Author: john

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor’s office before, part of the reluctance to make your first visit may simply be the fact that you don’t have a clear idea of what to expect. This piece will shed some light on that, and help to demystify the process.

Your first visit is actually going to be quite similar to the initial visit to any doctor’s office. There are a few forms to fill out, including some data sheets that ask questions about your medical history, and any complaints you may be having now. Are you in pain now? If so, where? With charts and diagrams so you can point to the impacted areas and trouble spots, and augment that with written descriptions.

Once the paperwork is attended to, then comes the physical examination. Here, things begin to veer a bit from what you would see at a “regular” doctor’s office, because this exam will be centered on your spin and the overall alignment of your musculoskeletal system. X-rays will probably be taken, as these will enable the chiropractor and their staff to get an inside look at the soft tissue and the exact configuration (and potential damage) to your bones. For instance, if you have been in a car accident and are suffering back pain, the X-rays may reveal jagged edges on the discs of your spinal column, which are exacerbating the pain you’re feeling.

Once the initial examination has been completed, the chiropractor can begin custom-designing a treatment plan based on the findings of the exam. There are a variety of treatment options at the chiropractor’s disposal, but the most common are electro-stimulation, low-impact exercises, therapeutic massage, and of course, the “adjustments” that chiropractors are so known for.

That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? The bottom line is that a trip to the chiropractor’s office is a lot like a visit to any doctor’s office, and can be the thing that puts you on the short path to reducing and ultimately eliminating whatever pain you’re suffering from.

Sometimes, perhaps even often, the causes of neck pain are pretty obvious. After you’ve been in an auto accident, or if you took a hearty knock on the sports field, you don’t need to ask. It’s pretty easy to draw a straight line from that event to the pain in your neck. Sometimes though, it’s not quite so obvious. You may actually be surprised at some of the things that can cause neck pain. Here are just a few surprising examples:

The Tie You Wear

Here’s one for men. If you work in a professional environment and your dress code requires that you wear a tie, make sure it’s relatively loose. Often, men wear their neck ties too tight, and this can reduce blood flow and circulation to the muscles in your neck, which can lead to pain, cramping, and swelling. Most people don’t connect the dots and assume that it’s something to do with their posture. It’s true, posture is often a contributing factor, but don’t overlook the humble necktie, which could be causing more trouble than you imagine!

Flip-Flops

At the other end of the dress code spectrum, there’s the flip-flop. These summertime shoes are wildly popular, but really bad for your body. In addition to the fact that they have no cushioning or support for when you walk, because they are so open, you’re required to change the way you walk in them if you want to keep them on your feet. Your toes have to press downward to maintain contact, which pulls your posture forward. A couple hours walking in flip flops can give you an ache from your lower back all the way up to your neck.

Your Cellphone

How many times have you seen this scene – you walk past someone’s office, he or she is on the phone and typing, with the cell phone propped up by an exaggerated “shrug” motion, so he can keep it up next to his ear. It doesn’t take much of this before you develop a powerful, painful “kink in your neck.”

The bottom line is that the things we wear and the way we move our bodies throughout the day can have enormous impacts on our bodies. These impacts often manifest themselves in the form of pain, if we’re moving our bodies in unnatural ways, or constricting the flow of blood. It pays to pay attention.

Your life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, you’re driving or riding along in your car, minding your own business and going about your daily routine, and the next, the sound of metal on metal and the crush of impact.

Even if you escape the accident with no broken bones, it can still leave you badly shaken, and aching from head to toe. It’s possible that your pain could begin to fade on its own over time, but it’s more likely that you’re injured more seriously than you imagine yourself to be. Do you really want to take the chance and go it alone?

For most people, the answer to that question is no. Besides, even if the pain does fade on its own, over time, without help and a systematic treatment plan, your recovery is going to take longer, which means that you’ll be stuck living in a cloud of pain for weeks, and possibly months. Even then, you may experience sudden “hitches” where if you move the wrong way, you feel a sharp, intense stab of pain.

The good news is, you don’t have to. There’s another option. A Chiropractor can assess your injuries and design a non-invasive treatment plan that will help you manage, and ultimately eliminate your pain, restore your full range of motion and get you back on the fast track to full health, so you can get back to enjoying life.

The most common treatment types they use are spinal and other musculoskeletal adjustments, therapeutic massage, electro-stimulation, and a series of low-impact exercises designed to gently stretch your muscles to slowly ease the tension out of them. Obviously they can’t promise a miracle cure, or that you’ll feel better after just one or two visits, but they can promise that if you stick with the treatment plan they work with you to design, you’ll start feeling better, faster, and that’s a very good thing.

Many of us have desk-bound office jobs that see us sitting in the same position for hours on end. Usually, this position is hunched over a keyboard and leaning forward slightly to peer at a computer screen. Unfortunately, this poor posture can have serious, long-term impacts on the curvature of our spine, which can lead to chronic back and neck pain, and if left untreated for a long enough period of time, can even lead to permanent damage.

The good news though, is that there’s a simple fix. Simply taking periodic breaks to stretch and move around will help offset the impacts of sitting in that position. You don’t have to take a stretch break every hour, but taking at least a couple a day, even if they’re only a few minutes in duration will go a long way toward relieving tensed and cramped muscles, improving blood flow, and correcting posture.

If you are able, take it to the next level and get up and move. Stretching at the desk is all well and good, but the more you can move during the course of day (especially if you have a desk job), the stronger the effect will be.

The biggest danger here is that by not taking these kinds of “mobility breaks,” you run the risk of muscle cramping and atrophy in the shorter term, and spinal misalignments in the longer, as your back begins to adjust to the “new normal” that is your hunched over sitting position. While these problems can be corrected even if they’ve been ongoing for years, the process of doing so will be longer, and more uncomfortable, possibly even downright painful, until your back has shifted back into its original, natural position and configuration.

While the notion of taking periodic stretch breaks sounds too simplistic to have any meaningful impact, you’d be amazed at the difference they can make. Starting today, try it for yourself and see. You’ll be glad you did.

When springtime comes, are you one of those unfortunate people who spends the entire season coughing and sneezing? Allergies and allergic reactions are no fun. While generally not life threatening, they can make day to day living a misery. Your eyes water constantly. You seem to cough and sneeze at the drop of a hat. You find yourself reaching for over the counter allergy medicine several times a day, and it helps, but only some. Is there anything else you can do?

Actually, yes there is!

Allergies are your body’s way of expelling things that have gotten into your system that it regards as threats. That’s why your body responds the way that it does. Many people who pay regular visits to their chiropractor, however, have reported a generalized (and often dramatic) improvement in their allergy symptoms.

At first glance, that may seem surprising. It shouldn’t really. Chiropractic therapies do a lot more than just crack your bones. That is, of course, what they’re best known for, but this type of therapy has a lot of other benefits besides better musculoskeletal alignment. For one thing, the therapy provides you with better blood flow and circulation. Here, we’re not just talking about the circulation of your blood, but also of your lymphatic fluids.

Even in people with relatively poor circulation, blood obviously still flows, because your blood supply has an advantage that your lymphatic system does not – the heart is its pumping mechanism. Your lymphatic fluids have no pump, relying on the movement of your body to help circulate those fluids, and your lymphatic system is what’s chiefly responsible for keeping you fit and healthy.

In addition to improving circulation though, chiropractic care also benefits your nervous system. When your spine is misaligned, nerves can become pinched. These pinched nerves send signals through the body that may confuse your immune system into action when it’s not needed. This can cause your immune system to jump at any little intrusion, which of course, makes allergy symptoms worse.

Don’t let allergies get the better of you. There’s a good chance that chiropractic case can reduce, and in some cases, even eliminate them. You’ve got nothing to lose by finding out, and everything to gain.

In the United States, the hands-down most popular snack is chocolate. We just can’t seem to get enough of the stuff. Unfortunately, as snacks go, all the sugar and fat make it a fairly unhealthy snack. You’re getting a calorie dense snack with virtually no actual nutritional value, which is what dieticians refer to as “empty calories.” Fortunately, there are some great alternatives to our favorite snack food. You don’t have to do without if you want to be healthy, you just have to shift gears a bit. Here are some better, healthier alternatives:

Dark Chocolate

You don’t even have to say goodbye to chocolate forever, but the dark version is much better for you than regular milk chocolate. Loaded with antioxidants and other things your body needs, it’s got a rich, full flavor that many people prefer. As a bonus tip, some people claim it’s a bit of an aphrodisiac.

Go Nuts!

Some people don’t like the texture, but if you’re a nut lover, you’re in luck. You’ve got a wide range of options here. The unsalted varieties are better for you, of course, but in moderation, even the salted varieties are a decent option. Here, your best bets, in terms of both flavor and nutrient punch are almonds, Brazil nuts, and walnuts.

Seeds

Like nuts, most varieties of seeds are extremely good for you, and packed with a surprising nutrient punch. Here, the best in class are sunflower seeds, flax seeds and surprisingly, pumpkin seeds! Enjoy any of these by the handful!

Fruit

Nearly any type of fruit is a good option, and certainly much better than anything you can get out of a box or a can. Fruits are loaded with nutrients you need, and packed with antioxidants, which have all sorts of health benefits for those who eat them. As a bonus, fruits come packed with fiber. While man cannot live on fruit alone, you can’t go wrong by adding them to your diet in abundance.

While there’s no such thing as a completely guilt-free snack, these come as close as you’re likely to get. Mix and match for greater variety and enjoy these healthy alternatives.

Does your job involve a lot of sitting? If so, you can be damaging your body without even knowing it. Sitting all day can increase your risk of developing serious health issues and decrease your quality of life. Below are some major health issues that can be caused by sitting, and some things you can do to help reduce your risks.

Health Risks of Sitting down All Day

• Sitting for more than 6 hours a day for 10 years can increase your risk of developing heart disease by 64%.
• Sitting too much can raise your risk of developing prostate cancer by 30%.
• Those who set for 6 hours or more a day over the period of 10 years have a 30% higher rate of developing breast cancer.
• Sitting all day can make you gain unwanted weight which can cause a host of health problems including diabetes.
• Sitting for long periods of time can increase the chances of developing high levels of bad cholesterol.

Two Things That You Can Do To Stay Healthy

While many of us might not have a choice when it comes to sitting at work there are some things you can do to help you stay healthy. Below are two simple things that everyone can do to stay fit and decrease their health risks at the same time.

1. Stand up and walk around for 10 minutes each hour. This is a great way to get your blood flowing and help you stay healthy. Even if you just walk around your office you should always try to get up from your chair each hour. Surely your boss won’t mind if you do.

2. Get 30 minutes of activity per day. Taking just 30 minutes out of your day to exercise can greatly reduce your risk of developing serious health issues. Brisk walking, working out at the gym or running on your own treadmill are all great ways to get your daily 30.

Now that you know the risks of sitting too long and what you can do to stay healthy at work, why not act? Your health is very important and you should always be proactive about it. If you are a business owner, why not implement a health program to help those workers whose jobs require them to set long periods of time? Not only will you help your workers become healthy, you will also improve productivity and cut down on medical related costs. Start putting what you have learned here to good use today.

Carpal tunnel is bad news. It’s something you want to avoid at all costs, because once you have it, it can take a long time for it to go away, and it may require surgery. In the meanwhile though, you’ll suffer a nasty combination of numbness and pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused when pressure is put on the soft tissue in the wrist which cuts off the blood supply to nerve endings. If caught right away, when the first signs of numbness present themselves, it’s usually easily reversible, but if left unchecked, that’s when surgery may be required. Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risks. Here are the three things that make the biggest difference:

Regular Breaks Matter

You don’t even have to get up from your chair, but you absolutely should take a break from your work and perform a series of wrist bends and stretches in order to keep them limber and flexible.

Ergonomics is Everything

The phone on your desk, your keyboard, and your mouse should all be within easy reach. No more than the length of your forearm in distance from your body. You’re going to want to adjust the height of your chair so that when you are seated at your desk, your forearms are level with your keyboard. In this configuration, you won’t have to bend or flex your wrists when you type.

Keyboard Pads

You may have seen these on the keyboards of people you work with. These are long strips of foam that run along the bottom edge of your keyboard. Consider them to be “palm pillows.” They cushion you’re the heels of your palms, preventing the nerves in your wrist and hands from getting squeezed.

If you follow these three simple strategies, you won’t reduce your risk of getting Carpal tunnel to zero, but you’ll go a long way toward that goal. Your wrists will thank you for it.

Every year, three out of four Americans will wind up paying a visit to their doctor because of back or neck pain. In the “good ol’ days,” most doctors prescribed bed rest for those times when your back was giving you trouble, but these days, science has changed the direction of the prevailing wisdom. We now know that bed rest is probably the worst thing you could do, and exercise is the surest and fastest way to get your back, back to normal.

Of course, not just any exercise will do. If you’re already in pain, then you’ve got to be careful with how you work those tender muscles. The exercises below are among the best choices for people suffering with back pain to help speed healing, and get you back to enjoying a pain free life.

Spinal Stretch

This one is a nice way to warm up and cool down. It’s low-intensity, and works most of the muscles in your back, so wherever your pain is centered, this one will help. Lie on a back with a pillow or other cushion under your head. Bend your legs at the knee, with your knees pressed together. Breathe slowly and deeply, and as you exhale, twist at the waist, rolling your knees until they touch the floor (or as close as you can get). Hold, and then return to the upright position, repeating on the next exhale. Start with five reps to one side, then switch and do five reps to the other.

Lower Back Stretch

This one is especially helpful for people suffering with lower back pain, but of course, it will provide some generalized benefit to any back pain sufferer. Begin on all fours, with your knees directly under your hips, and your hands directly under your shoulders. Your spine should be in its natural, “neutral” position. Your head should be held slightly up, so that it is in line with your spine, shoulders back, and elbows not locked. Breathe deeply, and on the exhale, slowly rock backwards from this position, buttocks toward heels. Hold for thirty seconds, then return to the starting position. Begin with five reps, working up to more as comfort allows.

Bird Dog

Another fantastic, general purpose stretch that gently works all the major muscles of the back. Begin on all fours, positioned as described in the Lower Back Stretch, above. Breathe deeply, and on the exhale, extend one leg, and the opposite arm out straight (or as straight as you’re able), running in a line with your spine. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds, then return to your starting position. On the next breath extend the other arm and leg. Try for ten reps (five per side), building on that number as comfort allows.

Using just these three exercises, you’ll be able to quickly, and in a low-impact manner, work those aching muscles, ease your pain, and restore greater mobility. Given time and consistent use, these stretches can get you fully back on your feet again.