Gillis Chiropractic's
Health News, Notes and Quotes
Welcome to Health News, Notes and Quotes. We have selected the
following categories and news items below because I believe
they can help educate you about the importance of good health
and the benefits of chiropractic.
Articles:
Chiropractic Care
Take the Stress Out of Repetitive Stress
Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are among
the most common work-related illnesses in the U.S., affecting
hundreds of thousands of people each year. Frequently
associated with computer use, RSIs can cause pain and
discomfort in the neck, back, arms and hands. They are also
quite expensive: The Department of Labor estimates that carpal
tunnel syndrome and other repetitive-strain disorders cost
more than $20 billion a year in time lost from work and
worker's compensation.
A series of experiments published in a
recent issue of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback show
how working on a computer can alter a person's posture
breathing patterns, and how proper training can reduce the
incidence of RSI in the workplace. In the first study, 18
computer users were hooked up to a monitoring system that
measured their muscle tension and breathing rate while working
at a PC. The monitoring session found that when users became
more immersed in their work, they tended to elevate the
shoulders and breathe faster. Muscle tension in all of the
muscle groups increased, especially the muscles in the upper
back opposite the hand that used a computer mouse. In
addition, users often continued working without taking breaks,
which would have relieved some of the tension and reduced the
risk of developing a repetitive strain injury.
In a separate experiment, the researchers
trained a group of computer users in muscle relaxation and
breathing techniques, then compared them with a group of
workers who did not receive training. After three training
sessions, the computer users reported significantly decreased
symptoms of repetitive strain compared to the untrained
workers. Trained users relaxed their necks and shoulders more
often, breathed from the diaphragm rather than the chest, and
took more frequent breaks.
If you use a computer, there are several
steps you can take to reduce, or even eliminate, the risk of
repetitive strain injury. Take regular breaks and stretches.
Organize your office equipment so it is ergonomically correct.
And of course, talk to your doctor about specific exercises
and other habits you can adopt to keep RSIs out of your
workspace.
Reference: Peper E, Wilson V, Gibney K. The
integration of electromyography (SEMG) at the workstation:
assessment, treatment and prevention of repetitive strain
injury (RSI). Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback June
2003.
Repetitive stress injuries are one of many
injuries affecting the musculoskeletal system. To learn more
about musculoskeletal health, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/musculoskeletal.
Sports & Fitness
A Narrow Focus
People diet for many reasons. Maintaining
sound health may be the most important reason, but many people
also diet to look good, or to fit into a particular outfit. If
you are simply eating less to attain this goal, you might be
taking the wrong path to getting leaner.
A study released earlier this year in
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise investigated the
response of abdominal fat related to exercise by young men.
Thirty obese men (average age: 20 years) were examined before
and after four months of disciplined training in the Singapore
Armed Forces, and compared to another 30 men of similar age
and body composition not undergoing training. Researchers also
focused on overall fat mass, muscle mass and percentage of
body fat based on skinfold measurements.
Besides losing an average of 26 pounds
during training, the soldiers also maintained their muscle
mass, which remained unchanged. Most importantly were the
significant reductions observed in waist and hip circumference
through fat loss, and the relationship between them. Waist
circumference was reduced significantly more than hip
circumference - 14% compared to 8%.
In other words, fat loss was clearly the
most pronounced around the waistline due to working out. This
may not be the case for weight loss from dieting alone, which
can also cause the loss of some muscle mass. The most
successful long-term dieters often cite one common element to
their success: an ongoing exercise regimen. Be sure to combine
an exercise program with your diet for not only lasting
results, but also fat loss focused on your midsection.
Reference:
Mayo MJ, Grantham JR, Balasekaran G.
Exercise-induced weight loss preferentially reduces abdominal
fat. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2003:35(2),
pp. 207-213. For more tips on sports and exercise, check out www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/sports.html
Ergonomics &
Orthotics
Half of Computer Users
May Develop Pain
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in
1997, 92 million American adults used a computer, almost 40%
of all households had a computer, and half of employed adults
worked on a computer on the job. Dozens of studies have
evaluated musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders of the hands
and arms in computer users, yet the long-term effects of
numerous hours at the keyboard remain uncertain.
To determine the incidence of conditions
developing from workplace computer use, over 600 recently
hired employees who used computers at least 15 hours per week
were asked to complete diaries on the hours they worked, hours
they spent on the computer, and presence of symptoms in their
necks, shoulders, hands, and arms for up to three years.
Researchers sought those with symptoms requiring medication or
scoring high on a pain scale; the results of their study were
published recently in the American Journal of Industrial
Medicine
Over 50% of the workers suffered from
musculoskeletal symptoms in their first year at the new job.
Almost one-third suffered a new onset of neck or shoulder
symptoms, and a quarter of the individuals suffered new onset
of symptoms in the arms or hands. Carpal tunnel syndrome, one
of the best-known conditions related to long-term keyboard
use, was surprisingly one of the least likely disorders seen
in this study - only 1% of the workers developed it. Women and
those over age 30 were most likely to exhibit symptoms from
computer use.
If you spend many hours in front of a
computer, either at work or at home, be sure to use the proper
form and follow basic guidelines to avoid injury: Maintain an
upright posture; keep your keyboard even with or slightly
below elbow level; be sure your mouse and other devices are
within easy reach; and be sure to get up and walk around
regularly to stretch and get the blood flowing to your
extremities.
Reference:
Gerr F, Marcus M, Ensor C, et al. A
prospective study of computer users: I. Study design and
incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. American
Journal of Industrial Medicine 2002:41(4), pp. 221-235.
Women's Health
Obesity May Contribute to
Cervical Cancer
Obesity has been linked to a multitude of
health problems, from increased blood pressure and heart
disease to sleep apnea, breathing problems and gallstones. In
women, excessive fat has been shown to increase levels of
estrogen, which can lead to the development of endometrial
cancer, a condition that affects the lining of the uterus.
Height and weight can also contribute to
endometrial cancer, and they are risk factors for cervical
cancer, whereas the role obesity plays in cervical cancer
remains uncertain. To test whether obesity may lead to an
increased risk of developing cervical cancer, investigators
evaluated a variety of potential risk factors in 560 women:
124 diagnosed with adenocarcinoma (a type of cervical cancer
linked specifically to high estrogen levels); 139 with
squamous-cell cervical cancer; and 307 women who did not have
cancer. Among their findings:
* Women who were heavier, had a high body
mass index (BMI) or had fat that was concentrated in the
midsection were far more likely to have adenocarcinoma.
* Women with a BMI greater than 30
(considered clinically obese) and "apple-shaped"
women (those with high waist-to-hip ratios) were both twice as
likely to develop adenocarcinoma.
* Women with high BMIs had more advanced
stages of adenocarcinoma when they were diagnosed with cancer,
even if they received regular Pap smears.
Although larger studies are needed, these
results support the theory that obesity, like height and
weight, may lead to the onset of some types of cervical
cancer. Women who are obese should speak with their physician
about ways to lose weight and the benefits of a healthy,
low-fat diet, and receive more frequent Pap smears to detect
the early signs of adenocarcinoma.
Reference:
Lacey JV, Swanson CA, Briton LA, et al.
Obesity as a potential risk factor for adenocarcinomas and
squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. Cancer Aug.
15, 2003: Volume 98, Number 4, pp.814-821.
For more information about women's health
issues, go to www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/women.html.
