Thursday, August 16, 2018

Car Accidents and Chiropractic Care

When someone is involved in a car accident that isn’t a major collision, it may seem more like a nuisance than trauma.  People typically worry more about being late for work or an insurance claim and don’t always stop to assess what damage may have been done to their bodies. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we know some drivers and passengers feel the effects of whiplash injuries immediately following an accident, while others may walk away not feeling injured and experience pain later. This is why you should always visit a chiropractor for evaluation.

Whiplash occurs when a person’s head moves backward and then forward very suddenly with great force, causing the tendons and ligaments in your neck to tear. The most common site of pain and stiffness for passengers involved in an accident are the neck and back.  A chiropractor can evaluate these injuries, as well as treat damage to both hard and soft tissue. Depending on a patient’s evaluation the chiropractor may perform an adjustment or assign exercises to help heal a particular injury.  If you have been involved in a car accident of any severity, please contact us.

To learn more about all the services provided at the practice, visit www.drjbackdocwv.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, call 304-776-1520.

Backpack Safety

As a chiropractor and high school sports doctor, Dr. Jay McClanahan recognizes the importance of keeping kids safe from back pain. Now is the time when families are making back-to-school purchases, and knowing how to use the right backpack could make a big difference to kids’ well-being.

The American Chiropractic Association recommends that backpacks never be filled to the point where they weigh more than 15% of the weight of the person wearing them. This means that people should avoid wearing backpacks with wheels and pull-out handles. Children will also need to plan when to swap out textbooks at their lockers and avoid carrying anything they don’t really need. A good way to tell if a backpack is too heavy is to observe whether a child strains when picking it up. If they do, some things need to be taken out.

It is also important to choose a backpack that can be worn correctly. The shoulder straps should be wide and padded, and there should be a strap across the chest. When the straps are tightened, the backpack should rest in the center of the upper back, but the straps should not be tight enough to cut off circulation to the arms. Both shoulder straps should always be worn and parents should ask their children whether they’ve experienced any pain in their backs, necks, or shoulders.

Dr. Jay McClanahan operates the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, West Virginia, 25143. To schedule an appointment, visit Dr J Back Doc WV or call 304-776-1520.

Spinal Adjustments

Chiropractic care is different from other health models. It is based on the idea that the body has the tools to heal itself if it is put in the right position to do so. At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we offer patients treatments that are fast-acting and non-addictive, including the most important tool in a chiropractor’s arsenal, the spinal adjustment.

Nerves relay information between the brain and the rest of the body. When a nerve is pinched, a person may feel pain, tingling, or numbness. But where people feel something wrong is not always where the pinch has occurred. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves descending from the brainstem from which nerves to the rest of the body branch off. A pinch in the spinal cord could have serious consequences for the back and the rest of the body.

In chiropractic terms, a misalignment in the spinal column which pinches the nerves is called a “subluxation.” To fix a subluxation, we carefully apply force to push a misaligned vertebra back into place. This process is safe and requires little preparation from the patient. People who undergo it often notice an improvement in back pain the same day.

Dr. Jay McClanahan operates the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, West Virginia, 25143. To schedule an appointment, visit Dr J Back Doc WV or call 304-776-1520.

Chiropractic Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is often presented as a way to pamper yourself, but the long-practiced therapy has many health benefits. Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center offers chiropractic massage to promote a multifaceted approach to chiropractic care. Combining chiropractic treatment and massage therapy helps improve a patient’s overall musculoskeletal health and functionality. Another benefit of massage therapy is releasing toxins built up in the muscles, which can then exit the body. This is important for chiropractic patients and anyone with injuries because it helps the body heal itself.

Massages are performed in a calm, soothing environment. The relaxation achieved through massage won’t heal injuries but is still important to overall health, especially for patients with chronic pain or stress. Your massage therapist can target problem areas, or focus on relaxing certain muscles in order to help your chiropractor perform an adjustment. Regular massage also increases circulation and flexibility, which makes this therapy highly recommended for patients suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia and muscle spasms.

Chiropractic massage therapy has many benefits and can help anyone feel relief. To learn more about massage therapy and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.drjbackdocwv.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, call 304-776-1520.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center has a pain solution for every patient.  Electrical muscle stimulation is recommended for patients with muscle or soft tissue injuries because it reduces pain and swelling, and can reduce overall recovery time.  When disease or injury occurs, a body’s natural electric current is disrupted.  Electric muscle stimulation mimics the electrical current that occurs naturally in a healthy body to promote healing.

During a treatment, electrodes are placed directly on the skin in the affected area and the machine is turned on.  The gentle current causes the muscles to contract and relax, which relieves pain and can release locked up muscles.  These contractions also trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s most powerful natural pain reliever.  Most patients describe the treatment feeling like a tingling sensation and aren’t uncomfortable during the process. The treatments are short in length and can be scheduled over a series of weeks.

To learn more about electrical muscle stimulation and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.drjbackdocwv.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, call 304-776-1520.

New Patient Visit

At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we are proud to provide a state-of-the-art facility to offer patients with the highest quality of chiropractic care available. We supply patients with weight loss seminars, massage therapy, treatment for auto injury and much more. If you are considering becoming a patient, we would like to tell you what to expect during your initial consultation.

During the consultation, you will meet with Dr. Jay McClanahan to discuss your duration and frequency of symptoms, as well as your areas of pain and what makes the pain feel better or worse. Your case history will include questions about your family health problems, dietary habits, past history of other treatments and occupational history. Once Dr. Jay McClanahan is able to provide you with a diagnosis, a treatment plan will be developed from there. Being well-prepared for your appointment will ensure that he has all of the needed information to provide the best possible care for you.

If you have questions or concerns regarding chiropractic care, please give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visit www.drjbackdocwv.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, call 304-776-1520.

Importance of Health and Wellness

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Each day it is important to make wise decisions for our physical health and mental well-being. Health is a dynamic process because it constantly changes. One day we may feel energized and alert, while the next day we may feel fatigued and groggy. We can take the steps to improve our wellness by bettering our nutrition, physical activity, and stress-coping methods. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center can give you a push in the right direction.

As our quality of life improves, we experience less disease and less illness. It is important to nurture the body with proper nutrients to fight against infection and keep it functioning at its best. Additionally, maintaining a healthy level of physical activity will improve overall emotional wellness. If you need some suggestions for improving your physical and mental well-being, schedule a consultation today.

If you have questions or concerns regarding chiropractic care, please give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visit www.drjbackdocwv.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, call 304-776-1520.