How Massage Therapy Works With Chiropractic

 

If ever there was a match made in heaven, massage therapy and chiropractic care are that match. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV offers health and wellness services to residents of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley WV. 

How chiropractic works

Chiropractic is a way of treating illness and injuries without having to use pain medication or surgery. It is a holistic approach that treats the entire person. When messages from the brain are traveling unencumbered throughout the body, it will operate more efficiently, and be able to heal itself. When the vertebrae are out of alignment, the messages can't get through and problems develop. 

Chiropractic adjustment is the procedure that the chiropractor uses to get the vertebrae back into alignment. There are many different types of adjustments, some are done with the hands and some are done with instruments. Some are very gentle and others can be quite vigorous. All of them have the same goal, to restore alignment. 

Massage therapy

Massage therapy also comes in several varieties and can be gentle and relaxing, or it can be applied with force as it goes after the trigger points that are causing your pain. In its more relaxing form, it is a warm up for a chiropractic adjustment. It stands alone when it is dealing with the trigger points that are the source of pain. 

Massage therapy is also part of an overall chiropractic health maintenance program. Along with nutritional counseling, chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy helps the body to perform at its optimal level. 

If you have been in an auto accident or had a sports injury, massage therapy goes hand in hand with other chiropractic therapies to resolve the pain that can result from these types of injuries. Getting a massage before or after your adjustment can help the results to be even more positive. While the chiropractic manipulation deals with the bones, the massage takes care of the soft tissues. They both assist the body in restoring its natural balance. 

Contact Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV when you are in need of chiropractic care together with massage therapy. Call us at 304-776-1520 for an appointment or use the form on our website.

DOT Physical

 

Everything About DOT

When you need anything done that deals with DOT requirements and federal guidelines, Dr. Jay McClanahan has you covered. Please visit Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, WV., for your next DOT physical. 

What is DOT?

DOT stands for the US Department of Transportation system in the United States. The DOT system is a massive network of, 

• Highways
• Airways
• Railways
• Rivers
• Roads
• Hundreds of waterways

DOT has over 60,000 employees within its management and organizational infrastructure. DOT employees must adhere to strict rules and federal regulations.  

DOT aims to improve public health and safety by decreasing fatalities and injuries associated with all means of transportation and promoting an excellent balance between work and home life through chiropractic care.

Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, WV, can set you up for a DOT physical, or we honor walk-in appointments.

What is Involved with a Physical for DOT Employees?

Dr. McClanahan does DOT physicals at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, WV. The minimum age requirement to work for DOT is 21. You must understand, read, and speak fluent English.  You must have commercial driving experience and training and be licensed for CDL. Passing your physical through this clinic qualifies you for a job to drive a commercial motor vehicle. 

Once you arrive at this clinic, our doctor,

• Fills out an Official Medical Examination Report 
• The doctor assures all his, and your information is correct. 
• Reviews in-depth medical history
• List all medications you take
• Tests vision, hearing, blood pressure, and urinalysis
• Documents your general health
• Oral cavity/throat
• Heart/lungs
• Abdomen
• Urinary system
• Limbs
• Spine 
• Musculoskeletal system

DOT generally overlooks corrective lenses and hearing aids. Your blood pressure must be no more than 140/90. Outside this range, you may have to have your blood pressure checked every three months to yearly. 

A urinalysis checks the urine for,

• Sugar
• Blood
• Protein
• Substances such as cocaine, amphetamines, THC, PCP, or opioids.

The doctor will look for and document specific physical issues. Have you experienced any of the following?

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Brain Injuries
• Paralysis
• A Stroke or Heart Attack
• Substance Abuse
• Dizziness
• Fainting Spells
• Emotional or Mental Disorders
• Overall Wellbeing

Call for Your Physical Today

The doctor must ascertain if you are physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy to drive a commercial motor vehicle. There are physical exemptions that DOT may consider.

Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, at 304-776-1520, 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, WV., asks you to bring the following to your appointment. 

• Current DOT certificate, if you have one
• Photo ID
• List of current medications
• List of pre-existing conditions

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?

 

What is Chiropractic Medicine?

The conventional medical community calls upon these specialized doctors like Dr. Jay McClanahan to treat severe medical conditions like degenerative disc disease at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, WV 25143. 

This alternative treatment believes that the body is self-healing. However, over the last several years, chiropractic medicine has earned the respect it deserves, and now the traditional medical community works in conjunction with chiropractic doctors to enhance patient healing. 

Do You Suffer From Spinal Degeneration?

Spinal degeneration is, 

• Progressive
• Increasingly painful
• Robs you of your quality of life
• Makes walking difficult
  

Degenerative disc disease is loss of fluid in the spinal discs. These discs are what provide cushioning between the vertebrae, and without their fluid, they are less effective and more vulnerable to injury.

Spinal Degeneration is a Four Step Process Toward Disability

Spinal degeneration has four steps. Working with your doctor for a healthier back and spine is always possible, but early intervention can prevent the more severe results from developing. 

Phase 1

• Average balance and curve
• Minor bone loss
• Pressure on the spine, nerves, discs, and joints
• No pain or discomfort

Your chiropractic doctor can help you keep your back healthy and stop the progression of disc damage. 

Phase 2

• Discs narrow
• Bone deformities begin
• Bad posture
• Minor back pain 
• Fatigue
• Stressed 

There is still time for the chiropractic doctor to initiate a plan of care to keep your back healthy and reverse the damage. 

Phase 3

• Physical and mental coercion
• Increased bone stress 
• Decreased energy
• Experience a loss in height

The damage to your spine may be reversible through treatment by your chiropractic doctor. 

Phase 4

When you reach this phase of spinal degeneration, your only recourse is pain control. There is too much scar tissue, bone deformation, and nerve damage. Chiropractic treatments can still make you more comfortable, but the discs might not fully rebuild.

Seek help from Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, 642 Cross Lanes Drive, Nitro, WV 25143. Unfortunately, we cannot help you until you call us today at 304-446-1520. We serve the communities of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV.

Prevent Kyphosis

 

Kyphosis patients in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV, need to look after their spine. Dr. Jay McClanahan and his team at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is there to look after your spinal needs, including preventing kyphosis, while simultaneously providing pain relief and working with you to improve your overall quality of life!

What Is Kyphosis?

Kyphosis is a condition that affects the spine, more common in females. People suffering from kyphosis,  a spinal deformity, are diagnosed via x-ray, where it is established that the curvature of your spine measures 50 degrees or more. There are three main types.

• Postural kyphosis, also known as postural roundback
• Scheuermann’s kyphosis
• Congenital kyphosis

Causes of Kyphosis

If you have congenital kyphosis, it means that you were born with this condition of the spine, but it can also develop for one of the following reasons:

• Neuromuscular conditions
• Metabolic imbalances
• Familial risk
• Low bone density
• Age and poor posture

You are at risk of developing kyphosis if you suffer from Osteogenesis Imperfecta or Spina Bifida. Dr. McClanahan at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center serving Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV, is available to help manage the symptoms and treat your kyphosis and, where possible, the underlying cause.

Symptoms of Kyphosis

Early treatment is vital, and some symptoms to watch out for include the following:

• Shoulder or shoulder blade height differences
• The head bends forward unnaturally compared to the rest of the body.
• The height of the upper back is out of proportion when bending forward.
• Tight hamstring muscles
• Mild back pain

Prevention and Treatment of Kyphosis

The standard treatments for kyphosis are specialized exercises to help strengthen the back, bracing, or surgery. However, when it comes to our health, prevention is better than cure. First and foremost, if you are at risk of developing kyphosis, regular chiropractic check-ups are a must. This helps with early detection while keeping your spine at optimal health through manipulations and adjustments.

As we age, our bones become more brittle, and we are more prone to back pain and slouching. Chiropractic care keeps our muscles strong and toned while decreasing poor posture with a therapeutic exercise regime. Nutrition is another crucial aspect of helping to prevent kyphosis, and specific nutritional supplements help stabilize the metabolic system and support bone health.

Contact us!

If you need help preventing or treating kyphosis in the Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV areas, look no further than Dr. McClanahan at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Call us today on 304-776-1520 to book an appointment for you or a family member.