DYNAMIC SPINE CENTER WE ARE THE SCIENCE BEHIND SPINAL HEALTH 4 Easy Steps to Maintain a Healthy Spine

Dr. Dustin Walton  Originally from Valdosta, Georgia  Attended Valdosta State University for Undergraduate and received Doctorate from Life University in Marietta.  Relocated to Peachtree City with my wife, Kaylyn Walton, in July We are expecting a little boy any day now!  Opened Dynamic Spine Center in December  We are the only Chiropractic Biophysics Certified office south of Atlanta.

Why is Spinal Health Important?  Back pain affects 85% percent of the working population in some form  The CDC found that Musculoskeletal disorders are associated with high costs to employers such as absence, lost productivity, and increased health care, disability and worker’s compensation costs.  In 2001, MSDs involved a median of 8 days away from work compared with 6 days for all nonfatal injury and illness cases

Why is Spinal Health Important?  Musculoskeletal disorders account for nearly 70 million physician office visits in the United States annually, and an estimated 130 million total health care encounters including outpatient, hospital, and emergency room visits  According to Liberty Mutual, the largest workers’ compensation insurance provider in the United States, overexertion injuries—lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying or throwing an object— cost employers $13.4 billion every year

4 Easy Steps to Maintain a Healthy Spine  Proper posture  Proper Lifting Techniques  Core Strength  Chiropractic Care

Proper Posture A vertical line should pass through the ear, the tip of the shoulder, the hip and the ankle.

Proper Posture  Poor posture can result in pain in dysfunction in several ways sore muscles (some which are tight and some which are weak)  Changes in Spinal curvature resulting in an inability to absorb forces causing increased strain on surrounding structures.  Joint irritation

Proper Lifting  Using a proper lifting technique will involve using the muscles of your legs.  This technique will allow your back muscles to stabilize the spine.  Tips:  Stand close to the object  Place your feet shoulder width apart  Squat down to the objects level and test the weight  Use your legs to lift  Keep the load close to your body and avoid twisting.  Avoid lifting above waist level  Bend knees and slowly lower the load

Core Strength  If your core muscles are not in good shape, additional pressure can be put on the spine, which is already under the stress of supporting your entire body.  If these muscles are well maintained they help support the spine and minimize the chance of injury.  To be most effective, abdominal exercises should include focus on working the following muscles:  The abdominal muscles  The lower abdominal muscles  The outside (oblique) muscles

Core Strength - Exercises  Curl-up  Do not confuse this with a sit-up!  Slowly raise your chest, shoulders and head as a one unit off the floor without bending your lower back. Imagine that your abdominal muscles are shortening and they are pulling your shoulders off the floor.

Core Strength - Exercises  Bird-Dog  Start with on your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips, while keeping your head, neck, and back straight  Raise your right arm and reach it forward until it’s in line with your torso  As you bring your arm forward, kick your left leg backwards until it’s straight and in line with your torso, hold for 1 second

Core Strength - Exercises  Side Bridge  Come down on your side with forearm beneath you and knees bent to about a 90-degree angle.  Press up into a side plank, pushing your hips forward so they're in the same plane as your torso, and press your top hip toward the ceiling  Repeat on your left side

Chiropractic Care  Today's growing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness, chiropractic manipulation is receiving widespread attention.  Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.  An extensive study of all currently available care for low back problems, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal manipulation as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.  We also recommend chiropractic as an effective form of proactive treatment – keeping patients from experiencing long term back injuries in the first place.