1. Try to distribute the weight of whatever you are carrying
(suitecase, bags of grocercies, books, etc.)

2. When driving, move the seat as far forward as possible so that your knees are higher than your hips. if your car seats do not provide adequate lumbar support, use a pillow behind the small of your back.

3. Be aware of your posture! In some instances, nagging backache can be alleviated simply by tilting you pelvis forward and straightening your shoulders whenever you are standing or walking.

4. If you will be standing for any length of time, rest one foot on a low stool, alternating feet every so often.

5. Do not continue your normal excercise program if you are exjperiencing back pain.

6. Avoid sleeping on your stomach - it will force your back to sway, especially if your pillow is too soft. Sleep on your side in the fetal position, or on your back with a pillow under your knees and the curve of your back.

7. If sudden low back pain occurs, do not attempt to "work it out." Lie down on the floor comfortably (or on a firm mattres), and use an ice pack to reduce inflamation and swelling. Call our office as soon as possible for furhter help.

The first recorded chiropractic adjustment was performed on September 18, 1895, by Dr. Daniel David Palmer, a Canadian-born teacher and healer. Dr. Palmer was, at the time, studying the cause and effect of disease. His patient was Harvey Lillard, a janitor working in the same building as Dr. Palmer in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Lillard, who had complained of hearing problems for over 17 years, allowed Dr. Palmer to examine his spine. Dr. Palmer discovered a "lump" on Mr. Lillard's back and suspected that a vertebra might be out of place, which he then repositioned the vertebra with a gentle thrust. After several such treatments, much of Mr. Lillard's hearing was restored.

Since Dr. Palmer's first chiropractic adjustment, the art and science of chiropractic has progressed significantly. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures, sophisticated equipment, scientific research, and the growing acceptance among other health care professionals makes chiropractic a popular health care choice.

The chiropractic perspective on health and disease emphasizes two fundamental concepts:

1) the structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and its ability to heal itself; and

2) the mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes.
Although chiropractic shares much with other health professions, its emphasis and application of philosophy distinguishes it from modern medicine. Chiropractic philosophy gravitates toward a holistic ("total person") approach to healing which combines elements of the mind, body and spirit and maintains that health depends on obedience to natural laws, and that deviation from such laws can result in illness.

The increasing interest in alternative forms of care has caught the attention of several health associations and government agencies. A 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that "The estimated number of visits made in 1990 to providers of unconventional therapy was greater than the number of visits to all primary care medical nationwide," and chiropractic was among the most frequently used non-medical therapies.

A followup report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that the use of non-medical treatments had increased significantly since the 1990 survey, with "overall prevalence of use increased by 25%, total visits by an estimated 47%, and expenditures on services provided by practitioners of alternative therapies by an estimated 45%." Of the survey respondents, one in nine (11%) had used chiropractic care within the previous year.