Elevate Chiropractic
Flip Flops…Fabulous or Frightful?
Photo by Dr. Stephanie
You may have seen the little pun I made the other week on our Facebook page…. Dr. Charlie did not enjoy my choice of footwear one day! This could be chalked up to his lack of “cute footwear knowledge”, but it is most likely a result of knowing what your beloved flip flops can really do to your body.
What are they for anyways?
Flip flops offer some protection from the ground, for example if it is too hot. But that is about it. They were never meant to be worn “full time”…just in places where you can’t wear shoes but don’t want to go barefoot: locker room, community pool or the beach for example. They do not offer protection from sharp objects. Flip flops are also not sturdy and can slip off easily. Case in point: I SEVERELY cut my foot on one summer on a metal post sticking out of the ground because I was wearing flip flops. A few summers previous I broke my foot due to a slip/fall while wearing them. By the way…wearing a cast for 6 weeks during summer is not fun!
Flip flops and other types of flimsy sandals also force you to use your toes to grip the sandal better so it doesn’t fall off, which alters your gait (the way that you walk). This will adversely effect your posture and in doing so, reduce the ability for your body to optimally function.
In general, flip-flops do not offer any arch support, heel cushioning or shock absorption. This is incredibly important for those of you who over-pronate, have flat feet or arches that collapse. But why?
Overpronation by sportex
When you over-pronate, your arches fall and your ankle collapses inward causing internal rotation of the lower leg. This places tremendous stress on the inside of the knee creating an increased risk for a meniscal tear, and predispose you to accelerated degeneration of the knee, aka arthritis. Over-pronation also increases stress on the hip which places the pelvis in an awkward/unnatural position. This, in turn, puts increased pressure on the low back and upward through the spine to the skull! If you didn’t follow all of that, just remember this: The stability of your feet plays a pivotal role in the alignment of your spine, and ultimately your overall level of health.
So what do you do about this?
Don’t wear flip flops! If you insist, that is certainly your choice. But know that you are placing your body in a potentially compromised posture that can result in numerous injuries whether acute/traumatic because you lose your footing, or chronic/cumulative as joint degeneration will be accelerated. At least attempt to limit the length of time you walk in them, maybe five to ten minutes or less at a time, and choose a pair that have a thicker sole, tighter straps and some level of arch support.
Better yet, consider having custom sandals made. The company we use for custom orthotics can build that custom support right into the sandal for you. Check them out here!
Besides choosing safer footwear, you should also have your spine checked and adjusted, especially if you still insist on wearing flip flops. Getting adjusted regularly is the only way to correct and prevent postural deficiencies and subluxations that you will develop from wearing inappropriate footwear. Let us know before your next appointment if you’d like a consultation for orthotics/sandalthotics….and start wearing shoes that make your feet and the rest of your body happy 🙂
Your Neck Will Love You for Reading This!
Photo by Nevena
Today I want to expand on a topic Dr. Charlie brought up in a recent post. He taught us the best positions to sleep in are on your back or your side. Read on for some details as to why!
Dreaming of Jelly Doughnuts?
There is a squishy jelly doughnut type-thing in between each of the bones in your spine – better known as the intervertebral discs. The intervertebral discs do NOT have a blood supply, but they do have a high water content. When the discs are compressed, the water content decreases; when the compressive force is taken away, the water levels are normalized…almost like a sponge. This movement of water is how the discs acquire life-sustaining nutrients and dispose of wastes. Without this transfer, the discs will degenerate and cease to function. Another good example of how movement sustains life!
As we go about our daily activities and our body deals with the effects of gravity, the water content of the discs gradually decreases. Sleeping is important to the discs since we are lying down (hopefully!) while we sleep. This (lying down) results in the removal of axial compressive forces due to gravity and allows the discs to imbibe water and nutrients while we sleep. This sounds important, right?!
Consider this: When the bones in your neck rotate, they also compress, or move closer together at the same time. So when you look to the right, the bones are squishing the discs on the right side.
Give Those Discs a Breather!
At the end of the day we have a bunch of tired, cranky, hungry discs that are swimming in their own waste! Not very pleasant sounding is it? So, let’s examine the position of a stomach sleeper. They are obviously face down, but how will they breathe? That’s right! They have to rotate their head to one side or the other…theoretically for 6-8 hours…and keep all that pressure on those tired and cranky discs.
But, why does this really matter? In other words you will be putting constant compressive forces on the discs for an extended period of time which will prevent them from being able to absorb water and nutrients. Imagine doing this every single night! Nobody wants to intentionally predispose themselves to developing degenerative osteoarthritis/disc disease at a VERY young age or adverse cardiovascular effects. Just another reason to consider how you bunk-down!
Health Note: arthritis is a normal response to an abnormal situation. It is NOT however a part of the normal aging process, so no, it does not happen to everyone. Your sleeping position is one of the small things you can control in your everyday life to prevent it.
So remember: sleeping on your back or your side will help keep your spine healthy and happy!
Check back at Dr. Charlie’s previous post for other tips on how to sleep! Take my word for it…enduring a few restless nights while you adjust to a new sleeping posture will be far better than dealing with the alternatives for the rest of your life. Sweet dreams!
Cool Stuff Abounds
Post originally appeared at Reaching Beyond Now and is reprinted with the author’s permission.
This time of year offers a colorful variety of lush veggies and fruit. The way this produce arrives in our kitchens is shifting! As I travel around the US from month to month, I’m happy to see CSAs popping up all over, even here in Rochester where I practice! Originally conceived in Germany and Japan, the three letters stand for community supported agriculture.
Growing up in a family of gardeners, sharing our home-raised crops with friends and neighbors was the norm. It saved our families money and kept us connected with the people who lived around us. Community supported agriculture offers a pro-socio-economic emphasis on locally grown, harvested and distributed produce. It’s a very basic concept that is changing the way we choose our food demographically. This return to seasonal, locally grown food could potentially enhance the entire eco-system by reducing dependence on fossil-fuels regularly allocated to the importation of produce!
Mark my words, this is a trend that will last far beyond a cool fad. It’s already being re-interpreted by folks who reside in more densely populated urban areas. Urban-dwellers have turned to container, window and even rooftop gardening to emphasize crop sharing in their neighborhoods.
Looking for a better way to get your goods and support local farmers? Here’s the top reasons to seek a CSA!
- Get to know the people who grow your food and extend a pro-economic affect by directly paying farmers for your produce
- Reduce waste and production of plastics by forgoing the packaging commercial foods are wrapped in
- Enjoy nutrient dense food that has just come from the ground
- Variety is the spice of life and the key to wellness. Seasonal eating offers improved health by providing a wider range of nutrients
- Reduce mono-cropping and nutrient-lacking soil
- Create a relationship with your community. We all have the same basic needs and wants don’t we? It just might be time to admit that rugged individualism is a thing of the past.
Ready to Join?
Can’t wait to see what will arrive in your first garden box? Find a CSA in your locale now by visiting the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association here.