Electrical Muscle Stimulation

 Dr. Jay McClanahan of the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center offers electrical muscle stimulation in Nitro, WV to help relieve pain and aid in the recovery process.

What is Electrical Muscle Stimulation?

Electrical muscle stimulation is also known as E-stim and EMS. It is a treatment during which electrical impulses are sent to a targeted area to speed up the natural recovery process and address pain.

 

How Does it Work?

Dr. McClanahan will connect electrodes to the area being treated. The E-stim device sends electrical pulses through the electrodes, which causes the muscles to contract repeatedly. The contractions help strengthen the muscles as well as promote blood flow to that area. The pulses also block receptors from sending pain signals to the brain. Treatment can be used at different points in the treatment process. However, it is often beneficial for people who cannot yet comfortably manage physical therapy or exercise.

 

Benefits of Treatment

Electrical muscle stimulation in Nitro, WV provides several benefits, including the following:

-Aids in recovery

-Reverses or prevents muscular atrophy

-Promotes the production of endorphins, which improves the mood and encourages relaxation

-Reduces swelling and soreness, including after a rigorous workout

-Relieves pain associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia

-Relieves body aches, fatigue, chronic headaches, and chronic pain in muscles and joints

 

Conditions Electrical Muscle Stimulation Treats

There are many conditions that electrical muscle stimulation is used to treat, some of which are listed below.

-Loss of motor skills

-Tendonitis

-Bursitis

-Spinal cord injuries

-Inflammation of the nerves

-Joint pain

-Muscle weakness

-Stroke

-Fibromyalgia

-Arthritis

-Chronic stress and muscle tension

-Sports injuries

-Muscle spasms

-Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you suffer from a condition that electrical muscle stimulation can help, Dr. McClanahan will discuss the benefits and the treatment process with you.

 

Who Should Not Receive Treatment?

Electrical muscle stimulation is generally a safe process. However, there are some situations in which treatment is not recommended. For example, patients who have skin sensitivities, have pacemakers or other heart devices, and women who are pregnant. Dr. McClanahan will help determine if you’re a good candidate by gathering the necessary medical information.

 

If you are considering electrical muscle stimulation in Nitro, WV, book an appointment with Dr. McClanahan by calling (304) 776-1520. The Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center proudly serves patients from Nitro, Charleston, Teays Valley, Cross Lanes, and St. Albans.

What is a Dislocation?

At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, we use non-surgical, non-addictive therapies to help people recover from musculoskeletal injuries. Among the most common of those injuries is a subluxation, which is the partial dislocation of a joint. But what are dislocations, anyway? We thought it would be helpful for our patients if we gave a brief description of how this injury is defined, and why chiropractic treatment is effective for it.

 

A joint is the place where two or more bones connect to each other. When those bones get separated or knocked out of place, they’ve been dislocated. This could happen because of an acute injury, or it could be due to the long-term weakening of their connective tissue. But once the bones are out of place, they are likely to rub against and irritate nearby tissues, resulting in inflammation. Dislocations are often painful and they prevent the bones from going through their full range of motion or bearing weight efficiently.

 

An x-ray can be used to determine whether injured joints are merely dislocated, or if the bones are fractured. If a doctor deems it safe, they will adjust the dislocated bones back into place, relieving pressure on the soft tissues. At our office, we also provide several treatments for reducing inflammation, including therapeutic massages and electric muscle stimulation. Although healing joints may need to be immobilized or allowed to rest in the short-term, preventing a relapse will ultimately require the surrounding muscles to be strengthened through exercise, and to be trained to be more flexible and resilient to injuries.

 

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520. 

Preventing Pain from Fall Yardwork

Each fall, we at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center see people who are concerned about injuring their backs while raking. This year, especially, when many people were less active in the summer, many will have weakened cores and be at greater risk for injury. We can assist people suffering lower back and joint pain by practicing several holistic, non-addictive therapies, but we wanted to share some reminders about preventing pain from raking and establishing good health practices.

 

The first thing to decide whenever you put your back at risk is whether you need to be doing the chore at all. You might want to consider using a leafblower, or at least staggering your raking over several days. Before you rake, do dynamic stretches, and put on clothing that is form-fitting but breathable. After at least five minutes of stretching, begin raking while standing with your feet in a scissor position, so that you can make use of your leg muscles to pull the rake as well as your arms and shoulders. Switch your feet and which hand is higher on the rake about every fifteen minutes to prevent cramps.

 

As you pick up leaves, squat down instead of bending your lower back. Test the pile to see whether you can lift it easily, and frequently try lifting the leaf bag to determine whether it’s too full for you to move. After a few hours of activity, do a cool down and cover the leaves you haven’t bagged yet with a tarp. If something else requires you to bend down, bend at your hips, and remember to stay hydrated. If done properly, raking can be good exercise and an opportunity to get sunlight and Vitamin D.

 

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520. 

Obesity and Joint Pain

Are you experiencing aches and pains that you didn’t experience when you were at a “lighter” weight? If so, Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center can deliver the tools you need to get your weight back on track. When you walk across level ground, the force on your knees is equivalent of one and a half times your body weight. Extra weight can put unnecessary pressure on muscles and joints, fortunately, we have the solution.

If you don’t like what you see in the mirror, or you are experiencing extreme discomfort due to excess weight, we offer a weight loss program that helps patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight by primarily reducing body fat and retaining muscle mass. Whether you want to lose 10, 20, or 50lbs, our program is a short-term plan with a beginning, middle, and end. If you are interested in learning more about this program, schedule a consultation today.

If you have questions or concerns regarding degenerative disc disease or spinal decompression therapy, please give us a call. To learn about 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.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression puts negative pressure on each disk, to alleviate the pressure and pain associated with compressed disks. When a disk is compressed, the disk material moves from its place between each disk, into the space occupied by the nerves. When these nerves become crowded, the patient experiences great pain and pressure that is not alleviated by even the strongest of pain medications. At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, Dr. Jay McClanahan relieves this severe discomfort using the ABS System, a state of the art spinal decompression machine that delivers decompression therapy in a safe and comfortable manner.

Spinal Decompression Therapy involves stretching the spine, using a traction table or similar motorized device, with the goal of relieving back pain and/or leg pain. The ABS machine treats disc bulge and herniation, disc degeneration, sciatica, spinal stenosis/arthritis, and facet syndrome. The machine is computer controlled and the patient is fully clothed during treatment. Dr. McClanahan will fit you with a harness around your pelvis and another around your trunk. You either lie face down or face up on a computer-controlled table. Dr. McClanahan operates the computer, customizing treatment to your specific needs.

If you have questions or concerns regarding degenerative disc disease or spinal decompression therapy, please give us a call. To learn about 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.