These are two of the most important factors in staying healthy, especially in an urban culture like New York. The most common bad habit is definitely the “cool, one legged stance.” It seems impossible for us to just stand evenly on two legs. It may look less sleek, but it will go a long way towards keeping your body and low back in a stable, pain-free state.

The reason this is so important the effect on the sacro-iliac joints; where your tail-bone connects to your two hip bones. Overloading your weight to one side is a tremendous factor in the breakdown of these joints, resulting in an imbalanced pelvis and stressed low back, or neck and shoulders.

New Yorkers walk much more than the average suburbanite does. Dysfunctions in our gait (a hitch in your get along) greatly contribute to the breakdown of our skeletal balance.

Conversely, a strong, balanced walk can have a corrective and strengthening effect on the body and your well-being.

Part of my treatment protocol is to analyze and correct the patient’s gait. Even minor corrections in this area can have a significant impact on your ability to stay healthy.