Active Family Chiropractic

Empowering Your Health

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Spring cleaning and yard work safety

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With spring here it’s important to keep some very important rules in mind when you embark on your spring cleaning and yard work. These are things that can save you from a lot of pain later on.

Warm up!

One of the most important things is to warm the body up before you do any kind of yard work or spring cleaning. This includes arm swings, leg swings, some air squats, just whatever you can do to get your body moving. Even taking a fast walk around your yard to get your blood pumping through your body. It’s very important to avoid straining your body.

Drink Water & Take Breaks

It’s very important that while you’re cleaning make sure to drink plenty of water and make sure that you’re taking breaks. Also, if you are doing a one-sided activity, such as raking, you want to switch sides so that both sides get the same amount of work on the body.

Cool Down!

Finally, when you’re done with the activity a lot of people make the wrong choice. They sit down with a beverage or they reward themselves with some kind of treat such as ice cream. However, it’s most important that after you do a physical activity to reward your body in a positive way. Some of the ways you can reward yourself positively is by stretching and some kind of rebuilding for the muscle tissue such as eating a steak or getting some kind of protein into your system. Also, make sure that you drink plenty of water to replace what you lost.

Follow the steps

Following the steps will allow you to do more and to recover quickly so that you can spend your spare time doing things you love without pain or soreness. As always the way to keep you in optimal health is to get regular adjustments by your CBP doctor. So make an appointment today!

For more information ask Dr. B at [email protected]

 

Why do I get the same subluxations and can they be avoided?

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Why do I get the same subluxations?

Have you ever wondered why you seem to get the same subluxations over and over again? Ever tried to change the way you sleep? Sit? Stand? It’s difficult to relearn new patterns, to change old habits. However, it can be done. The same is true for your subluxations.

Typically people will have the same subluxation patterns. These patterns are developed over time. They occur because of how you sleep, stand, sit and move. These things can influence your posture which then can cause subluxations. However, it doesn’t stop there, your choice of hobbies, exercise and leisurely activities can also cause subluxations.

How are these subluxations established?

As you move through your life you develop habits. These habits are as simple as how you sleep in bed or how you sit at your desk. For most people, it is more comfortable to slouch at your desk then to sit up straight. Some people prefer to sleep on their left side instead of on their back. These simple habits create subluxations.

For example, when you slouch at your desk, you are creating a reversed curvature in your lower spine, which may be comfortable but is not ideal or beneficial for the health of your spine. Instead, try to sit with your shoulder blades pulled back together. This will prevent you from slouching and although it may be tiring at first, like going to the gym, you’re working those muscles to help support your spine, therefore providing optimum health.

Can I do anything to help minimize or eliminate these subluxations?

The first thing to do is to see your CBP chiropractor. Regular visits will help correct the structure, which will strengthen the muscles around that affected area and promote health. The Doctor can then give you exercises to do at home to help prevent [Read more…]

Tips for a healthier New Year.

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Happy New Year everyone! Let’s start the new year off right by establishing good habits. Here are some tips for a healthier new year.

Meet the four fundamental needs of your body.

#1. Your nervous system.

Without your brain telling your body what to do through your spinal cord, your body doesn’t function. If you’re not taking care of your spine through regular CBP (Chiropractic Biophysics) adjustments. Your spine cannot work at 100% or at it’s highest potential. As a result that can give you lower health, give you more physical problems, more pain, more limitations, and, less energy.

Many people think that to be healthy you need to just eat well and exercise but it’s more than that. However, it’s so much more than that and the first step is to get regular adjustments by a CBP chiropractor.

#2. Oxygen in your cells.

The best way to keep your cells oxygenated is through exercise and movement. That doesn’t mean you have to run marathons or do aggressive workouts. You are able to do this by walking, swimming, stretching, or just moving. That is how old cells in your body get replaced with new cells. That is also how you stay young and disease free. It is through the oxygenation of the body. The best way to oxygenate your body is through movement, aka exercise.

#3. Water intake.

To be healthier this year one of the best things you can do is to increase your water intake, slowly. If you increase your water intake too fast you will, more than likely urinate it out and it won’t be absorbed. The best thing to do is to sip it throughout the day. The goal for each person should be to intake half your body weight in ounces. That is your minimum hydration levels, needed to maintain good function in your body. Anything above that would be great! Anything below that means you are dehydrated.

Dehydration will help to slow down all of your body functions, which ultimately will affect your health. So, in order to be healthier, you have to get more water into your body. Make sure that if you are consuming beverages with caffeine you want to consume the same amount of water in addition to your daily minimum.

#4. Nutrition and eating the right foods.

This is different for everyone. Some people need to eat raw foods only and some people cannot eat raw foods because of their digestion. Some people can eat gluten and some people can’t, etc. Nutrition is not a single answer. Every person has to figure out what is going to work best for their bodies.

Your body will tell you whether or not it likes what you are putting into it. If you feel energized after you eat, if you feel healthier, if you feel good then you know you’re eating the right foods. If you are feeling gassy, or have heartburn, or any of those other signs of incomplete digestion then you’ll know that you are not eating foods that are good for your body. It’s a good idea to consult a registered dietitian in order to get a specific diet plan together.

Use these as a guideline

That’s the best way to be healthier in the new year. Working on these four fundamental needs listed above will help to give you a good foundation for building a healthier you for the new year. So make a plan to see a CBP chiropractor, drink more water, eat better for your body and move more!

For more information ask Dr. B @ [email protected]

 

 

 

 

How do I get subluxated?

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Subluxations can happen from big traumas like car accidents, major slips and falls, and sports injuries.  They can happen from small traumas like sitting all day at work or hunching to use your cell phone. Those are microtraumas, as repetitive movements. It is also seen sometimes with people who have repetitive jobs, we often see the same movement patterns which can create subluxations. Just living can subluxate you.

Gravity is a subluxating factor. That’s why it’s important for people to maintain their spinal structure as best as you can because just living life you will get them. Subluxations are inevitable.

Is there anything I can do about them?

Yes. The best thing you can do is to go to a CBP Chiropractor and get a check-up. They will be able to help by adjusting the subluxation but they can also give you exercises to help minimize the repetitive nature of the subluxation.

Only through the care of a CBP doctor can you get the tools necessary to better deal with subluxations and free up the nervous system so that it performs efficiently.

How do I know if I am subluxated?

Subluxations do not always cause pain so sometimes you can know that you’re subluxated if your range of motion is limited. Sometimes you can tell if you have problems that no one can figure out. For example, if you have allergies or asthma out of nowhere or if you have trouble with your organs and no-one can figure out why it can sometimes come from nerve pressure. Body posture is another one, you can sometimes look at someone and see that if their posture is really bad then they are of often subluxated.

You may be subluxated and living with it because you think it’s just old age or something that time can heal. Why take the chance? Look up a CBP doctor in your area and get a checkup. Better health and a better quality of life are awaiting you.

For more information ask Dr. B at [email protected]

 

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

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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]

Make your New Years Resolution to include Chiropractic care as a priority.

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In the new year, we make resolutions to get fit, to be healthier and to be better people. One thing can help us achieve all of our goals…regular visits with your Chiropractor. In our quest to be better, we cannot ignore those things that will help us achieve our goals. Whether it’s dieting, exercising or improving our wellness, having a support system will help you achieve your resolutions faster. Starting the new year off with a trip to your Chiropractor can help you achieve all your wellness goals.

Diet

If we want to be healthier, we have to look at our diet and understand that when we constantly overindulge, we will never reach our health goals. Having someone to speak with about a nutritional plan provides you with an accountability partner. The reason why most diets fail is that people try to go it alone, without any support. If improving your diet and therefore your health is important to you, seek out a diet buddy. Someone who will not only diet with you but will be there to share in your triumphs and fails.

Your Chiropractor is one of those resources. They are a wealth of information so utilize them and ask them what you can do to help improve your diet.

Exercise

It is important to move. To be healthy, it is important to be able to sit, stand and walk, among other things. Being able to care for oneself is very important, as is the ability to look after others. If you’re a parent, you want to be healthy for your children. For an athlete, it’s important to be fit. However, if you want to live, it’s important to move. If you cannot exercise, essentially stretch and move, then how can you be healthy? Just having a good stretching routine to do daily can give you much sought after energy and mobility.

Looking for a stretching routine, your chiropractor can give you guidance that will help improve your range of motion and increase your energy levels.

Wellness

Diet and exercise fall under the category of Wellness. It is important that while we’re making our resolutions, we are also making appointments with those people who are going to help us achieve our goals. The one thing a lot of people forget to do is make an appointment with their Chiropractor.

If you’ve read any of our previous blogs, you will know that caring for your spine is the most important thing to invest your time and energy into. This new year, make it a point to have your spine checked. Knowing which subluxations you have and how to address them can help you on your way to a healthier you.

For more information contact:

Dr. Bianca at [email protected]

About Us: Learn about Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP) through the stories of a CrossFit athlete, a passionate artist, and parents of twin babies

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