Author: Randy Briesacher

Neck Arthritis: Why Your Daily Habits Might Be to Blame

Arthritis is defined as the breakdown of the cartilage around your joints. It can happen anywhere in your body, and common symptoms associated with arthritis include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, or restricted motion. While arthritis is a natural part of the aging process, the decisions you make each day dramatically affect whether it becomes a problem for you as you get older. The choices you make today play a powerful role in your future health.

Many people get diagnosed with arthritis and believe they are destined for a life of pain, but that isn’t true. Thinning discs and bone spurs happen as we age due to gravity, previous injuries, and other lifestyle factors. But you can manage and even mitigate many of the challenges of arthritis by making positive decisions for your spinal health each day. Here are three ways to stay proactive and reduce the effects of arthritis:

Each day, perform stretches and exercises that foster a balance of strength and flexibility

Use good ergonomics at your work desk by keeping your monitor at eye level

Follow a diet that limits inflammatory foods, which can contribute to pain and chronic inflammation

Next Steps:

A habit is defined as a routine that’s repeated without you even thinking about it. It’s estimated that most habits form after about 60 days. Can you follow the healthy habits above for the next 60 days? There isn’t just one thing you can do to prevent arthritis, but making small changes to your habits each day can help you minimize your risk of painful arthritis. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, call us to schedule an appointment.

The Neck Pain Solution No One Is Talking About

You may not know that a neck pain solution is recommended by most major healthcare organizations that almost no physicians talk about. It works better than medications and is far less risky than injections or surgery. So why hasn’t the world embraced it? That’s a good question.

Spinal adjustments are the neck pain solution that physicians aren’t talking about (until now!). Gentle adjustments to your neck effectively reduce neck pain, improve your range of motion, and even influence your brain and nervous system. Chiropractors focus on the structure and function of your spine. When your spine functions optimally, your body can often heal itself- no medications needed. Research has shown that nearly 80% of people with a disc herniation in their neck found relief with spinal adjustments! So don’t let a disc herniation make you believe your condition is too advanced for chiropractic care.

Drugs and surgery usually aren’t recommended for the care of neck pain due to their risks and side effects

The Cleveland Clinic and American College of Physicians support chiropractic adjustments for the care of neck issues

Spinal adjustments have been shown to provide more relief than steroid injections for neck pain caused by disc herniation

We believe that the first step to relief is discovering the cause of your pain. After finding the structural issue causing your pain, we can create a treatment plan to improve your function and reduce your pain. If you or someone you know has struggled with neck pain, give us a call today!

Why Does My Neck Hurt?

Your neck has a tough job. It has to hold up the weight of your head every day for a lifetime. Holding up to 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but the seven bones and 25 or so neck muscles must work together in perfect harmony to move your head around and keep that weight in place. As you get older, postural changes, sudden injuries, and arthritis are a few reasons why you may begin to notice neck pain. Often, the pain can be traced to a problem with either the muscles, bones, discs, or nerves in your neck.

If you’ve ever had a stiff neck and couldn’t turn your head for a day or two, you know how debilitating and life-changing neck pain can be. The sharp muscle spasms that restrict your ability to move can happen when your body tries to protect a spinal joint that isn’t moving correctly. Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. If an adhesion forms or the joint is stuck, your body will try to compensate for a little while, and you may not notice any pain or restriction. But, this compensation can cause additional challenges if it’s not handled.

Sudden injuries, arthritis, and postural issues can all contribute to neck pain

The small sliding joints (facet joints) of your neck can become stuck and cause muscle spasms and pain

Gentle spinal adjustments combined with daily stretching can help restore the motion of your facet joints and reduce pain

A stiff neck is your body’s way of saying “pay attention”! Even if it eases up by the end of the day, it’s smart to have us evaluate your spine’s motion. Taking care of small challenges before they become big issues is part of being proactive with your health. By taking a proactive approach to your health today, you can reduce your risk of future neck pain and stiffness episodes.

How to Get Rid of a Stiff Neck

Working on computers and staring at our smartphones for hours each day has left 20% of us experiencing neck pain over the past three months. A stiff neck usually starts with postural issues that have weakened your neck muscles. Weakened muscular support places additional stress on your spinal joints. Over time, the extra stress can change how you move, increase the pressure on your spine discs, and cause pain.

Looking down at your computer or phone all day can cause the muscles that support your neck to become chronically tired. If you do this all day, the stress can add up and result in the joints of your neck not moving correctly. At this point, it’s only a matter of time before you wake up with a stiff neck or turn your head during the day and are greeted by intense muscle discomfort or pain. Here are three smart tips to get rid of a stiff neck:

Perform range of motion exercises each day to stretch and strengthen muscles that support your neck

Sleep on a supportive pillow that keeps your head in a neutral position throughout the night

Receive spinal adjustments to restore the proper motion and function of your spinal joints

A small adjustment can make big changes in your quality of life. Our team is here to help. We are focused on helping you feel (and function) better by improving your spinal motion and providing you with the stretches and exercises you can do at home to continue your improvement. If neck pain has got in the way of you enjoying your life, give us a call and schedule an appointment today.

Design a Year of Abundant Health

A year of abundant health starts with setting smart goals and taking proactive daily steps to support your body being its best. Movement and exercise are both essential foundations to living your best life. Movement and exercise help you feel better physically, but emerging research shows they may also help your brain stay sharp and focused.

Before you can begin a daily exercise routine, you’ll need your spine and joints to move well. If you have fixations or limitations with how your spinal joints move, it will be difficult to safely and painlessly move through your entire range of motion. With a limited range of motion, you may increase your risk for injury as other joints compensate and become overloaded. Here are the three types of movement that are key to optimizing your health.

Segmental: As the foundation of your spinal motion, segmental movement describes the motion between each set of bones in your spine.

Regional: Your spine is divided into four primary regions: cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), lumbar (low back), and sacral (tailbone).

Whole Body: When you combine your spine’s segmental and regional movements with your extremities, you have whole-body motion.

Next Steps:

Each of these movement types builds upon the other. To have optimal whole-body movement, you must ensure that your regional and segmental motion is tip-top. Problems with segmental motion can cause problems with your regional and whole-body movement. We know that abundant health starts with moving well and feeling great. So, if you notice pain or limitations in your movement patterns, schedule a visit with us today.

The Power of Your Health Potential

“Your body’s ability to heal is greater than anyone has permitted you to believe.” Not only is that quote inspiring and thought-provoking, but we see it in action every day in our practice. Your body has an incredible natural ability to adapt, change, and heal. Whether you’re bouncing back after an acute injury or looking for the best way to overcome chronic pain, in many cases, your body just needs to have the opportunity to heal, and nature will take care of the rest.

Understanding your body’s natural healing power isn’t some woo-woo thought. Health entails much more than just not having pain. The World Health Organization defines health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease. This statement shows us that true health is multi-dimensional and emphasizes the critical connection between your brain and body.

You were born with an unbelievable ability to heal through complex interactions between your brain and body.

Your habits and choices can enhance or reduce your body’s ability to reach its health potential.

Your brain and body are directly connected and coordinate all of your body systems (including your immune system) by communicating through your nervous system

The function of your nervous system is a key part of your overall health and wellness. Chiropractors are focused on the spine for exactly this reason. Since your spine protects your spinal cord, proper spinal motion is important. Pain is just one of your body’s indications that something is wrong. So, if you’re experiencing pain in or around your spine, schedule a visit with us today. We’ll help you move in the right direction by working with your body’s natural healing ability!

Creating Smart Goals for Better Health

It’s a new year, so it’s time to set your goal for better health. There is no better time to evaluate your health and wellness and set smart goals for healthy changes. Changing your health isn’t easy, but setting smart goals can set you up for long-term success. Keep reading to learn how.

Smart goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Trackable. Using smart goals can help increase your motivation and make you much more likely to reach your target. Setting these health goals shouldn’t be stressful. Each action you take towards better health is a positive step in the right direction, so don’t become overwhelmed with the process. Take a few minutes today and write down your health goals for this year using the smart framework below.

Specific- Exercising more or eating better are good ideas but nearly impossible to quantify. Aim for specific goals such as exercising daily or eating less than 25 grams of sugar per day instead.

Measurable- Set a measurable goal, such as exercising 5x per week for 20 minutes.

Attainable- Try to avoid aiming too high or low. Your health goals should be attainable based on your current commitments and habits.

Realistic- Take a look at your current health habits and set your goals to be realistic.

Trackable- Goals that are trackable help you monitor your progress throughout the year and celebrate success!

New Year’s resolutions are great, but often they go unfulfilled. We’re here to help support your desire for better health this year! By setting smart goals, you’ll quickly be on your way to better health this year. Schedule a visit with us today if you’re struggling to get started with your daily exercise goals based on chronic pain or a new injury.

3 Steps To Go from Exhausted to Energized

If you’re leaving the holiday feeling sluggish and low on energy, you’re not alone! The changes to your regular sleep and exercise routine can drain your energy levels and leave your body struggling to keep up without a quick caffeine fix. But, as we head into the new year, there are some simple steps you can take to have a healthier, happier, and more energized 2022.

If you’re exhausted, you may notice things like achy muscles. But did you know it can also affect your brain and immune system function? Taking proactive steps to boost your energy is important to your overall health and wellness. Here are three quick strategies to help you go from exhausted to energized.

Strive for Daily Exercise: While exercising, if you feel exhausted, might seem like the quickest route to being more tired, the opposite is true. Exercise can increase your energy levels and brain activity and may help support your immune system function.

Set Your Sleep Schedule: Your body runs on daily cycles called circadian rhythms. They are 24-hour cycles that are part of your internal clock. Prioritize your sleep and work towards going to bed and getting up around the same time each day.

Eat Right: Keeping your blood sugar balance supports overall energy levels. Sugary foods can provide a quick spike in energy but very quickly leave you feeling wiped out. Eating more whole foods and reducing sugar intake can help your energy levels stay consistent and balanced throughout the day.

Following these steps to boost your energy levels will help your body and positively impact your mood. If you can’t tackle all of them at once, start today by getting some exercise and moving your body. Then, tomorrow, take the next step. And if you cannot exercise or sleep because of any pain or discomfort, schedule a visit with us today! Before you know it, you’ll be healthier and happier due to your new wellness routine.

How to Reduce Pain and Inflammation Naturally

While the inflammatory process is extremely complex, the solutions aren’t.

Reducing pain and inflammation naturally is simple with the right strategy.

Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly are all ways that have been shown to effectively reduce pain and inflammation naturally.

Your diet and daily exercise routine greatly affect chronic inflammation because each influences your weight and sleep patterns.

Foods high in antioxidants (like berries, turmeric, and green vegetables) can lower overall inflammation and provide more energy. Daily exercise can help protect you against conditions such as heart disease and obesity, which are linked to chronic inflammation.

Did you know…

Antioxidants known as polyphenols can lower inflammation.

Even 20 minutes of daily exercise can have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Proper sleep patterns encourage recovery and can lower stress and inflammation levels.

Reducing pain and inflammation naturally starts with your ability to move your body and exercise daily.

If you notice an injury or pain is slowing you down, take a moment to schedule an appointment with us today.

Our expert team will work with you side by side to help you move better, and once you start moving better, everything else becomes easier!

Give us a call. Let’s make chronic inflammation a thing of the past.

How Inflammation Affects Your Body

Inflammation is like a check engine light for your body. It tells you something isn’t quite right, and you should pay attention.

The first step in discovering the cause of the problem is determining whether you have acute or chronic inflammation.

Acute inflammation is short-term and critical in healing and injury repair. Chronic inflammation on the other hand describes a condition where your immune system continues to produce white blood cells and chemicals even after the injury is gone.

The combination of chronic inflammation and an excess of white blood cells can cause some problems for your immune system. In some cases, your immune system may even begin to target healthy cells and structures.

If sustained over a long period of time, you may experience changes in your cells, tissues, and organs that can increase the likelihood of disease.

Of course, one of the most significant challenges is that chronic inflammation can be invisible unless you know where to look.

Here are a few of the most common signs of chronic inflammation.

Insulin resistance. Insulin helps control the sugar level in your blood, and inflammation could affect how well your insulin works.

Muscle weakness. Chronic inflammation can cause your immune system to mistakenly attack and inflame your muscles, which could make you weaker.

Fatigue. Fatigue is a sign of long-term inflammation and common in inflammatory diseases like fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis

You may also live with chronic inflammation if you’ve been living with muscle weakness, fatigue, or other nagging pains.

Often, your daily habits contribute to this state of chronic inflammation.

Know that our team specializes in helping you create a healthy lifestyle through daily habits that combat chronic inflammation.

We invite you to take the first step towards better health by scheduling your next visit with us today so we can work together to help you feel and function at your best.