Greg Spindler
expanding your potential
Greg Spindler
expanding your potential |
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Habits of the Present Create Function of the Future Greg Spindler, LMT, CSET As a father, I have many opportunities to witness body posture and to see how it changes as we grow. I am often at soccer and tee-ball games or at the playground. Even the simple duty of sitting in car lines waiting for my children to exit school is a learning opportunity. I see the shoes kids wear and the overloaded backpacks they carry. As a SET therapist, I recognize these as the early stages of postural collapse(s). For many, this will ultimately lead to chronic pain and agony in their adult years.
The Roots of our Health
We were all once young growing children ourselves, and the postural tendencies and dysfunctions with which many of us suffer are simply reflections of the past. The bumps, bangs, and stresses of our growing years can impact our lives more than we realize. This sets the stage for many common ailments such as back pain, neck pain, or lack of range of motion in one or more areas. All of these prevent the body from moving efficiently. Falls at the playground, car accidents, poorly fitted or overloaded backpacks, emotional stress, nutritional imbalances, and chronic dehydration during childhood scripts what is to come as an adult. Wearing hand-me-down shoes, riding bikes that don’t fit the rider correctly, or hours of poor ergonomics from sitting in a chair in front of the TV or computer are all contributors as well. Not surprisingly, the physical impact children endure in contact sports and repetitive strained motions lay the foundation for what to expect in the middle-aged years.
So, should we hold kids back from being kids? I say, absolutely not! Playing and exercising is part of growing up and is crucial to physical development. Running, climbing, grasping, bending, skipping, stretching, throwing, and tumbling are all ways for the anatomy to strengthen skeletal musculature function. But, excessive incorrect stress will surely lead to an unhealthy adult body.
Do you remember the game (and it still may exist), The Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back? I believe it is often called Last Straw. The game is simple. The object is to add straws until the “backpack” breaks the camel’s back. You add weight until it can hold no longer. KaBoom! Life is the same way with our ability (or inability) to maintain support of the body. How much can your body handle until it says, “I give”?
Soft-tissue dysfunction is just a reflection of what the body has gone through and stored. In this way, the stresses are repeated, reminded, and re-lived. Emotional stress can be a contributor as well. A child continually told that he/she is not good enough, pretty enough, is ugly, is not accepted by peers, and the list goes on, is set up for depression.
Of course, this applies to adults too. A person who stays in a depressed state for a significant period of time creates the lethargic, sunken, and unsupported body structure. This becomes a constant and the person/structure of the body becomes “hardened” into a mold that is tough to break. It can even be reflected in one’s personality. Spotting depression of the anatomy is not difficult. There are plenty of postural clues such as a sunken chest, rounded shoulders, a dropped head that protrudes out in front of the body, or the slow shuffle of feet. For some, there is lack of energy in certain regions of the body.
There is, of course, the argument of genetics. Genetics is both a valid reason and an excuse all rolled into one. Yes, we all inherit traits, both good and bad, from family. But this is not the end of the story. We are what we continually do. Our habitual actions have the power to affirm the negative aspects of our genetic make-up or overcome them. Kids imitate those they are around and whom they admire. That’s why we all want positive role models to influence our children. Sometimes we forget that families, particularly parents, can have the greatest impact of all. Children watch practically every move their parents make, particularly during the formative years. I know my kids are observing my postural habits, nutritional choices, selection of language, and other activities. This constantly keeps me motivated to correct myself. What they perceive as “normal” all hinges upon the environment that we provide.
What can we do?
Educate both yourself and your kids. Get properly fitted for your bicycles, buy each child correct shoes that are brand new (used hand-me-down shoes hold the postural patterns of the previous owners). Sit in ergonomically correct chairs (this is a must since we are living in a more chair-borne society). Watch your kids walk and run. Do their strides appear easy and comfortable?
Keep contact sports at a manageable level and provide adequate time for recovery. Take the time to slowly introduce new sports or activities to allow for adaptation. Look at your reflections in store front windows. Can you see imbalances? Look at your footprints on the beach to get clues about the balance and symmetry of your steps (walking gait). Think about your daily routines. Note what repetitive movements you do day-in and day-out.
Once you recognize your family’s imbalances and/or weaknesses, do something about them. Avoid the attitude that “it will just go away” or “they will grow out of it”. Create balance and minimize the occurrence of injuries by employing the following strategies:
1. Stretch in the opposite direction of what you do each day. A trainer or Physical Therapist can help with this. 2. Practice breathing deeply to expand the lungs and make use of the entire diaphragmatic muscle contraction. 3. Create a happy environment in all places. Laugh! 4. One of the most common problems for children today is carrying overloaded backpacks. Please adjust them. Stressing the growth of a child is not good for the spine and can have serious consequences in the future. From the American Physical Therapy Association, here are some weight recommendations: Child’s Weight Maximum Weight to Carry Under 60 lbs. 5 lbs. 60 – 75 lbs. 10 lbs. 100 lbs. 15 lbs. 125 lbs. 18 lbs. 150 lbs. 20 lbs. Furthermore, the size of the backpack should NOT be greater than the back of the child. Ugh! You’ve got to shop around.
The Role of Nutrition
Lack of energy is a sign of fatigue, weakness, or a lack of nutrition. I know, here we go, beating down the path of eating habits again. But be careful not to minimize the role of nutrition. It is the necessity of life. Without it we wilt and become dis-eased. This is a choice I see go wrong time and again in my office with my clients. Strength of the various systems of the human body relies on our ongoing nutritional choices. It is so simple yet can be so difficult for many of us. Quite recently, I, myself, experienced a wake-up call to this fact. Our bodies do not all have the exact same needs and tolerances. We must be willing to make food choices based on what is best for our bodies rather than out of politeness to others, curiosity, or listening to what the media generalizes for the masses.
You might recall my dehydration article, Water and the Body, We Mustn’t Dry Out! from the January, 2007 issue. Water consumption, like posture and nutrition, plays an important role in our health. You can visit www.gregspindler.com for the article. Water keeps the body lubricated, flushed of toxins, and systematically working. Do not underestimate the damage that can result from chronic dehydration. Without water, standing upright is challenging and the body just wants to wilt like a dying plant. Keep in mind that caffeinated drinks dehydrate the body, and with the mind boggling number of caffeinated soda drinks on the market today, it’s no wonder so many kids are dehydrated. Drink an adequate amount of clean, fresh water daily to supply the cells for structural support.
If all of these recommendations seem overwhelming, keep in mind that real change rarely happens overnight. Set realistic goals by making one small change at a time. With each baby step, you can be proud of achieving a healthier lifestyle.
Greg Spindler is the owner of Carolina Structural Energetic Therapy in Greer, SC.
For more information, contact him at (864)877-3500 or visit www.gregspindler.com. | ||||
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©2005-2010 Greg Spindler All Rights Reserved. | ||||
