How Chiropractors Help with Bursitis

 

If bursitis is impacting your work, sport, or daily life in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, or Teays Valley, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center is here to help you achieve the relief you desire.

Guide to Chiropractic Care for Bursitis

Many active people suffer from bursitis, but few actually understand what it is – or how it can be treated. This can be a problem because knowledge is one of the most important aspects of seeking the care you need. As such, Dr. McClanahan and our team at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center – your chiropractor in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV – put together this guide to help you be more informed.

What Exactly is Bursitis?

The human body contains various protective mechanisms – one of these is known as a bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions the tendons and bones of the joint. It’s there to prevent the tissues from rubbing against one another, causing pain and friction.

Unfortunately, these sacs can become inflamed due to repetitive motion and overuse. This is known as bursitis. Many athletes and those who work physically demanding jobs often develop bursitis in the knees, shoulders, elbows, and hips. It makes movement more difficult and discomfort to be a regular part of life.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help?

Chiropractors employ various methods for treating bursitis, starting with adjustments. Restoring the alignment of the skeletal system reduces inflammation and promotes healing throughout the body.

Soft tissue therapy can be invaluable for bursitis. It not only addresses inflammation but can also help restore range of motion, increase flexibility, improve blood flow, and release tension.

Chiropractic care also utilizes the power of lifestyle adjustments for healing. Nutritional guidance can teach you what foods contribute to inflammation and which ones fight it. Adjusting your exercise or learning better lifting techniques can prevent inflammation and pain. These are just a couple of examples of lifestyle adjustments, but Dr. McClanahan will recommend the best ones for your needs. He’ll also recommend specific therapeutic exercises that can further enhance healing and prevent future inflammation and pain.

Pain and discomfort from bursitis don’t have to be your “normal.” Call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, or Teays Valley, WV today.

Why You Should See a Chiropractor for Sports Injuries

 

Sports injuries can be very frustrating. They're painful, plus they harm athletes' sports performance and participation, often when they're needed the most. When looking to make a speedy recovery, it's vital that athletes use all available resources. This includes our favorite, chiropractors! At Dr. Jay McClanahan's Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, we offer a host of services designed to take sports injury rehabilitation to the next level. Dr. McClanahan is extensively trained in the treatment of sports injuries.

How Chiropractors Help Rehabilitate Sports Injuries

Chiropractors are an excellent and skillful resource for treating many types of injuries, since they offer expertise and equipment developed especially for the task. Chiropractors treat patients in a natural and holistic way that takes into account all of the body's integrated systems. In Nitro, WV, Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center educates patients on the specifics of their injuries so they know how to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that they get better and stay better. By taking the proper preventative measures, many sports injuries can be avoided completely.

Outside of education, we also offer many services designed to restore and enhance musculoskeletal function and health. For example, we offer massage therapy in order to promote healing and blood flow in our patients. Some other services we offer sports injury patients include: 

• Spinal and Extremity Adjustment: This process enhances posture and biomechanical efficiency.
• Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS): EMS has been known to promote healing, reduce workout recovery time, reduce muscle spasms, and more.
• Therapeutic Exercise: Dr. McClanahan provides targeted exercise routines designed to build or rebuild muscle, stability, and strength.

Our team helps patients narrow down our many different options and choose the best course of treatment for them. We believe that a treatment plan tailored to the unique patient's goals and needs yields the best results.

If you've recently sustained a sports injury in the Nitro, WV, area, our team at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center would be happy to assist you. At your first appointment, the doctor will get an understanding of your condition and create a recovery plan optimized just for you. Booking is simple: give us a call at (304) 776-1520 and let us know what you need. With excellent equipment and experienced staff, trust that you'll be in good hands when you work with us.

Avoiding Common Workout Mistakes

 Exercise holds tremendous benefits for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can increase energy and stamina levels, help to prevent/manage certain conditions, and promote improved sleep. Dr. Jay McCLanahan and his staff of professionals at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV offer these tips to avoid these common workout mistakes.

How to Avoid Common Workout Mistakes

Whether you are a workout pro or just starting out, the most important thing to remember is to listen to your body. Should you feel pain/discomfort, honor the messages being sent and slow down or stop and rest. The reality is that pushing through pain can create new or further existing injuries and set you back on your workout goals.  

• Start Slowly

Perhaps the most common mistake is trying to do an intense or long workout too soon – before your body is capable of handling the exercise and movement. It is best to begin with low-intensity exercises. As your strength and stamina build, you can increase the intensity and duration to meet your revised exercise objective.

• Warm Up

Before you begin any workout routine, it is essential to warm up and prepare your body. This includes a few light cardio exercises and overall stretching prior to beginning.

• Use Proper Form

To prevent injury and optimize your workout results, it is important to try to use the proper form. Check out online tutorials for helpful guidance, or ask a workout buddy.  

• Stay Hydrated

While working out, staying hydrated is the best way to avoid dizziness, fatigue, and even injuring yourself. Be sure you stay hydrated and drink enough water before, during & after you have finished working out and are cooling down.

• Do Not Skip Your Rest Days

The days you schedule rest are equally important as the days you schedule for your workouts. This is needed because muscles need time to repair, and this recovery happens between workouts.

• Mix It Up

In addition to muscle memory, doing the same exercises day in and day out often leads to a stale workout routine that can become dull and boring. Mix up your workout to keep it interesting and engaging, which keeps your body and muscles guessing as to the type, duration, and intensity of the workout.  

Contact Our Leading Chiropractor in Nitro, WV

For additional information on how to stay strong, healthy, and without injury, contact the professional staff at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 304-776-1520 or online. Dr. McClanahan and his team look forward to helping you reach your health objectives and exercise goals.

Risk Factors for Neck Pain

 Neck pain may be common, but it doesn’t have to be a normal part of your life. It can impact anyone, but some people are more likely to experience it than others for the reasons we detail below. If you’re suffering from neck pain in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center can help you achieve relief.

Poor Posture

Poor posture is a top cause of neck pain. Your neck was designed to hold the head upright. When you slouch, your head leans forward, which puts several extra pounds of pressure on the neck.

Poor Sleep Factors

It’s important that your spine remains neutral – even when you sleep. Some mattresses and pillows are available to make this happen. However, if you don’t use them or you sleep on your stomach, you’re very likely to experience neck pain.

Stress

Emotional and mental stress seem to make a home in the neck and shoulder muscles. This leads to both tension headaches and neck pain.

Work Factors

No matter what type of job you have, it can cause neck pain. If you work at a desk, you’re often sitting in one position for a long period with your neck in a forward position. And many people hold their office phones between their ears and shoulders. Physically demanding jobs can lead to repetitive stress injuries in the neck, back, and shoulders. 

Trauma

Any type of trauma can lead to neck pain, including sports injuries, exercise, and auto accidents. You might not always notice neck pain right away. And the injury isn’t always in the neck itself. A herniated disc in the back can cause pain in the neck, too.

Age

It’s not unusual for many people to suffer from neck pain as they get older. Typically, this is due to changes in the spine. Osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis are all more common in older adults. Osteoarthritis impacts the cartilage of your joints, spinal stenosis leads to pinched nerves, and degenerative disc disease increases the risk of herniated or bulging discs.

If any of these risk factors apply to you, regular chiropractic care with Dr. McClanahan in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV can help eliminate and prevent neck pain. Call (304) 776-1520 to schedule your appointment at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

 

The idea of a massage might conjure up images of a luxurious, relaxing spa when you're on vacation. While that experience can definitely feel restorative, you don’t have to shell out for a lavish vacation to experience the many benefits of regular massage. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Dr. Jay McClanahan has a long history of chiropractic massage therapy with patients in Nitro, WV. Learn more about the wealth of benefits it can provide below.

Mental relaxation

Massage therapy has been shown to stimulate the parasympathetic, or “rest and digest”, nervous system, sending the body into a naturally restorative state. This, in turn, reduces stress hormones, lowering anxiety, providing mental clarity, and even improving sleep. 

Mobility and movement

In addition to the mental benefits, chiropractic massage therapy targets tight muscles, fascial adhesions, and other tissue problems that might be blocking normal movement or causing pain. It also stimulates blood flow to both bring vital nutrients to worn-out areas and flush out dangerous toxins.

Inflammation and chronic pain relief

Stress triggers a release of certain hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and others that are designed to help you survive danger. This is valuable in the moment, if you need to nail a presentation or complete a grueling workout. However, when those signals don't subside after they're needed, neither does inflammation. If we can stop them with well-timed massage therapy, the signals fade, helping the body return to a restful, relaxed state.

By stimulating stress reduction, massage therapy helps release hormones that signal an anti-inflammatory response. This makes massage a great option as many chronic pain issues stem from inflammation and an inability to properly recover from stress. 

Other benefits you can expect from regular massage:

• Lymphatic movement to fight illness
• Reduced stress hormones
• Better skin tone
• Greater joint flexibility
• Improved circulation
• General acute injury recovery

Get an appointment for massage therapy in Nitro, WV

Want to learn more about how massage therapy can help you specifically? Get in touch with Dr. McClanahan and our staff at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center by calling 304-776-1520 today.

How Spinal Decompression Therapy Works

 

Spinal decompression therapy uses a variety of techniques to open up the space between vertebrae in order to provide relief. There are several reasons why spinal decompression therapy may be recommended, and it's important to work with a chiropractor who can uncover the underlying cause of your pain in order to provide treatment. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan works with patients who are experiencing back pain, numbness, or tingling down their arms or legs due to a spinal compression. When you have pain, or you are told that you need to have back surgery, a chiropractor may be able to delay or prevent the need for surgery due to a compression.

When You Have a Spinal Compression

A spinal compression can cause pain, numbness, or tingling. You might have an area where you have tight muscles and little or no movement in your spine. Compressions can be caused by an injury, poor posture, chronic issues, or from a problem with your disc. If you have a bulging disc, it is not able to heal once it becomes compressed. When the area between two vertebrae has narrowed, the disc doesn't have any room to repair itself. For pain, stiffness, and poor range of motion because of a spinal decompression, there are options for treatment.

Spinal Decompression and Chiropractic Care

Spinal decompression therapy is progressive, and will involve working with a chiropractor several times a week to get the treatment you need. Gentle stretching of the area can help loosen up tight muscles and open up the space between vertebrae. Spinal adjustments can get your spine into alignment and relieve pressure. Traction will help to ease strain in the area of compression, but will need to be done consistently for the traction to be effective. You will want to see the chiropractor two or three times a week in your early stages of recovery, and learn strengthening exercises to help improve the alignment of your spine. Once you begin learning stretching and strengthening exercises, it is important to work on your exercises in between sessions to improve your chances of a recovery.

Call for Your Chiropractic Evaluation Now

If you are concerned about needing surgery for a spinal compression, it's time to give chiropractic care a try. Call Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV at 304-776-1520, and set up a consultation to meet with Dr. Jay. Together you can discuss your options when it comes to spinal decompression, and try a conservative approach to addressing pain that does not involve surgery.

How Core Strength Protects Your Back

 

At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, protecting your back is at the core of what we do. Speaking of the core, its strength is a big part of the prevention and treatment of spine-related issues. That’s why Dr. Jay McClanahan enjoys helping the people of Nitro, WV increase their core strength. It reduces pain, optimizes performance, and improves overall quality of life, so read on to learn how.

The Muscles That Provide Core Strength

In order to understand how core strength protects your back, we need to take a look at its anatomy and function.

Your core musculature runs along your midsection, connecting your arms, legs, and head to your spine. It’s been described as the cylinder between the diaphragm and the pelvis, which can include muscles such as the abdominals, paraspinals, and even glutes. Technically, your core is divided up into local muscles, or inner core, and global muscles, or outer core.

The inner core muscles lie alongside the spine and help provide stability and stiffness. These include:

• The erector spinae
• Multifidi
• Pelvic floor
• Diaphragm
• Internal obliques

The outer core muscles run from your hips to your ribs, and, in addition to providing stability, they help connect the upper and lower body through movement. These muscles include:

• Rectus abdominis
• External obliques
• Erector spinae

How Core Strength Protects Your Back

While a healthy spine can move freely in all directions, a strong spine can brace against external load to resist movement. A lack of core strength can mean things get pulled out of line, and your spine is left unprotected. Bracing your core, however, helps keep everything in place.

Research shows that core stability exercises manage lower back pain, which makes sense since a big role of core strength is spinal stabilization. Much like a Roman column, a strong core supports a strong overall structure. Creating a strong pillar between your rib cage and pelvis with adequate core strength keeps dangerous stress off of the spine, and therefore protects your back from a painful injury.

Start improving your core strength today

Ready to build a bulletproof core? Get in touch with Dr. McClanahan to set up your appointment at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV by calling 304-776-1520.