6 Ways to Help with Hip Pain while Pregnant
Pregnancy is an amazing and exciting time, however; it can come with some pains and aches. Most pregnant women will end up with a lot of hip and pelvis pain once they are later in their pregnancy this can lead to uncomfortable sleep, issues walking, and generalized pain. The good news is that there is relief that is safe for both mom and baby! Pregnancy pains are not something you just have to deal with and feel miserable, you and your baby deserve a fun, painless pregnancy. Our office would be happy to help you feel your best as baby grows and after!
5 Tips for 1st Chiropractic Visit – Ridgefieldchiropractic
Going to any new healthcare provider can be nerve wrecking, especially if it is a type of doctor you haven’t seen before. Going to the Chiropractor for the first time most people want to know what to expect and what may happen during their first visit. We’ve rounded up the 5 things you can expect during your first appointment so you do not have to worry about it! Seeing a Chiropractor for the first time does not need to scare you or make you nervous, your Chiropractor wants to help you live your life pain free! If you have any questions please feel free to call our office!
6 Ways Chiropractic Care can Help Reduce Headaches
In the U.S. and across the world, headaches after one of the most common chronic disorders people face. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 50% of the adult population has experienced a headache at least once within the past year. Additionally, 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches at some point in their lives. Furthermore, headache disorders, which are categorized as recurrent, severe bouts of headache pain, can cause disability, decreased quality of life, financial difficulty, and even an inability to work. If you’re a headache sufferer, you know exactly how debilitating a bad headache can be. Whether you get migraines or routine headaches, you’ve probably wondered time and time again how to stop theme, and what you need to do to reclaim your quality of life. Luckily, the answer may be more straightforward than you’d imagine: Chiropractic care. Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of many headache disorders, promoting healthy alignment in the spine, and ensuring comfort down the road. Here’s what you need to know. What Causes Headaches? Headaches, like joint pain or allergies, have dozens of causes. Because of this, the root issue underlying a problem can be quite tricky to pin down. Common headache triggers include the following: Food allergies Environmental stimuli, such as noise, lights, or stress Behaviors (including insomnia, low blood sugar, excessive exercise, nail-biting, etc.) Physical problems (including neck injuries, spinal misalignment, or strains) Tension Joint irritation Teeth grinding If you already know what triggers your headache, you’ve got a great place to start. If you don’t, you may have to do some investigative work to determine the cause. Consider keeping a headache journal detailing what you were doing or eating before your headache began. Over time, you’ll be able to identify patterns that expose the root causes of your headaches. Chiropractic Care and Headaches If you suffer from headaches, chiropractic care could be an excellent option for getting some relief. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), “Research shows that spinal manipulation – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck. A 2014 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that interventions commonly used in chiropractic care improved outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain and increased benefit was shown in several instances where a multimodal approach to neck pain had been used. Also, a 2011 JMPT study found that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches.” Since the vast majority of headaches are caused by muscle tension or spinal misalignment, chiropractic care is an excellent treatment approach. In addition to addressing the hazards of our sedentary lifestyle, chiropractic care also reduce joint irritation and muscle tension, leading to fewer headache days in a given month. 6 Ways Chiropractors Address Headache Pain If you’re suffering from recurrent headaches, you need relief. Fortunately, chiropractors are familiar with these particular difficulties and will go above and beyond to ensure you get the career you need. Here are six ways your chiropractor may approach and treat your headaches: Perform spinal manipulations and ongoing chiropractic adjustments. These manipulations and adjustments seek to resolve stress in the system, improve the function of the spine, and restore movement and mobility to your neck, upper back, and shoulders. Provide nutritional advice. In some cases, recurrent headaches are a sign that your body is getting too much of something or not enough of something else. In these cases, your chiropractor may recommend a change in your diet, or the addition of supplements, like B vitamins or Iron. Your chiropractor may also consider your hydration, as this is a critical factor in headache prevention. According to the ACA, people who drink at least eight 9-ounce glasses of water each day will avoid dehydration and be much less prone to headaches in the future. Offer advice on posture. Postural problems are a significant underlying cause for many headaches. If you fit into this category, your chiropractor will likely correct your daily ergonomics (work postures), and recommend a variety of exercises and relaxation techniques meant to improve strength and posture. Recommend complementary therapies. These therapies will work alongside your chiropractic adjustments. They may include heat therapy, acupuncture, and massage. Perform x-rays. X-rays are advanced images and will rule out fractures, injuries, or other causes that could be underlying your headache pain. Perform deep neck flexor exercises. These exercises seek to actively move your joints and muscles in controlled and guided ways. This restores mobility and decreases tension. Of course, no two headache disorders are precisely the same. This may mean your chiropractor will take more or fewer approaches to treat your unique pain, depending on the underlying cause and the circumstances surrounding your headaches. No matter what the case may be, it’s essential to work with your chiropractor to come up with a treatment plan that suits your condition and your life. Kick Your Headaches to the Curb Headaches are uncomfortable, unpleasant, and an interruption to your daily life. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with them. Instead of suffering through yet another headache this year, book an appointment with a chiropractor today. A chiropractor can help you identify the root cause of your headaches and come p with a treatment plan to address them. Within a few months of chiropractic care, most patients see a dramatic decrease in the frequency and severity of their headaches. Could you be one of them? Contact our office to book your first appointment today!
5 Reasons You Need a Sit/Stand Desk
Those of us who work at a desk all know the neck and shoulder pain that can go with it, sitting all day is not only bad for your health, it’s bad for your neck/spine/head. Years ago sitting all day was the only real option for certain kinds of work, the good news is there are several options for being able to sit or stand at work. Taking breaks from sitting during the day is vital, being able to take breaks from sitting and still get work done is not only good for you but your work as well. If your boss isn’t set on getting you a standing desk just let them know of all the benefits it can have on the health of their employees. If you do sit all day and suffer from back or neck pain call our office today and we can help you feel better!
6 Reasons You Need a Massage Today
We all know how great getting a massage feels, how relaxed and relieved you feel after you get off the massage table. Getting a massage can often seem like a luxury and just for special occasions or gifts, however; there are some great benefits to getting a massage that will help your whole body! Massage is not just for special occasions, it’s for your health and wellness. Everyone deserves to feel their best and live pain free, massage can help you do that!
How Chiropractors Treat Neck Pain
Neck pain: it’s one of the most common chronic conditions out there. In fact, an estimated 16-75% of the global population experiences neck pain at some point. Additionally, neck pain ranks as one of the top 5 pain disorders in the U.S. and contributes annually to thousands of days of missed work, compensation claims, and doctor’s office visits. As if all that weren’t enough, neck pain just makes daily life hard – impacting our moods, our comfort, and our willingness to do the things we love. If you’re one of the many people suffering from neck pain, there is hope for relief. Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive, effective way to treat and resolve neck pain and help you live a more comfortable life. Here’s what you need to know. Neck Pain, by the Numbers If you’re suffering from neck pain, you are not alone. These numbers illustrate exactly how prevalent neck pain is in the U.S. and global populations alike: Up to 50% of neck pain cases in people older than 50 are the result of osteoarthritis In cases of neck pain in people between 55-64, men have a higher percentage of disc problems (40%) than women (28%) Sometimes, neck pain is the result of cancers, including lung cancer that has moved into the shoulders, neck and lower back Chronic neck pain causes discomfort that lasts for an extended period of days or weeks. This type of neck pain is common and generally responds well to treatment What Causes Neck Pain? Like back or leg pain, the causes of neck pain are varied. Common causes of neck pain include issues with the cervical disk, strains to muscles and tendons, osteoarthritis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, old injuries, poor posture, excessive physical activity or repetitive movements, diet, dehydration, illness, and obesity. While neck pain is inconvenient and uncomfortable, it’s not always a sign of a critical issue. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Rarely, neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Seek medical care if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands or if you have shooting pain into your shoulder or down your arm.” Remember that neck pain comes in all shapes and sizes. While no two conditions are the same, it’s always important to pay attention to your symptoms, your pain, and your unique situation. How Chiropractors Treat Neck Pain If you’ve ever been to a chiropractor before, you know that chiropractic practitioners use their hands and adjusting tools to treat pain in the muscles, joints, and nerves. Using controlled yet sudden force, chiropractors manipulate joints beyond their normal range, loosening the joints, increasing freedom of movement, and re-aligning problem areas gradually and gently. Over time, this decreases discomfort and restores normal quality of life. When it comes to the treatment of neck pain, in particular, chiropractors generally focus on cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation targets the joints in the cervical vertebrae, which serves to reduce pain and tightness in the areas below the joint. If the cause of your neck pain is not immediately apparent, your chiropractor may use a combination of x-rays, CT scans, or physical screenings to identify issues and propose a treatment plan. What to Expect From Your First Chiropractic Visit If your neck pain has finally driven you to the chiropractor, here’s what you can expect during your initial office visit: 1. A Comprehensive Patient History Unless you’re already an established patient at a chiropractic office, the first order of business will be for the chiropractic staff to take a full patient history. You’ll fill out a form, either digitally or on paper, to answer background questions about your health and any old injuries. Questions may include the following: When did the pain start? How bad is the pain, on a scale of 1-10? Is the pain sharp, dull, shooting, etc.? Where is the pain located? Have you had any previous injuries or surgeries? Does the pain lessen with rest, ice, chiropractic care, etc.? Is the pain constant, or does it come and go? 2. A Chiropractic Exam Once the doctor has taken your full health history, you’ll undergo a chiropractic exam. This may include general health tests, including blood pressure, respiration rate, reflexes, and more. The chiropractor will also likely look at the range of motion in your affected area, your overall muscle tone and strength, and more. If the chiropractor sees fit, he or she may also order x-rays or scans to uncover injuries and formulate a treatment plan. 3. The Adjustment Next comes the part you’ve been waiting for – the chiropractic adjustment! During this part of the appointment, the chiropractor will manually adjust your neck and the areas around it, seeking to resolve the pain and provide relief. Keep in mind that, while you’ll likely experience a measure of comfort after your adjustment, it may take several sessions for the condition to resolve entirely. 4. The Follow-up Plan Unless your doctor sees your condition as acute and easy to treat, he or she will likely develop a treatment plan to continue providing relief. In most cases, you’ll plan to see the chiropractor once a week, or a few times a month, until x-rays or other scans prove your condition is resolving. You Don’t Have to Live With Neck Pain If you’ve been fighting your way through neck pain, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. By seeing a skilled chiropractor with experience resolving neck pain, you can identify the cause, banish the discomfort, and get back to enjoying your life. While many people find themselves nervous about their first chiropractic visit, it’s important to remember that chiropractors offer a holistic, effective, non-invasive treatment for neck pain. For most people, even a few visits to a chiropractic office results in a dramatic reduction of neck pain symptoms. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us to book your first appointment today.
4 Things Athletes can do to Prevent Injuries
Each year, athletes throughout America suffer a collective 8.6 million sports injuries. These injuries range from easy-to-treat sprains and strains to career-ending concussions and broken bones. On the one hand, being an athlete involves the inherent risk of getting hurt. On another, there are ways athletes can take proactive measures to protect themselves in the course of their sport and to ensure that they’re not undergoing more sports injuries than they need. Here are a few of our top recommendations for avoiding injuries during intense play. 4 Smart Tips for Athletes Who Want to Avoid Injury Regardless of whether the sport in question is soccer or pickleball, these injury-avoidance tips work to help keep bodies healthy and injuries at bay: 1. Stretch First It’s far too easy to get injured as an athlete if you don’t take the time to warm up before you start your session of play. Today, upwards of 30% of injuries in sports medicine clinics take place in the skeletal muscles. When you warm up and stretch before you hit the field, you do a few essential things: You improve the flexibility and range of motion in your muscles, reducing the risk of strain and making them less susceptible to injury You prepare your body’s other systems for the stress and impact of activity, reducing shock and stress hormones If you’re not accustomed to warming up before you start a game, build it in slowly. Spend ten minutes stretching your major muscle groups, for example, or go for a slow walk/jog before you start playing. For maximum effectiveness, be sure to start your warm-up at least 15 minutes before you begin your exercise. Be sure, also, to include a variety of dynamic and static stretches. Static stretches are fixed positions you hold for a long period, while dynamic stretches are stretches you do while moving. 2. Fuel Early, Fuel Often To operate at maximum efficiency, your body needs ample fuel and water. If you’re allowing yourself to become dehydrated or suffer from low blood sugar during a big game, you’re not doing your body any favors. Even a simple thing like dehydration can make your muscles more prone to sprains and strains, for example, and contribute to exhaustion that will lead to sloppy form and dangerous habits. Instead, keep your electrolytes high during high-impact activity. Drinking a sports drink or adding an electrolyte tab to your bottle of water is a great option. You should also fuel up on carbohydrates and proteins as you play. To-go packets of almond butter are a great example of a nutrient-dense, easy-to-eat snack. As you experiment with nutrition, find a few go-to snacks that you can toss easily into your pack. Keep these with you as you work out. 3. Evaluate Suspicious Pains Came down on your ankle wrong during the last game? Don’t ignorer thee twinge that flares up when you run. Instead, get yourself to a PT or sports therapist and have it evaluated. A chiropractor is also an excellent resource for assessing sudden pains or injuries, and for helping you take steps to avoid making them worse. Many sports injuries arise from something that could have been inconsequential, if only it were treated early. Not all pains are severe injuries. In some cases, they need rest and a few days off. If you push these little tweaks, though, you put yourself at risk of making a mountain out of a molehill. With this in mind, recognize injury when it happens. You can’t demand a huge amount from your body unless you’re willing to maintain it, in return. When you take care of your body, it will take care of you. 4. Be Dedicated to Rest Days Every hardworking body needs rest. If you’re trying to meet fitness goals or incorporate more activity into your routine, it can be challenging to slow down. Instead of seeing a rest day as an inconvenience, though, start viewing it as a necessity. When it comes to athletic injuries, overuse injuries are some of the most common. According to StopSportsInjuries.org, “Training errors are the most common cause of overuse injuries. These errors involve rapid acceleration of the intensity, duration, or frequency of activity. Overuse injuries also happen in people who are returning to a sport or activity after injury and try to make up for lost time by pushing themselves to achieve the level of participation they were at before injury. Proper technique is critical in avoiding overuse injuries, as slight changes in form may be the culprit. For this reason, coaches, athletic trainers, and teachers can play a role in preventing recurrent overuse injuries.” To avoid this, you need to avoid overtraining. When you overtrain, you not only damage your performance, but you put excessive strain on your body systems, causing muscle and tendon damage and decreasing the energy stored in your muscles. This fatigue puts you in a prime position for injuries. To avoid this, incorporate rest days into your routine. Take Care of Your Body and It Will Take Care of You Being involved in active esports is an excellent pastime as far as your fitness and cardiovascular health are concerned. When it comes to your skeletal and soft tissue system, however, active sports do present a significant risk. That’s no reason to stop playing, though. If you’re concerned about injury, it’s wise to take a few preventative steps to avoid sports injuries and keep your body healthy. By incorporating rest days into your routine, fueling your body with plenty of water and nutrition, paying attention to pain signals your body is sending you, and starting a warm-up and stretching routine, you can make your everyday play safer, healthier, and more fulfilling. Want to develop a spinal care routine to help you stay active? Contact our offices today to book your first appointment.
6 Ways to Enhance Your Post Workout
Working out is a great way to feel great and keep yourself healthy, a big reason people stop working out is due to muscle pain and strain they get after working out. Recovery after your workout is essential to muscle and tissue repair and will help you keep working out! The good news, there are ways to help you recover after a workout and boost your post workout! You can feel your best and keep working out as long as you have a proper recovery, schedule an appointment with your Chiropractor to help you reach your physical goals! Make sure to take time to recover after a workout and it will make a huge difference.
Top 5 Recreational Activities to Combat Stress and Prevent Back Pain
Today, back pain is one of the most common disorders to affect adults. In fact, about 80% of the U.S. population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. That’s a startling statistic, and it gets even worse when you consider that back pain can affect people of all ages, creeds, and demographics and that severe cases of back pain can limit the quality of life and even make it difficult for people to work. So, what’s the solution? How do we protect our spines and cut down on the rate of back pain in our everyday lives? The answer is simple: self-care. By focusing on things like diet and routine chiropractic care, as well as taking part in some spin-supporting activities like the ones listed in this post, you can keep your spine healthy and happy for years to come. Let’s dive in. The 5 Best Recreational Activities to Support Your Spine Some activities aren’t great for the spine (heavy weight-lifting, for example) or long-distance running. Others, however, can go a long to support your spinal health and keep you limber and pain-free for years. Here are a few of our top recommendations: 1. Yoga Yoga has long been touted as the activity of choice for bendy people. For a good reason, though. Yoga, which focuses on combining breath with deep, purposeful movement, is one of the best activities for building and maintaining muscles and promoting proper alignment. Don’t believe us? Take Science’s word for it. According to a 2017 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, yoga can work wonders to reduce or eliminate mild to moderate back pain. Here’s an excerpt from the study: “Study participants were randomly divided into three treatment groups. One group received 12 weekly yoga classes designed specifically for people with chronic back pain; one received 15 physical therapy visits over 12 weeks; one was given an educational book and newsletters about self-care for chronic low back pain. The researchers then continued to track the participants for an additional 40-week maintenance phase. During this phase, people in the yoga and physical therapy groups were randomly assigned to either continue to practice at home or with a professional—at yoga classes or physical therapy sessions. The researchers found that all three groups reported improvement in physical function and pain reduction. However, people in the yoga and physical therapy treatment groups were significantly more likely than those in the education-only group to stop taking pain relievers after one year. These findings suggest that a structured yoga program may be a reasonable alternative to physical therapy for people with chronic low back pain.” If you’ve never tried yoga before, don’t be afraid to start. Most gyms and local fitness centers offer introductory “gentle yoga” classes, designed to familiarize newcomers with the movements, and ease the body into flexibility. 2. Walking Walking is a simple yet powerful approach to resolving back pain and cutting down on stress. Today, lots of lower back pain is caused by a lack of movement and the subsequent fusing of the lower spine. Most of us sit at desks or in chairs all day, and the muscles and bones in our lower back lose movement and mobility because of it. When you take up walking, though, it promotes gentle movement throughout the spine, breaking up blockages, promoting healthy alignment, and restoring range of motion. Walking also boosts the body’s endorphin levels, leading to enhanced mood, less stress, and better sleep. Even better? Walking doesn’t require any complicated equipment or a pricey gym membership. Just grab a comfortable pair of shoes, some clothes you can move in, and a pair of headphones and get out there! 3. Swimming/Water Aerobics Swimming is an excellent activity for anyone suffering from pain, as it’s gentle on the joints and non-weight-bearing. When you swim, you involve your entire body in the movement, simultaneously activating your abdominals, glutes, hamstrings, arms, and back muscles. If you’ve been suffering from back pain, take a swimming class, or see if your local gym offers water aerobics in a warm water therapy pool. Both activities will help strengthen and repair your back muscles without adding additional strain. 4. Tai Chi Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that, like yoga, combines breathing and movement. Unlike yoga, however, Tai Chi focuses on slow movements meant to improve balance and reduce chronic pain. While yoga might have you contort yourself into a pretzel, Tai Chi focuses on movements made standing up. Tai Chi has been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote weight loss, as well. 5. The Elliptical Machine If you’re looking for low-impact cardio activity, spend some time on the elliptical at your local gym. While the movement of the elliptical mimics running, the paddles soften impact and create a “gliding” motion that’s easy on your joints. This is an excellent option for anyone who wants to sweat but doesn’t want to torque their back in the process. Additionally, since the elliptical helps build the muscles in the hips and low back, using it regularly can help you keep your back in alignment and prevent problems from cropping up down the road. Working out for Better Spine Health If you thought physical activity was the wrong thing for your spine health, think again. While some activities will do a number on your spine, others are excellent for strengthening the muscles throughout your lower back, promoting proper alignment, and keeping everything exactly where it should be. Even better, these activities help combat the stress of your daily life, promote better sleep, help you trim down, and enhance your mood across the board! As always, remember to talk to your chiropractor or healthcare provider before adding a new exercise regimen to your life. If you have questions about these activities, or you want to learn more about how to ensure a healthy spine, contact our offices today!