How chiropractic can help you...

Have Sciatic Pain or Discomfort?

Posted: October 21, 2016
By: NBFC

Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) medicine regularly treat sciatica. Sciatica is characterized by pain that originates in the low back or buttock that travels into one or both legs. Sciatic nerve pain varies in intensity and frequency; minimal, moderate, severe and occasional, intermittent, frequent or constant.

Pain is described as dull, achy, sharp, toothache-like, pins and needles or similar to electric shocks. Other symptoms associated with sciatica include burning, numbness and tingling sensations. Sciatica is also called radiating or referred pain, neuropathy, or neuralgia. A misconception is that sciatica is a disorder; however, sciatica is really a symptom of a disorder.

Sciatica Is Caused by Nerve Compression
Sciatica is generally caused by sciatic nerve compression. Disorders known to cause sciatic nerve pain include lumbar spine subluxations (misaligned vertebral body/ies), herniated or bulging discs (slipped discs), pregnancy and childbirth, tumors, and non-spinal disorders such as diabetes, constipation, or sitting on one's back pocket wallet.

One common cause of sciatica is piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is located in the lower part of the spine, connects to the thighbone, and assists in hip rotation. The sciatic nerve runs beneath the piriformis muscle. This muscle is susceptible to injury from a slip and fall, hip arthritis, or a difference in leg length. Such situations can cause cramping and spasm to develop in the piriformis muscle, thereby pinching the sciatic nerve and causing inflammation and pain.

Sciatic nerve compression may result in the loss of feeling (sensory loss), paralysis of a single limb or group of muscles (monoplegia), and insomnia.

Proper Diagnosis of Sciatica Is Essential
Since there are many disorders that cause sciatica, the chiropractor's first step is to determine what is causing the patient's sciatica. Forming a diagnosis involves a thoughtful review of the patient's medical history, and a physical and neurological examination.

Diagnostic testing includes an x-ray, thermography scan, and a 3-point analysis scan of your feet. These examinations and tests help to detect possible contraindications to spinal adjustments and other chiropractic therapies.

Chiropractic Treatment of Sciatic Symptoms
The purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help the body's potential to heal itself. It is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain and reduced function and performance. Chiropractic care is non-invasive (non-surgical) and drug-free.

The type of chiropractic therapy provided depends on the cause of the patient's sciatica. Below are more details on these chiropractic treatment modalities.

  • Ice/Cold therapy reduces inflammation and helps to control sciatic pain.
  • Adjustments (Spinal Manipulation) At the core of chiropractic care are spinal adjustments. Manipulation frees restricted movement of the spine and helps to restore misaligned vertebral bodies to their proper position in the spinal column. Spinal adjustment helps to reduce nerve irritability responsible for causing inflammation, muscle spasm, pain, and other symptoms related to sciatica. Adjustments should not be painful. Spinal manipulation is proven to be safe and effective.

In college and during their training, students of chiropractic learn many different adjustment techniques enabling them to treat several types of subluxations and disorders. Techniques vary from a swift high velocity thrust to those that combine minimal force and gentle pressure. Mastery of each technique is an art that requires great skill and precision. Spinal manipulation is the treatment that differentiates chiropractic care from other medical disciplines.

 


6 Ways to Improve Your Mood Naturally

Posted: October 21, 2016
By: NBFC

6 Ways to Improve Your Mood Naturally

improve-your-mood

Wondering what can improve your mood? Give chiropractic care a try.

Ever feel like you’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed, angry or displeased without much reason? You’re not alone. But instead of reaching for stimulants like coffee and tea or continuing the day in a bad mood, consider what you can do to change how you feel, naturally.

The best part? You can do each of these things in just a few minutes—how’s that for a positive return on your investment?

1. Laugh
There’s a lot of truth to the old saying “laughter is the best medicine”—it’s a proven fact that laughter lowers stress hormones.

2. Listen to Music
Even if you’re not in the mood for it, listening to upbeat music can help you feel better. But the key is to try to relax—let yourself enjoy the music instead of asking whether or not you’re starting to feel better.

3. Take a Pre-Work Walk
Getting your body up and moving helps release mood-enhancing endorphins. This also gives you a chance to take in some much-needed Vitamin D from the sun.

4. Clear Your Desk
Did you know that cluttered spaces could cause you to lose focus and productivity, be it in the office or at home? Keeping your desk space clean can help prevent that.

5. Get Some Sleep
When you’re back home after a long day, make sure you get to bed at a reasonable hour and keep your nighttime ritual the same aiming for 8 hours of slumber.

6. Get Adjusted
Chiropractic care can benefit things like poor sleep, achy joints and muscles and back pain among others. If you’re not feeling your best, contact our practice today to schedule an appointment.

We look forward to helping you!


The Connection Between Chiropractic Care And Nutrition

Posted: September 7, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin

The Connection Between Chiropractic Care and Nutrition

You try to purchase organic products. You make sure to steer clear of highly processed, GMO foods. You even do the bulk of your grocery shopping around the perimeter of the supermarket, buying products packed full of nutrients with a short shelf life. In theory, you’re nailing the whole idea of healthy eating.

But what if we told you that consuming all of these healthy foods without an optimally functioning nervous system was like storing them in a refrigerator that had been unplugged?

Disrupted Nervous System, Disrupted Diet

Your nervous system influences every single part of your body, and when it comes to your food, digestion is no exception. When the nervous system is not balanced and experiencing disruptions, chances are that no matter how nutritious your meal is, the nutrients that your body needs won’t be properly stored, broken down or even entirely used.

Why?

The nervous system is responsible for telling your body what it needs to do with its fuel. If a disturbance is present, the messages sent between your brain and body will go unread. While you may be eating three square meals a day, your body isn’t reaping the benefits that it should, leaving you to wonder why you don’t feel as good as you thought you would.

Can Chiropractic Make a Difference?

Through chiropractic care, our job is to help get your spine (and the portion of the nervous system it protects), to work optimally. Precise chiropractic adjustments are used to improve the motion and position of individual spinal bones. As they do, some patients report enhancements in other aspects of their health as well.

Wondering what you can do to improve your nutrition? On your next visit, ask us about ways to supplement your diet if you believe your lifestyle doesn’t present you with the opportunity to consume properly balanced, nutritious meals.


Pregnant? Here’s Why You Should Visit Us

Posted: September 7, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin

We love helping pregnant mothers prepare for the birth of their upcoming bundle of joy with gentle and custom chiropractic care designed to meet the needs of their changing body.

Here’s why:

1. Optimal Function, Optimal Birth

Keeping your spine healthy allows us to ensure your entire nervous system is functioning as it should. When you’re able to keep your spine aligned and nervous system balanced during pregnancy, you’re setting your body up to work as effective as possible. When you’re pregnant, a body working in peak performance is what you’re after!

2. Pain Relief

The joy of having a new baby is well worth the aches and pains you go through to get there. During pregnancy, it’s entirely common for mothers to experience not just back pain, but joint and muscle discomfort. This is largely due to the weight of the growing baby as it puts new stress on shifting internal organs. The good news? Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and effective during all stages of pregnancy.

3. Proper Alignment

As a chiropractic patient, you know that our focus is typically spinal alignment. But for pregnant mothers, we’re also focused on ensuring proper pelvic position for a couple of reasons. First, if the pelvis is misaligned, it can limit the amount of space the developing baby has to grow and move. Second, it helps you keep proper posture throughout your pregnancy, which can prevent slouching that leads to unnecessary body aches.

4. Delivery Benefits

A smooth, healthy and speedy delivery is every new mother’s dream when it comes to the birthing process. But what you may not know is that a misaligned pelvis can lead to difficult delivery issues as the baby isn’t always able to get into the most ideal delivery position. For mothers who hope to have a natural and non-invasive birth, this can lead to problems.

Many of our patients have reported that with regular prenatal care, their deliveries seemed faster and required less artificial intervention.

Discover the Difference with Chiropractic

Whether you’re already pregnant or considering starting a family in the future, we’d love to meet you. Give our practice a call today to schedule your first appointment.


Commuting and Computing

Posted: September 7, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin

While we’re racking up miles commuting to our jobs, whether we’re a driver or a rider, we’re also wreaking havoc on our spine. But that’s not all. When we get to work, we’re likely doing more sitting in front of our computers, which can cause even more problems.

Pad Your Bank Account Without Punishing Your Back

While working pads our bank account, sitting at our office desk can punish our backs. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to keep your back strong while commuting and computing.

1. Get in proper driving position. Ensure your seat is at the correct height and your ears are aligned with your shoulders. Also, use supportive arm rests to diminish stress put on the body. Use your headrest so your head doesn’t have to lurch forward to keep your focus on the road.

2. Stretch before and after your commute. Just as it’s a good idea to stretch before we exercise, it’s beneficial to stretch for a few minutes before or after a drive to work or a ride on public transportation. Stretching can reduce muscle tension and alleviate the anxiety that may be associated with stressful commutes.

3. Tame the tension. Driving in rush hour traffic can be a tension-inducing experience. As tension is most often felt in the neck and back, consider shrugging your shoulders when stopped at a red light. Get a lumbar support for your back if your seat isn’t comfortable or roll up a sweatshirt or towel and place it between the small of your back and the seat.

4. Be kind to your back. Our backs can take a beating from all that drubbing on the keyboard while in a sitting position. Ensure that your chair provides sufficient lumbar support. Keep your feet firmly planted on the floor and see that your keyboard and monitor are at an ideal height. It’s also a good idea to stand up and move every 20 minutes.

Keep Your Spine Healthy

Regular chiropractic adjustments are important when it comes to keeping your spine healthy so it can withstand the demands of daily commuting and computing. To schedule an appointment, give us a call.


4 Reasons Athletes Get Adjusted

Posted: September 7, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin

Keeping themselves in tip-top shape is all but required for athletes who take the time to nurture their body with exercise, rest and healthy foods. But these aren’t the only ways athletes stay in peak performance mode. Each year, a growing number are turning to chiropractic care.


Don't understand Chiropractic? Here's a helpful analogy

Posted: August 18, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin


Oh My Achy Back!

Posted: August 18, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin


Reduce Inflammation for Optimal Health

Posted: August 18, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin


What's Really Causing Your Back Pain

Posted: August 16, 2016
By: Dr. Mark OLoughlin