How Chiropractors Treat Hip Pain

 Dr. Jay McClanahan at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center serving Nitro, WV, is on hand to offer a range of valuable chiropractic treatments for a range of symptoms and conditions including hip pain utilizing natural solutions that will relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.

What Are the Symptoms of Hip Pain?

Hip pain doesn’t necessarily mean your hip area will be painful. Instead, hip dysfunction may appear as referred pain in the lower back, pelvis, knee, or thigh and the symptoms may vary depending on the underlying cause. Your hip pain may have accompanying symptoms like:

• Muscle weakness
• Pain when walking or after intense exercise
• Swelling or bruising
• Stiffness

These symptoms will help to identify the cause of your hip pain. This allows Dr. McClanahan to recommend the most beneficial treatment plan to relieve your pain, treat the underlying cause, and improve your overall quality of life.

What Is Causing Your Hip Pain?

Hip pain is not one-size-fits-all, and it can be caused by one or more of the following conditions:

• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Fractures
• Infection

For this reason, it’s important to choose a chiropractor like Dr. McClanahan at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center serving Nitro, WV, who has ample hands-on experience treating patients with various musculoskeletal complaints.

How Chiropractors Can Help Treat Your Hip Pain

Dr. McClanahan can help treat your hip pain by utilizing one of several chiropractic treatments, including:

• Adjustments and manipulations to adjust the spine and treat subluxations that may be putting pressure on your hips.
• DTS therapy which stimulates blood flow, sending nutrients to the affected areas and relieving pain.
• Spinal decompression if your hip pain is rooted in disc issues.
• Massage therapy to release tension and spasms.
• Ultrasound therapy to penetrate and start healing at a cellular level.
• Electrical muscle stimulation to activate and repair the muscles.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

The benefits of chiropractic care are well documented, and from the first appointment, you can expect improved mobility and pain relief.  Chiropractic may offer the advantage of preventing the need for surgical intervention or the frequent use of over-the-counter medications. Importantly, chiropractic care offers holistic and natural solutions for people of all ages from all walks of life.

Contact Us!

If you suffer from hip pain or any other musculoskeletal complaint, find your way to Dr. McClanahan and his team at the Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center serving Nitro, WV. Let us offer you complete chiropractic care for pain relief and a better overall quality of life. Why wait? Call us today at 304-776-1520 to book your consultation.

Preventing Disc Degeneration

 Preventing disc degeneration is an essential part of a healthy spine’s maintenance as it helps in the avoidance of back pain and mobility problems that can disrupt one’s daily life or routine. Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, offers this guidance regarding the prevention of disc degeneration.

Preventing Disc Degeneration

While some disc degeneration factors are related to genetics and age, there are many lifestyle modifications that can be implemented or adopted to proactively help protect the discs and decrease the risk of degeneration.

Maintain Your Best Posture

• Good posture is essential for keeping stress on your discs at a minimum.
• Avoid slouching, which helps keep a neutral spine when sitting, standing, and walking.

Take Advantage of Ergonomic Workplace Furniture/Devices

Make sure the space in which you work is set up to minimize spinal strain. Choose ergonomic options for your –

• Desk
• Chair
• Computer Setup

Stay Active/Exercise Regularly

• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
• Physical activity, even simple walking, helps to strengthen the core muscles supporting the spine.
• Take precautions if you engage in sports/activities that may have an increased risk of spinal injury.

Invest in the Right Mattress and Pillow

A comfortable pillow and mattress support natural alignment while asleep.

Lift Properly

• Lift heavy objects properly.
• Bend your knees, not at your waist.
• Use core muscles and your legs to lift not only your back.

Helpful Lifestyle Modifications to Prevent Disc Degeneration

Often, the best medicine is prevention. Consider the following -

Quit/Avoid Smoking

Smoking is associated with decreased blood flow to the discs in the spine, potentially accelerating the degeneration of the discs.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Carrying excess body weight can put added strain/stress on your spinal discs.

Stay Hydrated/Take in Proper Nutrition

• Proper hydration is essential for maintaining the fluid content in your spinal discs.
• Eat a balanced diet that includes calcium, magnesium, and vitamins like D and C - nutrients that support healthy discs/spine.

Avoid Prolonged Sitting

Sitting for extended periods can increase disc pressure, so –

• Take breaks.
• Stand up.
• Stretch regularly when sitting for long hours.

Consider Regular Chiropractic Visits

Routine spinal assessments and adjustments help –

• Maintain proper spinal alignment.
• Reduce strain and wear and tear on your discs.

Call a Leading Nitro, WV Chiropractor Today

If you experience persistent back pain or suspect disc degeneration, consult with Dr. McClanahan or a member of our staff at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 304-776-1520 or use our online contact form.

Who is DTS Therapy For?

 

Are you tired of living with neck or back pain but not interested in invasive techniques? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center offers DTS Therapy to residents of Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley WV.

Who Can Benefit From DTS Therapy?

When you live in chronic pain, relief can feel a million miles away – and you don’t have the energy or ability to make it there. At the same time, the idea of resigning yourself to surgery isn’t very appealing. You’re left wondering whether there’s any hope at all without such drastic measures. Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, are here to tell you there is in the form of DTS Therapy.

What Is DTS Therapy, Anyway?

DTS is a nonsurgical form of decompression and traction that uses biofeedback to treat the target site. It works by gently stretching the spine, relieving pressure from your spinal discs. This leads to a sort of vacuum effect that pulls blood and nutrients in, allowing the body to heal itself.

What Type of Issues Does It Address?

DTS can be used for many symptoms and conditions that leave people stiff with pain. These include but are not necessarily limited to:

• Lower back pain
• Slipped discs
• Pinched nerves
• Neck pain
• Sciatica
• Degenerative discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Disc injuries

As DTS treats the root cause of the pain, it can provide relief that other methods simply cannot, as many focus only on treating the symptoms.

Depending on which of the above you suffer from, the number of treatments you need will vary. Typically, to enhance recovery and relief, your chiropractor will combine DTS with other treatment methods. The combination will not only help you heal but also strengthen the weakened area, reducing the chances of experiencing the same pain in the future.

If you’re ready to put an end to your chronic pain, visit Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley WV to find out if DTS Therapy is a good choice for you. Call (304) 776-1520 to schedule your appointment today.

Tips for Preventing Sports Injuries

 

Are sports injuries causing you pain or keeping you benched? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center provides personalized, effective chiropractic care to athletes of all levels in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV.

7 Tips for Preventing Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can negatively impact your game – and your daily life. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent these injuries. Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center serving Nitro, WV, shares seven important tips below.

1. Never Skip Warm-Ups, Cool Downs, and Stretches

No matter your activity, your body needs the opportunity to prepare and repair. Always warm up and stretch before you begin. And then take some time to cool your body down and stretch again once you're done.

2. Don’t Forget Your Water

You need to keep your body hydrated properly throughout training, practice, and competitions. Don’t head out the door without a full water bottle and sip on it as much as you can.

3. Wear the Proper Gear

Whether you’re a runner, you play football, or you have a different sport of choice, there is gear available for protection and support. Be sure to outfit your body with the proper gear to limit the chances of injury.

4. Don’t Overdo It

Most athletes push themselves beyond their limits, but this can lead to many injuries. And those injuries can – in turn – negatively impact your performance. It’s safer to gradually build yourself up, giving your body the time to adapt.

5. Make Rest a Priority

Even the mightiest need time to rest and refresh. And if you forego this process, it can actually cause you to perform poorly. Be sure that you give your body plenty of time to rehab and recharge so that you can stay on top of your game.

6. Use Proper Techniques

Using improper techniques in your sport of choice is a very quick way to injure yourself. Invest the time into learning the proper way of doing things and ensure you do them every single time.

7. Fuel Your System

Your body needs the right types and amounts of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals to support your activities. When your body is fueled properly, there is a reduced chance of injury.

Whether it’s recovery from sports injuries, injury prevention, or performance improvement, chiropractic care with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center can help. If you live in or around Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, or Teays Valley, WV, call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

How Your Chiropractor Can Help With Shoulder Pain

 

Is shoulder pain making life difficult? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley WV can help you achieve the relief you desire naturally.

Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be a difficult thing to ignore. It might not always be front and center in your life, but it rears its head when you lift your arms or move a specific way. And when it does, it can be distressing, to say the least.

When you do experience shoulder pain, chiropractic care is a safe and natural way to get rid of it. Dr. McClanahan and the team at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, share just a few ways in which chiropractors can help.

Restoring Alignment

Shoulder pain sometimes comes from a misalignment either in the shoulder joint or somewhere in the back. Regardless of the location, restoring alignment through spinal or extremity adjustments addresses the root of the pain.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Alignment issues can impact the soft tissues in and around the shoulder joint causing tension and pain. And sometimes, the pain begins with an overuse injury of the soft tissues, tension, or a similar issue. Chiropractors offer a variety of soft tissue therapies, depending on the root cause. These can include massage therapy, ultrasound therapy, myofascial release, and much more.

Strengthening, Stretching, and Restoring Range of Motion

Therapeutic exercises are key for both recovering from and preventing shoulder injuries. These targeted movements help stretch tight or tense muscles and strengthen weakened areas. Additionally, they help restore your range of motion so that you can move your shoulder more freely and naturally.

Adjusting Habits

Often, shoulder injuries and pain are due to daily habits and lifestyle factors. For example, overuse injuries can come from sports, repetitive lifting, and other regular tasks. Chiropractors work with you to determine why the pain and injury are present and address any contributing factors.

If you’re tired of shoulder pain getting in your way in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley WV, call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center.

Correct Backpack Usage for Kids and Teens

 Preparing to send your kids back to school? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, Cross Lanes, Charleston, St. Albans, and Teays Valley, WV, shares tips for proper backpack usage.

How to Use a Backpack Properly

Backpacks are essential for school, as they help young kids and teens carry everything needed for a prepared day. Unfortunately, they are often responsible for neck, shoulder, and back pain. As a parent, the last thing you want is to cause your children pain, but you might feel hopeless in this area – but you’re not.

While you might not be able to control how much homework they have, you can take steps to reduce or eliminate their pain. Dr. McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center shares tips below to help parents of Nitro, WV, for choosing, packing, and using a backpack.

Pick a Backpack That’s Just Big Enough

The backpack should not be bigger than your child’s back. The larger it is, the harder it can be to distribute weight properly. And it can be a temptation for students to add extras. Keep it small so that there’s just enough room for the essentials.

Keep the Weight in Check

If the packed backpack is more than 10% of your child’s weight, it’s too heavy. Let your child carry some books or their lunch box by hand and dump the non-essentials.

Put the Straps to Use

Adjust the straps so that the bag doesn’t hang below your child’s waist. Use the waist strap to keep the backpack from moving around as your child walks. Ensure your child uses both shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly. Also, look for padded straps to help relieve some of the pressure on the shoulders and neck.

Strategically Pack the Backpack

The heaviest items should always be closest to the body and at the bottom. Having multiple pockets can provide more opportunities for proper weight distribution.

Keep Your Child’s Spine Healthy

Between wearing backpacks, carrying heavy items, sitting for hours, and sports – for those who play – it’s not unusual for there to be some issues along the spine. Visiting a chiropractor regularly can help maintain spinal wellness and undo the damage your child sustains during their school career.

Let Dr. McClanahan and our Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center team help your student have a pain-free, healthy school year in Nitro, WV. For more backpack tips, sports performance, or other school-year concerns, call (304) 776-1520 to schedule an appointment today.

Workers Compensation

 

Have you been injured on the job? Are you experiencing back pain, neck pain, or headaches resulting from your injury? If you are suffering from physical pain related to a job-based incident, chiropractic care is a holistic, non-invasive modality that can be an effective complementary treatment to help you heal from your injuries. In West Virginia, Workers Compensation insurance pays for medical care due to physical injuries, including repetitive stress injuries, and provides medical services and rehabilitative services as well as coverage for chiropractic care. If you live near Nitro, West Virginia, contact Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center to learn more about how chiropractic care can help alleviate pain and assist you on your journey to recovery. 

How Can Chiropractic Care Assist My Recovery?

Chiropractic care is a natural systemic approach to assist the body in self-healing and help alleviate painful symptoms. Chiropractors do not use medication to treat the body. Instead, chiropractors engage the natural healing mechanisms of the body so the body can heal itself. If you fell down at work or sustained another type of injury and are experiencing back or neck pain, chiropractic care can provide spinal adjustments known as chiropractic adjustments that will help realign the vertebrae of the spine and reduce inflammation and pressure on the nerves. These chiropractic adjustments also assist in reducing inflammation and helping regulate the nervous system. 

Dr. McClanahan’s office in Nitro, WW also provides chiropractic massage, electrical muscle stimulation, spinal decompression, ultrasound, and therapeutic exercises to foster healing and pain relief. Chiropractic massage therapy has numerous benefits, including reducing stress and depression by improving blood circulation and detoxifying the body. Dr. McClanahan offers deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, and relaxation massage, and will recommend the appropriate massage technique to help relax your body and reduce chronic pain. Electrical muscle stimulation uses small electrical currents directed into the soft tissue to reduce swelling and is an excellent therapy for muscle spasms in the back and neck. Ultrasound uses small sound waves to heat the muscles and relax and massage the body’s soft tissue and muscles.

If you have received Workers Compensation in West Virginia, make an appointment with Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center to assess your injuries. Upon your first visit, Dr. McClanahan will conduct a comprehensive exam of your physical injuries and design an individualized treatment program that will assist in your healing and recovery. Dr. McClanahan is also a certified personal trainer and can recommend a therapeutic exercise program that will help you strengthen your body and improve flexibility and range of motion. Call today for an appointment. (304) 776-1520.