What I Learned with the Upcoming Masters Golf Tournament

Dr Eric Sense DC at Villa Park Chiropractic • April 15, 2021

Lush fairways and azaleas, Magnolia Lane and green jackets. For all you golfers out there, springtime marks the time for the Masters Tournament. One of the most beautiful courses in the world will be the challenge for the best golfers in the world. Great theater, and one of the best competitive spectacles in all of sports. And you can just hear Jim Nantz saying "a tradition like no other".

One of my good friends has also established a great tradition. He organized a "draft" earlier in the week of the tournament, where a dozen of us will pick the golfers with whom we think will win the tournament. We throw some money in the pot, and then gather at his house on Sunday to watch the tournament play out and winners determined. Lots of great comradery, banter, and fun.

The draft would usually be held at a local dive bar where we all have a chance to get together, but this year it was done by Zoom. This was more due to the fact that everyone had other obligations, rather than a Covid thing. So I nestled in on my patio for an hour of chat and laughs.

By the end of this, I was reminded of what prolonged screen time does to our bodies. After the zoom meeting, it was uncomfortable to stand straight up, and everything felt tight and even a bit sore. And this was just after one hour on this zoom interaction.

As a doctor of chiropractic, I'm reminding my patients everyday of the perils of prolonged sitting. And it is a long list:

1) Reverses the normal curves of our spine

2) The head moves forward, away from the body, resulting in an increase in the "functional weight" of the head upon the body

3) Stretches the spinal cord, resulting in tension and stress on our nervous system.

4) Puts an abnormal stress on our vertebra, resulting in earlier degenerative changes. (arthritis)

5) Puts an abnormal stress on our discs, resulting in early breakdown of disc tissue, leading to degenerative disc disease.

6) Puts an abnormal stress on our muscles, resulting in spasm, pain, and limitation of motion.

7) Reduces our lung capacity.

8) Increases blood pressure.

The list actually goes on, with other issues such as lack of brain/neuron stimulation, as well as predisposition to diabetes and cancer.

Screen time is a way of life for many of us. Whether it is work, school, social interaction, or navigating the internet for information, we are collectively on our computers or phones a great deal, especially during this time of forced shutdowns.

So what can we do, considering that we still need to be functional and productive?

1) Stand up and move, every 20 minutes. It only takes about 30 seconds of movement (arm circles, trunk twists, high knee steps) to "reset" our posture.

2) Get a sit/stand desk. Transition every 20-30 minutes.

3) Sit on a wobble chair or a balance disc, which stimulates movement throughout the spine.

4) Do some type of daily exercise. Walking for 20 minutes is one of the most effective and underrated exercises that you can do.

5) Get checked by your chiropractor on a regular basis. The static position from prolonged sitting will lead to a condition known as a SUBLUXATION, where the vertebra isn't positioned or moving properly, which has a negative effect on our nervous system.

You will never be younger than your spine, so take great care of it! And for all you golfers out there, you know how important spine movement and flexibility are.

Call us at 714-998-2296 if you like to schedule an appointment with us here at Villa Park Chiropractic.

Stay healthy, my friends!

Dr. Eric Sense

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Holistic Chiropractic Wellness: What is it, and why is it good for you?

By Eric Sense DC • October 25, 2024

I always find it interesting that, for the most part, people really don't understand what chiropractic is and how it can benefit them. Most understand the relationship that it may have with a persons back and neck, but quite often that's the extent of their impression. So let's look at this subject a little closer so that we can shed a little more light on it. Most of us realize that our brains run the show. Not only does this magnificent computer in side our skulls give us conscious thought, it also runs and regulates all of our body's functions. And I mean everything! This includes digestion, temperature control, movement, balance, heart rate, sexual function and reproduction, and so on. Everything that makes our body function comes back and is tied to our nervous system, which for the most part is then controlled by the brain. Every moment there are thousands of messages traveling to and from the body and brain, allowing for all this regulation to occur, almost all without our conscious awareness. This marvelous system is then protected by our skull and our spine. There are 24 bones (vertebra) throughout our spine that give us physical structure and support but also house the delicate spinal cord. It these bones shift out of place or don't move properly, it can have a negative influence on the overall function of this system. An individual might not even be experiencing any pain to have this interference occurring. Chiropractors identify this interference as a SUBLUXATION. These subluxations can occur due to various causation, Auto accidents and sports injuries would be two of the more obvious causes. But what is becoming so prominent is the influence that our technical world is having on our bodies. Sitting at a computer all day or staring at our phone for hours shifts the normal human posture out of it's normal alignment. This alteration then will have a negative influence (mechanical stress) which then alters the multitude of messages traveling along this system. This would explain why a victim of an auto accident not only suffers from neck and back pain but may also experience dizziness, numbness or weakness in arms or legs, and alteration of their digestive system. It also sheds light on why an individual sitting at a computer all day start to develop headaches, fatigue or soreness in the shoulders, or alteration of sensation in their hands or arms after working for hours. Doctors of chiropractic are educated and skilled in identifying and locating these subluxations. This is typically done through taking a thorough history and performing an examination which often will include X-ray analysis. The conclusion of this information is then addressed and a plan of action is established. It's not uncommon that my patients, surprised upon seeing what their X-rays revealed, will ask "how come nobody has ever shown me this before!". The care plan will typically involve ADJUSTMENTS to the spine to restore the normal positioning and movement of the vertebrae. This can be performed with many different types of techniques, some which include just a very light tapping on the spine. Exercises, stretches, and ergonomic strategies should also be addressed. Holistic care is basically keeping the body aligned and functioning at it's highest level. Remember, it's not just about neck and back pain!