The Benefits of Chiropractic Care
There is a common misconception that Chiropractic care is used to relieve issues of the spine only. Chiropractic adjustments are additionally used to alleviate the pain of injuries to your bones, connective tissue, joints, cartilage, and muscles.
Some of the most common areas of relief through Chiropractic care include:
Back pain. Chiropractic treatment for back pain is used to avoid surgery and further injury and to relieve pain while improving the range of motion.
Neck pain. The increased use of computers, tablets, and phones has led to increased rates of neck pain. To decrease neck pain, your Chiropractor can provide spinal adjustments and treatments through exercises and stretches. Your treatment may also include education about the importance of an ergonomic workspace.
A reduction in the use of opioid pain relievers. Chronic pain can quickly become both physically and psychologically debilitating. However, the overuse of opioids can have catastrophic effects long term. We will work with you to provide pain relief solutions that do not include the use of prescription medications.
Improves posture. Chiropractic treatments are often used to correct poor posture. There are many instances where poor posture can exacerbate back pain, neck pain, and chronic headaches or migraines.
Improved incidents of headaches. People who suffer from chronic headaches often say they would try anything to relieve their pain. Chiropractic care and massage therapy can significantly reduce the number and severity of headaches over time. In particular, headaches caused by neck tension or misalignment.
Improved sleep. Something as seemingly simple as an adjustment can help you to sleep better. Spinal misalignment causes a host of issues with pain, discomfort, rest, and relaxation.
Many more benefits of chiropractic care have yet to be mentioned but will be discussed further in upcoming blogs.
Overall, Chiropractic care is a multifaceted model that will complement other health care models to reduce the use of pain medications and side effects. To discover if Chiropractic care is for you, contact us today.
Summer Gardening Tips
As a Chiropractor, I often see an influx of seasonal-related injuries in patients. The summer comes with many potential sprains, strains, and breaks; however, many of these are gardening-related injuries.
Gardening Brings Joy
Gardening can bring joy and healthy productivity to our lives, so I would never suggest eliminating it. Gardening season does arrive with increased incidents of neck strain and back injuries, mainly due to overexertion and repetitive movements.
Taking care of your back, neck, and overall body before and after gardening can significantly affect your health. Plus, you cannot maintain a beautiful garden with injuries!
Although our bodies are quite adaptable, they become weaker over the winter months if you become sedentary. In turn, when the weather gets warmer, your body can have difficulty keeping up with your new activities, like gardening. Any excess weight gained over the winter can add extra pressure on your joints, making the transition to gardening even more challenging.
There are several things you can do to ensure you are gardening-ready, including:
Being prepared. When you have set aside the big weekend to get your garden going, please ensure you are hydrated, have stretched, wear appropriate clothing, and have the knee pads, wrist guards, and other tools you will require. Safety is the key; you cannot be safe if you are unprepared.
Have your garden design mapped out before you begin. Will you have raised beds? Strategically placed perennials? Sun/Shade-loving plants? Designing your garden before you begin will help alleviate the need to move plants around.
When possible, have heavy items like soil and mulch delivered to your home, and have a wheelbarrow available to move them. Be sure to use the proper techniques for transporting heaving items by bending at the knees and avoiding twisting motions. Do you have another person to help? Have them on standby for times you feel you may overexert yourself.
Keep your body relaxed. We can become tense when we constantly lift items and move around to complete tasks. Tension can cause us to develop extra strain on our muscles, leading to potential injuries. Every 30 minutes, do a body check, relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw, and shake your arms around to loosen up.
Enjoy your creation! Gardening is a creative endeavor for most, so take the time to admire your work along the way.
Finally, you already know that as a Chiropractor advising you to stretch before and after, wearing sun protection, and drinking lots of water is a must. Injuries, sunburns, and dehydration are no joke, and they are certainly no fun.
Neck and back injuries can reoccur, so if you have had prior injuries, it is essential to follow the advice we provide. Remember, it is always better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to our bodies.
Until next time, happy and safe gardening! And if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us.