28. April 2023

Forward head posture (FHP) is a common postural deviation that can impact athletic performance, including rock climbing. Rock climbers rely on optimal body alignment and strength to perform at their best, and FHP can have negative effects on both. Firstly, FHP can limit the climber's range of motion in the neck and shoulder region, making it difficult to maintain proper body alignment during climbing movements. This can lead to compensations in other areas of the body, such as the lower back...

02. August 2021

Happy World Breastfeeding Week! While breastfeeding is a beautiful journey for mom and baby, sometimes we can hit some speed bumps along the way that may cause frustration. While a woman’s body and baby are made for each other, breastfeeding may not come as quickly to some as it does to others, and that is okay! It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child, and this could not be more true. With the stress of not sleeping in the first days postpartum and the emotional swings of...

13. July 2021

Have you ever thought about health, what it is, and what our lives would be like without it? Is health simply the absence of sickness? The World Health Organization says no, but rather, “health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” But what constitutes this level of well-being? Let’s take a look at what health really is and how we can take that first step on the journey towards complete wellbeing. To begin to...

21. May 2021

Did you know that May is Mouth Breathing Awareness month? Mouth breathing can lead to a slew of health problems because it bypasses the filtration system of the nose. It can lead to health issues such as chronic bad breath, periodontal disease, cavities, gastrointestinal issues, allergies and even more serious disorders like poor jaw and facial development and sleep disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea. In children, mouth breathing significantly impacts the way the skull, brain, face, and...

19. April 2021

There is nothing quite as eye opening as that morning cup of coffee. Whether you are enjoying a freshly brewed cup on your back porch on a Sunday morning, or downing a travel mug on your way into your next meeting, it is sure to wake you up and keep you moving. But how exactly does caffeine affect our nervous systems? Let’s take a deeper look at what that liquid gold is doing to get you so wired. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, much like cocaine, but without the bad rap. When...

06. April 2021

Golf is a deceptively challenging sport, not only because of the physical demands and wide range of motion required of the spine, hips, shoulders, and elbows (there’s a reason it’s called “golfer’s elbow”), but also because of the need to maintain a sense of total mind and body calm. When primary structural shift occurs, it alters our normal biomechanics due to the compensations it causes throughout the spine in an attempt to remove pressure at the level of the brainstem. These...

22. March 2021

Did you know there is a butterfly that lives inside your head and when he flaps his wings, he is cleaning your brain and spinal cord? Sounds crazy but no, I have not lost my mind. That butterfly is more commonly known as the sphenoid bone. This bone is very unique as it sits inside of the skull and is the only bone to form a joint with every other bone of the skull, including the base of the skull. When we inhale, this joint flexes, and when we exhale, this joint extends. This pumping motion...

15. March 2021

With kids starting the transition back to in person learning, it might mean that it’s time for new school supplies, like a properly fitting backpack. Kids do a lot of growing in one year and it is important to assure that the backpack that they are stuffing full of books and binders is the right size and weight for their bodies. When choosing a backpack, remembering a few simple rules can reduce the risk of negatively affecting a child’s posture, which can lead to compensations throughout...

08. March 2021

Birth is a natural and beautiful process that can be likened to a dance between mom and baby. The geography of mom’s anatomy pairs perfectly with baby’s primitive reflexes, triggering these reflexes in an ideally choreographed ensemble and assisting in moving baby through the birth canal. Now imagine a dance partner that is constantly stepping on your toes. Not as beautiful a picture, is it? Mom’s body and spine go through a significant amount of change throughout pregnancy. The pressure...

01. March 2021

Torticollis is a condition in which one’s head tilts to one side while rotating to the other. This is caused by the tightening of a muscle called the sternocleidomastoid (whoa, say that ten times fast). This looks like a pretty wild word, so let’s break it down. The first part, sterno, refers to the sternum or breastbone. The second part, cleido, refers to the clavicle. The third part, mastoid, is the bony process of the skull that sits just behind the ear. We have two of these muscles, one...