barefoot or in minimalist shoes, and gradually work into running.



• Progress to short runs. Begin running only five minutes per run, and gradually increase.
  


• Rather than going totally barefoot, use a minimalist shoe to protect your feet from thorns, glass, nails, stones and other debris.
  


• Stop barefoot running at the earliest sign of pain.



• Avoid running barefoot in freezing temperatures. Shoes protect us from frostbite if nothing else.



• Be prepared for blisters and calluses to form as you transition to barefoot running.

ChiroHealth is a health news update of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

The GREEN Summerfest in Vasa Park, NJ

On Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, a very special event will be held for the first time in Vasa Park. The park will be transformed into a 2-day eco-friendly festival with a concert showcasing New Jersey's most popular bands. The theme of the event will be green products, services, a craft section, natural foods and delicious festival foods and the Kids Traveling Shindig, a special section with kiddie rides, bounces, clowns, face-painting and kid-oriented entertainment.

An invitation is extended to local civic/non-profit organizations to participate as exhibitors. A separate area will be created called the "Community Square" where local organizations can get involved in the festival, promote your group/club, or an event you are planning.

If you are an exhibitor and would like to come FREE, come up with an activity, a draw or an attraction that will complement the event. Make it interesting...make it fun...make it interactive...

Proceeds of the Summerfest will benefit Mt. Olive Recreation.

City vs. Country: Who Is Healthier?

Urban Areas Clean Up, Residents Live Longer, Stay Fitter; But Stress Is Less in Rural Regions
By Melinda Beck

Is city life killing you? Not necessarily. According to a recent report, you're more likely to get in a traffic accident, die of a gunshot wound, suffer from high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes if you live in a rural area. Melinda Beck explains.

For many urban dwellers, the country conjures up images of clean air, fresh food and physical activities. But these days, Americans residing in major cities live longer, healthier lives overall than their country cousins—a reversal from decades past.

Many cities that were once notorious for pollution, crime, crowding and infectious diseases have generally cleaned up, calmed down and spread out in recent years, while rural problems have festered. Rural residents are now more likely than other Americans to be obese, sedentary and smoke cigarettes. They also face higher rates of related health problems including diabetes, stroke, heart attacks and high blood pressure, according to County Health Rankings (CHR), a research project that recently issued its second annual report of state-by-state comparisons of health measures in every U.S. county.

To be sure, city dwellers live with more air pollution and violent crime. They also have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and low-birth-weight babies and are more likely to drink excessively. But overall, urbanites tend to rate their own health more highly and are less likely to die prematurely than rural Americans, according to the county rankings report.

In many measures, residents of suburban areas are the best off. They generally rate their own health the highest and have the fewest premature deaths than either their urban or rural counterparts. Suburbanites also have the fewest low-birth-weight babies, homicides and sexually transmitted diseases.

"Suburbs rule!" says CHR deputy director Bridget Booske, a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute, which produces the rankings with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

These broad generalities don't hold true for every region. Much of the health advantage in cities may be a function of age, income and education levels. The average annual household income in central cities is $53,000, according to the county ranking report. By contrast, average incomes are $39,000 in most rural areas and $60,000 in suburbs. Rural residents also tend to be older and less educated than their urban counterparts.

Limited access to care might help explain the overall poorer health of rural residents. About 25% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, but they are served by only 10% of the country's physicians. They are also less likely to have private health insurance, prescription drug coverage or be covered by Medicaid, according to the nonprofit National Rural Health Association.

"Rural America is a place where those most in need of health-care services often have the fewest options," says Alan Morgan, the association's chief executive.

The nationwide problem with obesity hits rural areas hardest. Overall, 19% of rural children aged 2 to 19 are obese, and 36% of them are overweight, according to the center's report. By comparison, 15% of urban kids the same age are obese, and 30% are overweight.

Determining what areas are "urban" or "rural" can be murky. Some government agencies divide geographic areas into just two categories: metro and nonmetro, making it harder to identify trends in suburbs. Others use from six to 12 categories. Statistics are generally gathered and compared on a county basis, but many counties contain a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas.

It's long been observed that city dwellers have a higher rate of mental health problems than rural residents—39% more mood disorders and 21% more anxiety disorders, according to an analysis from 20 developed countries last year. The reasons aren't clear, but a study in the journal Nature this month, in which German researchers monitored the brain waves of urban and rural residents, suggests that people who grow up in cities may process stress differently.

People who move from a city environment to the country or vice versa generally bring their health habits with them. Leigh Young grew up on a tiny farm in rural Michigan, eating only what her family grew or slaughtered. Ms. Young, 55, now lives in urban Grand Rapids, where she says she isn't tempted by soda, chocolate or processed food. Her upbringing "made me far more aware of what I put into my body," she says.

Many places have their own health quirks. Matthew Joyce, 45, and his family moved from San Francisco to Boulder, Colo., 10 years ago. "It's so health conscious that if you don't participate you feel like the odd one out," he says. Farmers markets and health-food stores have squeezed out the doughnut shops, he says. He and his family have become healthier, Mr. Joyce says. "We eat organic, exercise, meditate. But that doesn't mean you don't want a doughnut every now and again."

Both Horses and Humans Need Custom Support!

I’ve spent some time on farms and ranches in my day, so I’ve been around horses and the people who care for those magnificent animals. I learned that every horse is biomechanically different and has specific structural needs. I also learned that the long-term health of a horse can be directly related to the quality of analysis of its gait, how it bears its weight, and the quality of the shoes that it wears. It’s apparent to me that horseshoes are essentially custom orthotics for horses!

It’s also apparent that, when it comes to our weightbearing structures, we humans deserve at least the same considerations that a horse gets. We need to be especially diligent in examining children because of the influence that orthotics could have on their structures during the early years of their development. With older patients, it is obvious when the structure has started breaking down, but it’s not too late to do something about it.

Electronic digital scanning provides adequate analysis of the human foot in the weightbearing position. Flexible, custom-made foot orthotics take into account the complexity of the biomechanics of the foot’s three arches, the 26 bones of the foot and ankle, and of the foot’s relationship with the knee, hip, and pelvic complex.

Shock absorption, structural support, and proprioceptive influence are key features of the custom-made orthotics that have been shown to be the most beneficial. This translates into having a positive influence on growth plates in young patients and slowing down degenerative changes in adults.

What I said about horses also applies to people: Every patient is biomechanically different and has specific structural needs. Genetics, occupation, trauma, shoe type, age, height, weight, and recreational activities are all factors that contribute to our structural uniqueness.

There is no such thing as “off-the-shelf” horseshoes, because the results would be inadequate to accommodate all of the differences not only between horses but in all four hoofs of one horse. In the same way, off-the-shelf arch supports or cushions cannot take into account all the variations of human feet that exist. Nearly all people possess some variation between their right and left feet, which means custom made, flexible orthotics are essential for optimal musculoskeletal support and comfort.

A benefit of replacing older orthotics is to make sure you are still getting adequate shock absorption. It just makes sense that if older orthotics have been absorbing the shock forces of walking and running for a couple of years, it is a good idea to update them so the orthotics are efficiently absorbing those forces, not the knees, hips, and spine. Broken down, arthritic joints are sure to occur if the forces of gravity have not been managed properly.

The ramifications of structural wear and tear in a horse are often the cause of its ultimate demise. A horse will not be allowed to suffer from degenerative conditions. Humans, on the other hand, often spend many years suffering from degenerative changes that could have been prevented with adequate postural support.

References
(1): Charrette MN. Balance, neurology, and chiropractic care. Practical Res Studies 2005; 20(1):1-4. (2): Hyland JK. Proprioception, alignment, and balance improve with the a-s-r program. Practical Res Studies 2005; 19(4):1-4. (3): Stude DE, Brink DK. Effects of nine holes of simulated golf and orthotic intervention on balance and proprioception in experienced golfers. J Manip Physiol Ther 1997; 20(9):590-601.

Dr. Brian Jensen is currently the Associate Director of Professional Education at Foot Levelers. He speaks on a wide variety of topics, including orthotic therapy, posture, structural preservation, breaking free of the medical model of healthcare, and innovations in nutrition.