Beat Back Pain by Strengthening Your Core

At Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, we find that the majority of our patients with back pain lack core stability. A weak core can increase the risk of disc bulges and nerve damage. There are numerous exercises that can be done, even in the comfort of your own home with little to no equipment needed, to steadily build your core, relieve back pain, and ultimately prevent future back pain.

Some core-building exercises include:

-Plank

-Clamshell

-Bird Dog

-Glute Bridge Single-Leg Progression

-Pelvic Tilt/Glute Bridge

-Side Plank

-Tabletop Leg Press

-Superman

-Dead Bug

-Cat Stretches

-Reverse/Forward Lunge

These exercises help with balance, function, stability, and limit the chances of getting seriously injured. Dr. J wants to inform his patients with new knowledge about their back pain and how they can treat it with an at-home regimen on days when they do not come into the office. However, it is important to remember that if any of these exercises increase pain, numbness, or weakness, you should immediately stop doing them and speak to your chiropractor.

Strengthen your core to prevent back pain! We are happy to address any questions or concerns that come up as well. Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located at 642 Cross Lanes Drive in Nitro, WV 25143. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit drjbackdocwv.com or call the office at 304-776-1520.

Therapeutic Ultrasound for Soft Tissue Injuries

When you think “ultrasound,” a pregnancy is typically the first thing to come to mind. A machine that is used diagnostically to screen the body internally. But did you know that there is a therapeutic ultrasound machine designed for injuries related to soft tissues, joints, and muscle spasms? Dr. Jay McClanahan at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, takes pride in staying up to date with chiropractic methods and technology. Dr. McClanahan is excited to offer therapeutic ultrasound to his patients!

Dr. McClanahan first applies coupling gel, much like a screening ultrasound for a pregnant woman, on the skin of the problem area. He then uses the ultrasound emitting wand and passes it over the skin, the wand producing heat. The gel reduces friction and allows better transmission of the ultrasound waves. The heat helps reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and decrease stiffness and pain. Therapeutic ultrasound has been shown to facilitate the body’s healing process as well.

Therapeutic ultrasound has been proven to:

-Break down scar tissue
-Heat tissue
-Increase the rate of healing
-Relax tissue
-Increase blood flow

Are you interested in treating your soft tissue injuries with therapeutic ultrasound? We are happy to address any concerns or questions you have! Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located at 642 Cross Lanes Drive in Nitro, WV 25143. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit drjbackdocwv.com or call the office at 304-776-1520.

What is Subluxation?

We at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, understand that accidents happen. A slip, bump, fall, or another sudden trauma has the ability to cause subluxation, a misalignment in your spine. When or if an accident occurs, Dr. Jay McClanahan is readily available to get you on a personalized treatment plan. While the main goal is to correct the misalignment of your vertebrae and alleviate discomfort, we also work to prevent future subluxations by building up your spinal health.

If you are experiencing subluxation, symptoms include:

- Swelling
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited mobility
- Pain or discomfort
- Degeneration of surrounding muscles, nerves, and bones

Did you know that subluxation is a partial dislocation of the spinal cord? You can probably guess that the pain is no walk in the park. Subluxations are identified through a chiropractic exam, which consists of manual palpation and x-rays. During the manual exam, Dr. McClanahan will check the alignment of your pelvis, joints, and spine. Depending on the severity, treatment options may include medication, rehabilitation, surgery, closed reduction, or a shoulder brace. Leaving subluxation untreated will create more issues for the individual, such as the degeneration of the discs. Your body will try to compensate for subluxation as well, taking on a new, unhealthy shape. Don’t wait to seek treatment! Dr. McClanahan will help.

Do you think you are experiencing subluxation? We’d be happy to take a look and get you started on a treatment plan. Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located at 642 Cross Lanes Drive in Nitro, WV 25143. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit drjbackdocwv.com or call the office at 304-776-1520.

Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic exercise is important for restoring and rebuilding strength, balance, endurance, flexibility, and stability, all in an effort to correct a patient-specific problem. These exercises can also improve your overall health, fitness, and quality of life. We at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, want you to achieve the highest point of rehabilitation and physical fitness with our non-invasive methods. Contact the office of Dr. Jay McClanahan to begin your road to optimal health!

With therapeutic exercise, Dr. McClanahan will work with you to:

- Increase your mobility
- Improve your balance
- Reduce your overall rigidity
- Release any muscles, tendons, or fascia that are contracted
- Mobilize your joints
- Improve your circulation
- Improve your respiratory capacity
- Improve your coordination
- Improve your posture

Therapeutic exercise has also been proven to reduce stress and improve sleep quality. With all of its numerous benefits, everyone should consider partaking in therapeutic exercise. Could you be a good candidate for therapeutic exercise? We are happy to address any concerns or questions you have!

Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located at 642 Cross Lanes Drive in Nitro, WV 25143. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit drjbackdocwv.com or call the office at 304-776-1520.

10 Tips to Prevent Neck Pain

Neck pain happens, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it forever. With some lifestyle adjustments, you can prevent neck pain altogether. We at Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, WV, take pride in educating our patients about good spinal health. Since many of our patients experience neck pain, it's important to take a step back and see what causes it. Only then can you take the necessary steps to treat and ultimately prevent neck pain!

Prevent neck pain by:

- Sleeping on your back
- Drinking plenty of water
- Making sure you are using a comfortable and supported pillow
- Making sure your computer monitor is at eye level
- When texting, keeping your mobile phone at eye level, taking breaks, or using talk-text
- When making a phone call, using a headset or earpiece
- Stretching, exercising, and strengthening your neck muscles
- Carrying weight on your person so that it is evenly distributed
- Practicing a supportive posture (no slumping or hunching!)
- Holding your phone at a distance rather than right in front of you

It’s important to seek professional help if you ever experience numbness, tingling, or pain in your arms, or headaches and weakness. Ineffective pain medication is another indicator that you should see a chiropractor. Dr. Jay McClanahan offers an array of therapies to help patients with neck pain.

Are you interested in treating your neck pain with chiropractic adjustments? We are happy to address any concerns or questions you have! Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center is located at 642 Cross Lanes Drive in Nitro, WV 25143. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit drjbackdocwv.com or call the office at 304-776-1520.

Neuropathy

Chiropractic care and treatment helps with a variety of symptoms and conditions. There is nothing that Dr. Jay McClanahan can’t assist you with. That includes Neuropathy. This symptom occurs in response to another condition, commonly diabetes. Patients experience numbness or tingling in the extremities, which slowly progresses up the limbs. Contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center right away. We are conveniently located in Nitro, WV.

Neuropathy is a loose term that defines nerve damage. A defect in the peripheral nervous system causes these symptoms. It can develop from injury or poor lifestyle choices. As mentioned, it’s often seen in diabetic patients.

When a patient has diabetes, high blood glucose levels damage the organs. Blood circulation is limited, resulting in fluid retention and swollen tissues. This then compresses the peripheral nerves. The results are the negative neuropathy symptoms that the patient complains of.

Chiropractic treatment at Nitro, WV, can diminish if not eliminate your peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Jay McClanahan specializes in treating the nervous and musculoskeletal system. Instead of trying to mask your symptoms with medications, he focuses on the root of the problem. The nervous system is located in the spine. An evaluation determines any abnormalities in the spine that are worsening your symptoms.

The best form of treatment is the spinal adjustment. Dr. McClanahan moves any misaligned vertebrae back into place. These can pinch your nerves, aggravating your symptoms. The uneven pressure from misalignment also leads to neuropathy. By correcting the problem, your symptoms are relieved.

If you or a loved one are struggling with neuropathy, contact Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center today. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan, call 304-776-1520 or visit https://www.drjbackdocwv.com/.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Dr. Jay McClanahan of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center offers Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to patients. This is a chiropractic treatment that results in full-body healing. EMS works by creating a small electrical current and sending it into the injured or painful soft tissue. The results are reduced swelling and a release of locked trigger points. Another benefit is the release of your body’s endorphins. These work as natural pain relievers! To learn more, contact our office in Nitro, WV.

There is no reason to be worried before your appointment. The entire procedure is safe and straightforward. It starts with your Nitro, WV, chiropractor placing electrodes on the injured area. The common spots are the back of the neck, shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, and lower/upper back. These electrodes are what allows the electricity to flow into your body. The electricity mimics the pulses that naturally exist in your body. Your central nervous system then responds to these pulses. The muscles will contract, eventually tiring themselves out. The results are a release of endorphins across your system.

EMS is not a painful process. Patients report that it feels like a tingling yet soothing sensation. There is no burning, stabbing pain, or stinging. Patients suffering from inflammation, muscle spasms, and acute and chronic pain have found success with EMS. Some patients even report headache and stress relief, along with an improved range-of-motion.

Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center offers holistic and noninvasive treatments for patients. EMS helps the body heal by kick-starting its production of endorphins. If you are interested in Electrical Muscle Stimulation, schedule an appointment with Dr. Jay McClanahan today. Call our Nitro, WV, office at 304-776-1520 or visiting https://www.drjbackdocwv.com/.