July 2020 - Oliver Chiropractic Wellness Clinic

Why Chiropractic Should Be A Part of Your Everyday Life

Most people don’t even think about visiting a chiropractor until they’ve sustained an injury or need a quick adjustment to help ease pain. They typically see it as a treatment for injuries or conditions that they’ve already sustained, not as a preventative health care option. And while chiropractic care is an exceptional way to treat existing conditions and injuries, that is only half of the picture. It is also a viable health care approach that is effective in improving overall wellness. There are some very compelling reasons to incorporate chiropractic into your everyday life. Chiropractic can:

Help lower your risk of injury

When the spine is out of alignment it can put stress on other parts of the body including ligaments and joints. Regular chiropractic care helps keep the spine aligned thus reducing your risk of injury.

Elevate your mood

Chiropractic treatment can help to balance your hormones. It increases the feel-good hormone dopamine while decreasing the stress hormone cortisol. This makes it an exceptional drug free option for patients who suffer with anxiety, depression, or mood swings. As part of your treatment you chiropractor may also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes that can help even more.

Make you feel more energetic

When your spine is out of alignment your entire body suffers. You can feel stiff, sore, and fatigues. Most patients report feeling invigorated after their treatment. They can move easier and have much more energy. Part of this is due to the effect the treatment has on the body as well as the hormones that are released that provide a boost in your mood.

Help you sleep better

More than 60 percent of people in the United States, both children and adults, report having problems with sleep. Studies show that chiropractic can actually help with insomnia allowing you to get better, more restful, and more beneficial sleep.

The combination of pain alleviation, increased flexibility, and overall wellness as well as stress relieving properties allow your body and mind to relax so that you can fall asleep easier and stay asleep. Incorporating chiropractic care into your everyday routine can help you get a better night’s sleep.

Strengthen your immune system

Studies show that patients who receive regular chiropractic care have a significantly stronger immune system than patients who don’t see a chiropractor. In fact, one of the most significant studies to date that explored the connection between regular chiropractic care and a strong immune system was conducted by Dr. Ronald Pero, Ph. D. of New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute where he was the chief of cancer research. He was also a professor of medicine at New York University. The study, which spanned several years, found that patients who received chiropractic care on a regular basis had a 200 percent greater immune competence than non-chiropractic patients.

Manage your pain

Chronic pain as well as pain from injuries or certain conditions respond very well to regular chiropractic care. Any type of pain can negatively impact your quality of life, but pain medications can have unpleasant side effects that can be debilitating. It doesn’t help that many pain medications are highly addictive.

Chiropractic treatments offer a natural remedy for pain that is medication free. What’s more, regular treatments work to fix the cause of the problem so that the issue can be permanently resolved.

Make you feel better without medication

Chiropractic treatments are non-invasive and drug free. It uses the body’s own healing properties to naturally address issues and achieve results. It is low risk and very effective, treating the cause of problems, not just the symptoms the way pain medication does.

When you look at all of the benefits of regular chiropractic care and realize that those results can be achieved naturally, it’s easy to see why more people are incorporating it into their regular health care routines.

What Chiropractic Patients Want To Know About Selecting A Mattress

Getting a good night’s sleep is absolutely integral to good spinal health. Sometimes, though that isn’t possible. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 92 percent of people believe that a comfortable mattress is important for good, restful sleep. A bad mattress, or one that is old, or one that is simply wrong for your body can contribute to sleep deprivation, lower back pain, headaches, stiff neck, and anxiety and depression. With so much at stake, it’s easy to see just how important it is to select a good mattress.

Ask about how the Mattress is Made

Learn about the construction of a mattress and what the different components mean for your comfort. Different mattresses have different coils and they are arranged differently. The padding can vary in thickness. The depth of the mattress can range from 7 inches to 18 inches on the average. Understanding the various components of a mattress can make it easier for you to find the one that is right for you.

Look for Comfort as well as Support

A good mattress is comfortable and has good support. Support is good but if you don’t have comfort your mattress won’t be effective.

If a mattress is too firm (too much support) it will cause pain on your body’s pressure points. You want your hips and shoulders to slightly sink into the mattress. However, if you prefer a mattress that is firmer to support your back, you can get one with padding on top.

Don’t let Price be the Determining Factor

You naturally want to get the most for your dollar, but remember that you get what you pay for. A cheap mattress can translate to a poor quality mattress.

Look for quality and value rather than price. If money is an issue, do some comparison shopping to find the mattress you want for the best price.

Sales are another way to save money on your mattress purchase, but look out for advertising gimmicks. Know the meaning of the terms that are used and know what you are looking for before you go for that so-called great deal.

Educate yourself on the Different Mattress Types

Do you want a memory foam mattress or would a latex mattress work better for you? What exactly is an innerspring mattress? Are adjustable beds really all they are cracked up to be? Do some research and brush up on the different types of mattresses so that you can approach your shopping trip with confidence and as an educated consumer. It will definitely work in your favor.

In the end, it’s all about personal preference

There is no mattress that is a one size (or type) fits all. Different people will respond differently to mattresses. The best thing to do is try them out. Spend at least 20 minutes laying on the mattress before you make the decision to purchase or not.

Finally, if you find that your quality of sleep has recently gotten worse, that you are tossing and turning or wake up with pain in your back, neck, or head, it could be time to change your mattress – or pillow. If you can see your mattress sagging, that could be another indication that it is time to get a new one.

Mattresses are designed to withstand a certain degree of wear and tear, but they don’t last forever. The quality of the mattress, the weight that is on the mattress, and other factors contribute to how quickly it wears out. So if you notice any of the warning signs it may be time to get a new mattress so that you can get back to peaceful, restful sleep.

We hope this was helpful! Visit www.ocwc.ca to learn more about our clinic and practitioners!

How Chiropractic Helps Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

July 13, 2020/0 Comments/in Chiropractic, Chiropractic Blog /by Kent Ferguson

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that is not as straightforward as other illnesses. The symptoms can often mimic other conditions, including some that are quite serious, so they must all be ruled out before a diagnosis of CFS can be determined.

This is usually not a quick process so the patient is left dealing with troubling and often debilitating symptoms and no real answers – sometimes for months or even years. By the time a patient receives a diagnosis of CFS they are usually exhausted both physically and emotionally.

How Chiropractic Helps Trigger Finger

July 6, 2020/0 Comments/in Chiropractic, Chiropractic Blog /by Kent Ferguson

Stenosing tenosynovitis, also known as “trigger finger,” is a repetitive strain injury that is one of the most common injuries in the workplace. It is marked by one finger or thumb that is stuck in a bent position and pops or snaps when straightened. It is caused by an inflamed or irritated flexor tendon.

As it slides through the sheath tunnel, the back and forth motion causes the irritation which can lead to thickening of the tendon and even the formation of nodules. This can impede it movement through the sheath which can also thicken so that the opening that the tendon slides through becomes smaller.

What are the symptoms of trigger finger?

A person with trigger finger may experience several symptoms in one or more fingers or thumb including:

Pain when straightening or bending the finger
Swelling
A lump in the palm that is tender
The finger or thumb joints have a popping or catching sensation
Stiffness
The impaired tendon may suddenly break free causing the finger to snap straight or feel like it is dislocating

Some symptoms, like the stiffness, popping, and catching, may be more pronounced after periods of inactivity. The patient may find that upon waking in the morning they have difficulty, but as they move their fingers they loosen and the symptoms aren’t as bad. In severe cases the patient is unable to straighten their finger, even with help.

What causes trigger finger?

Many times the cause of trigger finger is not known. They may notice a gradual decline or they may simply wake up one day and experience symptoms. There are certain health conditions and circumstances that put some patients at a greater risk of developing trigger finger:

Men tend to get trigger finger more than women do
The most common age group for trigger finger is between 40 and 60 years old
It is more prevalent in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other medical conditions
Repetitive hand motions such as typing, gripping power tools, or playing video games
Activities that put a strain on the hands.

What are the treatments for trigger finger?

There are surgical and nonsurgical treatments for trigger finger, depending on the severity of the condition. When the symptoms are mild, the patient may be advised to simply rest the finger and take over the counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or NSAIDS to help reduce inflammation and minimize pain. The patient may also wear a splint to better facilitate the resting position of the finger.

In some cases the doctor may advise steroid injections administered directly into the tendon sheath to correct the problem. Sometimes this procedure only provides temporary relief and improvement, requiring a second injection. If the condition is not resolved after the second injection, the patient may be advised to undergo surgery. If the patient has had trigger finger for a long time or if they have a medical condition such as diabetes that is associated with it, injections are not likely to be as effective or a permanent solution.

Some patients undergo surgery to correct trigger finger. The surgery is purely elective since the condition is not considered dangerous. The surgery opens up the tendon sheath, the tunnel that the tendon slides through, so that it moves easier. It is usually done on an outpatient basis.

Chiropractic for trigger finger

There are two chiropractic treatments that are used for trigger finger: Active Release Technique (ART) and Graston technique. Studies have found these chiropractic techniques to be very effective in treating trigger finger.

Instrument based soft tissue therapy may also be used to help reduce tension in the muscles around the area. Chiropractors typically use a whole-body approach to help the patient achieve relief and healing. They recognize that most conditions are not limited to only what appears to be the affected area so they will employ techniques that treat the associated areas of the body as well. This provides the patient with more reliable relief without the use of invasive procedures. Chiropractic is an effective, natural way to treat trigger finger.

Visit us at www.ocwc.ca to learn more about our chiropractic doctors!