Chiropractic Care – Tips For Party People
Like to party? You’ll find the best tips here to recover with ease
Sometimes life can be an endless stream of parties and festivities, Coogee Chiropractor Dr Michael Cohen, has a list of tips to help minimize some of the health risks commonly associated with party people.
1. Hydrate with Water
It is important to keep hydrated with water in order to combat the dehydrating affects of alcohol. “It’s a good idea to have a few glasses of water before going out and then a glass of water every couple of hours throughout the night. You will feel a lot better the next day.” says Cohen of Chirosports Coogee.
2. Watch the High Heels
High heels are another “health hazard” because of the unnatural angle they force the lower back into. The sacral base angle is basically the angle between a line drawn along the top of the sacrum and a line drawn parallel to the ground. A normal measurement is between 36 and 42 degrees. According to Tim Maggs in his article published 2003, “If the angle is outside this range, the efficiency of the supportive joints and tissues goes down proportionately, and increases the vulnerability of the individual with regard to injury and degenerative potentials in their life. When an abnormal sacral base angle is found on x-ray, it usually accompanies some low back symptoms.”
“As a general rule, I recommend that patients avoid high heels altogether.” Says Cohen “however obviously fashion prevails at times and I explain the importance of ensuring the integrity of muscles and nerve flow in the lower back region so that it may cope with the extra load high heels place in this region of the spine and pelvis”. “This can be achieved by core strengthening exercises and stretches specifically to counter those abnormal forces placed on the local soft tissues.”
3. Beware of new found confidence
“It’s amazing how many injuries I see each year caused by people thinking they are more invincible than normal when they are in party mode,” say Cohen. “Not to mention the number of parents I see with back pain after they have spent hours contorting themselves beyond their normal range of motion on the dance floor.” It’s important that we realise the limitations sitting at a desk all year can cause and take care when attempting activities that are not part of a normal day. I recommend gentle stretching to ease muscles and care when attempting manual tasks that are not part of your normal range of motion. If you have a subluxation or locked joint that you cannot feel is locked as so many people do, it can take a simple move to irritate the joint and cause significant pain. Another way to avoid this is to have a regular check up before a simple move in the wrong direction can lead irritation, inflamation and the dreaded joint pain. And if you do have a fall, collision or accident; make sure you are checked, it is incredible how many adults have problems that were caused by falls that were untreated at the time they occurred.
4. Take measures to eat at least some healthy foods
Sugar, artificial colours and flavours and an over indulgence in party fare can do more than alter your waistline. Firstly, fluctuations in blood sugar affect your nervous system and can lead to headaches and irritability. Eating such foods and combining with consumption of alcohol can lead to a woeful recovery.
If you are a serial party person, you need to be aware of what you are consuming and take measures to balance sugar, artificial colours and nutrient poor / high calorie options with fresh living foods and good sources of protein.
5. Always have your power switched on
It is really quite easy to minimize health risks associated with adverse party activities on a seemingly non-stop basis. It’s just a matter of respecting your body. “I have been in practice for nearly twenty years and in my experience, so many of the new patients we see over the time come in as a result of trauma which may have been avoided with a little more preventative or maintenance care.” “Those clients who have check ups regularly (just as most of us do with our teeth and our cars) rarely need what we call acute care associated with inflammation and pain.” says Michael.
Chiropractic care addresses interference with your nervous system and when a subluxation or immobile joint is gently mobilised the effect is similar to switching on the power in your body. Ease of movement, clarity of mind and energy can all be improved even more through regular chiropractic care.
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