Stand up straight to live longer

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - For years your mother told you to stand up straight, and even though she may not have realized it, she was helping you live longer. A study performed by researchers and doctors at UCLA and published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society actually proves that people with better posture live longer than their contemporaries with poor posture. 

"This is exciting information for all health care providers, but especially so for chiropractors," stated Dr. Susan Bradshaw, owner of Houston-based Lone Star Chiropractic. "I have always been passionate about posture and the effects of weak posture on overall health. Studies show our posture can have a dramatic impact on health." 

Dr. Bradshaw recently completed the CPEP (Certified Posture Exercise Professional) Posture Certification program, directed by Dr. Steven Weiniger of BodyZone.com.

Posture affects many aspects of a person's health especially balance. According to data from the National Safety Council, each year more than 1.5 million people over the age of 65 are seriously injured in a fall and almost 13,000 of them die from their injuries. Of those who do survive a fall, 20 to 30 percent suffer from debilitating injuries that affect them the rest of their life. Many of these injuries could have been avoided with proper education and prevention strategies.

"Improving posture has been shown to relieve paid and joint stress, while also improving balance, energy levels, functional motion, and flexibility, ability to breathe deeply, appearance, confidence and athletic performance," explained Bradshaw. "By assessing the mechanics of how my patient's body is moving with a posture picture assessment and then working with each patient individually to create a customized treatment plan that includes exercises to improve posture, I am able to establish exercise protocols to systematically strengthen posture by working on all three elements of posture:  Balance, Alignment and Motion."

For additional information regarding posture and its effect on your health, contact Dr. Susan Bradshaw by phone at 713-337-2117 or by e-mail at info@LSchiropractic.com