Dr. Ian Ahearn of Point Loma Chiropractic is in studio today to chat with us about many mistakes we make as photographers when it comes to taking care of our bodies! We all are guilty of carrying too much equipment, bad posture, and sitting in weird, contorted positions at our desks while editing! We decided it would be a great idea to have a chiropractor on our show to discuss some chiropractic advice for photographers! Check out some of our favorite problems & solutions below & tune into the episode for even more tips from Dr. Ian Ahearn! Key Takeaways: 

1. Problem 1: Computer Usage- 
   1. We know that as photographers, unfortunately not all of our time is spent behind the camera. In fact, most of us probably spend significantly more time in front of the computer. We answer emails, retouch photos, make blog posts, etc. which all add up to hours upon hours sitting in a chair. We lean towards the screen, hunch over, have weird arm positions for the mouse, etc. What's some good chiropractic advice to help this issue so we don't develop problems like carpal tunnel or other computer-related injuries?  
   2. Dr. Ahearn suggests that the best way to prevent computer related injuries is to switch up your position as much as possible. You should be standing up to take a short break every 20 minutes. Also, don't assume the same position every time you use the computer. You can sit sometimes, stand sometimes, maybe sit on an exercise ball every now and then. You want to move as much as possible. Blood flow heals tissue, so if you're sitting still or standing still constantly, you're going to start getting aches & pains. You also want to make sure to be relaxed as you work. Remind yourself to stay upright, relax your shoulders, and keeping good lumbar support is super beneficial.
2. Problem 2: Carrying Heavy Equipment-
   1. Sometimes the amount of equipment we carry is absolutely nuts! And we carry it for SUCH a long time, especially during wedding days. There's no way that we can carry so much heavy gear (and usually on one side!) without suffering the consequences. How can we fix this issue?
   2. Dr. Ahearn isn't a big fan of cross-body bags, which is funny because as photographers we freaking love those things. But he suggests that keeping the load as even as possible is a huge step in preventing injury. If you still insist on rocking that cross-body bag, make sure you're switching sides with it often to mix up the load on your body. Roller bags (like Think Tank cases!) are a great alternative to wearing your gear. If you can switch it up from shoot to shoot (carrying sometimes, rolling sometimes, etc), this can help tremendously also! Ashley also admitted that she wears her camera around her neck at all times. Kate wore her camera like that for 7 years and constantly suffered from neck pain. It wasn't until her strap broke & she was forced to hold her camera sans-strap, that Kate realized how much better her neck felt after the shoot! Ever since, she's had her camera off her strap (Julie does too!). Consider trying this if you find your neck is constantly in pain!
3. Problem 3: Twisting our Bodies in Weird Positions-
   1. Photographers will do anything to get the best shot, and that often includes twisting & contorting our bodies into weird positions (and sometimes holding it for a long time!). There's really nothing we can do to prevent having to make these weird stances, so what can we do to help the damage we've done after a shoot?
   2. Dr. Ahearn highly recommends the use of a foam roller! Julie is apparently already a huge fan & uses one on a regular basis. Foam rolling increases blood flow & allows for better movement & increased range of motion. It will help put targeted pressure on any areas of pain, which allows them to heal quicker. It also helps to remove lactic acid, which aids in the recovery of muscles. So while we might not be able to prevent twisting ourselves in weird ways to get awesome angles, we can at least help heal some of that on our own before our injuries get too bad. Dr. Ahearn also suggests regular chiropractic advice and care. The frequency of your chiropractic visits will range from person to person. He sees NFL players that should be seen multiple times a week, and he also sees people without huge issues that can get away with visiting him once a month. For the best idea of what you need, you should get evaluated by a chiropractor & develop a personalized plan & schedule!

We hope you enjoyed our chiropractic advice episode with Dr. Ian Ahearn as much as we did! We learned so much about how awful we all are to our bodies & some ways to help prevent and/or fix the damage we do on a regular basis! Relavent Links:

• Point Loma Chiropractic
• Think Tank Roller Cases
• Foam Rollers on Amazon

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