You Have Both a Right and a Left

It came as a bit of a surprise to me when I found out that when practicing, pro golfers will hit a bucket of balls right handed and then a bucket left handed, or vice versa.  This should not have surprised me because from a conditioning and biomechanical stand point, it makes perfect sense.  As humans we tend to be very one handed but using one side predominately can result in a host of problems.  By hitting balls both ways the pros are trying to minimize the possibility of these problems happening and at the same time improve their overall performance.  Given that I really can't hit a golf ball decently right handed, I can only imagine the challenge hitting it left handed.

Human balance can be thought of in two ways.  The first is whether or not a person has equilibrium.  That is whether they can remain upright.  If you lose your balance you fall down.  The second type of balance is whether a person has symmetry.  That implies the body having equal strength and mobility from one side to the other or front to back.  Having equilibrium is probably the most important type of balance, but having symmetry is important to having optimal equilibrium.  The two are related and both are important aspects of health.

The type of balance the golfers are working on when hitting balls both right and left handed is symmetry.  By doing this muscles and joints on both sides of the body are utilized.  Most significantly the "core" of the body is developed in a symmetrical manner.  This is particularly important for proper spinal function.  The nervous system also benefits tremendously when activities are done both right and left handed.

As a chiropractor, I see many spinal problems that are the result of people repetitively doing things one handed or one direction only.  When muscles are more developed on one side of the body, or more on the front or back, the joints of the spine move abnormally.  This results in the development of vertebral subluxations where there is not only a loss of joint function but altered nerve conduction as well.  A whole host of health problems can result.

It's not easy to use the body symmetrically.  Most of us are very one handed and it takes real effort to use the body in a balanced way.  It is particularly important to try to be balanced with the activities we do the most.  That means looking at the way we do our work and recreational activities.  For example I had to make a conscious effort to hold my Activator Adjusting Instrument an equal amount with either hand.  I had to train myself to work from both sides of the adjusting table.  By doing this over time my left hand has become almost as strong and coordinated as my right hand.  It certainly wasn't when I started doing this years ago.  I believe that doing this has not only prevented injuries but is a factor in my overall health.

It's important to also try to achieve symmetry when exercising.  This is particularly significant when rehabilitating injuries.  Stretching and strengthening should be done on both the right and the left.  Of equal importance is balancing the front and the back of the body.  Did you know that walking on the ground provides much more symmetry than walking on a treadmill?  When walking on the ground both flexor and extensor muscles of the lower extremity are used as opposed to the treadmill where the machine does most of the extension for you and the flexor muscles develop more than the extensors.

Take a tip from the pros to improve both your performance and your health by using your body in a balanced manner.  You will have fewer injuries, recover faster, have improved coordination, and better equilibrium.  Balance is part of a healthy chiropractic lifestyle.   It's not easy, but you will be better for it.

Life is Like Riding A Bike

"Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance you must keep moving."  Albert Einstein



Albert Einstein was a pretty smart fellow and not just in math and science.  When reading quotes from him, I have to conclude that he had a great grasp of what life is all about.  The quote above is certainly in line with a healthy chiropractic lifestyle.

Balance is a key to both physical and mental health.  I don't know whether Albert Einstein was referring to one or both of these areas of life when he made this statement.  Motion is crucial for health in both areas.

In physical health it's easy to see how motion is a critical element.  Motion tones our nerves and muscles and it keeps our circulatory system functioning.  As we move our body systems become coordinated so everything works together.  That is the prerequisite to having physical balance.

As a chiropractor, I am very focused on the how well my patients move.  The motion of the joints of the spine is particularly important.  Spinal joints that move either too much or too little will affect the nerves that exit the spine and go to all parts of the body.  This can lead to an imbalance in the nerves that control not only muscle activity but sensations such as pain and feelings as well as organ function.  When spinal joints loose their proper motion and the nervous system loses its balance, that is termed a vertebral subluxation.  Correcting vertebral subluxations with specific adjustments is what chiropractors specialize in.

Physical balance requires motion in more areas than just the spinal joints.  All the joints of the body must move properly and all the body's systems must be working together in a coordinated fashion.  Its the nervous system that assures the coordination of the entire body..

Being balanced mentally also requires motion.  Physical motion provides proper blood flow to the brain.  Through the blood the brain receives the oxygen, nutrients, and hormones necessary for it to work properly.  Also through physical motion the brain obtains stimulation from every part of the body.   Keeping mentally active is also necessary for to have mental balance.  Keep the mental "gears" turning through constant learning and stimulation to keep the mind healthy. 

A chiropractic lifestyle involves keeping the spine functioning properly as well as adopting healthy diet, exercise, nutrition, and sleep habit,   It's about managing physical, chemical, and emotional stresses so the body and mind can function the way they were designed to.  To be healthy we need to be balanced, physically and mentally.. Sitting in front of the TV in no way promotes balance.  Balance requires movement.  Take it from Albert Einstein, to be balanced we need to keep moving.  He was a wise man.

Fighting Gravity

One of my sons has a t-shirt that says, "Obey gravity - It's the law".  Gravity is a force that is constantly pulling on our bodies.  In order to walk up right we are literally fighting gravity.  To be successful we need to have both good balance and good posture.  If we don't we will be prone to muscle and joint problems, falls, nervous system problems and stress on all our body systems.  Balance and posture play a big role in our health.


Fortunately there are a couple of simple exercises that can help improve a person's balance and posture.  These exercises can be performed by anyone regardless of age.

The most basic balance exercise is the One Leg Stand.

The One Leg Stand should be done three times every day.  Note that if you are very unbalanced or have vertigo, have someone with you to make sure you don't fall.  If you have hip or joint problems, only bend the joint as far as you comfortably can.
 
Posture problems are the first things to happen when gravity starts to get the best of us.  The basic posture exercise is the Wall Pelvic Tilt. 

Wall Pelvic Tilts should be performed twice daily.

When doing either of these exercises it's important to get your form as perfect as you can.  To get the most benefit focus and concentrate on the muscles and movements.  Most people notice very rapid improvements in their balance and posture when they do these two simple exercises regularly.  They are a great way to counteract the negative effects gravity has on the human body.