Chiropractic Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Active Family Chiropractic

Why are my neck and back muscles always tight? Part 2: Not exercising or stretching enough.

February 7, 2018 by Desire Treski Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered why your neck and back muscles are always tight? There are a number of factors that contribute to this. Bad posture, not exercising enough and bad nutritional choices are only a few. In this 3 part series, we’re going to talk about the biggest contributing factors to neck and back tightness.

Not exercising or stretching enough or at all.

Your structure, the bones of your body, dictate what your muscles are doing. If you have a poor spinal structure, you will have bad muscle function. Additionally, not exercising will cause your muscles to break down and become useless. There are easy ways to get moving.

Try Yoga – Yoga is the practice of strengthening and lengthening your muscles. Holding poses and easily moving from one movement to the next will help provide much-needed oxygen to your blood and muscles. Yoga creates long lean muscles and can boost the metabolism.
Take cues from wildlife – Many of us have animals, dogs, and cats that bring joy to our lives. Besides running and lounging, they do a lot of stretching. Try to mimic your animal for a day. If they stretch, try the stretch they’re doing. You’ll notice that you’ll start to feel more awake and refreshed throughout the day.
Join a social activity – People who build their social network by participating in shared activities tend to live longer and don’t we all want longevity in life? Find something that interests you. Believe it or not, getting out of the house to attend a group meeting or function will dictate that you walk somewhere and walking is exercise.
Everything is easier with a partner – Accountability is key to exercising. Having someone you’re accountable to will allow you to keep exercising, especially if that person is relying on you to be their exercise partner. Knowing you have someone to commiserate and rejoice with can inspire you to move more.
Dance like no one is watching – So you’re not someone who exercises and you’re not into stretching or yoga, that’s ok. Create a playlist of your favorite songs. Fill it with songs that there is no possible way you can sit in your seat for while you listen and dance! It only takes 1-2 good songs a day and you’re on your way to moving and providing oxygen to your muscles.

Whatever you choose just move.

No matter what you do, it’s important to move, not only for your structure and health but for your mental health as well. Doing any of the activities above will help you to forget about your stresses for a bit and that will give you the freedom to want to move more.

What are some ways that you move? Share in the comments below.

For questions on what stretches you can do at home, talk to your Chiropractor and contact Dr. B at [email protected].

Four Essentials of Health with Dr. B.

December 6, 2017 by Desire Treski Leave a Comment

Continuing on the theme of health, let’s talk about the four essentials of health. They are nerve flow, oxygen, nutrition and hydration. These are the essentials, meaning you cannot live without them. Why can’t you? Keep reading.

1. Hydration

Hydration is very important to our overall function. Without it, there would be major problems within our system. Water is used to help maintain the balance of fluids in our bodies. Since we are made up of around 70% water, when we become dehydrated, our body lets us know. We can experience headaches, nausea and fatigue. If you were to go without water for more than four days, all of your systems would cease to function and you would cease to live.

So how do you stay hydrated? Drink at least half your body weight in ounces every day to maintain good hydration. Keep in mind that if you consume a caffeinated beverage, make sure to increase your water intake as well. Since caffeine acts as a diuretic, it can cause dehydration.

2. Nutritional Choices

Our nutritional choices can affect our health in major ways. Eating too much sugar can lead to inflammation, like eating too much fat can lead to the clogging of your arteries. So we have to make smart choices about what we eat. Believe me, I know fried food tastes good, but it’s not good for you. Making the correct nutritional choices can help you to care for the one body you were given. Making a conscious decision to eat well helps promote a mindset of caring for your health.

Imagine your dream car. Imagine owning it. If it says that the only gas you can put in it is 93 grade or higher, would you put an 85 grade of gas in your car? No. You would put in the gasoline that helps to keep your dream car running in perfect condition. The same should be true for your body. Take care of it and it will take care of you.

3. Oxygen

When we talk about oxygen, we’re not just talking about the air we need to breathe. If you cannot breathe, you suffocate and all of your systems will shut down. However, we not only need oxygen for our breath but for our cellular function as well. We need oxygen for our cells to stay healthy and to move. Oxygen is needed for our cells to move and burn fuel such as sugars and fatty acids. When oxygen is breathed in, it is transported to our red blood cells which are then used to produce energy throughout our body.

However, just breathing does not help circulate the much-needed red blood cells throughout our body. We need to move in order to help that process along. This is why it is important to stretch and to exercise. Movement circulates oxygen and red blood cells throughout our body, producing new healthy cells and removing old or damaged cells. When we live a sedentary lifestyle, we are not giving our body the chance to circulate needed oxygen and stay healthy. So get up and move…movement is life.

4. Nerve Flow

Without a doubt, this is the most important and why it was kept for last. Nerve flow is the connection of your nervous system with your brain. Without brain activity, you cannot function. Once a person is brain-dead, they have no control over their body or any function within. This is why it is important to care for your spine and keep it in good health.

Every cell in your body is dictated by your brain and your nervous system is the brain’s communication pathway. Every single thing in your body is controlled by your nervous system and you only have one. You cannot get a spinal cord replacement like a heart or lung transplant. Once your spinal cord is severed in any place, communication from your brain is cut off from below that break and cannot be repaired.

You have to make a conscious decision to care for your spine. Many people see Chiropractors as pain management…that they only have to go care for their spine when it’s in pain. This is called reactionary care. To wait for something to be wrong before you fix it. We should, instead, care for what we have and look at our spines as something we need to care for. Because our spine encases our spinal column, the main hub of communication for our nervous system, we should do what we can to keep it in prime working order. Misalignment in your spine (subluxation) can have many side effects, ranging from allergies to numbness to pain.

So how can we care for our spines? By having regular appointments with your CBP Chiropractor. These types of chiropractors are trained professional doctors who can help you maintain a healthy spine and therefore healthy function.

Change your way of thinking. We need to care for what we have instead of treating what we’ve broken.

For more information or if you have additional questions contact Dr. B at

http://af-chiropractic.com/contact-us/

Holiday Health Tips from Dr. B.

November 29, 2017 by Desire Treski Leave a Comment

It’s the holiday season and during this time of the year, more than any other, we tend to indulge. Not only do we indulge, but we don’t take care of ourselves. The holidays are not only a time to celebrate but for many, it’s also a time of great stress. We tend to sleep less, eat poorly, and not work out. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy during this hectic season.

Moderation.

We’ve heard it all before but there’s a truth in it. At holiday time we all want to be able to eat whatever we want, and we can, as long as we do it in moderation. Instead of having a whole bottle of wine, maybe restrict yourself to one or two glasses. Instead of having three full desserts, take a small tasting of each. Instead of having two or more helpings, remember one of the best things about the holidays is left-overs!

Being responsible for the quantity you’re consuming can help deter the extra pounds you may have put on if you allowed yourself to overindulge in everything. This will also help you stay healthy.

Stretching.

During the holidays you may find yourself staying at someone else’s house and/or traveling. While traveling, you want to make sure that you get up and walk around. Anytime you are in a seated position for more than 2 hours at a time, take a break, get up and shake out your limbs. This will help maintain the flexibility and the health of your muscles. This will also help minimize any subluxation you may build from extended stretches of being in the same position.

Minimize stress.

The holidays can be a stressful time of the year. If there is anything you can do to maintain health, it’s to try to minimize your stress. Make sure during this season to take time out for yourself. You can do this either by meditating or praying. Schedule a massage for yourself or a facial, just make sure that you’re taking time to center yourself and relax in all of the craziness.

Sleep.

During this time of the year, you may find yourself staying at someone else’s house. Most people have a hard time sleeping well at other people’s houses. We like our own beds, pillows and our own environments that we’ve created in our homes. Do what you can to recreate that environment, wherever you travel.

Sleep is incredibly important to our health. Make sure that you’re able to still get a good amount of sleep during the holidays. Bring your own pillow, sound machine, whatever you need. Using sound machines can help to block out external noises and promote a calming environment. Diffusing lavender oil or placing a small dab on your temples can promote calm and rest. Use these tips to help get a good night sleep.

See your Chiropractor.

This cannot be said enough. While we all get wrapped up in the holiday season, we cannot forget to take care of ourselves and that begins with maintaining your regular chiropractic adjustments. During the holidays, we are more susceptible to subluxations. This comes from all the bags we carry from shopping and traveling. In order to maintain good health, regular chiropractic visits are essential. During the holiday season make sure to keep all of your chiropractic appointments and think about adding one or two additional, if you can.

For more information contact DR. B at Active Family Chiropractic and have a wonderful holiday season.

Why do I have numbness or tingling in my hands?

November 20, 2017 by Desire Treski Leave a Comment

What causes numbness in my hands?

It could be a number of different factors. Most commonly, it’s the compression of a peripheral nerve, this is a nerve branch from a spinal nerve. This compression can occur from a muscle strain or a joint misalignment, known as a subluxation.

In extreme instances, someone might experience total numbness and lack of feeling in their extremities, this could be a result of a herniated disk.

Are there patterns I should look for that might be causing the numbness?

Take note of how you’re sitting or standing when the numbness or tingling begins. Is this something that occurs when you sit a certain way? For example, if you’re laying down with several pillows under your head causing your upper back and neck to curve down, you may begin to feel tingling in your arms and hands. This is from your nerves being compressed. Instead, prop yourself up so that you are not putting the unnecessary compression on your spine.

Can I do anything to prevent this from happening?

Absolutely. Regular corrective chiropractic visits to keep your joints aligned and stretching. Stretching will keep the muscles limber, preventing injury. If the muscle compressing the nerve is really tight, getting massaged can help relax that tense spot. However, stretching on a daily basis can produce tremendous results. All body parts need to be stretched every day, especially if you’re sedentary.

Are there certain stretches I should be doing?

Your chiropractor can give you a set of stretches to do to help increase mobility, reduce numbness and tingling. These exercises can be done while you’re watching tv or on a break while at work. Stretching right before bedtime can help to promote a more restful sleep.

For more information or for a set of specific stretches to do, talk to Dr. B. Until next time, have a healthy day!

What is a Subluxation? How to tell if you have one.

November 3, 2017 by Desire Treski Leave a Comment

Graphic from googleimages.com

What is a subluxation?

Let’s start with the basics. We hear this technical word being used, “subluxation”, but what is it exactly? According to Dr. B and the CBP (Chiropractic Biophysics) community, it is defined as, “any joint in the body that is not in its normal position.”

When CBP Chiropractors look at the spine, there is a specific spinal model, an ideal spine, that they look to. Anything diverting from that ideal is considered a subluxation, sometimes referred to as a misalignment.

Subluxation vs. Muscle Soreness

So how do you tell the difference between a subluxation and just muscle soreness? According to Dr. B, if you move and pain increases, it is usually indicative of a muscle soreness. However, if you’re at rest and a joint is in pain, then it is usually indicative of a subluxation.

Subluxation affects the nerve communications between the brain and the body. This will sometimes cause pain, but will ALWAYS decrease body function. You get subluxated from big traumas, like car accidents, or small ones, like looking at your cell phone.

But what if I just can’t tell?

Most people cannot tell the difference between a subluxation and muscle soreness. Muscle soreness can be a symptom of a subluxation. When you have a subluxation, the muscles surrounding the misaligned area are being overworked, which can lead to inflammation.

How can I correct a subluxation?

There is only one way you can correct a subluxation and that is by seeing your chiropractor on a regular basis. Subluxation causes muscle imbalance and in order for your muscles to work correctly, it is important to think of your chiropractor as a personal trainer for your spine.

If you want to lose weight, you go to the gym and seek out a professional to help you get into shape. It is important to look at your chiropractor in the same way. One session will not correct a subluxation you have worked a lifetime to create. It takes time, dedication and the direction of a professional, like Dr. B.

If you’re interested in learning more about subluxation and how to start on the path of healing, speak with Dr. B at Active Family Chiropractic, PC.

« Previous Page