All posts by Dr. Brad
Shoulder Health
“Burlington Chiropractic Care For Strong And Healthy Shoulders”
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre which is a family chiropractic facility.
He is also a canfitpro certified Personal Training Specialist and a Certified Posture Expert with the American Posture Institute.
Today’s health topic is how to maintain strong and healthy shoulders which as everyone knows, can sometimes seem to carry the weight of the world.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/07.26.2016.shoulder.health.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/shoulder.health.jpg width=500 height=305 /] Remember that your shoulder girdle is part of posture quadrant #2.Your shoulder joint is a ball and socket type of joint which makes it the most flexible joint in the body. But as a consequence of this incredible flexibility, it is also the most unstable joint in the body.
This makes it very susceptible to injury.
The key to maintaining strong shoulders with good flexibility is two-fold; first of all, the muscles that control your shoulder movements and hold it together must have good tensegrity.
This means they are neither too tight nor too loose. Secondly, you must have good postural alignment in your thoracic spine which is the part of your spine between your neck (cervical spine) and your lower back (lumbar spine).
The other thing you need to know about your shoulders is that most of the nerves that control your shoulder muscles are motor nerves only.
This means that they can only cause a muscle to contract or relax but they cannot feel any pain.
And because they cannot feel any pain, you could potentially be developing some pretty serious shoulder problems without even knowing it.
But this won’t be the case of course if you are having your thoracic spine and shoulders checked regularly by a chiropractor.
More on shoulders next time, but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your children may have, please give me a call.
Remember that consultations and posture checks are always free of charge.
Family appointments are also available where we can check you and your children all at the same time.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me by clicking directly on the link found on our home page.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Emphysema Helped By Chiropractic Care
Slumped Posture And Health Risks
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre, a family chiropractic facility.
He is also a canfitpro certified Personal Training Specialist and a Certified Posture Expert with the American Posture Institute.
Last time he discussed how chiropractic care can help people who suffer from the lung disease emphysema and today we are going to expound on this.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/07.19.2016.Chiropractic.Adjustments.Can.Improve.Breathing.bi.hb1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/07.19.2016.Emphysema.breathing.easy_.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Remember that one of the primary functions of posture quadrant #2 (your thoracic spine, rib cage, shoulder girdle and arms) is respiration or breathing.
The diaphragm which separates your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity is your true breathing muscle and you should average 10 to 14 breaths or respirations per minute.
Your breathing can be altered by the following … positional changes, emotional state, activity level, diseases (such as emphysema), wearing garments that are too tight and of course postural distortions.
Your most efficient breathing is diaphragmatic breathing where oxygen is drawn into the deepest and widest part of your lungs.
And this can only happen with balanced and erect posture in posture quadrant #2.
Slumped posture with a rounded upper back (humped back) which is the most common posture distortion pattern in quadrant #2, does not allow for full range of motion of your diaphragm.
Therefore your breathing and oxygen uptake will suffer and the rest of your body will become deprived of the vital oxygen that it needs to function and survive.
Slumped posture is now evident in children due to the ongoing stresses of modern technology.
But the lesson we need to learn here is from our elders.
Even the slightest humped back is associated with an increased risk of falls in the elderly population.
Elderly people with a humped back are also three and a half times more likely to end up in a nursing home compared to those with good posture and the most severe consequence of slumped posture or a humped back is higher mortality rates due to the increased prevalence of atherosclerosis or heart disease.
This is why it is absolutely critical that postural distortions are corrected immediately in posture quadrant #2 as soon as they are identified.
And as a chiropractor and posture expert, this is where I can help you.
All you need to do is call our office to make an appointment for your free initial consultation and posture check.
Remember too that we also offer family appointments where we can check your whole family at the same time and the reason for this is that spinal problems do tend to run in families.
Our phone number here is Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me by clicking directly on the link found on our home page.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chiropractic Care Helps Your Breath Easy
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre.
He is also a Personal Training Specialist certified with canfitpro and a Certified Posture Expert with the American Posture Institute.
Today we are going to learn about the findings of a recent study published in the Journal of Alternative Complimentary Medicine.
The people who participated in this study suffered from a condition called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
COPD is a disease of the lungs which includes bronchitis and emphysema.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/07.14.2016.chronic.obstructive.pulmonary.disease.bi.hb.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/07.17.2016.chronic.obstructive.pulmonary.disease.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Bronchitis is when your airways become constricted and emphysema is when the tiny air sacs in your lungs become damaged.
Both can make simple tasks like walking up a set of stairs very difficult.
The results of this study showed that COPD patients who received chiropractic care had … 1) better lung function and 2) improved exercise performance following their adjustments.
Now, I am sure a lot of you are wondering how this is possible.
Recall what we have talked about several times over the past few months … that spinal misalignments and postural distortions in posture quadrant #1 and posture quadrant #2 can decrease your lung capacity by up to 30%!
So even though chiropractic care may not be a cure for bronchitis or emphysema, it surely is a cure for bad posture.
The better your posture is, the better your internal organs will function. This is a scientific fact.
A bigger question however is this … why would you ever let your posture get so bad that it affects the function of your internal organs in the first place? Especially when you have a choice.
As a chiropractor and posture expert, this is where I can help you.
I will be able to tell you where your posture is starting to collapse, and we can take the appropriate measures to prevent posture distortion patterns from ever starting in the first place.
Not just for you but for your children as well.
All you need to do is call me and schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation and posture check. Remember too that because we are a family chiropractic clinic, we also offer family appointments.
This means that we can check you and your children all at the same time. And the reason why is because spinal problems do tend to run in families.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking directly on the link on our home page.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Chiropractors Initiating Infant Care
How Do I Know When My Infant Needs Chiropractic Care?
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre.
Life Chiropractic Centre is a family chiropractic facility.
Today I am going to discuss how I know when your baby needs a chiropractic adjustment.
The first thing I do is ask the parent what has taken place since the previous adjustment. Have there been any falls off of the bed or couch?, have there been any illnesses?, is the baby teething?, are their bowels working properly?, have there been any recent vaccinations?.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/06.14.2016.adjusting.babies.part.1.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/06.14.2016.adjusting.babies.prt_.1.jpg width=500 height=305 /]And of course we always pay special attention around the developmental landmarks; when baby first starts to sit, crawl, stand and then walk/run.
All of these circumstances can lead to the formation of spinal misalignments or subluxations.
Of course I always do a physical check before every adjustment as well.
I will have them lie on their back in a pregnancy pillow (this is used when I adjust pregnant moms) which also serves as a nice, soft cradle for babies.
The first think I look for is if their head is tilted to one side or the other.
Then I will have them grab my fingers and I will gently pull them up.
This way I can check their grip strength and see if their neck muscles are developing properly. By 3 months of age or so their head should not lag.
Then I will assess the hips and legs for flexibility or tension.
I will also do a leg length check which is my most important check because if a leg is tense and pulling up short, this is a definite sign of subluxation.
Also, I will reach around behind the baby and check the different areas of their spine with my fingertips to make sure they are moving properly.
So, once I identify if and when and where the baby needs an adjustment, I proceed using an instrument called an activator.
As I squeeze the activator it gives a very small impulse.
I place my thumb on the neck vertebra that needs to be corrected and place the activator in the direction the vertebra needs to be corrected.
The activator makes a clicking sound as I squeeze it but my thumb is actually contacting the vertebra.
For the thoracic and lumbar spine and pelvis, I place the activator directly onto the vertebrae that need to be corrected.
After the adjustment, I expect to see that the baby’s head is in a neutral position, the leg lengths are equal and there is minimal tension anywhere in the body.
This way I know the spine is balanced and the nerve system is functioning optimally and therefore the baby’s health potential is also optimal.
So, as you can see by the accompanying video, it is a very gentle and non-invasive procedure.
If you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or any of your children may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations and posture checks in our office are always free of charge. And we also offer family appointments where we can check everybody at the same time.
This is always a fun experience and I can show you how spinal problems tend to run in families.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found right on our home page.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Posture Quadrant Three
Health Risks Associated With Posture Quadrant Three
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre which is a family chiropractic facility.
Over the past few weeks we have learned about the health risks associated with spinal misalignments in the various posture quadrants and as promised, today we are going to learn about the health risks associated with spinal misalignments in posture quadrant #3, which is your 5 lower lumbar vertebrae and pelvis.
The main purpose of quadrant #3 is to stabilize your body.
And it is very important to understand that the majority of postural distortion patterns are initiated here.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/06.10.2016.spinal.misalignments.quadrant.3.bi.hb.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06.10.2016.spinal.misalignments.quadrant.3.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Misalignments in quadrant #3 can cause inefficient movement patterns in quadrant #4 (legs) and postural collapse in quadrant #2 (thoracic spine, ribcage, shoulders, arms), which in turn can cause postural collapse in quadrant #1 (head and neck).
Other important functions associated with quadrant #3 are balance, respiration, digestion, reproduction and detoxification.
As you can see, spinal misalignments here can significantly debilitate your quality of life.
Other things you need to know about quadrant #3; misalignments here in the elderly population can result in less postural control and more postural sway which increases their chances of stumbling and falling.
Also, the number one musculo-skeletal problem associated with quadrant #3 is lower back pain.
And remember what we learned a while back – chronic low back pain sufferers have 10 to 20 times more loss of gray matter in their brain than those who don’t suffer from low back pain.
So, taking all of these into consideration, it is absolutely critical to have excellent spinal alignment in your lower back and pelvis.
Irrespective of gender, age or occupation.
Next time we will discuss the 4th and final posture quadrant #4, but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your children may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations and posture checks in our office are always free of charge, family appointments are also available, and we have office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and most Saturday mornings.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me by clicking directly on the link found right on our home page.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build healthy, vibrant, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Quadrant Two Pain
Health Risks Faced With Misalignments
In Posture Quadrant Two
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre which is a family chiropractic facility.
Last time we learned about the potential health risks of having spinal misalignments and posture distortions in posture quadrant #1 which is your head and neck.
And as promised, today you are going to learn about the potential health risks of having spinal misalignments in posture quadrant #2.
Posture quadrant #2 is made up of your thoracic spine, your rib cage, your shoulder girdle, your arms and your diaphragm.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/05.31.2016.health.risks.spinal.misalignments.quadrant.2.bi.hb.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/05.31.2016.Health.risks_.regarding.quadrant.2.jpg width=500 height=305 /] Your diaphragm separates your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity and it is your true breathing muscle.For this muscle to function optimally, perfect posture in quadrant #2 is an absolute necessity.
Our hands which are part of quadrant #2 provide us with a lot of sensory information and also help to orient us in space.
Just think of the first thing you do when you are walking around in sudden darkness.
The other important functions of quadrant #2 are to stabilize your shoulders to allow free movement of your arms and also for respiration (breathing) and circulation.
Here are the potential health risks of spinal misalignments and posture distortions in quadrant #2;
Chronic tension in the upper back, stiff and sore shoulders, decreased range of motion in the shoulders, un-even shoulders, rounded back or slumped posture, chest pain, pain between the shoulder blades, joint problems in the shoulders/elbows/wrists/hands, tingling/numbness/pain in the arms, altered breathing patterns, decreased respiration, breathing difficulties, decreased lymphatic circulation, scoliosis (spinal curve), internal organ dysfunction (all the nerves from posture quadrant #2 control your internal organs), and early mortality in the elderly population.
And the reason for this is because elderly people with a rounded back or slumped posture have a significantly increased risk of developing atherosclerosis or heart disease.
Next time we will learn about posture quadrant #3 but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your kids may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations and posture checks are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link right on our home page.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Health Risks Of 4 Quadrants Misalignments
Pain-Free Posture System for
the Four Posture Quadrants
Dr Brad Ivanchuk, a Burlington chiropractor has recently discussed the importance of healthy posture in infants, children and pregnant mom’s.
Good posture however, is a necessity for everyone.
It is very important for you to understand that the posture system is just as important as every other physiologic system in your body, if not more so.
Your cardio-respiratory system, your digestive system, your musculo-skeletal system and even your reproductive system for example will not work properly if you do not have a healthy posture system.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/05.20.2016.health.risks.spinal.misalignment.4.quadrants.bi.hb.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/05.20.2016.health.risks_.with_.spinal.misalignments.4.quadrants.jpg width=490 height=300 /]The primary purpose of your posture system is to keep you upright against the ever-present force of gravity and to stabilize your core so that your arms and legs are free to perform coordinated movements.
The posture system integrates various forms of sensory feedback from your brain to your body so that your body can adapt and balance and stay upright in response to an ever changing environment on a moment by moment basis.
And you don’t even have to think about it!
The key to having a healthy and functional posture system is 100% dependent on spinal and skeletal alignment.
So, over the next few weeks I am going to teach you what the health risks are if you have alignment issues or postural distortions in each of the 4 posture quadrants that make up the human body.
Now, if you have any immediate questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your children may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are also available. Office hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and most Saturday mornings.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Life Chiropractic …. helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Importance of Everyone’s Posture
Importance Of Pain-Free Posture System
Dr Brad Ivanchuk, a Burlington chiropractor has recently discussed the importance of healthy posture in infants, children and pregnant mom’s.
Good posture however, is a necessity for everyone.
It is very important for you to understand that the posture system is just as important as every other physiologic system in your body, if not more so.
Your cardio-respiratory system, your digestive system, your musculo-skeletal system and even your reproductive system for example will not work properly if you do not have a healthy posture system.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/05.13.2016.Importance.Of.Your.Posture.bi.hb.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/05.06.2016.Importance.Of_.Everyones.Posture.jpg width=500 height=305 /]
The primary purpose of your posture system is to keep you upright against the ever-present force of gravity and to stabilize your core so that your arms and legs are free to perform coordinated movements.
The posture system integrates various forms of sensory feedback from your brain to your body so that your body can adapt and balance and stay upright in response to an ever changing environment on a moment by moment basis. And you don’t even have to think about it!
The key to having a healthy and functional posture system is 100% dependent on spinal and skeletal alignment.
So, over the next few weeks I am going to teach you what the health risks are if you have alignment issues or postural distortions in each of the 4 posture quadrants that make up the human body.
Now, if you have any immediate questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your children may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are also available.
Office hours are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and most Saturday mornings. Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Life Chiropractic …. helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
12 Month Mark
Postural Development In Children
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre which is a family chiropractic facility.
Last time we talked about the importance of tummy time for your baby.
Recall also that 65% of your baby’s neurological development takes place within the first 12 months of life so it is absolutely critical that your baby has good posture during this period of time.
Today I have a question for you …. should chiropractic care continue after the 12 month mark?
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/04.26.2016.should.chiropractic.care.continue.after.12.month.mark.bi.hb.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/04.26.2016.chiropractic.car_.for-kids.after_.12.month_.mark_.jpg width=490 height=300 /]To find out the answer to this question, let’s consider the following facts.
Aside from the fact that 47.9% of babies fall on their head at least once during the 1st year of life causing stress to their head and neck, it is estimated that the average child will experience 2500 stressful events/falls by the time they reach 7 years of age.
And research also now tells us that kids as young as 10 years of age are demonstrating visible signs of spinal degenerative arthritis on xray.
Remember that this is a direct consequence of physical stress and spinal misalignments.
So, chiropractic care is an absolute must during the childhood years!
Remember what we learned previously; ‘as the twig is bent, so grows the tree.’
Society has for many, many years told us that your posture is determined by your age and your genetics.
This is absolutely NOT TRUE!
STRESS is the ultimate mechanism behind shaping our biology.
It directly sculpts the way our body will develop regardless of genetic predisposition.
And the only way to prevent the unfavorable effects of stress from affecting your child’s development is to take the appropriate measures to make sure they have good posture.
And as a chiropractor who specializes in posture, this is where I can be of service to you.
Remember that posture is either good or bad.
There is no in between.
More good information coming your way next time, but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your children may have, please call me.
Remember that consults are always free of charge and family appointments are also available.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link right on our home page.
Life Chiropractic …. Helping families just like yours build healthy, vibrant, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Pregnancy Posture
Postural Steps To Avoid Pregnancy Pain
Dr Brad Ivanchuk is a Burlington chiropractor at Life Chiropractic Centre which is a family chiropractic facility.
Previously we have learned about postural development in babies and children and today we switch our attention to the moms.
The mother’s postural presentation during pregnancy, pre-labour and labour as well as life-style choices has a significant impact on the 3 things; the length of labour, the ease of delivery and the degree of potential birth trauma to the baby.
Preparation for labour is greatly enhanced by sitting, standing and squatting with proper posture.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/05.06.2016.posture.presentation.during.pregnancy.bi.hb.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/05.06.2016.Pregnancy.Posture.jpg width=490 height=300 /]
This of course totally depends upon how good the alignment is in posture quadrant #3 which is the lower back and pelvis.
Good posture here will ensure strong pelvic floor muscles and will allow the core muscles to function as a hammock and cradle the baby form below as well as hold the tummy in place.
After delivery, chiropractic care is critical to help re-strengthen the deep abdominal muscles which is required to repair the over-stretched outer abdominal muscles.
And, chiropractic care is ever so important during pregnancy.
Research studies show that pregnant women have 24% shorter labour times for first time moms and 39% shorter labour times for experienced moms.
Not only that, but moms who participate in postural correction during their pregnancy use 50% less pain medication during labour and delivery.
If you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your kids may have, please call me.
Remember that consultations in our office are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly with your questions by clicking on the link right on our home page.
Life Chiropractic is a family chiropractic facility and has been helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.