Dooley Noted: 2/2/2016
This afternoon, I was asked to speak to the Alternative Medicine Club at Einstein Med.
After lab, I walked down the 8 flights of stairs to change from my lab gear. Then, I took the 8 flights back up to the next building for the lecture.
I had asked the students if they had done the same. Only 3 of the nearly 50 said yes.
I noted that students have to sit in class all day, just to return home to sit and study all night.
The stairs are a viable posture corrector, since climbing them with poor posture makes it more difficult to go up them!
Additionally, I suggested not sitting while studying. We all tried half kneeling instead of sitting. This position mimics the baby at 11 months, and it requires a stable spine, mobile hips, and excellent static posturing. So, it feels awkward and hard at first!
We talked about the importance of breathing with posture, and we discussed oxygenation and how it can help them retain what they study.
I labored the point that the average respiration rate in a physical exam is 14-16 breaths per minute. This changed in the last decade from 8-12 respirations. As the focus on quality breathing dissipates, our abdominal strength and oxygenation both start to wane.
So, we had a straw breathing competition, with the winner exhaling for 45 seconds!
Then, we focused on abdominal stability and limb movement with the Dying Bug exercise.
We all tried the Get-Up, Sit-Down test, noting several young souls who had lost a combination of mobility, stability, and strength – the trifecta of human power.
We devised some movement strategies to help those who were struggling, noting the importance posture plays in movement.
After we finished, students were excited to learn that videos can guide them through some corrective strategies so they can learn to help themselves move better.
The last thing you need your doctors thinking about is their sore backs and necks! Encouraging medical professionals to self-care might help them be free from the distraction from your care.
Encourage people to help themselves, so we might help each other with more clarity.
Posture matters.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley