4 Key Ways Chiropractic Care Benefits the Whole Family

When we think of chiropractic care, our minds automatically jump to treatment for work injuries, or issues stemming from aging. While spinal manipulations and other chiropractic treatment are highly valuable in those situations, they are not the beginning and ending of what chiropractic care can accomplish.

Adults who embrace the benefits of a chiropractor should consider treatment for their entire family, as it can provide unique benefits to each member in terms of total wellness and quality of life.

Here are four key ways chiropractic care benefits the whole family.

Injury prevention

The best way to treat an injury is to avoid an injury. It sounds simple, but many individuals don’t think of their health this way. By implementing a chiropractic regimen into each family member’s life, everyone’s spine is well-maintained and aligned, joints are looser, and necks are relaxed. For younger family members, this means sliding into third base won’t pull a muscle, studying for that exam won’t cause headaches, and taking out the trash won’t hurt their backs (even though they may still gripe about it).

For the older family members, chiropractic treatment for prevention helps avoid workplace injuries, minimizes strains and sprains from gardening or other “weekend warrior” activities, and even aids in sleeping and stress relief.

Chiropractic care also helps every family member…

Increase flexibility

As mentioned above, chiropractic treatment helps keep joints loose, and the entire body functioning properly. Flexibility is key in performing physical activity, lessening growing pains, aging gracefully, and avoiding disease and injury. Spinal manipulation coupled with at-home exercises make it easy for each family member to be as limber as possible.

Enhance healing

A wide variety of health issues, from headaches and backaches, to immune diseases and digestive problems, can be addressed through chiropractic care. That’s because, instead of treating the symptoms of an issue, chiropractors aim toward the root cause of the problem. No matter what a person’s age, if they are dealing with issues caused by spinal misalignment or stiff muscles and joints, consulting with a chiropractor for treatment can speed up the healing process, decrease downtime, and lessen the chance of the issue recurring.

Reduce performance issues

Most individuals crave to perform at the highest level possible. Some examples are scoring well on a test, playing the best basketball game, driving safely, excelling at job duties, hiking a trail, and giving a speech. We all want to do our best and be successful.

The holistic approach of chiropractic care helps us function at top performance. While pain takes the focus away from performing well, and drugs can cause fuzziness and loss of concentration, chiropractic treatments give relief without side effects. No matter a person’s age, chiropractic care helps his or her body be higher-functioning and ready for life’s challenges, regardless of the form they take.

Chiropractic care benefits patients of a wide array of ages in a variety of ways. Family members should carefully consider the positive, long-lasting aspects of chiropractic treatment for themselves, their spouses, and children. A commitment to such treatment can decrease injury and performance issues, and increase flexibility, confidence, and success.

Call (780)455-2112 to get your family scheduled in for a chiropractic assessment!

How Building Core Strength Can Reduce Back Pain

Back pain can be debilitating, causing immobility, inflexibility, and have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. It can make even the most mundane daily activities extremely difficult – and even excruciating. Building the muscles that make up your core (abdominals and back) can help support your spine and reduce back pain. In many cases, strengthening these muscles can help a patient avoid medication with its unpleasant side effects and even avoid surgery. With just a few smart moves you can greatly decrease your back pain, increase your mobility, and take back your life.

The Role of Abs and Back Muscles

The spine is the supporting structure for the back, but it also is a vital infrastructure for the entire body. It houses the central nervous system and neural impulses are transferred along what is essentially a spinal super highway.

The arms, legs, neck, and head are all connected and stabilized by the spine through an intricate network of ligaments and muscles. The back muscles and abs, or abdominal muscles, are at the center, or core, of this muscular network. They keep the body upright and facilitate movement. When these core muscles are not in good condition, it puts stress on the spine, impacting its ability to support the body. This often results in back pain and even injury in some cases.

Postural Alignment

Postural alignment is a common contributor to back pain. This is often due to weak core muscles.

As the muscles fail to do their job to stabilize the spine, the body adjusts structurally to accommodate the weakness. This can result in postures that cause joint pain as well as muscular pain and even headaches.

For instance, stooped or hunched shoulders can cause back pain, but it can also create tension in the shoulders and neck. This, in turn, can cause tension headaches and migraines in patients.

A sway back, where the lower back bows, causing the pelvis to tilt up, can cause severe lower back pain, especially after standing for long periods of time. Sway back can be the result of weakened core muscles or a combination of a weak core, combined with obesity or pregnancy.

The weight in the abdominal area pulls the spine forward so that it curves. A pregnancy sling can sometimes help with the pain, but it is just a band aid. The real cure is to strengthen the core muscles so that they are better able to adequately support the spine and body.

Foundation Training

Eric Goodman, a chiropractor, developed Foundation Training as a way to help his patients who suffer from lower back pain, but are not physically able to do Pilates or yoga. It is also designed to help those who sit for long periods of time to counteract the associated negative health effects.

Foundation training incorporates powerful yet simple movements that work to integrate the body’s muscular chains, increasing strength and realigning the core and spine. It does not require any equipment so the movements can be performed anywhere. The muscles are trained how to move properly and work together so that you the body learns to move how it is designed to move. The key basic exercise can be viewed in this video.

Creating a strong core can help relieve back pain but also have added benefits such as increase energy, better mobility, and an improved mood. By allowing the body to support itself, it can naturally relieve pain and heal certain conditions without invasive surgery or medication which can have unpleasant or even harmful side effects. When you take good care of your body, it will take good care of you.

Call (780)455-2112 to schedule your assessment with one of our wellness chiropractic doctors!

The Most Popular Massage Techniques

March 16, 2020/1 Comment/in Chiropractic Blog, Massage /by Kent Ferguson

In the fast-paced world we live in, so many stressors are constantly testing the tolerance and sanity levels of individuals.

Some opt for dangerous escapades (smoking and drinking) while others let the power of burden take over them. However, the best way to deal with all these issues is by getting a massage.

It is the best way to get rid of stress, anxiety, and body pains. In addition, getting a massage is the ideal way to release negative emotions from within and live a life that can be full of positivity.

There are specific massage techniques that are done to target specific issues. Today, let us go in depth and learn more about them

1. Applied Pressure

This technique is used to lessen the tension that is in the muscles and to give deep relaxation to the pressure points.

The pressure is applied using different parts of the hand including the thumbs, palms, and the spaces between the fingers. Some massage methods use elbows and feet as well to give the full effect of the massage.

2. Effleurage Method

This technique utilizes gentle strokes. The hands are kept flat –side by side- and gently moved all over the body.

This technique is used either at the beginning or at the end of the massage, or it is used as the transition move between two techniques.

3. Kneading

This is a technique performed to relax the muscles and promote circulation in the deep tissues. It is extremely pleasant and gives deep relaxation. The focus is on the muscles near the shoulders and the neck.

The therapist will move the hands in different directions while applying pressure from the fingers, thumbs and the heel of the hand. There is even more pressure applied on the muscles –directly- to move them in their proper place.

4. Rubbing

This is another deep tissue relaxation technique that focuses on the joints, muscles, blood flow, and the lymphatic circulation.

With the help of this technique, the knots are undone so the pain can escape the muscles. There is pressure applied with the thumbs in circles directly on top of the problem area.

5. Vibrating Method

This is the technique that energizes and triggers the circulatory and nervous systems with the help of vibrations.

The therapist places their hands on your body (flat) and with gentle and quick motions; he or she will shake the muscles. Sometimes, the therapist uses the fingertips to apply pressure on the muscles in order to release the tension in them.

6. Tapping

With the help of two hands and swift motions, the therapist taps the body for relaxation. The pressure can be altered according to an individual’s needs.

It can be done with cupped hands or with flat hands. This technique is used for athletes as well as it is great to promote blood circulation.

These are the six most popular massage techniques. They all are designed to provide individuals extreme comfort and stress-free lives.

Call (780)455-2112 to book your appointment today! Our Registered therapists are happy to help.

Ankylosing Spondylitis chiropractic benefits

Ankylosing Spondylitis Sufferers Find Relief Through Chiropractic

March 9, 2020/0 Comments/in Chiropractic, Chiropractic Blog /by Kent Ferguson

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a type of arthritis that typically begins during adolescence or in a person’s early twenties and occurs more often in men than in women. However, once experiences onset, they are affected for the rest of their lives. It is estimated that between 0.2% and 0.5% of individuals in the United States suffers from ankylosing spondylitis. It can cause significant pain, discomfort, and immobility. While there is no cure for the condition, the symptoms can be treated, bringing some degree of comfort and mobility.

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis, or AS, is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the spine. While the vertebrae are primarily involved, it can also affect other joints as well, including the hips, shoulders, heels, ribs, and the small joints of the feet and hands.

In some cases, the heart, lungs, and even eyes can be involved. If left untreated, the condition can progress, causing chronic pain that can be severe as the spinal inflammation increases. More advanced cases can cause the spine to grow new bone formations so that it is immobile, or fixed, sometimes resulting in kyphosis, which is a bowed or forward stooped posture.

What Causes Ankylosing Spondylitis?

While genetics is believed to be a key player in the development of Ankylosing Spondylitis, the exact cause has not yet been determined. The majority of people who have AS also carry a specific gene that has been linked to the condition.

This gene produces HLA-B27, a protein or genetic marker, that more than 95% of Caucasians with ankylosing spondylitis have. However, there are people who don’t have this protein who develop AS and there are many people who do carry this marker yet never develop the condition.

Researchers theorize that there may be other genes that may be involved, as well as environmental factors that trigger the gene activation, such as a bacterial infection, causing people who are susceptible to AS to activate it. Scientists have identified more than 60 genes that are believed to be associated with AS with only about 30% that are linked to HLA-B27 regarding overall risk. Other genes that have been identified as key to AS include IL-23, IL-17, IL-12, and ERAP.

It is also believed that AS can be triggered when the intestinal defenses break down, allowing certain bacteria into the bloodstream. This can, in turn, cause an immune response.

How is Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated?

AS cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be treated to relieve stiffness and pain as well as delay or prevent spinal deformity and other complications. The damage that it does to the joints is irreversible, so it is best if treatment is started before that occurs. There are several ways that AS is treated:

Medication – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like indomethacin (Indocin) and naproxen (Naprosyn) are commonly used to treat the symptoms of AS. They can be effective in relieving pain, inflammation, and stiffness but may cause some side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding. This makes long term use impractical and even unsafe. If NSAIDs do not help, other medications may be prescribed, including:
- Golimumab (Simponi; Simponi Aria)
- Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)
- Adalimumab (Humira)
- Etanercept (Enbrel)
- Infliximab (Remicade)
Physical therapy – PT is often recommended to help with flexibility, strength, and pain relief. It can help with posture and prevent some of the more debilitating symptoms.
Surgery – Most people with AS do not require surgery, but it may be recommended if there is severe joint damage or pain. In some cases, it can cause significant damage to hip joints and they will need to be replaced.
Chiropractic – Many patients with AS have with very good results with chiropractic treatment. It is non-invasive and does not have the unpleasant side effects that many medications have.

Chiropractic Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Chiropractors strongly recommend chiropractic treatment for the non-acute inflammatory stage of AS. Once the condition has progressed to acute joint disease, there is a very high risk of injury or damage to the connective tissue. Adjustments and exercise are used to relieve symptoms, but some of the traditional spinal manipulation treatments are not performed.

A chiropractor will also make recommendations to the patient regarding lifestyle changes that can help with symptoms, such as stopping smoking. Tobacco use can increase inflammation and damage connective tissue. They may also advise increasing their intake of omega 3 fatty acids in their diet. Regular chiropractic care can help patients manage symptoms and prevent disease progression, improving their quality of life.

Visit www.ocwc.ca to learn more about our clinic.