|
By
Dr. Ben Lerner, Dr. Greg Loman and Dr. Rob Schiffman
One reason the health and well-being of the public suffers today
is that most people do not truly understand what health really is.
Therefore that which they believe cannot possibly be true, and that
which they do for their health cannot completely work. Only through
understanding what health really is can you actually create the
right wellness philosophy and look for what really are the correct
lifestyle approaches.
So what is health?
The basic, core definition of health is described as a state of
"normal function." So ultimately, if you wish to begin
seeking health you must first find out what it is that causes
you to function normally (or optimally).
Interest in biking, swimming, running, doing yoga, lifting weights,
taking supplements, and eating the right diet for your body type
has reached a historic high. This recent fitness and nutrition fascination
has been perpetuated by the current realization many are coming
to that it is vital to play an active role in your health if you
plan on keeping it or getting it back. All of these activities and
many more:
- Enhance the overall well-being of your body
- Help you to overcome and prevent illness
- Give you energy
- Improve your appearance
- Can lengthen your life
Yet, none of these cause you to function. Case in point:
taking a corpse out for a long bike ride or feeding it vitamin C
does nothing to create health or function.
To find what really causes you to function you have to go
to your anatomy and not to the gym or the health food store. What
"causes" function is the Central Nervous System
or CNS. The CNS is composed of the brain, spinal cord and spinal
nerves and it totally controls all functions and healing in the
human body. As the central generator of all life, it needs maximum
protection. Thus, the CNS is located inside the armor-like bones
of the spinal column and skull.
To have "normal function"--and as a result be considered
healthy--the Central Nerve System must work without damage or interference.
The most common, and in fact very likely way, to interfere or cause
damage to the Central Nervous System is with the spine. "Abnormal"
position of the head and spine and subluxation (misalignment of
individual vertebrae) will interfere with the CNS. This interference
will cause the organs of the body not to function or heal "normally."
By definition, the result is abnormal or less than optimal health.
"Vital information travels from the brain and spinal
cord to all of the parts of the body. But, not only does information
travel down the nerve, but at the same time information from the
peripheral parts of the body is being sent back to the brain and
spinal cord. When this information is interfered with, a problem
arises in the body."
--Daniel J. Murphy, DC; Spinal Biomechanics, Harrison, 1992,
p.366
Before any body part or any body function can be described as "normal"
or "abnormal," healthy or unhealthy, we must first have
a clear definition of what "normal" is. For example, if
normal blood pressure is 120/80, then a person with blood pressure
of 150/100 would have high, "abnormal" blood pressure.
In only the last few years medical, anatomical, mathematical and
engineering researchers have been able to clearly define "normal"
spinal alignment. This research has been published in the world’s
most prestigious medical journals and presented at the leading spinal
symposiums around the world.
There are two proven ways to evaluate normal or abnormal spinal
alignment:
- Postural examination (posture is the window to the spine)
- X-rays
Normal Spinal Alignment as Seen With Posture
When looking at a person from the front, the spine must be straight.
The head, shoulders, hips and feet should be lined up. When looking
at a person from the side, the ears should be back over the shoulders
and the shoulders should be back over the pelvis.
Abnormal Spinal Alignment as Seen With
Posture
Your posture and spine are abnormal if:
- Your head is visibly tilted, shifted or rotated in one direction.
- Your head is jutted out in front of your chest and shoulders.
- One hip is higher than the other, turned in one direction,
or shifted to one side.
- One shoulder is higher than the other, turned in one direction,
or your whole upper body is shifted to one side.
In any case of abnormal posture, there is interference or damage
being caused to your Central Nervous System.
Normal and Abnormal X-ray Findings
When looking at the front view X-ray, the spinal bones (vertebrae)
must also be straight. The bones must not be rotated nor tilted
and no curvatures (scoliosis) can be present.
The side view X-ray must reveal three 63-degree arcs. The most
important arc is in the neck (cervical spine) and should range between
34 and 43 degrees between C1 and C7 (the first and last cervical
vertebrae). This cervical arc is known as the "Arc of Life"
because mental life impulses travel directly from the brain down
this part of the spinal cord to bring life to the rest of the body.
Losing your Arc of Life causes the most severe obstruction to the
brain, spinal cord and nerves (Central Nervous System).
If your CNS is unhealthy, you cannot become truly healthy by exercising
or eating right alone. You can be healthier, but you cannot be at
"normal" or optimal. Any "abnormal" position
of the spine, misalignment of the bones, or any changes in these
curves indicate a serious problem. It is absolutely vital to understand
this point--any changes from "normal" will interfere with
and eventually damage the Central Nerve System. Interference and
damage to the Central Nerve System will always result in "abnormal"
function of the body, improper healing, and poor, abnormal, or less
than optimal health.
" ... Posture affects and moderates every physiologic
function from breathing to hormonal production."
--C. Norman Shealy, MD, Roger K. Cady, MD, et al; APJM, 1994,
Vol.4p. 36
Corrective Chiropractic Care
If your spine and Central Nervous System are "abnormal,"
there is a need for corrective chiropractic care. This type of care
will restore "normal" spinal position and alignment. By
properly restoring normal curves to the spine and aligning the vertebrae,
it will eliminate CNS interference allowing your body to function
and heal "normally." This gives you your optimum chance
to be at 100 percent of your God-given potential.
A healthy spine with the right lifestyle program gives you an unbeatable
combination for normal, optimal health and your best possible future.
It’s simply the way that health is defined.
To find a corrective care chiropractor, look for chiropractic officesthat
utilize both posture and X-ray analysis to evaluate a patient’s
spine and Central Nerve System. Spinal corrective care can be compared
to orthodontic corrective care. Depending on the severity of the
condition, it takes several months to several years to attain maximum
correction and then a lifetime of maintenance if long-term normal
function and optimal health is your goal.
Dr.
Ben Lerner, Dr. Rob Schiffman and Dr. Greg Loman are the owners
of Teach The World About Chiropractic, a Chiropractic training
and coaching company. They have three of the largest clinics in
the history of Chiropractic. Dr. Lerner was a 1996 and 2000 U.S.
Olympic team chiropractor and is the author of the New York Times
Best-Selling book Body
by God: The Owner’s Manual For Maximized Living.
| 