As chiropractors we see ourselves as doctors and coaches.

July 2010
www.pointgreychiropractic.com
Tel. (604) 224 5552

Thank you everyone for all the positive feedback on the June age and she really needs to get a properly fitting bra. Margorie has
Newsletter on Osteoporosis. a hard time getting up out of a chair without a stab of discomfort
in the lower back. Dont even talk to her about getting out of bed in
FALL PREVENTION in the at-risk osteoporosis population the morning. She just read Dr. Raffis June article on getting active....
over 60 years of age is an issue I must address to complete thats a laugh....my knees, my back and these stupid headaches....
the June Newsletter. Most common sites of fracture from fall- like I am going to walk....
ing would be the Marjorie could be 20 or 60 years of age with these symp-
hip, spine and wrist. toms but there is hope.
In the extremely el- Typically this lady has several mechanical issues in her feet,
derly it is possible pelvis and spine that need attention but for our purposes lets
that a hip has got- talk about the thoracic spine as it segways well with last months
ten so weak that osteoporosis article.
it actually breaks The chest area of the spine provides support for the ribs
when weight bear- and directly and indirectly the muscles of breathing. The tho-
ing and the person racic spine is less mobile than the neck (cervical spine) and low
falls down. Chiro- back (lumbar spine) and has around 100 joints in its mechanism.
practic care helps This area tends to become more rigid and subluxated as we age.
with flexibility, muscle control and stability. The timing of Nerves to the chest and organs of the body also originate from
activity to peak times of the day (especially if some medica- this region. Sympathetic nerves, which help control blood, flow
tions give you a low spot in the day) can be helpful. To allevi- to the head and arms also arise from here. These nerves can be
ate problematic compression fractures the reorganization of active in true migraine sufferers. In fact the Migraine Society
storage in the kitchen in order to avoid unnecessary stoop- of Canada has recognized Chiropractic as a useful therapy for
ing helps to limit postural stress in the spine and assist heal- some migraine patients.
ing. Proper footwear in and outside the house can have a The thoracic spine is frequently injured from hard falls on
significant benefit and routine practice of your balance will the tail bone (e.g. a fall on the stairs or a garden swing breaking).
prevent that life-changing fall. It is not uncommon that just such an injury at a young age sets
off a life long string of spinal decompensations that produce
Headaches and the Spine a steady stream of age related symptoms. X-ray changes may
range from non-existent to overt compression fractures. Early
Headaches are no fun and can proper care and rehabilitation is vital to avoid long-term conse-
be the indicator of serious health quences. If there is interest to learn more about this process let
situations within the body. Fortu- me know and a future newsletter can have a focus there.
nately, most headaches are benign
and sufferers can often be helped Benefits of Successful Care
through chiropractic. It is important
to emphasize that there are many When chiropractic treatment is deemed to be appropriate
different types of headache causes most patients will experience a decrease in the severity and fre-
and with that in mind I will outline quency of their headaches and with much less upper back and
the typical person with headaches neck difficulties along with greater freedom of movement.
that responds well to chiropractic When the thoracic spine and rib cage degenerate there will
care. All headache suffers need to be a reduction of lung capacity during breathing, which can have
be carefully evaluated and a proper chiropractic consulta- far reaching effects on the general well being of the body. This
tion and examination should be a part of that process. principle applies equally to athletes seeking top performance.
Marjorie, you look like you have the weight of the world on Its not rocket science but it is rational and true. Chiropractic has
your shoulders.... Marjorie responds, I have a headache.... The a pivotal role in gently re establishing proper movement in this
truth of the matter is that Marjorie does have the weight of the commonly afflicted area of the body.
world on her shoulders. From years of computer work she has The natural enemies of our mid and upper spine are aging,
rounded shoulders that have drifted forward and down on her posture and trauma .We know from the joint mobility work of
torso, her head has also shifted ahead and downwards. Her Dr. R.B. Salter (June Newsletter) that a lack of mobility in joints
thoracic spine (the chest part) is rounded and she is starting to has devastating degenerative effects. Often headaches, neck
get Moms hump. The weight of her breasts has increased with and shoulder problems can be traced back to problems in this

Point Grey Chiropractic Clinic | #204 - 4545 West 10th Avenue | Vancouver - British Columbia | V6R 4N2 | Tel. (604) 224 5552 | www.pointgreychiropractic.com