 Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! Welcome back to my blog, where I discuss anything and everything related to chiropractic care and healthy living! I aim to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your health. In my last post, we discussed intervertebral discs, how they function, and how to care for them. Today, we’ll be talking about some common sports injuries and how to prevent them. The term “sports injury” refers to injuries that occur in active individuals, such as during sports or exercise, but this can also include injuries that occur in individuals who participate in activities with repetitive movements. If you are interested in learning more about sports injuries and how to prevent them, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started.
Being active is great for your overall health, and has many benefits. However, accidents can happen when playing sports or exercising. Sometimes, sports injuries are due to poor training practices or using improper gear. Additionally, not properly warming up before exercising or playing a sport can lead to injury. Let’s take a look at some of the most common sports injuries. Sprains and Strains Sprains and strains are different, but they are two of the most common sports injuries. A sprain is a stretch or tear to the bands of tissue, or a ligament, that connect two bones together. Sprains are commonly caused by falling, twisting, or getting hit. A strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the tendon that connects a muscle to a bone. Strains can happen suddenly or over time and often happen while playing sports. Mild strains can be caused by repetitive motions. Common symptoms of sprains include:
Almost any area of the body can be sprained, but the most common areas include the wrist, ankle, and knee. Common symptoms of strains include:
Strains are most common in the knee, lower back, and hamstrings. To prevent sprains and strains, stretch and warm up properly before exercising or participating in any physical activity. Warming up consists of low-impact activity, such as walking, jogging, or jumping jacks. Be sure to stretch for a few minutes before participating in physical activity. Additionally, make sure you are wearing the right shoes for your sport. Your shoes should fit well and provide support. It is also important to keep a healthy and balanced diet to keep your muscles and joints strong! Tennis Elbow Tennis elbow, formally referred to as lateral epicondylitis, is an irritation of the tendons, or tissue, that connect the forearm to the elbow. This is generally caused by repetitive wrist and arm motions. Despite its name, this condition does not only occur in tennis players or other athletes. In fact, people of many professions can develop tennis elbow, including painters, plumbers, and carpenters. It can also occur in those with careers that require constant typing on a computer. Common symptoms of tennis elbow include:
This injury is essentially due to the overuse of the forearm muscles that you use to straighten your hand and wrist. In order to prevent tennis elbow, you may find it helpful to perform exercises that stretch and strengthen your forearm muscles. Some exercises include simple finger stretches and wrist flexor stretches. Additionally, if you cannot avoid making the same hand and arm movements repeatedly, try wearing a brace, or taking breaks as often as possible. If you are participating in a sport or other activity that requires repetitive motions with your arm, be sure to warm up and stretch properly beforehand. Learn how to utilize your shoulder and upper arm muscles to take some of the strain off of your elbow. Rotator Cuff Injury Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff injuries, are some of the most common. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. It keeps the top of the upper arm bone firmly within the socket of the shoulder, and allows you to lift your arms and reach upward, making it one of the most important parts of your shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries are common and can become more common with age. Injuries to the rotator cuff can be caused by progressive wear and tear of the tendon tissue, repetitive overhead activity, or prolonged bouts of heavy lifting. Additionally, it can be caused by a single incident, such as falling down on an outstretched arm. Some symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include:
In order to prevent rotator cuff injuries, exercise the small and large muscles of the shoulder to strengthen the rotator cuff. Additionally, it helps to maintain good posture, because leaning or slumping forward can irritate your shoulders. It is also helpful to avoid activities with repetitive overhead motion, if possible. If you are an athlete, have a job that can increase your risk of sports injuries, or are a generally active person, it is a good idea to consider seeing a chiropractor regularly. You do not need to seek chiropractic care only if you are injured– Chiropractic care can be preventative, too! Chiropractic adjustments remove interferences known as subluxations that prevent your body from healing itself naturally. Removing these subluxations helps your nervous system operate at its optimal best and can prevent injury. A chiropractor can also recommend stretches and exercises that can help you treat and prevent sports injuries. As you can see, sports injuries are common, but can be prevented through proper techniques, exercise, massage and chiropractic care. If you have any further questions or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to us. As a chiropractor, I can also provide you with nutritional advice and other recommendations for lifestyle changes that can help you keep your body functioning at its best. I hope you found this article informative. If you have any concerns about your bone health, consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!
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 Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! Welcome back to my blog, where I discuss anything and everything related to chiropractic care and healthy living! I aim to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your health. In my last post, we continued a discussion about the best foods for bone and joint health. Be sure to check out part one, as well! Today, we’ll be talking about how to take care of your spine. We get regular checkups for our overall health, and for our teeth, so why don’t we do the same for our spines? The spine is an important part of the human body, and it is vital to keep it in the best shape possible. If you are interested in learning more about the spine and ways you can take care of it, you’re in the right place! Let’s get started.
What is the spine? To begin, let’s take a closer look at what the spine actually is. Also referred to as the backbone, the spine is your body’s central support structure. It connects different parts of the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of your bones and joints and helps you move. The spine helps you do many things that you probably don’t think much about on a daily basis: Sitting, standing, twisting, walking, and bending. A healthy spine has four natural curves that make an “S” shape. These curves are known as the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral curvature. Together, these natural curves absorb shock to your body and protect your spine from injury, while also helping you stay balanced and flexible. Additionally, the spine is made up of a few different parts:
Approximately 80% of Americans experience back pain at some point, often due to an issue in the spine. Vertebrae and discs can age and wear down over time, which can cause pain. So how can you keep your spine functioning at its optimal best? How can you care for your spine? Just as we should keep other parts of our body in shape, we should do the same for our spine. Here are some ways that you can take care of your spine. 1. Exercise We have all heard about the importance of exercising to maintain our overall health. Exercise is also great for your back muscles and spine! Your core muscles, located in your lower back and abdomen, must be strong in order to support your spine. For most people, these core muscles are rarely used during everyday activities, and should be toned through targeted exercises. Strengthening these muscles can help manage or prevent back pain and improve range of motion. There are plenty of exercises out there, so if you are not sure which ones are appropriate for you, speak with your chiropractor, personal trainer, physical therapist, or other health professional. Some of the best exercises for strengthening your core muscles include using an exercise ball or a resistance band, but there are also exercises that can be done without any equipment. 2. Proper sleep posture You may not realize it, but the position in which you sleep can do a number on your spine. Just as there is good posture when it comes to standing, there is good posture when it comes to sleep, too! (Check out my previous blog about sleep and chiropractic care!) When you lay down at the end of a long day, all of the structures that make up your spine finally have a chance to relax. An ideal sleeping position supports the natural curve of your neck and spine, keeping them in proper alignment. Some of the best sleeping postures include laying flat on your back, sleeping on your side, and the fetal position. The type of mattress you use can also play a role in your spine health. For example, firmer mattresses are best because they adequately support the spine, whereas old or soft mattresses can cause the spine to sag. 3. Eat a healthy diet While a healthy diet is important for your overall health, it is also important for your bones, including your spine. Often, inflammation can cause back pain, and this inflammation can be due to certain foods. For example, processed meats, fried foods, foods high in sugar, and refined grains are known to increase inflammation. Additionally, these unhealthy foods can also contribute to weight gain, which can increase your risk of inflammation. Therefore, reducing your intake of these foods, or eliminating them completely, can help reduce or prevent inflammation. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy and anti-inflammatory foods out there that you can incorporate into your diet. For example, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, and fruits such as strawberries and oranges are all anti-inflammatory foods. 4. Wear the right shoes Did you know that the shoes you wear play an important role in supporting your lower back? Your feet support the weight of your entire body and help keep your spine aligned properly. Shoes that offer inadequate support can cause vertebrae in the spine to become misaligned. Some shoes are more likely than others to cause back pain. For example, high heels place extreme pressure on the front of the foot, changing your posture and disrupting the natural curve of the spine. Additionally, flip flops lack the proper support for your feet and lower back, which affects the way your hips move. When shoe shopping, choose well-cushioned shoes with arch support. Ideally, ditching high heels is best. But if you cannot, opt for lower heels instead. It is also best to avoid tight-fitting shoes, as these can affect alignment and gait. 5. See a chiropractor Seeing a chiropractor regularly is one of the best ways to take care of your spine! The body has an amazing natural ability to heal itself, and chiropractic care ensures that there are no interferences in that process. Chiropractic adjustments can remove any interferences, known as subluxations, so that the spine stays properly aligned and can function properly. If you visit a chiropractor regularly, routine adjustments can prevent other subluxations from occurring. Making an appointment with a chiropractor is just the first step towards a happy, healthy, and pain-free life! These are just a few ways that you can take good care of your spine! If you have any further questions or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to us. As a chiropractor, I can also provide you with nutritional advice and other recommendations for lifestyle changes that can help you keep your spine functioning at its best. I hope you found this article informative. If you have any concerns about your bone health, consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last blog, we discussed headaches and chiropractic care. Today, we’ll be talking all about sleep and chiropractic care. Not only can chiropractic care help with sleep issues, but making a few changes in your sleeping habits can also help eliminate sleep issues and discomfort that prevents you from getting the sleep you need. We’ve all heard about the importance of getting adequate sleep, but are you aware of the actual reasons why? Sleep is an essential function and is vital for adequate function of the brain and body. When you do not get enough sleep, your risk for health conditions rise, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and migraines. Additionally, lack of sleep can compromise your immune system, which increases your risk of disease and infection. People can have trouble sleeping for a variety of reasons, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and discomfort or pain. In fact, pain seems to be one of the leading causes of poor quality sleep. If you are interested in learning more about the link between sleep and chiropractic care, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started.
How can chiropractic care improve sleep? Chiropractors are licensed medical professionals that are trained to adjust and manipulate the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. These adjustments have a variety of benefits, including the ability to reduce or eliminate pain, improve posture, regain mobility, improve range of motion, and more. Although most people associate chiropractors with reducing back pain alone, chiropractic care can help with a variety of conditions, such as fibromyalgia and digestive issues. It can also help with sleep conditions such as insomnia or chronic pain that contributes to poor sleep. Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders that makes it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. People may experience acute or chronic insomnia. Some causes include stress and anxiety, lifestyle factors, a poor sleeping environment, and physical health conditions. Many people do not realize that the spine is directly related to the nervous system. The spinal cord allows nerve impulses to travel to and from the brain, helping your body perform necessary functions. When certain vertebrae are out of alignment, they can press on nerves and block signals. These blockages are known as subluxations, or interferences, and they prevent your body from using its natural ability to heal itself. Subluxations can be caused by accidents, falls, bad posture, or even emotional stress. The truth is, subluxations have the power to affect almost all areas of your health, causing digestive issues, headaches, pain, and sleep disorders. They are actually the cause of a multitude of health issues, and cannot be cured with medication; This only masks the problem, rather than addressing the cause. Chiropractic care can help treat insomnia and other sleep disorders by addressing the root cause or source of the problem, which may be a subluxation, or stress that caused a subluxation. When we think of stress, we often think of mental or emotional stress. But this kind of stress can also manifest physically, causing symptoms that can range from aches and pains to nausea and restlessness. When the body experiences stress, muscles often tense up in an attempt to shield the body from pain or injury. If you are feeling particularly stressed, you may notice that your jaw is clenched or you may feel tightness in your neck or back muscles. This is your body’s immediate response to stress; The muscles tense up, and then release once the stress passes. Chronic stress can cause the muscles to stay tensed almost constantly. An adjustment can release tension held in the muscles, which relaxes the body and increases blood circulation. Additionally, moving vertebrae back into their proper alignment can eliminate pain caused by tensed muscles, which may also reduce emotional stress almost immediately. If you are unable to sleep solely because of discomfort or pain that is not related to stress, an adjustment can alleviate that as well. Not only do adjustments release tension and increase blood circulation, but they also remove pressure on spinal nerves to encourage the body to perform its essential functions efficiently. A chiropractor also has the knowledge and means to speak with you and discuss your sleeping posture and habits, as well as lifestyle habits. They can offer advice and recommendations that can help you get the sleep you need. Sometimes, a small lifestyle change can make a big difference. What is sleep posture? Sleep posture refers to the position your body is in during or prior to sleep. You may be surprised to find out that there is a “wrong” way to sleep! Just like there is good posture when it comes to standing, there is good sleep posture, too. Different sleep positions have different benefits and play a huge role in the quality of your sleep. Your sleep posture can also have an impact on back pain. So what is the best position to sleep in? This may vary from person to person, depending on your needs. However, an ideal sleeping position supports the natural curve of your neck and spine, keeping them in proper alignment. You want to avoid sleeping positions that put unnecessary stress on your back, neck, and hips. Here are some examples of good sleep posture.
With that being said, there are also some sleeping positions that you should avoid:
Additionally, your mattress may be the cause of your back pain. A general rule of thumb is to search for a firm mattress. However, I recommend trying to change your sleep posture first. As you can see, chiropractors do so much more than relieve back pain. They can also help you get the good night’s rest that you deserve! I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from poor quality sleep or any type of joint or back pain, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last blog, we talked about the downsides of pain medication. Today, we’ll be discussing headaches and how chiropractic care can help. It’s a good segue from our last discussion, since many people reach for over-the-counter painkillers to soothe headaches. However, per my last blog, this does not address the root cause of the headache; it simply masks the pain. Headaches are extremely common. In fact, approximately 45 million Americans complain of headaches each year. We all experience a headache every now and then, but some people experience headaches on a more regular basis. When you get a headache, you may choose to lie down, take some pain pills, or just wait for it to fade. But did you know that there’s a better, drug-free, effective treatment? That’s right– Chiropractic care is a great treatment option for those who suffer from headaches. If you are interested in learning more, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s get started.
First, let’s discuss what a headache actually is. A headache is generally defined as a pain or discomfort in the head or face that can be sharp, constant, throbbing, or dull. The location and intensity of the pain can vary. Most headaches begin in the nerves of the muscles and blood vessels if they swell or tighten. Basically, it is not actually your head or brain that is hurting, but rather the muscles, blood vessels, and membrane surrounding it. There are also different types of headaches. In fact, there are over 150 types. Let’s take a closer look. Types Of Headaches Headaches are generally divided into two categories: Primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches are caused by the overactivity of or problems with pain-sensitive features in your head. These types of headaches are not a symptom of an underlying disease. Some of the most common types of primary headaches include:
Secondary headaches are symptoms of something else happening in your body and are usually caused by underlying medical conditions. They can be relieved by treating the primary cause or condition. Some of the common types of secondary headaches include:
In rare cases, some secondary headaches can be caused by life-threatening conditions. For example, spinal headaches are secondary headaches that occur due to a spinal fluid leak. Additionally, thunderclap headaches are secondary headaches that come on suddenly and give off intense pain that can last 1 to 5 minutes. These headaches can be a sign of a brain bleed or head injury. Chiropractic Care And Headaches So how can chiropractic care help treat headaches? Since primary headaches, such as tension headaches, are often caused by stress, neck, or back strain– or sometimes a combination of both– chiropractic care can provide relief through spinal treatments called adjustments. A chiropractic adjustment can relieve acute or chronic neck pain, which can reduce the number of headaches you experience. A chiropractor can diagnose the type of headaches you are experiencing, and then create a tailored treatment plan that best suits your needs. This will determine and treat the root cause of your headaches, rather than masking the pain. If the actual cause of the headache is not addressed, the headaches are more likely to keep occurring. Chiropractors will also use diagnostic imaging such as x-rays to identify any interferences or subluxations. Subluxations are misaligned vertebrae that can interfere with some of the body’s natural processes. Since the vertebrae are in such close proximity to the spinal nerves, misalignment can place pressure on the nerves and disrupt the nervous system, causing pain, headaches, and even neurological conditions. Research has shown that chiropractic care is an effective treatment for tension headaches and neck aches! Additionally, your chiropractor can discuss your lifestyle and provide recommendations and nutritional advice that may be helpful in preventing future headaches. For example, some foods are known to trigger headaches, such as alcohol, chocolate, cheese, and caffeine. If you sit all day at a desk or computer, it will be helpful to get up, stretch, and walk around every 30 minutes to an hour. This will loosen your muscles and relieve tension. By making these small modifications to your lifestyle, you may be able to prevent headaches and get the most out of your chiropractic adjustments. Here are a few other things to consider:
As you can see, chiropractic care is a great, drug-free, and effective way to treat and prevent headaches. I encourage you to stop reaching for over-the-counter painkillers and try an adjustment instead! If you have any further questions about chiropractic care, feel free to reach out to us. I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from headaches or any type of joint or back pain, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last blog, we discussed massage therapy and its benefits. Today, we’ll be talking about the side effects of pain medication, and how chiropractic care may be a better treatment option for you. When suffering from back or neck pain, muscle pain, or headaches, most people reach for over-the-counter pain medication, such as Tylenol or Advil. Some may use prescription pain medication, such as opioids. According to the CDC, 10.7% of adults surveyed in 2015-2018 said they used one or more prescription pain medications in the last 30 days. While these medications may appear to work short-term, they are actually not that great in the long run. Pain medications simply mask the pain for a little while, but they do not address the root cause of that pain. If you are interested in learning more about the downsides of pain medication, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s get started.
Although medications that relieve pain can be helpful for patients and doctors alike, they can have side effects, just like any other drug. The most common pain medications are over-the-counter medications that you can purchase in the store without a prescription. These include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, and they are usually taken for mild pain or fevers. Unfortunately, these medications can have negative side effects. For example, medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. NSAIDs inhibit certain enzymes in the body to reduce pain and inflammation. These drugs can cause bleeding in the stomach if taken over long periods of time. They can also cause indigestion and stomach ulcers, and if taken far too often, they can cause kidney damage. Acetaminophen is not a member of the NSAID family and does not cause stomach problems. However, taking too much of this drug or combining it with alcohol is known to cause liver damage. Opioids are the most powerful painkillers and are often prescribed to people who have recently had surgery or are suffering from a serious, long-term condition that causes pain, such as cancer. These drugs block signals between the brain and the body in order to block severe pain. Some of the most used opioid painkillers include codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone. While these drugs can be beneficial for people with severe pain, they also have negative side effects. One of the most common side effects of opioids is constipation. Other side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, itching, and sweating. These side effects can interfere with your daily life, making it difficult, if not impossible, to work or commit to activities. One of the most severe side effects, however, is addiction. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2019, an estimated 10.1 million people aged 12 or older misused opioids in the past year. Many people who take opioids feel the need to continue taking them even when they don’t need them anymore, and taking large amounts of these drugs can stop your breathing and lead to death. Although only a small amount of people prescribed opioids become addicted to them, the risk increases the longer you use the drugs. In most cases, opioids should be a last resort for pain management. Another thing to consider when taking over-the-counter or prescription painkillers is the cost. If you need to keep buying bottles of pills to manage your pain, those costs are going to add up over time. Not only will your wallet be hurting, but so will you– The pain is bound to come back after a little while. With that being said, over-the-counter or prescription pain medications are one of the worst options for treating acute or chronic pain. As mentioned above, these medications only mask the pain. Think of it as putting a bandaid over a wound that needs stitches– It may help for a short period of time, but it is not addressing the problem. Chiropractic care, however, focuses on finding, diagnosing, and treating the source of the problem. It is a natural treatment option that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. For many people with acute or chronic pain, the source is in the spine, joints, or muscles. Sometimes, interferences called subluxations stop your body from functioning the way it is supposed to. In fact, most health problems or pains are actually caused by subluxations. These subluxations are often caused by misalignment in the vertebrae. This can be the cause of a variety of issues, such as pain, numbness or tingling, fatigue, headaches, stiffness, and nausea. Because the vertebrae are in such close proximity to the spinal nerves, subluxations can lead to neurological problems. Chiropractic care removes these subluxations through adjustments or joint and spine manipulation. These techniques can restore your body to better health. You can learn more about subluxations in one of my previous blogs! Since chiropractic care is non-invasive, all-natural, and does not require any medication, there are little to no side effects. Those who have never had a chiropractic adjustment before may experience mild symptoms for a day or two afterward because toxins that were trapped within the area of the subluxation have been released. This is a good thing, and means that the body is being cleansed. Any symptoms, such as muscle soreness, are only temporary and are uncommon. The majority of chiropractic patients do not report any side effects, but instead feel immediate relief! Chiropractic adjustments are safe when performed by a licensed and trained professional. In fact, chiropractic care is one of the safest and most effective treatments out there. After an adjustment, you should get adequate rest and stay hydrated. Hydration is one of the best ways to flush out toxins and keep your body in good shape. Additionally, exercising regularly and eating well are key to getting the most out of your chiropractic adjustment. Your chiropractor can recommend nutritional advice and simple exercises that can be done at home to keep your body functioning optimally. When it comes to chiropractic, consistency is key. Ideally, you should adopt healthy habits and come back for routine adjustments to diagnose and remove pesky subluxations before they start causing problems. These “maintenance” appointments will ultimately lead to you staying healthier and pain-free. It is important to note that no medication or exercise can get rid of a subluxation. Exercise and stretching help keep your muscles loose, but only chiropractors can remove vertebral subluxations. As you can see, chiropractic care is an extremely safe, non-invasive, long-lasting, and effective treatment for acute and chronic pain. Correcting the cause of your health problems with chiropractic care can help you avoid costly medications and even costlier surgeries down the road. Stop reaching for the Tylenol and try a chiropractic adjustment! Your body will thank you. If you have any further questions about chiropractic care, feel free to reach out to us. I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from any type of joint or back pain, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last blog, we talked about the different types of diagnostic imaging used by chiropractors. Today, we’ll be discussing why you should see a chiropractor. If you’re someone who has heard about chiropractic care but hasn’t made an appointment for yourself, this article is for you. There is a common misconception that you only need to see a chiropractor if you are injured or in pain. However, this is not the case. In fact, seeing a chiropractor regularly can help prevent injury and pain– But we’ll get to that later. If you are interested in learning more about chiropractic care and why you should visit a chiropractor, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!
What is chiropractic care? First of all, let’s take a closer look at what chiropractic care actually is. Chiropractic is a form of natural medicine that emphasizes the body’s amazing ability to heal itself. Sometimes, interferences known as subluxations can disturb and prevent this healing process. The term subluxation refers to a partial dislocation or slight misalignment of the vertebrae which can block signals within the spinal nerves. Since the nervous system coordinates all healing and function, misaligned vertebrae can irritate spinal nerves and interrupt communication between the brain and body. Subluxations can occur due to an injury or can happen spontaneously, and they can cause a variety of issues and illnesses. (Check out my previous blog to learn more about subluxations!) A chiropractor uses treatments called spinal adjustments to remove these interferences and help the body function optimally. Chiropractic care is a safe, drug-free treatment for a variety of conditions. Why should you see a chiropractor? There are a variety of reasons why people visit chiropractors– And it’s for more than just back pain. Seeing a chiropractor can provide a wide range of benefits and can help you live a healthy, pain-free life. Here are a few of the reasons why you should see a chiropractor. 1. You have joint or muscle pain. When experiencing joint or muscle pain, most peoples’ first reaction is to grab an over-the-counter pain killer, like Tylenol. However, this only masks the pain– It does not address the cause of the pain. The pain could be due to problems with your musculoskeletal system or alignment. A chiropractor can use diagnostic imaging to help determine the cause of pain, and then come up with a treatment plan tailored to your needs. 2. You have chronic back pain. Back pain is considered to be chronic if it lasts for three months or longer. Again, over-the-counter pain medications can only put a “bandaid” over the real issue. This is one of the most common reasons why people see a chiropractor. Back pain can be caused by a variety of things, ranging from something as simple as sleeping in the wrong position or having poor posture, to something more serious like degenerative disc disease, sciatica, or scoliosis. A chiropractor will use diagnostic imaging and look at your medical history to determine the cause of your pain, before coming up with a long-term treatment plan. Chiropractors can also give you advice and tips for lifestyle changes that may alleviate or prevent back pain in the future. 3. You have headaches. Approximately 45 million Americans complain of headaches each year. Many of them will also reach for their medicine cabinet, despite the fact that chiropractic care can offer a real solution. Headaches can range from annoying, mild aches to severe migraines. There are a few different types of headaches, including tension, cluster, and migraine. If headaches are interrupting your daily life, visiting a chiropractor may be beneficial. A chiropractor can determine the types of headaches you are experiencing and the cause. There are many causes of headaches, such as lack of sleep, certain foods, poor posture, and even subluxations. Spinal or neck manipulation can help relieve headaches, and your chiropractor can give you nutritional advice that may be helpful. 4. You’re an athlete or an active person. If you play sports or spend a lot of time working out or being active, your body is subjected to repetitive strain. A chiropractor can treat sports-related injuries and help you recover quickly from them, as well as discuss techniques that can help prevent injury. In fact, athletes and those who are very active should regularly see a chiropractor before an injury occurs– This can help keep your vertebrae aligned and keep your body functioning at its optimal best so that you can continue being active. 5. You have digestive problems. Did you know that chiropractors can help with digestive issues, too? The nervous system controls the digestive system by sending signals to the brain and organs. Since your brain and spinal cord help make up the nervous system, your nervous system has a direct link to the digestive system and to your spine. When vertebrae are misaligned, they can put pressure on nerves or block signals from the brain to the digestive system. This can cause digestive problems, such as heartburn, bloating, and discomfort. Chiropractic adjustments can remove these subluxations to allow the digestive system to work properly. 6. You are pregnant. If you are pregnant, chiropractic care may be beneficial. When a woman is pregnant, her body undergoes many physical and hormonal changes in a short period of time. Pregnancy can shift your posture, causing discomfort. As a result, many pregnant women experience aches and pains in the lower back and hips. A chiropractor can use different techniques and adjusting tables to provide treatment that does not put pressure on the stomach. Chiropractic care is safe and effective during pregnancy and can help manage pain as well as establish pelvic balance. Additionally, chiropractic care can lead to a more comfortable pregnancy and delivery! 7. You have recently been in an auto accident. Many people suffer from neck or back injuries and pain after an auto accident. Even if you initially feel fine after a collision, it’s a good idea to visit a chiropractor to check for any misalignments that may cause pain later. Individuals who have been injured in a car accident often experience intense muscle pain and stiffness, and these conditions can worsen over time, leading to serious issues if left untreated. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after an auto accident. It is a neck injury that can cause pain, loss of range of motion in the neck, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and tingling or numbness in the arms. Some people may also experience blurred vision. Whether your pain is acute or chronic, a chiropractor can treat it. 8. You want to live a healthier lifestyle. If you are interested in a healthier lifestyle, chiropractic care can be a great first step. Your spine is an incredibly important part of your body and is essential to your health. In the same way that we regularly visit dentists to take care of our teeth, we should be doing the same for our spines. In addition to routine adjustments, a chiropractor can provide you with helpful information about exercise routines, stretches, and nutritional advice. These are just a few of the reasons why you should see a chiropractor. Visiting a chiropractor is the first step towards getting healthier, so set up a consultation today! If you have any further questions about chiropractic care, feel free to reach out to us. I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from any type of joint or back pain, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last post, we talked about degenerative disc disease, a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. Today, we’ll be discussing some of the best foods for bone and joint health. Eating a proper diet is essential for our overall health and wellness, but there are certain foods that are especially great for your bones and joints. When it comes to bone health, it is likely that you have heard about the importance of milk. That’s no myth– milk is a great source of calcium, which is great for your bones, and we’ll get into why later. But you are not limited to milk– there are many more options out there to promote healthy bones and joints. If you are interested in learning more about the best foods for bone and joint health, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive right in.
First, let’s take a closer look at bones and joints. Bones are living, growing tissue made up mostly of collagen. Collagen is a type of protein naturally produced by the body and is found in various parts of the body including tendon, bone, and skin. It is the most abundant protein in the body, and plays a vital role in the structure and function of skin, cartilage, bone, and connective tissue. The collagen provides a framework for the bone, while calcium phosphate hardens the framework and adds strength. Calcium phosphate is a type of mineral that aids in healthy bone development and is crucial from infancy to adulthood. More than 99 percent of the calcium in the body is found in the bones and teeth, while the remaining 1 percent is in the blood. The combination of collagen and calcium makes our bones strong and flexible enough to withstand stress. Joints help allow movement and are complex structures made of bone, cartilage, muscles, and ligaments. Bones work together with our muscles and joints to hold our body together and give us the freedom of movement. This is known as the musculoskeletal system. As mentioned before, bone is a living tissue, which means that this tissue is constantly renewing itself. During childhood and adolescence, new bone is added to the skeleton faster than the old bone is removed. This encourages bones to become heavier, larger, and denser. By the time you reach your 20s, the density of minerals in your bones is at its peak. As you continue aging, your bone mass can stabilize or start slowly declining. This decline can lead to fractures and weak and brittle bones, which often results in a disease called osteoporosis. The route your bones take is largely determined by your lifestyle. If you lead a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and a diet sufficient in calcium and vitamins, C, D, A, and K, you can prevent bone loss. Now that we have an understanding of how our bones and joints work, let’s take a look at some of the best foods that promote bone and joint health! Red Peppers Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C, which is an essential vitamin that must be consumed in the diet. Vitamin C is necessary for the body to develop and function properly, and it also helps your body make collagen. As mentioned previously, collagen is essential for bones and joints– it makes up parts of your cartilage, tendons, and ligaments that cushion the joints and hold them together. One medium-sized red bell pepper is one of the richest dietary sources of vitamin C, providing approximately 169% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)! Other foods high in vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, and pineapple. Salmon Salmon is a popular fatty fish that is regarded as one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been found to improve bone strength, prevent bone decay, and augment bone mineralization. Salmon also contains vitamin D, which is also necessary for strong bones and muscles. Vitamin D helps our bodies effectively absorb calcium and phosphorus, which is another mineral found in bones. According to experts, one of the best ways to get the most out of salmon is by buying and eating canned salmon. Three ounces of canned salmon has 187 milligrams of calcium! If salmon isn’t your thing, you can try other naturally oily fish, such as trout or sardines, which also contain omega-3 fatty acids. Almond Butter Looking for a substitute for peanut butter? Almond butter is a great choice. It is made from ground, roasted almonds, which have a reputation for being a healthy snack. Almond butter is generally high in calories, but it is also rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as calcium, potassium, vitamin E, magnesium, and iron. In fact, almond butter contains 60 milligrams of calcium, which is 5% of the recommended daily intake. Magnesium is also important for healthy bones– it helps your body better absorb calcium. Additionally, people with higher intakes of magnesium have been shown to have a higher bone mineral density, which is important for reducing the risk of fractures and conditions such as osteoporosis. Vitamin E has been shown to reduce the risk of bone fractures and preserve bone mass. Cruciferous Vegetables Cruciferous vegetables are a diverse group of vegetables with an array of health benefits. Vegetables that are considered cruciferous include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, and turnips. These veggies are low in calories and rich in antioxidants, folate, vitamins C, E, and K, and fiber. They are considered nutritional powerhouses! Vitamin K is essential for bone health, as it plays a role in the carboxylation of many bone-related proteins and regulates bone reabsorption. Vitamin K activates proteins involved in bone formation and mineralization. Additionally, cruciferous vegetables contain phytonutrients, which are plant-based compounds that may be linked to reducing or lowering inflammation in the joints. Inflammation of the joints can not only be painful, but chronic inflammation can lead to a reduction in bone density. Ginger Ginger is a flowering plant whose root is widely used as a spice. It is among the healthiest spices on the planet, and has been used in herbal medicine for centuries. The main bioactive compound in ginger is known as gingerol, and it is responsible for the majority of ginger’s medicinal properties. Gingerol has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Because of these properties, studies have shown that ginger has reduced symptoms of arthritis. Beans Beans such as kidney, garbanzo, and cannellini beans are rich in iron, which is a mineral needed for the body’s growth and development. Iron helps your body make collagen that is needed to rebuild bone. Additionally, they are great sources of fiber and protein. Studies have shown that dietary fibers can benefit bone health by increasing mineral absorption. Protein can also increase muscle mass and calcium absorption. It is important to note that beans also contain substances called phytates, which can affect the body’s ability to absorb the calcium in beans. A good way to avoid this is by soaking beans in water for several hours before cooking them in fresh water– this reduces the phytate level. These are just a few of the many foods out there that are great for bone and joint health. Just as you regularly take care of your eyes and teeth, you should do the same for your bones! A healthy lifestyle can help prevent bone loss, fractures, and conditions such as osteoporosis. Additionally, keeping your body healthy is a great way to get the most out of your chiropractic adjustments. If you have any further questions about bone health or chiropractic care, feel free to reach out to us. I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from any type of joint or back pain, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! In my last post, we discussed ways to care for your back and stay healthy at home. Today, we’ll be talking about some of the benefits of chiropractic care. Seeking out chiropractic care is the first step to living a healthy, happy, and pain-free life. The body has the incredible ability to heal itself, and chiropractic care can remove subluxations, or interferences, that prevent this healing process. There are a number of reasons why chiropractic care is beneficial for the body and mind. If you are interested in learning more, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!
Data has shown that approximately 70 million adults in the United States deal with some type of chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as persistent pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks. Additionally, approximately 16 million adults experience chronic back pain– That’s 8% of all adults. In fact, back pain is one of the top reasons that people miss work or school and are unable to participate in everyday activities. With that being said, it is no surprise that many people are interested in finding ways to manage their chronic pain. While many turn to medications, this doesn’t always do the job. The use of medication for pain puts a temporary band-aid over the problem, rather than identifying and dealing with the root cause. People who have tried medication and saw no results are often interested in finding alternative ways to manage their pain. Chiropractic care is one of those alternative options, especially when dealing with back or neck pain. Chiropractic is a licensed health care profession that is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders within the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system includes your bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. The main area that chiropractic care focuses on is the spine. Chiropractors are trained to make sure that your body is functioning at its optimal best, and this is done using spinal adjustments to remove subluxations. Subluxations are partial dislocations or slight misalignments of the vertebrae that block signals from your brain to your body. By correcting a subluxation, your body can restore itself to better health. (If you want to learn more about subluxations, check out one of my previous blogs!) Spinal adjustments can realign the joints and lead to pain relief, including pain from conditions affecting any part of the musculoskeletal system. While the overarching benefit of chiropractic care is that you can live a healthier, pain-free life, there are plenty of other benefits. Let’s break some of them down. Improved Immune System Function Did you know that chiropractic care can improve your immune system? Your immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and substances that helps the body fight infections and other diseases. While the body has the natural ability to heal itself, there can be an interference with this process if the immune system is not functioning properly. Interferences can include autoimmune disorders and subluxations. The immune system and the nervous system are in constant communication. The nervous system is essentially your body’s command center– not only does it control your movements, but it also controls other body systems and processes, including digestion, healing, aging, and more. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system, where your brain uses nerves to send signals or messages to the rest of the body. But what happens if one of these nerves is blocked, or a vertebra is misaligned, putting pressure on the nerves? This type of interference, or subluxation, can interrupt your nervous system and immune system, thus interfering with the body’s natural processes. By removing subluxations and realigning joints, function can be restored to the nerves and allow your cells to function the way they are supposed to. Improved Posture Posture is defined as the way you hold your body. There are two types of posture: Dynamic and static posture. Dynamic posture refers to how you hold yourself while you are moving, such as walking or running. Static posture refers to how you hold yourself when you are not moving, such as sitting or standing. Good posture is an important part of your long-term health, and the key to good posture is the position of your spine. Your spine has three natural curves: At your neck, mid back, and lower back. Correct posture should maintain these curves. Poor posture, such as slumping, can misalign your musculoskeletal system, cause neck and back pain, wear away at your spine, decrease your flexibility, and more. Ideally, your head should be aligned over your shoulders and your shoulders should be back, with your stomach pulled in. While practicing can help improve your posture over time, chiropractic care can also help correct poor posture. Slouching forward can stress the spine, resulting in pain. By realigning the spine and vertebrae, pain can be relieved. Additionally, a chiropractor can make adjustments and slow joint movements that help increase movement within the joint. This will ease you into good posture without any pain. Headache Relief There are approximately 45 million Americans complaining of headaches each year. It is the most common form of pain and can range from sharp to dull pain. Sometimes, headaches are accompanied by other symptoms like nausea or dizziness. There are over 150 different types of headaches, with the most common types of headaches being tension, migraine, and cluster headaches. Many people turn to over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol, to relieve pain from headaches, but this does not address the cause of the headache itself. Headaches can be caused by many things, but some of the most prominent causes are stress and back or neck strain. Chiropractic care is an effective treatment option for headaches. Chiropractors can help determine the cause of your headache, and come up with a treatment plan to help relieve your headaches. A 2016 study found that 6 to 8 sessions of cervical and upper thoracic spinal adjustments were more effective than exercise for relieving pain. Chiropractic care can improve both acute and chronic neck pain, which, in turn, can reduce the number of headaches you experience. A chiropractor can also recommend lifestyle changes that can help reduce headaches. Improved Digestion The nervous system controls the digestive system by sending signals to the brain and organs. The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. It is responsible for the breakdown of food into small pieces until they can be absorbed by the body– this process is known as digestion. As mentioned before, your brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. This means that your digestive system has a direct link to your nervous system, and to your spine. When vertebrae become misaligned, they can put pressure on nerves or block signals being sent from the brain to the digestive system.. This can cause issues with digestion, such as bloating, discomfort, and heartburn. Chiropractic adjustments can remove these interferences and help your digestive system function properly. Additionally, chiropractic care has been shown to reduce inflammation within the body, which can promote healing and healthy digestion. Studies have also shown that chiropractic care can help reduce flare-ups from conditions such as Crohn’s disease and manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These are just a few of the many benefits of chiropractic care. Seeking chiropractic care is the first step on your journey to a healthy and pain-free life. If you have any further questions about chiropractic care and its benefits, feel free to reach out to us. I hope you found this article informative. If you or a loved one are suffering from any type of joint or back pain, you may benefit from chiropractic care. Consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic! We specialize in different chiropractic techniques, as well as both therapeutic and Swedish massage. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a long-term treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a healthy and pain-free life– it’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Bob Salamon with Lowcountry Chiropractic. As always, I hope you’re doing well and staying healthy! On my last blog, we discussed fibromyalgia, its symptoms, and potential treatments, including how chiropractic care can help. Today, we’ll be talking about how office workers can minimize back pain at work. Working at a desk for long periods of time is not uncommon these days, especially since many have made the transition to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent Gallup poll found that 45% of full-time employees were working partly or fully remotely in the U.S. in 2021. This likely means that a large percentage of the population is sitting for long periods. If you sit at a desk or at a computer for most of the day, these helpful tips can help minimize pain and discomfort. Let’s get started!
It is widely known that sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause back pain, particularly in the lower back. This can be due to a few factors. First, sitting is a “static” posture: this means that it lacks in action or change. This posture places stress on the back, shoulders, arms, and legs. Consequently, this can put pressure on the back muscles and spinal discs. Additionally, after sitting in a chair for too long, most people have a tendency to slouch, which can overstretch the spinal ligaments and strain the discs and surrounding structures of the spine. Bad posture can cause lower back pain, or make existing pain worse. This pain can be felt in the lower or upper back as well as the neck, from leaning forward to look at a computer screen or other device. Pain caused by long periods of sitting or bad posture can contribute to a person’s efficiency in their working environment, which is known as ergonomics. That being said, one of the key elements to workplace ergonomics is the office chair. It is important to find a chair that is not only comfortable but promotes good posture. Office chairs should be adjustable and customizable for each individual. A chair with adjustable seat height can be altered depending on the type of work being done, and depending on the person’s proportions. Seat width and depth is also important, in order to support the user comfortably. You should be able to comfortably rest your back against the backrest of the chair and support the natural curve of the spine. This is known as lumbar support. The lumbar spine has an inward curve and lack of support for this can lead to slouching. It is also important for an office chair to swivel, or easily rotate, so that the user can reach different areas of their desk without straining. If you feel that your chair is just not doing the job, consider investing in a new one– Your spine will thank you. There are also a few important guidelines to follow to ensure the most comfortable position for your back. These include:
Even after you’ve checked all of the above guidelines off your list, there are still ways you can minimize back pain. A simple thing you can do is get up and stretch for a minute or two every half hour. If you need to, set an alarm or reminder on your phone to stretch. You can also take a short walk, perhaps across the office, or around your desk. Go to a doorway and place your hands on either side of the frame to stretch your shoulders. If your job involves talking on the phone a lot, consider using your speaker, headphones or earbuds, or getting a headset. Pinning your phone between your neck and shoulder while working can lead to stress on the back. Another simple exercise is to just breathe! Believe it or not, taking the time to breathe slowly in and out relaxes the muscles in your mid and lower back. By focusing on inhaling and exhaling, you may find that you unclench your jaw or release tension in other areas of the body. Breathing exercises also engage your core muscles. Meditation and yoga can also be helpful in relaxing the body overall, which can minimize back pain and discomfort. When you finish a long work day, the first thing you may feel like doing is sitting on the couch. However, taking a walk might be a better option– It provides your spine with a different position. Moving and stretching can keep your joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons loose, which will help keep you comfortable. It can also be helpful to exercise your core two or three times a week. Your core includes your abdominal, back, and pelvis muscles. There are plenty of core exercises to try, such as a sit-up or a plank. Find one that works best for you and try to incorporate it into your routine. Regular physical activity can make the back stronger. Another option to consider is a standing desk, which allows you to work while standing up. There are a variety of types, including “static” or “fixed” standing desks, which have a standard height, or adjustable standing desks, which allow you to adjust the height according to your needs. Standing desks have increased in popularity over the years as it was discovered that sitting for prolonged periods of time was not good for the body. The “sit-stand workstation” has also increased in popularity. This involves both sitting and standing up while working, and alternating between the two throughout the day, depending on your needs. A Stanford University study found that 78% of workers who utilize a sit-stand workstation were less likely to experience back pain. If you are experiencing back pain, you can also consider heat therapy. This can be through a heating pad, hot water bottle, or even a hot bath or shower. Most forms of lower back pain involve muscle spasms, which can be soothed with heat. Heat can increase blood flow to the muscles and improve circulation, which can relieve tightness in the back and reduce pain. Applying heat to areas such as the lower back can also help stretch the soft tissues around the spine. This, in turn, can increase range of motion as well as decrease stiffness. It is highly recommended to use cold therapy (gel bag, ice) after heat therapy to reduce the inflammation that heat therapy may cause. Massages and chiropractic care are also options for those suffering from lower back pain. Sometimes, a simple chiropractic adjustment, or spinal manipulation, can be the key to relieving back pain by removing interferences called vertebral subluxations, or pressure on the nerves. As you can see, working an office job or working from home can take a toll on your back. When sitting for prolonged periods of time, it is important to find the right office chair, as well as get adequate physical exercise. Stretching, heat therapy, cold therapy, and chiropractic care are all options to treat back pain. If you are looking for a simple way to treat lower back pain, consider reaching out to Lowcountry Chiropractic. Send us an email or give us a call and we’ll assess the situation and develop a long-term treatment plan to address your needs. We want to help you live a pain-free life– It’s what you deserve. As always, this is Dr. Bob and I have your back covered!  This is Dr. Bob Salamon! Welcome to the Lowcountry Chiropractic blog! We hope you’re doing well and staying cool! As we approach midsummer and begin preparing for fall, the imminent arrival of fall sports might be weighing on your mind, especially if your child participates in an organized sport. Along with the routine of daily practice and the thrill of Friday night games, there’s also the added worry of potential injuries. Today, we’ll discuss the importance of chiropractic care for young athletes, as well as how regular adjustments can prevent injuries and improve performance.
In the United States, more than forty-five million children participate in organized sports. Seventy-five percent of families have at least one child in organized sports. And, between the ages of five and twenty-four, there are two-point-six million emergency room visits every year due to sports-related injuries. That’s a lot of ER visits! At the professional—or even collegiate—level, athletes are afforded medical expertise by some of the most renowned specialists and physical therapists available. They have free reign of top-notch facilities and expensive treatment options. When they’re injured, they’re put on a special time-bound rehabilitation routine. Most young athletes who participate in school or club sports only have access to their coaches. If they’re in an especially well-equipped program then they might have access to a sports’ medicine resident or doctor. These individuals are on hand in case of an injury, not to prevent injuries. Often, the best they’re able to offer is an ice pack and a few tablets of over-the-counter pain medication. With chiropractic care, the goal is to prevent injury, as much as possible. Our main proposition is that with regular care and proper technique, an athlete’s body should be able to manage the stress of physical activity without injury. Our secondary proposition is that with regular care and proper technique, an athlete’s body should be able to repair an injury which has occured due to strenuous activity. The Impact of Sports on the Body Young adults and children are, in more ways than one, particularly vulnerable to injury. Due to increased growth velocity and the closure of growth plates during adolescence, young athletes are susceptible to traumatic and overuse injuries. Traumatic injuries are sudden physical injuries which require immediate attention. These include blunt force trauma, bone fractures, concussions and spinal cord injuries. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive trauma to a muscle or joint. These include conditions such as tendonitis, shin splints and stress fractures. Overuse injuries are caused by training errors—such as taking on too much physically strenuous activity at once or training without proper form. Overuse injuries are common in young adult sports because they are often unregulated in terms of practice hours, practice frequency, repetitions of exercises and rest times. As a result of adolescents’ quick expansion of both muscles and bones, tension develops across the growth plates, the apophyses (sites where tendons or ligaments attach to the bone) and the joints. This increase in tensile force makes these points vulnerable to injury. As well, during adolescence, athletes can display notable decreases in flexibility, coordination and balance. As you can imagine, these deficiencies translate into more frequent injuries. In the event of an injury, child athletes can sometimes be pushed back into competing before they’re fully healed. Children do heal faster than adults—except in regards to concussions—but coaches and guardians must take into account their immature skeletons. Premature returns to competing can result in chronic pain, lessened performance and repeat injuries. How Chiropractic Care Prevents Injury As previously stated, prevention is always preferable to treatment. Chiropractors have the knowledge and expertise to adjust joint segments to enhance mechanical motion. An increased range of motion, for anyone, will lessen the likelihood of a potential injury. This means adolescents can kick, run, jump and flip—as their coaches expect—without constantly fearing a pulled muscle or herniated disk. As well, soft tissue techniques can improve blood flow and muscle tone. Both of these combined could lead to an increased ability to perform and compete. If a young athlete is out-of-alignment, they may experience headaches, disrupted sleeping patterns, fatigue and general soreness. These uncomfortable conditions don’t have to be a side effect of organized sports. With regular adjustments, many of these secondary ailments can be reduced or alleviated entirely. How Chiropractic Care Rehabilitates In the unfortunate event an injury does occur, chiropractic care can be essential in the rehabilitation process. When an injury happens, scar tissue forms around the site, restricting motion, reducing blood supply and trapping nerves. Soft tissue techniques can bring blood flow back to the site and reduce adhesions around injuries. This, in turn, speeds up the process of recovery and allows the body to heal faster. Chiropractic care is a non-invasive form of treatment for musculoskeletal issues and its benefits are innumerable. In addition to increasing range of motion, chiropractic care can reduce pain, lessening the need for over-the-counter or prescription pain medications. Post-practice soreness might not be able to be avoided, but pain which persists for longer than three days may be the beginning of an overuse injury. A short break from training is recommended, as well as a check-up with your favorite chiropractor. While there is a risk of children being injured during practice or play, the benefits of participating in organized sports often far outweighs the negatives. Organized sports help break up the cycle of inactivity which has become more prevalent in children these days. Consistent activity has both physical and physiological benefits; improves caloric expenditure and social development. Youth participation in sports also decreases the likelihood of their participation in high-risk health-related behaviors (such as smoking, using illegal drugs). Young girls who take part in organized sports have a decreased chance of developing breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and obesity. Sports also have a positive impact on their self-confidence and body image. If your child is going to participate in sports, make sure they have what they need to be successful and safe. The right chiropractor will be knowledgeable about which injuries your child might be susceptible to developing and recommend treatment based on your child’s needs. Before and after injuries, chiropractic care is the best option for an adolescent participating in organized sports. If your child is experiencing discomfort or having trouble recovering fully from an old injury, chiropractic care may be the solution. We are here to help! Reach out to set up your first appointment. We look forward to assisting in your or your child’s recovery process. We’ve got your back covered! Thanks for reading! Take care |
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