What is the spine? Dr. Lou Jacobs – Chiropractor Portland, Maine
Why do you have a spine? The spine serves several functions. Protection. The spine protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord, which is the primary communication pathway from the brain to the rest of the body, is protected by the bones of the spine. Like the brain that is protected and encased by solid bone, it is so protected because of it’s importance. Support. The spine supports the upper body. Like a pillar made of many bones and joints, it bears a great load. Movement & Flexibility. Bending, lifting, extending, turning, looking at your child, gazing at the stars, making love, and reading books are all possible, because of flexibility and movement in the spine. There are 24 vertebrae in the spine, a sacrum, and the coccyx. There are over 120 joints of the spine, over 200 ligaments and tendons. There are discs between each of the vertebrae. There are 7 vertebrae in the neck, 12 in the mid-back, and 5 in the low back. All regions of the spine allow for movement in specific ways. The discs of the spine are tough. With longterm stress or acute trauma, discs may be damaged, which may result in bulging or...
read moreChiropractic, Acupuncture, And Marinara Explained.
“Cooking is an act of love.” ~ Massimo Bottura Why does Dr. Lou give patients his homemade marinara sauce? Jacobs Chiropractic Acupuncture Clinic exists for a few very important reasons. 1. Health. We want you to be healthy. We want you to enjoy a homemade and healthy marinara to fit your healthy, or unhealthy, lifestyle. Health is achieved by doing a lot of good things over time. Food is instrumental in this process. 2. Efficiency. We want to save you precious time – both with efficient care and efficient dinnertime for active busy parents and people! 3. Gratitude. We are grateful to everyone who chooses us to care for them. Thank you for your trust, your referrals and your effort! 4. Care. We are here to serve you. We are here to help you live your best life, free of pain, setbacks, and worry. EXPECT BETTER, AND DIFFERENT. If you are looking for a change, a staff that listens and a dedicated team here to make your life easier. We plan on delivering on your expectations. Will I really get a jar of Dr. Lou’s Marinara at my first visit? You betcha! “Dinner” is on us! Tomatoes Are Healthy!...
read morePubic Bone Pain During Pregnancy. Causes, Implications & Solutions.
What pubic bone pain represents, is much more than just discomfort. Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), or pubic bone pain is a common cause of suffering during pregnancy. Your pubic bone is actually made up of 2 pelvic bones and a piece of cartilage. The two bones meet in the middle with the cartilage in-between, and this forms the “pubic bone” or symphysis pubis, in the front of your pelvis. The same pubic bones that meet to make the pubic bone, also meet at the sacrum in the back of your pelvis, where they form what is called the Sacro-iliac joints (SIJ). So what causes SPD? One of the most common causes is misalignment (subluxation)and pubic bone pain is in the sacroiliac joints, or the pubic bone itself. Because of pelvic bone involvement, they are essentially inseparable. If you imagine subluxation of the sacroiliac joints (top two circles in the image above), would medication realign these joints? Would medication realign the pubic bone? The answer is NO to both. Would massage realign the joints? Unlikely. Pubic bone pain always has a cause. When the cause is subluxation, it must be corrected by a specialist in pregnancy (perinatal) chiropractic. As the pregnancy progresses,...
read moreWill Your Stress During Pregnancy Affect The Gender Of Your Baby?
Stress During Pregnancy Affects More Than You May Think. A study recently performed at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, showed that mothers with high stress during pregnancy, either physically or mentally, were more likely to have girls. They were also more likely to have premature babies. (LINK TO REPORT) While this is a preliminary study, it raises important questions. 1. If stress during pregnancy can affect gender, what else does it change on a genetic level. 2. If stress affects gender, how seriously does it impact the mother’s body chemistry? 3. We know that mental stress causes tension in the neck, head, shoulders, low back and pelvis. Pelvic tension leads to breech presentation. How does stress impact breech presentation? 4. If stress during pregnancy affects gender, how does it impact fetal brain chemistry, growth and development. 5. We know that fetal development of the stress response begins at around 5 weeks. How does maternal stress impact fetal stress at the level of the brain? All breakdown, all derangement of function comes from stress. Stress during pregnancy can be classified under three types: Physical, Mental & Chemical. Pregnancy is the one time in a woman’s life where she generally really wants...
read more4 tips to avoid needing a walker when you are old.
If you want to avoid needing a walker, this is a good place to start. Nobody ever plans or aspires to need a cane, a walker or a wheelchair. They go about their lives, feeling relatively ok, and then one day, something happens and there’s a loss of independence. Ask any older person of their greatest fears and apart from death, the fears are loss of independence and being a burden on a child. These five action steps will help build the health and adaptability you need to do your best to avoid a walker or wheelchair. Exercise. Exercise creates strength and body awareness. Body awareness can be balance and spacial awareness of your body in relationship to your environment. Think “Feet in relation to the ground.” Strength and body awareness will help you avoid the type of fall that could land you in the grip of a walker. Exercise also promotes circulation and cardiovascular health. Few things lead to having to re-learn how to walk, like a stroke. If you have a walker already, you can exercise with your walker! Stop Smoking (period) & Drinking in excess. Anything, including diet, that may lead to poor health in your heart and blood...
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