How Core Strength Protects Your Back

 

At Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center, protecting your back is at the core of what we do. Speaking of the core, its strength is a big part of the prevention and treatment of spine-related issues. That’s why Dr. Jay McClanahan enjoys helping the people of Nitro, WV increase their core strength. It reduces pain, optimizes performance, and improves overall quality of life, so read on to learn how.

The Muscles That Provide Core Strength

In order to understand how core strength protects your back, we need to take a look at its anatomy and function.

Your core musculature runs along your midsection, connecting your arms, legs, and head to your spine. It’s been described as the cylinder between the diaphragm and the pelvis, which can include muscles such as the abdominals, paraspinals, and even glutes. Technically, your core is divided up into local muscles, or inner core, and global muscles, or outer core.

The inner core muscles lie alongside the spine and help provide stability and stiffness. These include:

• The erector spinae
• Multifidi
• Pelvic floor
• Diaphragm
• Internal obliques

The outer core muscles run from your hips to your ribs, and, in addition to providing stability, they help connect the upper and lower body through movement. These muscles include:

• Rectus abdominis
• External obliques
• Erector spinae

How Core Strength Protects Your Back

While a healthy spine can move freely in all directions, a strong spine can brace against external load to resist movement. A lack of core strength can mean things get pulled out of line, and your spine is left unprotected. Bracing your core, however, helps keep everything in place.

Research shows that core stability exercises manage lower back pain, which makes sense since a big role of core strength is spinal stabilization. Much like a Roman column, a strong core supports a strong overall structure. Creating a strong pillar between your rib cage and pelvis with adequate core strength keeps dangerous stress off of the spine, and therefore protects your back from a painful injury.

Start improving your core strength today

Ready to build a bulletproof core? Get in touch with Dr. McClanahan to set up your appointment at Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV by calling 304-776-1520.

How Do You Know If You Have Sciatica?

 

If you’ve been experiencing pain that extends from your lower back down your leg, you may be affected by sciatica. Although sciatica is one of the most common forms of back pain and typically goes away after four to six weeks, it can be quite troublesome. The good news is that a visit to a chiropractor can help alleviate your pain. If you live in Nitro, WV, visit Dr. Jay McClanahan at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. He will provide you with a personalized treatment plan.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition that refers to an injury to or irritation of your sciatica nerves. You have two sciatica nerves: one on each side of the body. These nerves stretch from your hips, through your buttocks, and down your legs. Sciatica occurs when these nerves become irritated or pinched.

Typically, sciatica happens when the jelly-like cushions between your vertebrae, called discs, rupture. This can cause inflammation or pressure on a nerve root. Other possible causes of sciatica include:

• Aging
• Being overweight
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Smoking and alcohol
• Diabetes

Fortunately, sciatica is typically not a chronic condition. While it can go away without medical treatment, chiropractic care will alleviate your pain and help you recover more quickly.

How Do You Know If You Have Sciatica?

A tell-tale sign that you may have sciatica is if you’re experiencing shooting pains from your lower back down your leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. The level of pain can range from relatively mild to debilitating. 

Other symptoms of sciatica include:

• A feeling of numbness in the buttock, leg, or/and foot
• Muscle weakness in your leg and/or foot
• A tingling sensation down the leg
• Hip pain
• Increased pain when you move
• Loss of bowel and bladder control

When you have sciatica, the pain may be incessant or it may come and go. Sufferers describe the pain as shooting, sharp, or stabbing. The pain may get worse when you stand or sit for a while, or when you suddenly move.

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

A chiropractor can provide relief from pain caused by sciatica and can also prevent the condition from occurring again. Chiropractic treatments include spinal manipulations to move a herniated disc back into place, and also spinal decompression to relieve the compression of the nerves.

A chiropractor like Dr. Jay can also show you chiropractic exercises that will help alleviate nerve and muscle pain. You don't need to live with the discomfort and pain that sciatica can cause. Drop by the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, or call them at (304) 776-1520.

Osteoarthritis and Joint Dysfunction

 Osteoarthritis is the most frequent form of arthritis that people suffer from. More than 32 million people in the United States are affected. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. It can make doing ordinary tasks more difficult. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV provides therapy and treatment that can help reduce pain and stiffness in the affected joints. 

What is osteoarthritis?

This type of arthritis is a degenerative joint disease. With this condition, the cartilage breaks down within the joints, and this causes the bones to also change. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber between the bones in your joints and when it deteriorates, it is bone on bone. This is usually a slow condition that happens over time. It can become a debilitating condition in some people, and for others, it is just a painful inconvenience.  

Causes of osteoarthritis

While osteoarthritis is usually considered a disease of aging, it can happen at any age. It is also more common in women than men. It can result from an injury to the joint, or it may be the result of a genetic defect in the cartilage. 

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually begin in one joint or just a few. The most common symptoms are:

• Pain in the joint when used
• Pain goes away when the joint is resting
• Pain worsens at night
• The joint is stiff in the morning or after it has been rested
• Swelling in or around the joint
• Joint movement becomes limited
• Joint feels unstable

Treatments for osteoarthritis

Your chiropractor has treatments that can help with osteoarthritis and joint dysfunction. 

Chiropractic adjustment

Chiropractic adjustment can help with misalignment in the spine, but it can also be used for misalignment in any of your joints. Getting things back into alignment can help with mobility and function as well as pain. 

Ultrasound therapy

Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to help with inflammation and pain. It vibrates the tissues and promotes healing in the tissues and joints. It can be especially effective on the knees and hips.  

Chiropractic massage

With a relaxation massage, the muscles relax and when they do, it allows the joints they support to have a better range of motion and less pain. Studies have backed this up. 

Therapeutic exercise

Therapeutic exercise is targeted at specific areas and can help to improve your range of motion and mobility and activity is good for arthritis. 

Contact us

For information or help with osteoarthritis, call Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, serving Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley at (304) 776-1520. 

How do Heat and Ice Therapy Work?

 Chiropractic care offers an option when you prefer a holistic approach to healthcare. When it comes to sore muscles and strains and sprains, hot and cold therapy is a way to provide treatment without having to resort to medication. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV provides chiropractic treatments including cryotherapy to residents in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV. 

What is cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is the use of cold temperatures, at or near freezing, to treat injuries, inflammation, and pain. When you use an ice pack on your sprained ankle, you are using cryotherapy at its most basic level. It can be used as a whole-body treatment, or it can be applied to a particular part of the body. 

It is often used to help accelerate the healing of injuries in athletes. Using ice packs for muscle pains has been mainstream for years. When the ice pack is removed, the circulation is increased in the area and this helps not just raise the temperature, but to promote healing and pain relief. When cold is applied, it encourages the production of endorphins, which are nature's pain relievers.

A 2000 study showed that cryotherapy provided temporary relief for the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.  

Heat therapy

Heat therapy increases blood flow to the area that is injured or in pain. It is often used with stiff and sore muscles. Heat treatment is usually more effective when it comes to chronic pain and arthritis. But some chiropractic therapies also use heat to treat soft tissues and promote healing. Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to vibrate and health the tissues below the skin and help promote healing at a cellular level. 

Heat is also psychologically comforting and when you are sore, you want to be comforted. That is where a heating pad or warm packs can help. A hot stone massage uses heat therapy to help relax and provide a feeling of contentment. 

Cold and heat therapy are often used one after the other to treat injuries in the soft tissues. Cold brings down the swelling and slows the blood flow and heat increases blood flow and provides relaxation and comfort.

Contact us

Don't wait, call our office today. Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV will help you with your pain. The option of cryotherapy will be discussed and if hot and cold therapy makes sense, it can be used. Reach out to us at (304) 776-1520. 

Muscles of the Back

 

Your back's muscles are some of the most important in your body because they serve many important roles. Thankfully, Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center, staffed by Dr. Jay McClanahan, can help Nitro, WV, residents understand their back muscles and the problems that affect them. With our help, you can prevent long-term back pain and minimize your suffering for years to come.

Common Types of Muscles in the Back

Your back has 40 muscles in 20 different pairs, each of which helps your body differently. Listing them all here would take up too much space, so let's focus on some of the most commonly used types and what they do for you. These groups include:

• Muscles that move the head, including sternocleidomastoid, semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, and longissimus capitis
• Muscles that move the upper arms, including latissimus dorsi, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres major, and teres minor
• Muscles that move the upper thighs, including iliopsoas and psoas minor muscles

These essential support muscles keep your body strong and improve your movement. Unfortunately, they're also the most commonly damaged muscles because they are frequently used. Thankfully, Dr. McClanahan can help Nitro, WV, residents manage these back muscles and minimize long-term pain.

Back Pain Prevention and Treatment

Severe back pain may occur when you overwork or damage muscles in your back. For example, it's not uncommon for athletes to experience extensive back pain when starting a new activity. Other people may develop back pain due to inactivity or lack of exercise.

Managing back pain requires working with a skilled professional who understands each muscle group in your body. While injuries are more common in the areas highlighted, they can occur anywhere. Thankfully, our team of professionals can help you by providing various treatments. These therapeutic methods include:

• Back strengthening exercises that minimize strain 
• Physiotherapy to improve flexibility and strength 
• Long-term support, including guided recovery methods 
• Hands-on massage or chiropractic care to reduce back pain

Preventative techniques can help minimize your risk of injury. For instance, working the muscles highlighted in the previous section can help keep them strong and reduce your injury risk. You can also visit us regularly for maintenance checkups to check for muscle weakness and improve your overall strength.

Help is Here for Your Back Issues

Back pain can make life very difficult and may require the help of our professionals at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Dr. McClanahan can treat back muscles in Nitro, WV, to help you recover from severe injuries and other concerns. Call us at 304-776-1520 to learn more about your care options and ensure you get the high-quality support needed for your recovery.

Chiropractic Care for Auto Injuries

 

After an auto accident, you may not feel great. You may have a headache or dizziness, a sore neck and back, and an achy shoulder. Talk to your insurance company about your auto injuries, then give Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV a call for an appointment to get evaluated. 

Adjustment and Manipulation

Adjustments are usually done to the spine but can be done to other joints in the body if that is where the misalignment is. After an auto accident, your neck may need an adjustment and also your shoulders. It is not uncommon for the upper back to also be injured when the head snaps back and forth. When the vertebrae in the spine are out of alignment, messages can't get through, and this causes dysfunction all over the body. Adjustments can help the entire body feel and operate better.  

Chiropractic massage

When you have auto injuries, you may be sore all over. What could feel better than getting a massage? A relaxation massage can help you to relax after the stress of an accident. A deep tissue massage can get the knots out caused by stress and pain. Massage goes hand in hand with other chiropractic treatments, including adjustments. When you are relaxed, all the other therapies work more efficiently. 

Therapeutic exercise

Your chiropractor will design an exercise program for your specific injuries. It will allow you to continue to improve your condition between visits. Stretching is usually included as well as resistance exercises. 

Electric muscle stimulation

Tense muscles need to be relaxed, and electric muscle stimulation uses electric currents to tire muscles out so that they relax. It also stimulates the production of endorphins which help reduce pain. 

Ultrasound

Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to help with pain and inflation in the tissues deep beneath the skin. The waves heat and vibrate, which accelerates healing. 

Spinal decompression

Spinal decompression is a treatment that helps with a herniated or bulging disc. It allows it to go back into its correct location without having to resort to surgery. A very precise computer program is used to stretch the spine and then relax it. It moves the vertebrae so that the disc can move back into the correct space. 

Contact us today

For auto injuries, Dr. McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center in Nitro, WV offers a variety of treatments and therapies that can get you back to your pain-free life. We also serve Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley. Give our office a call at (304) 776-1520.

Treatment for Degenerative Disc Disease

 

Chiropractic is an effective treatment option for those suffering from degenerative disc disease in Nitro, WV. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center offers non-invasive and natural which can help increase the range of motion, reduce inflammation, and relax muscle tension.

DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy

The spine consists of bones called vertebrae separated by tough cartilage pads known as intervertebral (inter = between; vertebrae = "bones of the spine").

When a spinal disc is injured or herniated, it can put pressure on a nerve root and lead to symptoms like pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, and even muscle spasm. The DTS System alleviates this pressure by restoring normal spinal motion and movement patterns through computer-controlled adjustments along the anatomical lines of the spine.

For DTS Therapy, patients lie on a comfortable treatment table and are strapped into an adjustable harness supporting their lower back. A decompression device cycles through brief moments of pulling and relaxing (oscillation).

This process is safe and efficient, using FDA-approved equipment to apply distraction forces accurately, graduated manner to spinal structures.

Spinal decompression, or unloading the vertebrae through distraction and positioning, has demonstrated the ability to separate them from each other gently, creating a vacuum inside the discs affected by the degenerative disc disease in Nitro, WV. 

Chiropractic Massage Therapy

Chiropractic care doesn't stop with adjustments; chiropractors also utilize other therapeutic methods to help their patients feel better and promote overall well-being. Massage therapy is one such example - an invaluable addition to chiropractic care.

This treatment can help alleviate stress, lower blood pressure, and boost your immune system. It also relaxes and elongates muscles, so they remain relaxed - keeping them aligned and preventing pain from returning.

Massage and chiropractic are also excellent ways to help the body heal faster from injury. Many people find that massage and chiropractic work together for faster healing, improved muscular function, and more profound stress relief.

Chiropractic and massage differ because they target the skeletal system, while massage therapists work on soft tissues like muscles and tendons. Both techniques provide adequate pain relief but with distinct approaches.

Chiropractic Adjustments and Manipulation

An adjustment is when Dr. McClanahan applies controlled, sudden pressure to one joint. This often produces a popping sound, like cracking your knuckles.

Other treatments for muscle tension include trigger point therapy, which helps to release tension in tense muscles. 

Dr. McClanahan can also utilize instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy and electrical stimulation as part of their treatments.

Contact Dr. J Chiropractic and Wellness Center at 304-776-1520 to schedule your appointment with Dr. McClanahan to take your first step to get relief from degenerative disc disease in Nitro, WV.