Your health news update from ChiroVoice

Balancing Act

Balance and proprioception training is not just for
the elderly; patients
of all ages and mobility-levels can benefit from these types of exercises. Discover how balance and proprioception can assist you in injury rehabilitation as well as fall prevention, here.

Use Technology Safely

Mobile technological devices, such as digital personal assistants (PDAs) and smartphones have made our lives more convenient—enabling us to send emails and manage our schedules without being tethered to an office. At the same time,  they have increased our risk of repetitive-use injuries.

Before these advances in technology, our bodies moved as we used the phone and the computer, we walked to the fax machine, and we flipped through our calendars. Now we slump over a small screen with little change in our position. Our bodies are made to move—not to maintain the same posture for long periods of time. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice modern conveniences for your health, but you should be aware of the risks and what you can do to minimize them.

Remember these tips:

• When at a computer station or while texting, sit upright, keeping your ears over your shoulders.
• Never pinch a phone between your ear and shoulder. Using a headset reduces muscle fatigue and frees your hands for typing or writing.
• Avoid leaning on the flexed elbow while talking on the phone in the car.
• When texting, alternate using your thumb, index finger, and a stylus, if available.
• Return only urgent emails on the PDA. Save longer communications for computers.
• Use key shortcuts (cut, paste, etc.) and abbreviations to reduce the duration of your texting session.
• Take breaks to stretch and shake out the hands when texting or typing.
• Turn the PDA off when possible! If it is on all the time, it’s more likely to be overused.

Flexibility Exercises

Help Advocate for Expanded Access to Chiropractic for Our Veterans

Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), recently introduced the Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Act (H.R. 329), a bill similar to legislation that was overwhelmingly passed by the House in 2010, but was not considered in the Senate. H.R. 329 would require the VA to have a chiropractic physician on staff at all major VA medical facilities by 2014. You too can help ensure chiropractic care is available to the brave men and women who have served our country. H.R. 329 needs cosponsors to increase the likelihood of this effort's success. Simply click here to urge your legislator to cosponsor H.R. 329!