Blog
Why Circulation Counts for Vitality
Why circulation is so important
When your blood is flowing optimally, all the cells in your body are getting the oxygen and nutrients (assuming you have been consuming them!) they need, while they are also able to get rid of the cell waste and toxins that cause cellular dysfunction. Your vital organs, including the brain, are literally fed by your blood. We can put no price on the importance of these inputs for the function of our bodies, allowing our cells to repair and regrow the way they need to keep us healthy and functioning optimally.
How your Cell Phone is Harming your Neck
Spinal pressure is exacerbated by cell phone use
The downward pressure of gravity is ever-present: statistics show that your lumbar intervertebral discs are under 100kg of pressure when you are standing with good posture; 125 when you are sitting with good posture. That is enough to overburden discs, especially when you are going around with an inferior set of supportive muscles. However, another way to overburden your spine is with poor posture, and cell phone use is conducive to poor posture:
- The average human head weighs 10-12 pounds
- Every inch you hold your head forward while looking at your cell phone magnifies the weight of your head by up to 10 times per inch.
Feeling Like a Million Bucks: Old Age Edition
Spinal longevity means a better old age
Our spine is the foundation of our well-being. When we are young, the majority of us are blessed to take it for granted, moving at will and maintaining a natural resilience to injury. But age is the natural enemy of our spine- the truth is, human lifespans are now longer than the sell-by dates of our spines. Here is why spines matter for old age:
- They keep us mobile: initiating and sustaining the forces incurred during movement begins with the spine.
- They support us: staying upright means staying healthy. A properly supported spine keeps us feeling our best.
- A healthy spine can prevent injury
- Provides a conduit for the nervous system
Ergonomic Injuries Are a Workplace Reality
When your ergonomics work against you…
There is such a thing as bad ergonomics, and let us assure you, it is far more common than good ergonomics! Ergonomics is actually an applied science- the science of human efficiency as determined by the design and arrangement of the surrounding environment. A typical ergonomic equation follows that a happier, healthier human is a more productive worker; and ergonomics is the cornerstone of this equation. However, far too many companies fail miserably when it comes to setting up their employees for ergonomic success. And far too many workers fail themselves by not taking the onus upon their shoulders to keep themselves healthy by optimizing their ergonomic situation.
Ergonomic risk factors include:
- Poorly adjusted work stations
- Consistently poor (or poorly supported) posture
- Exposure to repetitive motions which cause trauma
Spinal Elongation is Feel Good Therapy
Positions that put your spine under pressure
No surprises here; some of the most common positions we assume are the ones which put our spines under the most pressure. These positions include:
- Forward head posture
- Slouching
- Slumping
These are positions that contribute to the premature degradation of spines, and the age of onset for such degradation is shifting to an earlier demographic thanks to the use of mobile devices. Problems associated with these postures include:
- Narrowing of spinal discs
- Exaggerated curvature
- Increased compression of the spine
- Herniated discs
- Facet joint syndrome
As an office of chiropractic, our job is to reverse the harmful effects of this compression. One of our best modalities for doing this is spinal elongation.
Flexion-Distraction for Back Pain Relief
Flexion-distraction is therapy for back pain sufferers
Flexion-distraction is a well-researched and effective technique which seeks to offer lasting back pain relief to people suffering from conditions including:
- Chronic low back pain
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative disc disease
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Scoliosis
- Arthritis
- Sacroiliac syndrome…
…among many others. In essence, your spine is always under compression due to the force of gravity. Over time, compressive forces take their toll and cause dysfunction and pain in the spine. Flexion-distraction is a direct treatment for a spine under pressure.
Chiropractic for an Easier Labor
Chiropractic facilitates an easier labor and delivery
Regular chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy have been linked with shorter, less stressful labors. At Family Chiropractic & Natural Healing Center, we are specialists in pregnancy chiropractic. The hormonal and structural changes that occur in a woman’s body during pregnancy often conspire to leave her pelvis out of alignment, creating a domino effect of instability in the base of the spine. This contributes to back pain and can make it difficult for the baby to get into a proper birthing position.
Pain and Pregnancy Should not be Considered Normal
Aches and pains should not be what you remember from your pregnancy
Unfortunately, the narrative our society has accepted is that aches and pains are par for the course when it comes to pregnancy. And when it comes to relief, traditional forms of pain management fall short. Pain medication is a no-go because of the dangers for the fetus; herbal remedies and diet seem to only go so far when it comes to helping back pain. So where does this leave the prospective mother with lower back pain? No matter the severity of your pain, you can do something about it! Chiropractic is tailor made for addressing the aches and pains of pregnancy.
A System for Understanding your Back Pain
No pain is the same
Accordingly, pain should be treated on an individual basis. Even two people with the same diagnosis may respond completely differently to a given treatment. What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for the other. A very frequent treatment for back pain is non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs which repress symptoms while coming with a laundry list of side effects and potential health risks. What’s more, many studies have found that the actual impact on pain management is slight when compared to other forms of treatment. The important thing to remember is that if something is not working for you, there is probably another treatment that will.
Does your Back Pain Prevent you from Sleeping?
Chronic back pain does not mix with sleeping
Chronic pain itself is already creating enough of a drag on your life; when it starts to interfere with your sleep, it’s time to seek relief. People with chronic back pain often don’t sleep well, and people who don’t sleep well often suffer a domino-effect of other health concerns, not the least of which are heightened stress levels. Chronic pain may be an unavoidable part of your life, but you can limit the degree to which it affects the quality and quantity of your sleep.
Back pain and bedtime
At Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Center, we are musculoskeletal specialists who can help you find relief from the chronic pain that is preventing your sleep. Between chiropractic treatment modalities and lifestyle adjustments, we promise there is a way you can find restful, pain-free sleep again. It begins with determining the true cause of your back pain; this is the single most important part of any formula for sleeping with chronic pain. Once we determine what is causing your pain, we set a course for treatment that involves a number of modalities including chiropractic adjustment, decompression therapy, massage and trigger point release. These modalities stimulate the feel-good response. The majority of our clients feel great upon leaving the office and often report that they have had their best sleep in memory after a visit to the chiropractor.
Pain relief for sleeping
But we know that the chiropractor’s office simply isn’t enough to completely revolutionize your sleep with chronic pain. It involves lifestyle adjustments, including diet and alcohol management; and more intangible factors such as sleep environment, mattress and pillow type. All of these things are within your power; it is time to stop letting chronic pain wreak havoc with your sleep life. Take back the power of sleeping from your back pain by calling our office to schedule an appointment today.