Should You Eat or Drink After A Chiropractor Adjusts You?

The question that many patients have is “What should I eat or drink after a chiropractor adjusts me”? That’s a great question because what you eat and drink can impact the way you feel.

A chiropractic adjustment is a therapy used by chiropractors to adjust a patient’s spine. Patients who receive adjustment therapy generally do so to treat either acute or chronic pain in the neck, head or back. Many patients see a significant improvement in their condition after adjustment therapy.

What Happens During an Adjustment? 

Spinal adjustment therapy is usually performed on a patient as he or she lies down on a table. The practitioner uses his or her hands to apply pressure to the patient’s back or neck. The patient will feel popping or cracking in the back or neck, though adjustment therapy is generally painless.

Food and Drink 

After your adjustments, you can eat and drink as usual, unless your chiropractor specifically tells you not to. One rule of thumb is that the patient should drink plenty of water after an adjustment. Drinking water will provide nourishment to vertebral discs. This keeps the spine flexible. Aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.

In general, people should sleep on their back or side. Sleeping on your stomach requires you to tilt your head unnaturally for hours at a time. Depending on your medical condition, the chiropractor may recommend that you sleep on one side or the other. If you have certain conditions, the chiropractor may recommend that you sleep on your back.

What to Do After an Adjustment 

Your chiropractor in mount pleasant will give you a treatment plan that typically involves returning for multiple adjustments over time. As you move through your treatment plan, your chiropractor will evaluate how well your body responds. He or she may ask about your pain level at each visit. You may need to receive more or less adjustments to find the right balance to improve your condition.

Exercises and Stretches 

While you’re receiving adjustments, most chiropractors will also recommend that you exercise or stretch at home. The chiropractor will either teach you specific stretches or else recommend an exercise therapist.

The exercises are intended to strengthen your back and muscles. Exercising can improve balance and coordination after your adjustment. Beware that if you have a serious back or neck problem, certain exercises may not be possible for you. Yoga and Pilates are generally good options for most patients. However, you should consult with your practitioner before you start an exercise routine.

As previously stated, after spinal adjustments you can eat as usual. Drink plenty of water. Do the stretches and exercises given to you by your chiropractor or physical therapist.

To learn more benefits of chiropractic services read this article.

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Can’t Sleep? Try Going to A Chiropractor

Most people don’t associate sleep with visiting a chiropractor, but there is a real relationship between these two worlds. In fact, chiropractors are often the solution to chronic sleep problems. If you can’t sleep, explore the reasons why a chiropractor in Woodstock might be your best solution.

1. Aligning the Spine 

A chiropractor’s main job is to align the spine. They perform this service by adjusting the body and putting it into specific positions. This practice may seem extreme, but an aligned spine contributes to fewer restless nights.

Pain is ultimately the culprit for your lack of sleep. Misaligned spines create pain along any part of the back. You may not even realize that the spine isn’t in good shape until you experience a chiropractor’s services. If you aren’t in pain, sleep just comes naturally.

2. Improving Blood Flow 

As the chiropractor aligns your spine, other tissues move into their natural positions. Tight muscles, strained tendons and other areas will suddenly feel loose and relaxed. In fact, these areas are now receiving better blood flow than before.

When you’re misaligned, certain blood vessels can be narrowed. Nutrients flowing within the bloodstream don’t have a chance to nourish your tissues. Better blood flow leads to a healthier body that sleeps well each night.

3. Suggesting Sleep Positions 

So, you can’t get sleep? Chiropractors are experts in anatomy. They understand how each bone, tendon and ligament contribute to a well-aligned body. As a result, they’ll know how your body should be positioned during rest for the best night’s sleep.

Ideally, sleeping on your back is the most natural position. Your chiropractor will usually tell patients that sleeping on the stomach is just a recipe for insomnia. However, the chiropractor will look at your individual situation in order to determine the smartest position. Everyone has unique needs when it comes to comfort.

4. Discussing Pillow and Mattress Selections 

The materials that you rest your head and body on are playing a role in your sleep quality. Chiropractors are informal experts in this area because they provide advice about the best beds for their patients. The spine can only remain aligned if the person sleeps on firm pillows and mattresses.

Soft materials allow the spine to bend into unnatural positions after an alignment session. You end up misaligned again, which leads to pain and less sleep. Following your chiropractor’s suggestions about the proper pillows and mattresses will make a difference in your sleep quality.

Always research your chosen chiropractor before heading off to your first appointment. This professional should have the necessary background to align your spine. They can be your partner in quality rest for the rest of your life otherwise.

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The Benefits of Chiropractic Care

What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic Care?

If you are dealing with some pain, consider the benefits of chiropractic care. Millions of people visit the chiropractor every year. While most people think that chiropractors only help people who are dealing with back pain, that is not the case. Chiropractors can treat several types of issues.

Back Issues

If you have low back pain visiting a chiropractor is likely your best option. Undergoing treatment can help reduce the stress and strain on your back within a week. If you are dealing with Vertigo, a chiropractor can also benefit you by putting you in positions to help you regain balance in your ears.

Dealing with Insomnia

Research shows that most Americans deal with sleep issues at some point in their lives. If you are suffering from poor sleep quality, a going to see a chiropractor be a benefit. Many chiropractors use manipulation therapies that can improve your blood flow, causing you to get better sleep.

Boost Your Immune System

Research conducted by several physiological journals shows that chiropractic treatment can help stimulate several types of immune system cells.

Dealing with Chronic Pain

Chiropractors can assist you if you are dealing with inflammation and muscle pain. You can consult with a chiropractor to develop a custom treatment plan. Many chiropractors are using innovative procedures such as TENS therapy and electrical muscle stimulation to treat people who are dealing with chronic pain.

Improve Your Range of Motion

If you perform lots of physical activities on your job, your chiropractor can treat your skeletal system, which will help you perform better.

You Don’t Have to Take Any Medicine

Visiting a chiropractor can act as an alternative to taking pain relief medication. If you are dealing with neck pain, visiting a chiropractor can assist you.

Reduce Your Doctor Visits

Going to see a chiropractor can help you reduce the number of times that you visit the doctor. This could help you save money in the long run.

Assist Your Pregnancy

During your pregnancy, your body will go through multiple changes. Visiting a chiropractor can help prevent lower back pain, as well as pain in the pelvic area.

If You Are an Athlete

If you are an athlete, you should try to visit the chiropractor before and after every game. Chiropractors can help you if you have a neck issue or a hamstring problem.

Help with Migraines

If you are one of the millions of people suffering from migraines, a chiropractor can assist you by treating the nerves in your back, which can help relieve migraines.

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Backpacks For A Healthy Spine

Best Backpacks for a Healthy Spine

Backpacks are to blame for back problems in many kids and young adults who go to school. While this is mostly due to the improper use of the backpack, it can also be the result of using the wrong type of backpack. If you want to fight this type of pain and do your best to keep a healthy spine, then the backpacks below are excellent investments.

Alternatives to traditional bags

  1. Travel Backpack

A travel backpack can be extremely useful even if you’re only using it to go to and from college classes. This is because these types of bags are made to be extremely lightweight. Fortunately, they are still durable and normally made with strong materials that resist water. In addition to this, most travel backs have hip belts on them to reduce the amount of stress that is placed on your shoulders. With this, you can load the backpack with everything you need without being hunched over in pain.

  1. Ergonomic Bag

Ergonomic backpacks are excellent choices for individuals who have back pain because they offer much more support than traditional backpacks. This is partly due to their padded straps, which reduce pain on the shoulders and help distribute weight more evenly. In addition to this, these bags are lightweight yet offer comfortable padding to protect your back from anything you’re carrying inside of the bag.

  1. Wide-Strap Backpacks

If you deal with a lot of shoulder pain from heavy books inside of your backpack, then it’s best to look for a bag with wide adjustable straps. These will help distribute the weight more evenly, so the burden doesn’t only lie on your shoulders. Shoulder straps that also adjust to the shape of your body are even better, as these will provide a more comfortable feel no matter how heavy your bag is.

  1. Roller Bag

To eliminate the weight of a backpack from your shoulders and back, a backpack with wheels is going to be the best option. These have handles, much like luggage, that will extend so you can roll your bag from class to class. You can pack this bag as full as you’d like knowing that you won’t have to carry the weight when you walk. However, some of these types of backpacks do come with straps if you ever want an alternative to rolling.

Finding Solutions to Your Pain

If you have low back pain or shoulder pain, then these backpacks can be a great start to relieving that and working your way towards a healthy spine. However, if the pain persists, it’s important to see a chiropractor. They can help you with adjustments that provide relief and pain reduction to ensure you live a more comfortable life.

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Do Chiropractic Adjustments Hurt?

Does A Chiropractic Adjustment Hurt?

The simple answer is no. Chiropractic adjustments do not hurt and are completely safe when preformed by a docotr of chiropractic care. We’ve heard countless stories from patients who have been terrified from misconceptions and misunderstandings about chiropractic care. They have only resorted to chiropractors when everyone else they have seen can’t help them.

Here we’ll dispel two of the reasons why people think chiropractic adjustments hurt and explain exactly what happens.

Spine cracking videos

One misconception when people have with chiropractic adjustments is that they “sounds painful”. That is, in part, due to the chiropractic adjustment videos that have gained millions of views on YouTube. If your first encounter with chiropractis adjustments is through these videos, there’s a good chance you’ll be turned off from chiropractors. But adjustments aren’t painful, they just sounds like they are.

The “popping” sound originates in the synovial joint, which is a connection between two bones consisting of a cartilage lined cavity filled with fluid. When the joints are forced apart, gasses are trapped in the joint forming gas cavities.

During chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor applies a thrust with a measured amount of force to release the gasses, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which rapidly escape from the joint with a “popping” sound. It’s totally normal to have cavitations, and they’re found in places other than the spine – the knuckles for example. Chiropractors focus on spinal cavitations because chiropractic medicine is rooted in the belief that optimal health would be achieved through a healthy spine. So, if you’re terrified by the cracking videos on Youtube, you don’t have to be, because chiropractic adjustments do not hurt.

Neck cracking videos

Neck adjustments are next to back adjustments in being the most well-known cervical procedures that a chiropractor performs. However, your chiropractor only applies it in situations where it is necessary. When it’s part of your treatment plan, you might think of backing off, especially when its other names are “neck twisting” and “neck cracking”. But, like the cracking sounds from an adjustment, it’s nothing to be afraid of.

Located on the signs of your neck are facet joints, and what happens is like what happens to your spine, where pockets of gas get trapped in the joints. And just like back adjustments, you’ll also hear cracks during a neck adjustment. At most you’ll feel a little sore, but later you’ll feel substantially better. Given that neck adjustment are rarely administered, it should not be a reason to deter you from visiting a chiropractor.

Chiropractic adjustments do not hurt and are completely safe when done by a doctor of chiropractic care.

 

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What’s the value of chiropractic care?

What is the Value of Chiropractic Care?

The focus and care of a chiropractor is directed towards the well-being of the spine. The broad spectrum of the musculoskeletal system including joints, vital organs and nerves are also key focuses for a chiropractor. The value of chiropractic care goes beyond the time you spent in the clinic. Because chiropractors try to remove the obstacles that hinder the body from its natural ability to heal, their treatment includes suggestions for lifestyle changes: nutrition, diet, exercise, acupuncture and other similar treatments. The goal is for a patient’s overall wellness to be achieved through spine health and positive changes to their body.

Back and Spinal Issues

The spine is the major hub for the nervous system. Spinal problems like a simple back pain can just be the manifestation of something more harmful. You may think that you just pulled a muscle, but a chiropractor will beg to disagree.

Back problems can originate from a pulled muscle, but herniated disks in the spine and neck may cause it too. It’s kind of scary knowing that back pain is the only tangible part of the iceberg that hides the greater problem underneath.

How Can Chiropractic Care Fix These Problems?

Finding and treating the root cause of the problem has always been a chiropractor’s mission.

When the source of your troubles have been found, the treatment that follows usually takes time. It’s because chiropractic methods are non-medicinal and non-surgical. This means that it will take a while for the rest of your body to adjust to the treatment.

To many patients, chiropractic care is their last resort. When they’re on the very edge of hoping for a cure they’re putting all hope on their chiropractor. Reluctantly these patients sign on for the treatments, but when their condition improves gradually, they see the value of chiropractic care.

How Qualified Are Chiropractors?

For a non-medicinal, non-surgical practice, chiropractors are usually grouped together with physical therapists. A chiropractor’s expertise, knowledge and training is vastly different from a physical therapist though.

Both work on the arena of physical medicine and treat the biomechanical dysfunction of the body, but the approach to healing differs. As a musculoskeletal expert, a chiropractor stresses the proper functioning of the nervous system. To resolve the issues a patient is facing, a chiropractor focuses on the interaction between the nerves, the spine and the muscles. They also focus on why it negatively affects proper function, and by the help of an adjustment, resolves it.

While it may seem a chiropractor can do it all, they stick to their strengths. They can establish a diagnosis, rule out complicating conditions, and prescribe a regimen of care independently. When it’s evident that a patient’s care is beyond what chiropractic care can provide, it’s their duty to recommend a doctor qualified to treat them.

That is the value of chiropractic care: a low-risk, non-surgical, non-medicinal care that by solving the root cause of your problems, can provide you with relief and guide you towards better health.

 

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What to Eat and Drink When You’re Preparing for a Marathon

What to Eat and Drink When You’re Preparing for a Marathon

You may be surprised, because the best thing to eat is fast-absorbing carbs. You need food that’s rich in simple sugars to fuel the muscles for running. It also has to be easy to digest so your running won’t be impeded. We know water is super important to drink throughout the day and leading up to your marathon, but the best things to drink are those that have plenty of electrolytes and vitamins! 

At 30-60 minutes in, here is what is best to eat and drink mid-run:

 

What to Drink Mid-Run

  • Coconut water

Although coconut water isn’t some magical beverage that people claim it to be, it does have its merits. 

It’s a great source of electrolytes: phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium; it also provides your body with carbohydrates. Your stomach digests it well so if you’re the type who can’t hold food and liquids in after a run, this is good for you.

To give coconut water an interesting twist, incorporate it in a recovery smoothie. 

Blend coconut water, fruits, greens, and inject with protein with greek yogurt, nut butter or protein powder. It’s a quick, easy, nutritious drink packed with nutrition.

 

  • Salt and water

It sounds weird considering drinking salt and water conjures the image of shipwrecked sailors drinking seawater… but there’s a reasoning behind it. 

The concept behind it “hyperhydration”, a trick used by athletes to store as much as 1 liter of extra fluid for exercising.

When drinking salt with water, your body will try to balance the sodium and water levels. Extra sodium  suppresses the signals that would tell your body when to pee. 

A study recommends that a teaspoon of salt in a liter of water before running is enough to keep you hydrated. It’s not recommended for those with elevated blood pressure though.

A pinch of salt

 

  • Infused water

Infused water is the best compromise between plain water and sugary drinks – no sugar, but with a cool, refreshing splash of flavor. 

Choose what fruits you like (a conservative choice is strawberry, lime and cucumber), put them in a jar, and lightly mix them up using a wooden spoon. Fill the jar with water (or seltzer water for a bit of fizz). 

Add a bit of agave if you’d like it a bit sweet then refrigerate.

 

  • Gatorade

Need we say more?

What to Eat Mid Run

  • Fruits

Fruits are your best bet for mid-run snacks: they’re easy to prepare, high in sugar to inject energy to finish your run. 

Go for fruits higher in simple sugars and carbs like dates and bananas. With 30g of carbs a banana is just as effective as a carbohydrate drink when talking about performance and blood sugar. Grapes are high in sugar as well as Vitamin C that’s helpful in reducing the damage exercise does to the cells. 

You might want to consider munching on raisins  next time – they’re very high in calories. Dried cherries are good post-run because thy reduce leg muscle sores an 

Pack these fruits in Ziplock bags for your post-run pick-me-up.

 

  • Candy

Lots of sugar and no fat and fiber is the criteria for a post-run snack.  Gummy  bears tick off all the boxes,  but marshmallows are better because its package makes for easy packing.

 

  • Pretzels

A plain, white bread pretzel with no peanut butter is good. It’s rick in simple sugars that ease the ache in your calves. 

 

We hope these tips on what to eat and drink help you prepare for your next marathon and keep you hydrated as well as energized!

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neck-adjustments

Are Chiropractic Neck Adjustments Safe

Are Chiropractic Neck Adjustments Safe

Chiropractic therapy is beneficial to those suffering from chronic back pain, neck pain, headaches, etc. Neck adjustments are completely safe. In fact it’s safer than other treatment options, and here we’ll tell you why.

There is Always a Risk Attached to Every Medical Procedure

A study compared the risk of developing stroke after undergoing medical treatments (NSAIDs, narcotic medications, and spinal surgery for pain relief. Per 1 million people, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) cause 153 stroke deaths, narcotic medications cause 53 deaths, and spinal surgery of the neck cause 500 stroke deaths.

On the other hand, neck manipulation, or neck adjustments, are only associated with 1 death per 1 million people. When talking about malpractice insurance a chiropractor pays only a little more than 1/10 of the amount an anesthesiologist does.

Studies on Neck Adjustments

A different study focused on the link between cervical manipulation and damage to the carotid artery which can cause stroke. Buried deep in to the neck, the carotid artery is a point of concern during a neck manipulation. Thee belief is that they can be stretched to the point of damage. The conclusion was that the force applied during a manipulation is not greater compared to that of daily activities. This is enough to rule out the common misconception that chiropractic neck adjustments are dangerous.

The possibility of getting injured due to neck manipulations are statistically minute, you could still experience side effects. But at the cost of mild dizziness which dissipates quickly is reduced pain and inflammation

Chiropractors Are Educated And Trained

Examining the mechanics of a neck manipulation, you will notice that it is a high velocity force applied at low amplitude performed by the hands of a professional whose 4 years of chiropractic school focused on perfecting this skill.

Chiropractors have a very precise knowledge of your spine. When they say they’re going to “rotate your 6th vertebra 4 degrees to the right,” they can do just that. Chiropractors are the only health care specialist whose specialization is the spine. They know their way around the musculoskeletal system. They are aware of the interaction between the muscles, bones, joints and ligaments. Chiropractors use a delicate touch that must be used when dealing with spinal nerves.

Facts can only give you so much assurance about the safety of neck adjustments because it’s up to you whether you believe them or not. But do note that at Corrective Chiropractic, we only apply neck adjustments when truly necessary.

It’s part of our beliefs that patients have a voice in the care they receive and educating them on the procedures so they know exactly how the procedures will benefit them. However, if you’re still in doubt about going through with a neck adjustment, our doctors will discuss your options and modify your treatment plan as needed.

 

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Is Walking A Better Workout Than Running?

Is Walking A Better Workout Than Running?

Running and walking are the two purest forms of exercise there is.  You see yourself sweating much more during running than walking for a workout. That’s got to be the one that’s most beneficial to you, but what do scientists say? 

Here’s how running versus walking stack up against each other, and find out if running is better than walking. 

Greater weight loss: Running

When just thinking about it, it’s obvious that running expends more energy and thus greater weight loss, right? 

Yes, researchers say, because according to a study conducted by sports scientists which studied the energy expenditure between walking and running which found out that yes, running consumes more energy. To further illustrate the difference, a 160-pound person burns 800 calories per hour running at 8 mph, but a walker  burns only 300 calories walking at 3.5 mph. 

A different study focused on the difference in BMI between walkers and runners supports this claim. They concluded that runners significantly lost more weight than walkers. While the runners started at lower weights than walkers, they had a better chance of keeping their BMI and waist circumference stable. 

Maybe it’s time to upgrade your evening stroll to a fulltime jog?

Regulating appetite: Running

After a pounding pavement, you would think that runners would stuff themselves as a reward after a run. 

Scientists say it’s actually otherwise. 

In a study conducted post running and walking, the participants dined in a buffet to check the difference in appetite between runners and walkers. 

As it turns out, the runners ate 200 calories less than what they burned running. Walkers on the other hand, consumed 50 calories more than they burned. 

They believe it’s because of the YY peptide, but concede that the difference between the two was down to how walking and running changed the appetite-regulating hormones. 

They’re quite the same

While running may be better for weight loss, it turns out that doing either of the two is just as good for your health for a workout. 

When studying the difference in health benefits of walking versus running, results show that they produced similar risk reductions for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus when expending the same amount of energy. 

Walk or run?

So do you choose to walk or run? You have to consider that while everyone can power walk, not everyone can run.

If you’re older than 50 or have a history of knee injuries running might not be the best choice for you. Regardless of age or medical history, running can pose several risks. 

A hamstring injury where the muscles on the back on the back of your leg is stretched too far and is torn. Shin splints is also pretty common, with 20% of runners afflicted by it, and the most common being runner’s knee, which are both overuse disorders meaning they are caused by repetitive stress. 

The way to avoid these injuries is proper warm-up and gradually increasing intensity. 

Conclusion

Walking and running are the cardio exercises that anyone can do, unhampered by equipment or training. Looking at the facts, running has additional value over walking, but at the heart of it all they’re both good for you. 

But why ponder so much over to run or walk, when you can run, then walk then run again? 

You just have to get out there and do it.

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Can You Get Adjusted When You Are Pregnant?

Can You Get Adjusted When You Are Pregnant?

You can get adjusted when you are pregnant, but the focus of the appointment will be completely different from what you would normally do. You should talk to your chiropractor about how your appointment will go. Ask the chiropractor if they can help you with certain aches and pains that you experience every day. Look at what can be done once you have your first appointment.



How Many Aches And Pains Are You Feeling?

The aches and pains that you are feeling every day could include joint pain, pressure on your pubic bone, and back pain. The chiropractor can adjust you based on where you feel pain. They will be much more careful with you because you are pregnant. It is very simple for you to adjust for these aches and pains. You could ask the chiropractor to adjust you differently at each session.

Can You Be Adjusted For Delivery?

You can be adjusted for delivery. Talk to your chiropractor about how you can open up your hips and improve your delivery experience. Of course, the chiropractor will not be in the delivery room, but the chiropractor can help you get ready.

Natural Medicine

Many different people will need natural medicine to take care of themselves and their families. It is very easy for you to invest some time in natural medicine when you are in the chiropractor’s office. Use these natural remedies with the adjustments that you get. Natural medicine is the safest way for you to care for yourself when you are pregnant. Remember that your body can recover faster after you deliver.

You Cannot Take As Many Appointments

You must be careful at your chiropractic appointments because you do not want to decrease blood flow in your body. When you are pregnant, there are some adjustments that your chiropractor will not do because they do not want to release any blood clots that you might have in your legs. You also need to be careful with adjustments of your neck because you do not want to be injured just before you deliver. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to ask the chiropractor what is safe when you go to each appointment. Yes, you need to be honest about your pain and suffering, but you also do not want to injure yourself or induce labor accidentally.



Conclusion

Contact your chiropractor when you are ready to go in for your first adjustment. Let the chiropractor know that you want to get adjusted even though you are pregnant and ask the chiropractor if they can handle certain aches and pains. It is easy for you to prepare for your delivery to protect your body, and even to protect your baby. You will feel much better because you do not have all the pain that is brought on by pregnancy, and you can even prepare for labor with help from your chiropractor. Check out our YouTube video to see a video testimonial about getting adjusted while pregnant.

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