Back Pain in Golfers

 Back pain is one of the most common issues for golfers in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV face. Learn how to prevent back pain and treat it in this guide from Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center.

Guide to Back Pain in Golfers

There are plenty of great reasons to play golf. It gets you outdoors and gets your heart pumping. It provides an avenue for stress relief and a chance to spend time with friends or family.

For many golfers, though, back pain can put a stop to the fun of the sport. We know how important your game is to you, so Dr. McClanahan and our team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center put together this quick guide for the golfers of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV.

Top Causes of Back Pain in Golfers

The back is one of the most active areas when playing golf, so it’s a prime target for injury. Muscle strains, repetitive use injuries, disc herniations, and nerve compression can occur in the upper, mid, and lower back. Most often, these injuries are due to one or more of the following:

• Improper golf mechanics, such as bending too far or rotating the leg inward at the hip
• Weakened core muscles or engaging the incorrect muscles, which can cause other muscles to overcompensate
• Muscle fatigue from playing for prolonged periods
• Repetitive swinging motions
• Swinging in a way that extends your body beyond its normal range of motion

Preventing Back Pain

Though not all injuries or mishaps can be prevented, you can greatly reduce your likelihood of sustaining a back injury with just a few steps.

• Always stretch and warm up before you hit the course.
• Strengthen your core and take care of your general health.
• Seek regular chiropractic care to keep your musculoskeletal system in optimal shape.
• Take a break if you are in pain. Give your body time to recover while doing some gentle stretches and exercises.

Treating Golf-Related Back Pain

Even if you’ve already sustained an injury, chiropractic care can still be very beneficial. Adjustments and soft tissue techniques can enhance your recovery and get you back on the course faster. Therapeutic exercise, personalized workout recommendations, technique recommendations, and nutritional guidance can also help your recovery, as well as improve your performance and overall health.

If you’re one of the golfers in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, or Teays Valley, WV suffering from back pain or looking to prevent it, call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center.

How Chiropractors Treat Pinched Nerves

 If you’re living with a pinched nerve, Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV can get to the root of your pain and help you achieve lasting relief.

6 Ways Chiropractors Treat Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves are pretty much what the name suggests: nerves that have become pinched or compressed by something. Often, it’s a herniated disc, but muscles and other musculoskeletal components can be to blame.

Chiropractic care is effective, as it seeks to locate the pinched nerve, provide relief, and address the cause of the compression. To do so, Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV utilizes the following techniques.

1. Adjustments

Nerve compression is often caused by a misalignment somewhere in the spine. That misalignment puts undue pressure on the various soft tissues and nerves in the vicinity. Adjustments restore proper alignment, relieving that pressure.

2. Spinal Decompression

Herniated discs are a top cause of pinched nerves, as the inner filling spills out onto the nerve. Bulging discs are another cause, which are those that have “slipped” but haven’t torn. In either case, spinal decompression pulls the discs and their inner filling back in by gently stretching the spine.

3. Chiropractic Massage

When muscle tension is to blame for your pinched nerve or is the result of an injury that caused the pinched nerve, chiropractic massage can help. It helps relieve tension while drawing healing nutrients to the injured nerve and releasing endorphins.

4. Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy provides similar benefits. It reduces inflammation, increases blood flow to the injured area, and promotes regeneration of nerve tissue.

5. Therapeutic Exercise

Targeted movements and stretches can also enhance recovery. Dr. McClanahan will recommend exercises that will target the damaged area to relieve tension and strengthen weakened tissues.

6. Recommendations for Daily Life

A pinched nerve is often due to or aggravated by lifestyle factors, such as being overweight, practicing poor posture or improper lifting techniques, prolonged sitting, and more. Chiropractic care provides specific recommendations and support to address these factors, enhancing your recovery and helping prevent pinched nerves in the future.

Learn more about how chiropractic care can help your pinched nerve in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV by scheduling an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at (304) 776-1520.

Reasons for Lower Back Pain

 If lower back pain has become the norm in your life, Dr. Jay McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV can help.

5 Top Reasons for Lower Back Pain

Back pain can be a pretty versatile issue to deal with, people of all ages and walks of life are afflicted with it. Typically, the pain is caused by one of the issues listed below.

1. Alignment Issues

When a vertebra is out of its rightful place, it can lead to many different issues. In addition to causing tension as your muscles work hard to hold you up, it can also impact your discs, nerves, and more.

2. Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains

Your muscles and ligaments were only designed to withstand so much and move so far. When you push them beyond these abilities, it results in sprains and strains, which leave you with pain, stiffness, and spasms.

3. Spinal Conditions

Some people suffer from issues like scoliosis, spinal stenosis, and spondylosis. Each of these affects the spinal structure, which then impacts the discs, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other spinal components.

4. Disc Problems

As you can see above, many things can affect your spinal discs. These discs are there to cushion your vertebra and absorb shock. When there is an issue like those listed above, however, a disc can be forced out of its proper location or tear. In either case, the disc or the filling of the disc puts pressure on surrounding components and does not provide the cushion you need.

5. Nerve Compression

One of the many issues caused by disc issues is nerve compression. When a nerve is compressed, like in the case of sciatica, it can cause pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.

Contributing Factors for Lower Back Pain

Injuries and pain can happen to anyone. However, some people have a higher risk of dealing with back pain than others. The following are a few factors that might contribute.

• Carrying excess weight
• Repetitive lifting or other repetitive activities
• Living a sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Playing sports
• Improper lifting techniques
• Poor posture

Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV can help you prevent and heal from lower back pain by addressing the underlying cause and any contributing factors with natural, safe methods of relief.

Don’t just sit and suffer from lower back pain in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV. Schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center by calling (304) 776-1520.

What is Kyphosis?

 Kyphosis refers to a medical condition in which the upper spine has an abnormal curvature, causing the upper back to round forward. Kyphosis could lead to hunched posture without a proper diagnosis and treatment. If you are challenged by this condition, Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV can help manage Kyphosis and its symptoms.

The Four Types of Kyphosis

The following are the various kyphosis types -

Postural Kyphosis

This type is among the most common kyphosis. It often manifests in those of adolescent age and is caused by a combination of poor posture and a muscle imbalance instead of a structural issue or problem of the spine. Fortunately, this type of kyphosis is typically reversible with appropriate treatment and exercises that lead to posture correction.

Scheuermann's Kyphosis

Typically developing during adolescence, Scheuermann’s Kyphosis refers to an abnormal growth on one of the spine’s vertebrae. This type of kyphosis creates an inflexible and immovable curvature of the spine. Note that this condition can be painful and may require medical intervention/braces in those cases that are more serious.

Nutritional Kyphosis

Nutritional kyphosis typically develops in childhood for those severely malnourished or seriously deficient in vitamin D. Poor nutrition can lead to weakened bones, spinal deformities, and a hunched or rounded upper back.

Age-Related Kyphosis

This kind of kyphosis – often referred to as dowager’s hump- typically happens to aging individuals, especially those afflicted with osteoporosis. The osteoporosis condition weakens the spine’s vertebrae, which may result in compression fractures that round the spine in the upper back region.  

Congenital Kyphosis

Congenital Kyphosis refers to an abnormal development of the vertebrae that is present at birth. Congenital Kyphosis varies in severity and may require a medical/surgical intervention to repair a deformed spine.

Kyphosis Treatment Options

The options to manage the kyphosis condition will be contingent on its specific underlying cause, the curvature’s severity, and your symptoms. Mild cases are usually successfully managed with chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, posture correction, physical therapy, and lifestyle choices that lead to a healthy weight.

Call a Leading Nitro, WV Chiropractor for a Consultation Today

If you or someone you know/love suspect you may have kyphosis, contact Dr. McClanahan or a member of our staff of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 304-776-1520 or reach out using our online contact form for an accurate diagnosis and a personalized chiropractic treatment plan.