The Ergo Postural Archetype And The Occupational Athlete
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here. I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Posture Expert, Postural Neurologist and Personal Training Specialist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
We have been discussing the 4 different postural archetypes over the past few weeks and today we are going to learn about the ergo’s.
The ergo’s are your desk jockeys, the occupational athletes … anyone who sits at a desk or a computer for the majority of their day.
These people are going to be prone to posture distortion patterns in 3 out of the 4 posture quadrants; forward head posture in quadrant #1, thoracic hyper-kyphosis (humpback) and shoulders that are rounded forwards in quadrant #2, and forward pelvic tilt in quadrant #3.
These are all the result of prolonged sitting.
Ergo’s will suffer mostly from headaches, TMJ syndrome, neck pain, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shortness of breath, lower back pain, excessive weight gain and low levels of energy at the end of the day.
Their aspirations are to be headache-free and pain-free and have energy left at the end of their work day so they can enjoy their leisure activities, exercise and enjoy their family time.
So, if you are an ergo, you absolutely need to have your posture checked. Remember that as humans we sit way more than we should and that we were designed to.
And I can certainly help you regain a healthy posture system and keep it from collapsing in the future.
All you have to do is call and make an appointment for your free initial consultation which includes a free detailed postural analysis.
Our phone number here in Burlington, Ontario is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre …. Helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Posture Expert, Postural Neurologist and Personal Training Specialist at life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line North.
Today we are going to continue our discussion on the 4 different postural archetypes which we started last time and today we are going to learn about the dynamic postural archetype.
These are typically your baby-boomers and their postural distortion patterns are the result of chronic work-related injuries and/or sports-related injuries.
Thus, they will have postural distortions in all 4 posture quadrants from head to foot. These posture distortions will result in issues such as neck pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, lower back pains, hip pain, knee sprains and weak ankles.
So in order for the active boomers to fulfill their desire to keep active, not only is a healthy posture system a must but it is critical for proper function of the skeletal joints.
The skeletal joints are your shoulders, elbows , wrists, hips, knees, ankles and feet. See the connection here?
The active boomers want to keep doing their job, playing their favorite sports and going to the gym without suffering any occupational or sports-related injuries.
And as a chiropractor, a posture expert and a personal training specialist, this is where my expertise adds extra value.
I will take into consideration your job, what sports you like to play, what you do when you are working out in the gym and the current state of your posture system. This way you can do what you want to do, and do what you need to do, and avoid those nagging and frustrating injuries.
Your next step if you want my help is to call and schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation which also includes a free detailed posture analysis. These are amazing and you will be surprised and thankful that you had one done.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
“Bad Posture Can Increase The Weight Of Your Head”
Dr Brad here. I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Posture Expert, Postural Neurologist and Personal Training Specialist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
Today and over the next few weeks we are going to learn about the different Postural Archetypes.
An archetype by definition, is a very typical presentation.
There are 4 different postural archetypes; structural, dynamic, ergo and neuro.
Today we are going to learn about the structural postural archetype which is characterized by people who spend a lot of time holding their head looking down at their cell phone, tablet or ipad.
Typically we will see children, teenagers and young adults in this group.
The truth about holding your head down in this position for extended periods is that it will increase the weight of your head by 40 to 60 pounds.
Imagine holding up a 10 pin bowling ball which is about the same size and weight as your head. Will it be easier to hold it right beside and close to your shoulder, or straight out in front of you with your arm fully extended?
Of course the latter would be much more difficult. Your arm would fatigue almost instantaneously.
The same principle applies to your head when looking down for extended periods. Your neck and shoulders are going to suffer resulting in headaches, migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, breathing difficulties, postural instability, jaw pain and if left undetected and uncorrected, spinal degenerative arthritis in your neck.
And this is the last thing that you want!
But, this is where I can help you. All you have to do is make an appointment for your free initial consultation which also includes a free detailed postural analysis.
This way I can measure your posture and show you where the weaknesses are, and then give you my best recommendation for correction.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here. I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Posture Expert, Postural Neurologist and Personal Training Specialist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
To do this you need to have your child stand normally (feet apart – not together ) in bare feet and wearing shorts, and you need to crouch down so that you can take a look at them from the front
The first thing you want to check is their knees.
The knees should be the same width apart as their feet.
If they look further apart or closer together than their feet (which is the most common posture distortion), this is your first indicator of a problem.
Next, look at their feet. Are the toes pointed straight ahead which is normal, or are they pointed inwards or outwards? Outwards is the most common posture distortion and is the next indicator of a problem.
And finally, check their arches.
Depending upon the size of your child’s foot, you should be able to slide 2 or 3 fingers at least one inch under the arch of their foot.
With fallen arches or flat feet, you will not be able to do this and this posture distortion is often coupled with a foot where the toes point outwards.
These checks will work well with kids 7 years and older. Younger children would be more difficult to assess and would need a professional eye.
But if you detect even one posture distortion, you need to get your kids in for a proper assessment right away and this is where I can help you. Any type of foot problem left undetected and uncorrected will only lead to lower back pain, knee pain, foot pain, frequently sprained ankles, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and bunions later in life.
All you have to do is call to schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation which also includes a detailed postural analysis.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre…. Helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here. I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Certified Posture Expert, Certified Postural Neurologist and Personal Training Specialist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
Kid’s feet especially because I have noticed a lot of kids have bad feet these days.
And what I mean about bad feet are things like weak ankles (frequent sprains), fallen arches (flat feet), feet that tend to point outwards instead of straight ahead and even toes that are crooked.
All of these things clearly indicate a problem in Posture Quadrant 4 (hips, legs, knees, ankles and feet).
Although these types of issues will require an orthotic or some type of corrective shoe or even a minor surgical procedure, there is always an overlying alignment issue with Posture Quadrant 3 which is your lower back and pelvis.
Remember that quadrant 3 stabilizes the entire posture system and quadrant 4 attaches directly to quadrant 3.
So if your pelvis is twisted or tipped, or has too much flexion or extension, or there is a combination of 2 or 3 of these postural distortions, there will be a lot of undue stress on the hips, knees and especially the ankles and feet. And this is where I can help you.
Correcting posture distortions in your lower back and pelvis will have a profound effect on the function and alignment of your hips, knees, ankles and feet.
We have talked about this before but it is always worth mentioning again. Properly fitted footwear is critical for everyone; kids and adults both.
These are bad for your feet; Crocs, shoes that are too big or too small, frequent use of high heels, wearing shoes with the laces undone and wearing running shoes like slippers (the back part of the shoe that supports the heel is flattened down).
And remember parents – as soon as your babies are able to walk, make sure they get a lot of barefoot time as this is critical to proper development of their feet.
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 these include a detailed postural analysis.
Family appointments are also available where we can check you and your children all at the same time because postural distortions 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 on the link on our home page.
Good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre …. Helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
And unless you have been active and keeping fit over the winter months, some of the activities you will be doing can certainly cause you a lot of grief most commonly in the neck, shoulders, lower back and legs.
Things like raking, pruning, bending, lifting, reaching and crouching can be very stressful on your body especially if you are somewhat deconditioned.
So, how can you make your yard-work enjoyable and safe? Because it is a very good outdoor activity which a lot of people do not get enough of.
First of all, give your body a good stretch before commencing especially your neck, shoulders, lower back and legs.
Also, have a glass of water before you begin and drink water occasionally while you are working to keep yourself hydrated. It is a very good idea to rotate through 2 or 3 different jobs, spending 20 minutes at a time on each one instead of doing the same thing for 2, 3 or 4 hours in a row.
This will most likely result in an acute and painful postural distortion. And take your time.
There is no need to rush. Your yard work will always be there tomorrow. And when you are done for the day, it is very beneficial to do another round of stretching.
Now if you get into trouble with neck pain, shoulder pain, lower back pain or sciatica (leg pains), I can help.
All you need to do is call to schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation which also includes a detailed postural analysis. Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email us directly by clicking on the link found on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
“Chiropractic Helps 12 Year Old With Severe Headaches”
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here.
I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Certified Posture Expert and Certified Postural Neurologist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
Today I would like to share another case history with you. This one is about a 12 year old girl who outwardly appeared quite normal and healthy but was suffering from excruciating headaches at least 5 days a week.
These had been going on for at least a year and this young girl’s quality of life was nothing short of miserable.
The first thing she tried upon the advice of her family doc was of course, medication.
The first one was children’s Tylenol which had no effect.
Then it was regular Tylenol which didn’t work and then extra strength Tylenol which did not work either.
Then she tried a low dose migraine medication even though she did not have migraines, and this did not work either.
She had her eyes checked and her vision was perfect. She had a dental check up to see if she was grinding her teeth and there were no signs of this. There was no psychological overlay.
She then had a CT scan and MRI of her head, neck and brain to check for any issues with blood vessels or tumors and thankfully all of these tests were unremarkable.
So, as a last-ditch effort someone recommended she should try a chiropractor and that chiropractor happened to be me.
And from this point on it was really quite easy. Her postural analysis showed a major case of tech neck or forward head posture.
Now why would a 12 year old girl have tech neck? Because she would sit on her bed, legs crossed looking down at her tablet in her lap for hours and hours every day. Sound familiar parents?
This posture distortion became chronic irritating the spinal nerves, joints and muscles in the head and neck area resulting in violent, violent headaches.
So after 6 weeks of chiropractic adjustments, coupled with reverse posture exercises and educating this girl how to interact with technology in a posture friendly way, her headaches are non-existent.
And she is once again living the life of a happy and healthy 12 year old girl.
So,f if you or any of your children are struggling with headaches, please check with me first.
I can possibly save you a lot of time, frustration and aggravation.
And if I cannot help you, you will be the first person to know and I will refer you to the person whom I think will help you.
All you have to do is call 905 335 LIFE (5433) and schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation which also includes a detailed postural analysis.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
“Chiropractic Care Can Help Provide Asthma And Cold Relief”
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here.
I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Certified Posture Expert and Certified Postural Neurologist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
Today I would like to share a case history with you of an adult patient with a history of asthma.
Not only that, but when this patient would get a cold it would often times settle in the bronchial tubes and lungs resulting in chest congestion and difficulty breathing.
And this is exactly what happened last week, they came down with a chest cold.
Typically, this patient would get a chiropractic adjustment on a weekly basis which was very effective at keeping her asthma in check.
Puffer usage was therefore minimal which is a good thing because puffers are very harsh on the tissues in your bronchial tubes and lungs.
Because she was in crisis last week, I adjusted her not once but 4 times. And when I checked in with her yesterday, she had an almost complete recovery in a relatively short period of time.
Now I am sure you are wondering how this could happen, so let me explain.
The adjustments were specifically applied to the part of the spine that control the bronchial tubes and the lungs.
The adjustments served to ramp up the immune system so her body could take care of business and heal itself.
And this is one of the most amazing things about chiropractic care. It increases your body’s ability to heal itself! And there are absolutely no side-effects like there can be with drugs and medications.
Recall that Posture Distortion Patterns in PQ 1 (head and neck) and PQ 2 (thoracic spine and ribcage) will make you prone to asthma, allergies, bronchitis and chest colds.
So, if you or anyone in your family are struggling with any of these issues, you need to have your posture checked and this is where I can help.
All you have to do is call the office and schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation.
These also include a detailed postural analysis.
And we do offer family appointments where we can check you and your kids all at the same time. And the reason why is because spinal problems and posture distortions tend to run in families.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking on the link on our home page.
Remember that good posture is always by design and never by circumstance.
Life Chiropractic Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington, Ontario.
“Whiplash Can Cause Serious Damage To Your Neck and Throat”
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here.
I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, American Posture Institute Certified Posture Expert and Certified Postural Neurologist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
Today I would like to talk a bit about whiplash as I have had 2 patients recently sustain a serious whiplash injury to their neck in a car accident, so I think it’s time for a quick review.
One is where you run into something like the car in front of you and your head snaps forwards then backwards.
Another is when someone hits you from behind and your head snaps backwards then forwards.
The third is a side-impact when someone hits you on the side and your head snaps side to side. This one by the way causes far more damage to your neck.
Irrespective of what type of whiplash you suffer, there are 3 consequences.
One is major spinal misalignments or subluxations in the middle part of your neck especially.
Secondly, here will be damage to the spinal joints between the vertebrae in your neck and thirdly, there will be stretching and straining and even tearing of the muscles in the front, back and sides of your neck.
These 3 things cumulatively will really mess with and irritate a vast network of nerves in the head and neck region.
Let’s recap then the most common symptoms associated with a whiplash; headaches, neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, pain and stiffness between the shoulder blades, visual disturbances, ringing in the ears, dryness of the throat, hoarseness of the voice and difficulty swallowing (both of my patients really struggled with this right after their car accident but thankfully they are getting better), anxiety, insomnia, profuse sweating and heart palpitations.
Whiplash injuries left uncorrected will cause eventual postural distortions in the neck along with spinal degenerative arthritis and uncorrected whiplash injuries will significantly increase your chances of developing fibromyalgia later in life.
Remember that symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.
This is why everyone needs a chiropractic checkup immediately after a whiplash injury or any type of neck injury for that matter.
Emergency room docs or your family doc do not know how to check for subluxations.
This is not their expertise.
It is the expertise of a chiropractor.
All they will do is tell you to rest, apply heat, take drugs and it will eventually go away.
These are the absolute worst things you can do!!
And if there is little or no apparent damage to your car and you therefore think you are ok, I encourage you to go “Whiplash… What You Need To Know” that was previously posted on this website.
If you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your kids may have, please call me. Consultations and posture checks are always free of charge in our office.
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 Centre … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
“Spinal Pain Sufferers Can Potentially Reduce Opioid Use
With Chiropractic Care”
Dr Brad Ivanchuk here.
I am a Burlington, Ontario Chiropractor, Certified Posture Expert and Certified Postural Neurologist at Life Chiropractic Centre on Guelph Line.
Today I would like to tell you about a recent research review that reported chiropractic care reduces opioid use by 55% in patients suffering with lower back pain.
Even though the statistics I am going to share with you are from America, the opioid crisis is a huge, huge problem here in Canada as well so this is definitely worth talking about.
In 2014, 61% of all drug overdoses involved opioids and in 2015 alone, there were over 22,000 opioid related deaths!
Considering other forms of treatment such as physiotherapy and chiropractic care, it was concluded that opioid prescriptions were 55% lower in people receiving chiropractic care.
The American Medical Association which has been a long- time opponent of chiropractic has recently changed its policy and now recommends chiropractic as a first-line therapy for the treatment of lower back pain.
Chiropractors have known this for over a hundred years and we have been telling people this for over a hundred years.
Unfortunately, it has taken tens of thousands of opioid related deaths to bring chiropractic to the forefront as Primary Spine Care Providers.
If you or anyone in your family is taking any kind of pill for any type of spinal pain, you need to have a spinal and chiropractic examination.
First of all, pills are never the solution to the problem and secondly, you need to always consider the side-effects which can sometimes be fatal.
Remember that consultations here in our office are always free of charge and they include a detailed postural analysis.
Our phone number here in Burlington is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can email me directly by clicking 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.
