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

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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

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

Back pain in the morning is the worst way to start the day

Waking up can be a nightmare when you live with morning back pain. Often the pain is at its most intense immediately upon waking, and may dissipate throughout the day to the point where you feel almost no pain at nighttime. 

Symptoms of back pain in the morning include:

• Tightness, stiffness, reduced range of motion
• Sharp pain that makes movement difficult
• Feelings of frustration and stress associated with lack of sleep and pain

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When it comes to your spine, motion is health-giving

Lack of movement is one of the most common causes for missed work, early retirement and disability. It is a factor that often goes under the radar and accumulates over years of inactivity until it becomes a large problem. As an office of chiropractic, we can confidently say that lack of movement is responsible for many of the complaints we treat on a regular basis. We always say that while there is no silver bullet for solving back pain, there are things you can do to prevent it from happening in the first place. One of the most important of these factors is movement. If you are someone whose job requires them to sit for hours in front of a computer screen, sitting in motion is a good idea! 

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