Healthy posture depends on a healthy gait. There are some shoes that provide healthy support for the musculoskeletal system, and some which only cause misalignments. Part of our mission at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro is providing patients with the information they need to care for their own spinal health, so let’s take a look at what patients should do the next time they need new shoes.
The healthiest shoes are those which are made of breathable material and provide support to the side as well as the bottom of the foot’s arch. There are many sandals being produced that do this, and shoe manufacturers are making dress shoes, flats, and flip flops that are more supportive than past models. But sneakers still have a major advantage in that the cuff and tongue stabilize the ankle, making it less likely to roll.
Shoes should be replaced when they no longer have adequate traction. For running shoes, this could mean every few months. When buying new shoes, shoppers are advised to go later in the day, when their feet have spread out a bit from bearing their weight. It is important to get each foot measured; they are often not the exact same size. If patients need additional support, we can provide them with customized orthotics.
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.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Comfortable Sleep Positions
Do you wake up with pain in your neck or back? You can guess that your sleep position probably has something to do with it, but how should you sleep instead? At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we highly value prevention and want our patients to know how to avoid straining their back muscles. Best sleep practices may require lifestyle changes.
Ideally, the back, neck, head, and pelvis will all be in a straight line during sleep. Stomach sleeping is the position that pushes the body the furthest from this ideal. It thrusts the head backwards and sideways and allows the lumbar spine to sag. Sleeping on the side is a much better option, although it works better when the sleeper keeps a pillow between their knees. Besides keeping the knee joints from rubbing together, this allows the pelvis to remain level, preventing the lumbar spine from bending. Larger people may also favor softer mattresses that their downward-facing hip can sink into for the same reason.
Side sleeping still allows the lumbar spine to sag. The optimal sleep position is on the back, with small cylindrical pillows supporting the curves of the neck and lumbar spine. Most people favor firm mattresses. The only downside is that lying on the back may increase a patient’s risk of obstructive sleep apnea, for which they should get assessed if they find they are still tired after sleeping. Nonetheless, they should notice a reduction in muscle aches.
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.
Ideally, the back, neck, head, and pelvis will all be in a straight line during sleep. Stomach sleeping is the position that pushes the body the furthest from this ideal. It thrusts the head backwards and sideways and allows the lumbar spine to sag. Sleeping on the side is a much better option, although it works better when the sleeper keeps a pillow between their knees. Besides keeping the knee joints from rubbing together, this allows the pelvis to remain level, preventing the lumbar spine from bending. Larger people may also favor softer mattresses that their downward-facing hip can sink into for the same reason.
Side sleeping still allows the lumbar spine to sag. The optimal sleep position is on the back, with small cylindrical pillows supporting the curves of the neck and lumbar spine. Most people favor firm mattresses. The only downside is that lying on the back may increase a patient’s risk of obstructive sleep apnea, for which they should get assessed if they find they are still tired after sleeping. Nonetheless, they should notice a reduction in muscle aches.
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.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
The pelvis plays a crucial role in supporting our upper bodies, so when it’s in pain, that’s a big problem. The Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro is dedicated to providing patients with low-risk, fast-acting pain relief, and when they come to us complaining of hip pain, we have lots of options available.
The sacroiliac joints are what connect the spine to the pelvis. The sacrum is a large body made up of fused vertebrae just beneath the lumbar section of the back, and the iliac bones are the top ridges of the pelvis. When there is inflammation here it is called “sacroiliitis,” although dysfunction does not always result in inflammation. No spinal nerves pass through the sacrum, but pain in the sacroiliac joints can still radiate to the lower back or down the legs. It tends to be worse after the patient has been standing or walking up stairs.
We will want to test patients complaining of hip pain for infections, but sacroiliac dysfunction is usually caused by acute or chronic injury. If a joint is dislocated, we can perform an adjustment. We can also loosen tight gluteal muscles with electric muscle stimulation. Stronger pelvic muscles will relieve pressure from the sacroiliac joints; we can advise patients on which exercises will subject them to the least impact force.
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.
The sacroiliac joints are what connect the spine to the pelvis. The sacrum is a large body made up of fused vertebrae just beneath the lumbar section of the back, and the iliac bones are the top ridges of the pelvis. When there is inflammation here it is called “sacroiliitis,” although dysfunction does not always result in inflammation. No spinal nerves pass through the sacrum, but pain in the sacroiliac joints can still radiate to the lower back or down the legs. It tends to be worse after the patient has been standing or walking up stairs.
We will want to test patients complaining of hip pain for infections, but sacroiliac dysfunction is usually caused by acute or chronic injury. If a joint is dislocated, we can perform an adjustment. We can also loosen tight gluteal muscles with electric muscle stimulation. Stronger pelvic muscles will relieve pressure from the sacroiliac joints; we can advise patients on which exercises will subject them to the least impact force.
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.
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