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Tag: chiropractor back pain

chiropractor Wilmington NC
By admin_seuser August 26, 2019 0 Comments Back Pain, Chiropractic Care , , , , , ,

Can Poor Posture Really Cause Back and Neck Pain?

In a word, yes!

Unless your back or neck pain has been caused by some type of over-exertion or acute trauma, it’s actually very likely that poor posture is at least a contributing factor. The alignment of the spine—from the neck through the lower back and hips—is critical to the body’s ability to support its own weight and move efficiently, so posture problems (which are often chronic) can gradually lead to pain and reduced mobility.

When it comes to pain in your back or neck, the relationship between poor posture and injury can also be a complicated one. On the one hand, having poor posture makes it more likely that you will suffer an injury. On the other hand, suffering an injury can also affect your posture. Mary Ann Wilmarth, DPT, spokeswoman for the American Physical Therapy Association explains, “Little things add up. You can increase the pressure on your back by 50% simply by leaning over the sink incorrectly to brush your teeth. Keeping the right amount of curvature in the back takes pressure off the nerves and will reduce back pain.”

How posture problems contribute to neck pain

One of the most common posture problems is a “forward head and shoulder posture”. This occurs when someone “hunches over” and places their head in front of their neck. The weight of the head towards the front stresses the lower neck vertebrae, and leads to overworking of the upper back muscles to compensate for the pull of gravity on the head. Many people with this posture problem also have a rounded upper back and rounded shoulders, which can lead to further stress and shoulder pain. Often, poor desk and chair ergonomics contribute to these problems, but even slouching on the couch or at a table with your mobile phone can lead to hunching over.

How posture problems contribute to back pain

The “forward head” posture described above causes stress on the lower cervical vertebrae, which may end up sliding forward relative to each other as a result of gravity. This is a particular problem for people who have jobs requiring them to look forward or downwards all day. Eventually, the prolonged pressure on the cervical vertebrae will irritate the ligaments and soft tissues, radiating downwards to the upper back. This process can lead to disc degeneration, cervical osteoarthritis and herniated discs.

Tips for improving poor posture and relieving back and neck pain

Poor posture is typically the result of habits that have been developed over long periods of time performing the same activities over and over again. Here are just a few of the most common culprits:

  • Staring at computer monitors or mobile devices that are badly positioned.
  • Sitting in poorly designed office chairs.
  • Sleeping on mattresses that don’t provide the necessary support.
  • Carrying heavy backpacks or purses.

But how do you know which activities are contributing to your poor posture and causing you pain? The clues are usually fairly easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for. For instance, the pain in your neck or back may be worse at some times during the day than at others, or it may come and go with changes in your body position. If you experience fatigue or pain when you first wake up in the morning or after you’ve been sitting at your desk for a couple of hours, it might be time for a new mattress or new office furniture.

The good news is that once you become aware of the activities that are contributing to your posture problems and pain, most can be fixed relatively easily, with no need for either medication or surgery. Learn to recognize when you’re hunching over your computer, slouching in your chair or craning your neck to look at your mobile phone. Then sit up straight, aligning your hips, shoulders and ears in one vertical line.

Sometimes, however, the solution is not so simple—especially when poor posture has caused structural changes in the spine and neck. In these cases, a chiropractor can help by designing posture correction and spinal rehabilitation programs to restore the spine’s normal curvature. These programs will usually involve a combination of mechanical techniques that actively remodel the spine (including the use of braces and molding blocks), exercises and stretches that strengthen postural muscles and restore range of motion, and lifestyle changes to address the root causes.

As experts in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions, chiropractic physicians are specially trained to recognize and correct postural problems. If you’re suffering from neck or back pain and suspect that your posture may be at least partially to blame, call Southeastern Healthcare today at 910-790-3666 to schedule an appointment with one of our chiropractors. We are here for you. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.

chiropractor wilmington nc
By goodbackcare July 25, 2019 0 Comments Back Pain, Chiropractic Care , , , , , ,

20 Surprising Facts About the Spine

The spine rarely gets much thought or consideration, but it is one of the most important features in the human body. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to move, let alone stand upright. It’s so important that it even has its own day – World Spine Day. If that surprises you, then here are 20 more spine facts from Southeastern Healthcare’s chiropractor Wilmington NC.

  1. There are about 22 ligaments in the spine
  2. The spinal cord has more than 13.5 million neurons
  3. The average spinal cord weighs about 35 grams
  4. The spine is so flexible that when bent it can form 2/3 of a circle
  5. The spinal column has more than 100 joints
  6. Humans and giraffes share the same number of cervical vertebrae (seven)
  7. The first cervical vertebrae is called “atlas” after the character in Greek mythology because it “carries the weight of the head”
  8. There are more than 120 muscles in the spinal column
  9. One-fourth of the spine’s length is made up of cartilage
  10. More than 80% of Americans will suffer from back pain at some time in their lifetimes with most injuries resulting from auto accidents
  11. After the age of 40, humans “shrink” at a rate of a quarter- to a third-of-an-inch per decade as a result of gravity’s effect on the spine
  12. Astronauts return to earth approximately 3% taller than when they left because of microgravity’s expanding effect on the spine’s cartilage
  13. Spines have 33 individual vertebrae, but some fuse over time to become the coccyx and the sacrum
  14. The spine has four primary motions – forward, backward, side bending, and rotating
  15. Sitting in a hunched position puts 200-lbs of pressure on the lumbar spine
  16. October 16th is the official World Spine Day
  17. Lying flat on your back with legs elevated puts 25-lbs of pressure on the lumbar spine
  18. The spine is capable of withstanding several hundred pounds of pressure
  19. The spine has a memory. This is why it is so important to make sure it is always properly aligned
  20. People with back pain who don’t undergo chiropractic treatment or rehabilitation are 22 times more likely to experience a relapse

Get Relief from Back Pain – Visit a Southeastern Healthcare Chiropractor Wilmington NC Today

There are dozens of causes of back pain, but a great many of which can be improved simply by being treated by an experienced chiropractor Wilmington NC. Isn’t it time you stopped living in constant pain? Get the relief you’re looking for, safely and holistically, at Southeastern Healthcare.

Call Southeastern Healthcare today at 910-790-3666 to schedule an appointment with one of our chiropractors. We are here for you. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.

chiropractor back pain
By goodbackcare July 18, 2019 0 Comments Back Pain, Chiropractic Care , , , , , ,

Best Stretches for Back Pain

If you live everyday with chronic back pain, then you should schedule a consultation visit with a chiropractor back pain so you can be treated by someone skilled in this area. But, if you have pain but are still able to perform your daily routine, then there are some stretches you can do to help soothe the pain naturally by easing the muscle tension and strain in the problematic area.

Here are seven of the best stretches you can do for back pain. Practice them daily and you’ll notice your mobility will improve and your pain will decrease.

The Child’s Pose

The Child’s Pose is an easy stretch that involves hardly any moving. To do this stretch, you will start by positioning yourself on the floor (preferably on a yoga mat) on your hands and knees with your knees just wider than hip distance apart. Next, turn your toes inward until they touch and push your hips backwards bending your knees.

Once you obtain a comfortable “seated” position, extend your arms forward and let your head to naturally fall forward into a relaxed position. Slowly repeat the stretch 4 or 5 times.

Modified Cobra

The Modified Cobra is a popular stretch in yoga. To do this stretch, you will lie face down on your yoga mat with your body fully extended. Bend your elbows and put your hands flat on the ground where they are even with your chest. Next, you will press your hands down on the floor and raise your head and upper body while keeping your pelvis flat on the floor. Keep your arms fully extended and hold this position for approximately 10 seconds, then relax. Slowly repeat the stretch 4 or 5 times.

 Lumbar Rotation

This is an excellent stretch to help limber up the lumbar. To do it, you lay flat on back with your legs bent at a 90-degree angle and both knees together. Next, you will slowly rotate both knees in the same direction towards to ground while keeping your back or feet on the ground. When you start feeling tension in your lumber, stop and hold the stretch for 10 to 20 seconds and then slowly return to the starting position and repeat the stretch to the opposite side of your body. Continue alternating 4 or 5 times.

Supine Hip Flexor

To do this stretch, you will have to lay flat on your back on a bed or other elevated structure, like a weight lifting bench. Hang one leg off the structure without flexing it. Bend the other leg, grab the knee, and gently pull it up toward your chest. Hold the leg for 10 to 20 seconds and then release. Repeat the stretch with the opposite leg and continue alternating legs 4 or 5 times.

Knee to Chest

This stretch is exactly the same as the Supine Hip Flexor stretch with the exception that it is performed while lying flat on your back with your legs out straight, pulling one up at a time just as in the instructions above.

Glute Stretch

To stretch your glutes, you will start by lying on your back with both feet flat on the floor and both knees bent. Pull your right leg leg up and rest its ankle over the knee of your left leg. Then, pull your left thigh toward your chest and hold the position for 10 to 20 seconds. Repeat the stretch on the other leg and then alternate legs 4 or 5 times.

Hamstring Stretch

Stretching your hamstring might not seem like it has any benefit to your back, but it really does help loosen up the lumbar. To do this stretch, lay flat on your back and interlock the fingers of both hands under the hamstring of one leg. Keep the leg as straight as possible and slowly lift it (without bending at the knee) until tension is felt. When doing this stretch properly, you should feel tension, but never discomfort or pain. Hold the stretch for 10 to 20 seconds and then repeat with the opposite leg, alternating legs for 4 or 5 times.

Is Your Back Pain Debilitating? Call Southeastern’s Chiropractor  Back Pain

If your back pain is chronic or debilitating, then you might have a problem that stretching won’t solve. In such cases, seeing a chiropractor  back pain is recommended. Your spine may need aligning or there may be another pain-causing issue your chiropractor will be able to help you with.

Call Southeastern Healthcare today at 910-790-3666 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced and caring chiropractors. We are here for you. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.

By goodbackcare June 27, 2019 0 Comments Back Pain, Chiropractic Care , , , , , , , ,

Top 4 Myths About Neck and Back Pain

 

neck pain wilmington nc

In Wilmington NC, back pain and neck pain affects thousands of people. Neck and back pain are among the leading causes of disabilities, lost work hours, and healthcare expenses in the entire country. But what many back and neck pain sufferers fail to understand is that relief is attainable.Part of the problem so many people continue to suffer from back and neck pain is due to the fact that they have serious misconceptions on how these painful problems can be treated. To help give you a better understanding, here are the top four myths about neck and back pain and their truths from our chiropractor Wilmington NC.

Myth #1: The Pain is In My Head

Not every cause of pain in the neck or the back is easily identified. This can often leave patients feeling as if their pain is not real, but rather a figment of their imagination. The truth is, certain conditions like depression and sleeplessness can definitely produce non-anatomically-caused pain in the neck or back. But, if the pain persists for weeks or months, then there will almost always be an anatomical cause. Just because your doctor can’t find the cause of your pain does not mean you’re not experiencing it.

Myth #2: The Pain Will Go Away With Rest

Rest will either help or worsen neck or back pain. While certain minor conditions might be alleviated with a day or two of rest, others will be aggravated by inactivity. This is because inactivity causes the muscles to weaken and this puts more pressure on the injured area. There’s a reason why physical therapy is a key treatment strategy for neck and back pain; it’s to help maintain and strengthen the supporting muscles in the affected area.

Myth #3: A Chiropractor Can Injure My Spine Because It is Fragile

Some sufferers of neck and back pain refuse to seek the help of chiropractors because they believe that the spine is fragile and the chiropractor might injure it during manipulation. The reality is, the spine is an extremely complex anatomical structure that’s supported by an incredible network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments and it is difficult to damage. Plus, chiropractors, like other healthcare professionals, undergo extensive training before they’re allowed to practice. They know exactly what they’re doing when it comes to manipulation and improving a patient’s posture and body mechanics.

#4: The Pain is So Bad, The Spine Just Has to Be Damagedwilmington nc back pain

When it comes to chronic pain in the neck or the back, the intensity of the pain is not always indicative of the amount of damage, in fact, it rarely is. For instance, a person with mild disc degeneration may experience significant pain while a person with more severe degeneration might not feel any pain at all. Every case is different and not every cause of long-term chronic pain is due to considerable damage to the spine or require surgical intervention. For a good many chronic pain sufferers, regular spinal manipulation may be all that’s needed to relieve the pressure on the pain producing point.

For Wilmington NC Back Pain Relief, Trust the Chiropractor Wilmington NC at Southeastern Healthcare

When you’re suffering from neck or back pain, it might feel as if there’s nothing you can do to help alleviate the pain. After all, you’ve probably tried all of the usual tactics, like heating pads, cold compresses, rest, and more. But, the problem is you’re only treating the symptom and not the cause and that’s why your pain just won’t go away.

Stop living with debilitating pain – call Southeastern Healthcare today at 910-790-3666 to schedule an appointment with one of our chiropractors. We are here for you. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.  Back pain relief is attainable and our chiropractor Wilmington NC can help.

 

chiropractor in wilmington nc
By goodbackcare October 18, 2018 0 Comments Back Pain, Chiropractic Care , , , , , , , ,

Latest Innovative Chiropractic Treatment Options for Herniated Discs in the Lower Back

Herniated discs are among the most common causes of pain in the lower back. And, when the disc bulges to the point that it is putting pressure on the spinal nerve root, the result can be even more significant with shooting electrical-like pains, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the legs and buttocks occurring regularly.

For years, the traditional treatment for herniated lumbar discs in the medical profession has been via the use of oral steroids and epidural injections of cortisone. The problem is, both of these treatment options have produced extremely limited success rates and in some cases, serious adverse side effects. So, what options do back pain sufferers have besides these ineffective methods?

Using Chiropractic Care to Treat Lumbar Disc Herniation

Recently, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics published the results of a study in which it was discovered that both chronic and acute herniated disks in the lower back can be effectively treated by chiropractic adjustments. The study was performed over one year and involved 148 patients with MRI-confirmed herniated lumbar discs. Prior to the study, each of the patients suffered from serious back pain, sciatica, and radiating leg symptoms. Of the 148 participants, 79 had experienced the symptoms without noticeable relief for more than three months.

Over the course of the study, the patients were treated with high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation and adjustments deemed appropriate for their individual cases. The patients were asked to self-assess the results of the treatments at specific intervals, including within two weeks, one month, three months, six months, and one year. They were also examined by doctors at those same intervals.

Since just 36% of patients with lumbar herniated disk show improvement after two weeks of traditional treatments, researchers were surprised to discover that 69% of the patients in the study reported significant improvement in both mobility and pain reduction after only two weeks of receiving regular chiropractic treatments. At the one month interval, 79.6% reported significant improvement in their conditions. Amazingly, by the end of the third month, 90.5% had reported improvements in their pain levels and mobility. The chiropractic care portion of the study ended after three-months, but the patients still reported their assessments at the six-month and 12-month points with the results showing that 88% still considered their condition substantially improved.

 Chiropractor Wilmington NC Care Offers Zero Side Effects for Herniated Disc Treatment

One of the other significant advantages of using chiropractic care to treat patients with disc herniation is the fact that the patients in the study reported no adverse side-effects from the treatments. This re-confirms what chiropractors already know – that patients with acute and chronic lumbar disk herniation can experience pronounced improvement in their conditions with zero risk of side effects using drug- and surgery-free chiropractic treatment methods. Whereas pain killers and epidural injections only mask the symptoms of the herniated discs, chiropractic care alleviates the patient’s pain naturally and helps their bodies to heal themselves.

Get Relief From Your Lower Back Pain – See Your Chiropractor Wilmington NC

If you suffer from pain in your lower back, Southeastern Healthcare can help you find lasting relief and improved mobility. And best of all, we can do it without using dangerous, habit-forming drugs or other risky treatment methods. Call us today at 910-790-3666. We are here for you. Our chiropractic team can help you manage your pain naturally and effectively. Discover for yourself the difference that safe and effective chiropractor Wilmington NC care can make. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.

By admin_seuser November 6, 2017 0 Comments Back Pain, Chiropractic Care, Health , ,

Chiropractic Care for Herniated Disks in the Lower Back: The Latest Research

back pain chiropractorOne of the most common causes of lower back pain occurs when the spinal disks in the lumbar area become herniated. A herniated disk happens when the bone of the disk itself has crumbled or fractured and the soft inner core bulges out through the outer portion of the disk. This places pressure on the spinal nerve root that runs through the disks, and the result can be pain in the lower back as well as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs and buttocks. Medical doctors tend to treat acutely herniated disks with oral steroids and epidural injections of cortisone, both of which have limited success rates and adverse side effects.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Recently, however, a major study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics has found that both chronic and acute herniated disks can be effectively treated by chiropractic adjustments. This year-long study followed 148 patients whose lumbar disk herniation had been confirmed by MRI scans. All patients suffered from back pain, sciatica, and radiating leg symptoms, and 79 of them had experienced these symptoms without noticeable relief for over three months.

The patients in the study were treated with chiropractic adjustments appropriate for their individual cases, characterized by the researchers as “high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation.”  Throughout the study, the patients were examined by doctors at two weeks, one month, three months, six months, and one year. They were also asked to self-assess the success of the treatments at those points, rating their condition on a scale of “much worse, worse, slightly worse, no change, slightly better, better, and much better.”

Results of Chiropractic Care

The results were surprising, especially because the typical clinical expectation is that only 36% of lumbar herniated disk patients will show improvement after two weeks of treatment. However, among the patients who received chiropractic adjustments in this study, 69% reported significant improvement in both mobility and pain reduction after only two weeks. At one month, that number increased, with 79.6% reporting conditions of better or much better. At three months, 90.5% had reported significant improvements. Interestingly, the chiropractic care in the study ended at the three-month mark, but assessments at the six-month and 12-month points found that 88% reported that their condition was still improved.

The authors of the study reported no adverse side-effects and concluded that a large percentage of patients with acute and chronic lumbar disk herniation could be improved by chiropractic care. This likely comes as no surprise to the many chiropractors who have been treating herniated disks and the resulting lower back pain for years—or to their patients who have benefited from that care—but it is heartening to see scientific research catching up to what we’ve known all along: A drug- and surgery-free approach that treats the whole patient and helps their bodies to heal themselves is superior to masking the symptoms with painkillers or relying on dangerous steroids or epidural injections.

So if you have been diagnosed as suffering from one or more herniated disks, see your chiropractor. You have only your chronic pain to lose, and so much to gain.

Southeastern’s Chiropractor Wilmington NC Can Help You Stay Healthy This Winter

This winter, keep your spine in alignment and enjoy better health and less pain. Routine chiropractic treatments can be your most important ally in your fight to avoid morning stiffness and pain.

Call Southeastern Healthcare today at 910-202-4341 to schedule an appointment with our experienced and caring chiropractor Wilmington NC. We are here for you. With six locations throughout the Wilmington area, we have an office conveniently close to you.