The Benefits of Custom Orthotics

 

The health of our feet is essential for living a comfortable and pain-free life. Many individuals experience issues with their feet that can lead to pain in the foot, knee, and lower back, trouble walking, and poor postural alignment. Custom orthotics are specially designed insoles that go in your shoes to help realign the bones in the feet and ankles. With proper foot alignment, the body does not need to over-compensate to create balance when walking, as the orthotics help distribute the weight evenly. This can alleviate pressure off the hips, back, shoulders, and neck and reduce pain when walking and doing daily activities. If you want to learn more about custom orthotics in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan with Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is an experienced and qualified chiropractor who can evaluate your feet and advise on whether custom orthotics are right for you.

Custom orthotics can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions. Individuals with flat feet, plantar fasciitis, bunions, arthritis, foot abnormalities, bursitis, back pain, and diabetes (foot ulcers) can benefit tremendously from custom orthotics. Custom orthotics can also be helpful for individuals who have recently undergone hip, knee, or lower back surgery. They treat biomechanical misalignments in the feet, which can reduce strain on the surrounding muscles and ligaments and improve gait. Custom orthotics help reduce muscle fatigue, support individuals with excess weight, and increase mobility, and are also highly recommended for athletes, particularly those who engage in high-endurance sports and strength training.

Dr. McClanahan with Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, offers prescriptions for custom orthotics. Upon your first visit with Dr. McClanahan, he will conduct a comprehensive physical exam, including medical history and lifestyle. He will thoroughly examine your feet, ankles, and legs and observe your gait as you walk, and will also examine your posture and spinal alignment to determine if custom orthotics suit you. After receiving your prescription for custom orthotics, you will visit a foot care specialist who will use an impression to make an exact impression of your feet. The foot specialist will create personalized orthotics that help distribute the weight in your feet evenly, improve overall stability, strengthen the ankles, and reduce chronic pain from muscular and ligament strain. 

Custom orthotics generally last a year or more and are a significant investment in your overall well-being and health. Custom orthotics can help alleviate back and foot pain and allow you to conduct your daily activities with freedom and mobility. If you live in Nitro, WV, contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center for an expert evaluation and orthotics recommendation. Your feet will thank you! (304) 776-1520

How Spinal Spurs Can Cause Problems for Your Back

 

A bone spur (osteophyte) is a tiny piece of bone (calcium deposit) that projects out from the bone, usually in persistently inflamed areas. Bone spurs commonly emerge on the spine and are known as spinal spurs; these typically occur near the facet joints and, over time, can narrow the space in the spinal column. Spinal spurs can pinch the nerve roots and cause numbness, weakness, pain in the legs or arms, and swelling in the surrounding tissue. If you are experiencing spinal spurs in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan with Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is an experienced and qualified chiropractor who can help address and alleviate painful symptoms resulting from spinal spurs.

Spinal spurs can affect the health of the back by causing friction between adjacent vertebrae, resulting in the bones grinding together and increased inflammation. Spinal spurs can lead to a compression of the nerve roots, spinal cord compression, degenerative disc disease, and stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spine. This may result in pain and numbness when standing or walking. Individuals with osteoarthritis are particularly at risk of developing spinal spurs - as degeneration causes the cartilage cushioning the ends of the bones to break down, the body attempts to compensate for the loss by growing more bone. Individuals can also develop bone spurs through aging, injuries, poor posture, poor nutrition, and genetic factors.

Chiropractic care can be an excellent modality for treating spinal spurs without invasive surgery. Individuals in Nitro, WV, should contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center for comprehensive and quality care regarding bone spurs and other musculoskeletal system issues. Chiropractic treatments for spinal spurs can include chiropractic adjustments, also known as spinal manipulation. Chiropractic adjustments involve manual manipulation of the spine's vertebrae back into its natural, healthy state. Chiropractic adjustments can help improve joint flexibility, reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and enhance range of motion. While this process will not reverse spinal degeneration, it can halt the progression.

Upon your first visit with Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Dr. McClanahan will conduct a comprehensive exam, including an analysis of symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors. In addition to adjustments and manipulation, Dr. McClanahan may recommend spinal decompression, a specialized therapy that uses a traction table to help move spinal spurs off compressed nerves. A personalized treatment plan may also include massage therapy and therapeutic exercises to help you regain mobility, flexibility, and strength in your back and core.

Dr. McClanahan has vast experience treating spinal spurs and injuries to the back and musculoskeletal system. Call Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center to make an appointment today! (304) 776-1520.

Lifestyle Tips to Prevent Back Pain

 

Preventing back pain generally requires the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and making choices that can help support your back's overall well-being. Dr. Jay McClanahan and his staff of professionals at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV offer these lifestyle tips to help you prevent back pain -

Lifestyle Tips to Help Prevent Back Pain

While most people know that it is important to practice proper posture when sitting, standing, and walking, most people tend to slouch, especially when tired. Remember to avoid back pain and poor posture; keep your back straight, shoulders back, and head and spine aligned. In addition, consider these other lifestyle suggestions to prevent avoidable discomfort and pain -

• Engage in regular physical activity (i.e., walking, swimming, and yoga), as this helps strengthen your abdominal (core) and back muscles, supporting/stabilizing your spine and reducing injury risk.
• Work in an environment that is ergonomically optimized, as this helps to minimize back strain. It is recommended that you select an adjustable chair and desk that allows you a comfortable seated position with a neutral wrist position when typing.
• When lifting, bend with your knees - engage your leg muscles rather than your back and avoid twisting or awkward motions when lifting.
• Maintain a healthy weight to avoid excess back strain – which generally includes eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough regular exercise. Additionally, stay hydrated to prevent back pain.
• Stretch regularly – as this helps to reduce muscle tension and improve flexibility. Avoid sitting for extended periods when possible, but get up and stretch if you do sit for prolonged stretches.
• Choose to wear comfortable footwear that offers sufficient arch support – high heels can lead to back pain.
• Invest in quality pillows and a mattress – restful sleep is incredibly important in support of recovery and staying healthy.
• Learn/practice stress reduction methodologies to minimize muscle tension – which may include meditation, four-square breathing, yoga, etc.
• Quit smoking – the thousands of chemicals in cigarettes have been shown to be toxic and reduce blood flow to the spine and other body parts – ultimately hindering your capacity to heal issues that may cause back pain.
• Avoid activities that require high-impact movements – these types of activities (awkward or abrupt motion) can place excess strain on your back, causing a temporary or chronic issue.

Contact Our Leading Chiropractor in Nitro, WV

If you experience persistent or severe back pain, contact Dr. McClanahan or a member of our professional staff at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 304-776-1520 or online. We look forward to customizing guidance and exercises to help relieve current pain and prevent reoccurring pain.

How Core Strength Helps Your Back

 

Exercise provides tremendous benefits for your overall well-being. It promotes improved sleep and increases your energy and stamina while helping to prevent or manage certain medical conditions. According to Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, exercise also helps build core strength – which is critical for proper support and stabilization for your back.  

How Core Strength Can Benefit Your Back

Core muscles, which include the abdomen, pelvis, lower back, and hip muscles, play an essential role in providing a solid foundation, proper balance, and the protection required for your back and internal organs. In addition, a strong core provides better spine support (thereby reducing disc pressure and maintaining the spine’s natural curvature), and these benefits -

• Strong core muscles help maintain proper spinal alignment – a misaligned spine can cause a muscle imbalance, increases injury risk, and other issues.
• A strong core promotes better posture – which minimizes stress by distributing your weight evenly across the spine. Weak core muscles often cause poor posture, ultimately resulting in chronic back pain.
• The core muscles are your spine’s stabilizing force - they can help maintain proper vertebrae alignment, helping to lessen the risk of injury.
• A strong core helps support proper functional movement – everyday actions - like bending, twisting, and lifting, can be done with reduced strain on your back.
• A strong core may help reduce existing discomfort or back pain – stronger core muscles may help support your spine and reduce or potentially alleviate existing back pain and stiffness. In fact, professional rehab programs managed by chiropractors and physical therapists often focus on core strengthening exercises.

How to Build Core Strength

Dr. J can assess your spine and posture and identify and treat current problems that may impact your core strength or stability – i.e., undiagnosed conditions like postural anomalies or even misaligned vertebrae that may be factors contributing to core muscle weakness.

Dr. J will then create a tailored guidance and treatment plan that is likely to include simple but effective core strengthening exercises – leg raises, planks, and other abdominal-focused movements, as needed.

Contact a Leading Chiropractor in Nitro, WV

For additional information on how spinal adjustments and complementary therapies can assist in core strengthening, 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.