The World Health Organization defines health as "not only the absence of infirmity and disease but also a state of physical, mental and social well-being."
So what does that mean? If you are feeling good you must be healthy right? Well our bodies are amazing, we can function even when things are less than perfect. Just because we do not feel sick, that does not mean we are "well." Our bodies have an incredible skill that we take for granted: adaptation! When we get out of bed in the morning, our feet need to change from a non-weight bearing position (that they have been in for 6-8 hours hopefully) to one of bearing our weight. This adaptation has to take place within a few moments. Likewise, when we get up from a seated position, our hips need to adapt from a static position to a moving one. Our inner ear needs to be able to adapt to sudden movements of the head so we don't fall over, our heart needs to be able to adapt to an increased need for blood circulation when we go from walking to jogging or when we climb a flight of stairs... All of these adaptations occur even without us asking for them to happen. Likewise, if we take a bad step and roll our ankle slightly, our bodies need to adapt to the change in muscle tone, the ligament laxity and the injury so we can still function. Our bodies also adapt to chronic/repetitive motions, such as a computer worker who is constantly sitting incorrectly, or using their wrists in a manner that can cause microtrauma over time. These adaptations can effect the position of the joints, muscles, ligaments, and nervous system functioning. We don't notice these adaptations, our bodies just do them. What we do notice is when the adaptation becomes too much and our muscles become sore, our neck becomes stiff, our hands go numb. Wouldn't it be great if we could find these adaptations when they are beginning so we can stop the process and then we wouldn't have to deal with the sore muscles, stiff neck or numbness? A Doctor of Chiropractic can find these areas (we'll call them 'areas of bad adaptation') and help restore their normal alignment and functioning. A chiropractor can stop problems before they start, and if they have already started, we can help your body recover from the problems in a timely and efficient/pain free manner!
The New Year is here, it is a great time to come in for chiropractic care, whether you are "hurt/sick" or "not sick." A Doctor of Chiropractic can go a thorough examination and find out if you are "well!"
Happy New Year
Joel Lindeman DC
www.lindemanchiropractic.com
303-469-2300
