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. 

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger, also known as Stenosing tenosynovitis is one of the most common workplace injuries. This repetitive strain injury happens when a finger is stuck in a bent position and pops or snaps when straightens. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, located in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan is highly experienced in treating these injuries. You should never wait to seek treatment after an injury, so book your appointment now with Dr. McClanahan.

Causes of Trigger Finger

Any repetitive strain on your fingers can cause an injury like a trigger finger. Whether it’s typing, texting, or gripping tools in the same hand motion, trigger finger happens when you’re doing activities that put extreme strain on your hands. When your fingers are faced with this repeated pressure, the tendon is inflamed, narrowing the surrounding space in the sheath of the affected finger. 

Symptoms of Trigger Finger

One of the main symptoms of trigger finger is the popping or snapping of the finger when it’s straightened back from a bent position. Like a trigger being pulled back and released, your finger will feel these repeated clicks and popping sensations. Your finger may also feel tender and stiff while moving. 

Chiropractic Care for Trigger Finger

While many traditional treatment plans for workplace injuries include surgery and medications, chiropractic care is a great alternative if you’re looking for an all-natural and no side effects solution to trigger finger. Your Nitro, WV chiropractor will use a variety of techniques including massage, ice or heat therapy, and stretching exercises to reduce your finger’s inflammation and promote further healing. 

Don’t hesitate to contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Nitro, WV. Dr. Jay McClanahan is available by appointment. To schedule a time that works for everyone, call 304-776-1520 or visit his website. 

Tall People Problems

Whether it’s being able to see no matter where you are in a crowd or having a natural advantage in sports, tall people enjoy many advantages simply because of their physical stature. But according to the American Journal of Epidemiology, a towering height is also a disadvantage with tall people more likely to experience health issues like back and neck pain. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan is passionate about treating patients of all shapes and sizes, including those who are tall. Here are three reasons why tall people may need chiropractic care and how we can help today!

More Injury Prone

Tall people are more likely to face serious injuries from everyday accidents and falls than the average person. With longer limbs and bodies, there’s more distance to the ground when a taller individual falls. This is why athletes who are lankier suffer from hip injuries and have a longer recovery time in contrast to the shorter athletes. 

Spinal Injuries

The taller you are, the more tendency you have to slouch. While slouching is bad for anybody, short or tall, a bad posture that damages the neck and back is more detrimental for lengthier heights. Your Nitro, WV chiropractor recommends non-invasive procedures like spine exercises and posture correction before its too late. 

Back Pain

Bending in planes and cars, slouching over the kitchen sink or the bathroom while brushing your teeth—if you’re tall, these images may be familiar to you. While tall people are used to adapting their posture in various settings of their life, back pain is an inevitable consequence of this daily struggle. For tips and tricks on how to relieve this pain, contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center today. 

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. 

How Your Chiropractor Helps Your Immune System

 With the coronavirus pandemic spanning the entire globe, building your immune system is more important now than ever. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Nitro, WV, Dr. Jay McClanahan treats weakened immune systems without drugs or surgery, promoting wellness and overall health for our patients today.

Subluxation

Spinal misalignment or subluxation refers to when your spine or another vertebrae is misaligned or moved from its original position. This misalignment can impair the brain’s communication with the body’s neural pathways. Because everything is connected in the body, including the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system, a subluxation can lower your immunity. Your Nitro, WV chiropractor will adjust your spine using a variety of spinal manipulations designed to relieve the pressure of a misaligned spine. 

Diet

At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we aim to provide a holistic treatment plan that leaves our patients feeling better than ever before. This includes a diet plan. A poor diet with unhealthy foods wreaks havoc to your immune system and leaves a person vulnerable to multiple health problems and illnesses. Dr. McClanahan will work with you to develop a diet plan that perfectly fits your routine and lifestyle.

Sleep

Lack of sleep is another factor that impacts your immunity. To promote healthy sleep practices, we employ relaxation massages. Usually, sleeping trouble happens when a person is unable to relax and this massage does just the trick to wind down and sleep better.

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. 

Texting and Tendonitis

Tap, tap, whoosh. You just sent your 50th text of the day. The average American sends 94 texts per day or 33,834 text messages per year. Texting is considered a normal function of modern life, but is your habit causing tendonitis? Dr. Jay McClanahan will address all your concerns about this inflamed tendon injury at his clinic, Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Nitro, WV.

What Is Tendonitis?

Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon. It is a condition that usually affects the wrist, elbows, ankles, fingers, or other parts of the body. Tendonitis occurs when a tendon is injured or overused, whether that’s during a sport or excessive texting.

How to Avoid Texting Injuries

Your Nitro, WV chiropractor recommends frequent breaks and typing slowly for users who text often. In order to reduce texting thumb or tendonitis in the thumb, Dr. McClanahan also suggests using a stylus or alternating between other fingers to text or swipe on your device. To address inflammation, we use a number of inflammation-reducing techniques like Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) and ice therapies to loosen the tendon. 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

EMS is a great way to promote healing for your tendonitis. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, your trusted chiropractor will send a tiny electric current into the affected tendon injury, whether it’s the wrist or the fingers. Not only does this type of stimulation reduce inflammation, but it also releases endorphins which greatly relieve pain. After the inflammation is lessened, the next step is massage or stretching exercises to further boost healing. 

For more information about texting and tendonitis, visit Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV today. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan, visit his website or call 304-776-1520.

Piriformis Syndrome

 Our legs and lower backs are connected, and a problem in one could result in a problem in the other. One of the muscles that connects the top of the femur to the lumbar spine is the piriformis muscle, and when it’s tight, pain may radiate from the lower back. Even worse, piriformis syndrome, as it's known, may cause sciatica. At the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, we’re able to treat piriformis syndrome without drugs or surgery, so we want everyone to understand more about why they should seek chiropractic treatment.

The piriformis muscles are deep within the pelvic region. There is one on each side, and they help to rotate the leg outward. The sciatic nerve of each leg runs through, around, or on either side of its respective piriformis muscle, which is why swelling in the piriformis muscle could compress the nerve. This would result in tingling, numbness, or painful shocks along its length. The piriformis muscle may be compressed due to inflammation of the sacroiliac joint (where the lumbar spine connects to the pelvis), or because it has suffered an acute injury or become worn with overuse. Piriformis syndrome without sciatica would usually feel more like a dull ache.

A diagnosis of piriformis syndrome would usually be made through process of elimination, although it may not be the only thing contributing to a patient’s pain. Treatments are based on stretching the piriformis muscle and increasing its strength. This would be done through therapeutic exercises and soft tissue therapies such as low-level laser and electric muscle stimulation. We can also use chiropractic adjustments to treat the lower back for any subluxations it may have incurred due to the piriformis muscle’s tightness.

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. 

Hip Bursitis

 Do you feel pain in the side of your hip? Does it spread and feel worse when you’re seated? If so, you may be suffering from hip bursitis. Fortunately, this condition is treatable. At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, we utilize non-invasive, non-addictive treatments for problems in the musculoskeletal system, including in the hips, allowing our patients to resume normal activities as quickly as possible.

Bursae are sacs of cushioning fluid found throughout the body in places where muscles, tendons, and ligaments rub over bony protrusions. “Bursitis” is a term used to describe their inflammation, and the bursae that are usually inflamed when a person is suffering hip pain are the trochanteric bursae. These bursae are located on the outer side of the top of the femur. Major muscles stretch over them while traveling from the leg to the pelvis or lower back, and when those muscles are tight, they squeeze the trochanteric bursae.

Although bursae can suffer acute injuries, damage to them is usually caused by long-term wear. Reducing pressure on the bursae will require anti-inflammatory treatment and for the hip muscles to become longer and more flexible. We can assist with this by providing electric muscle stimulation, ultrasound therapy, therapeutic massages, and chiropractic adjustments. We also advise patients on therapeutic exercises that will improve their core strength, reducing the burden on the muscles of their lower backs and hips.

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.