Blog | Navarre Chiropractor

7 Easy Tips For A Healthy Spine

By brad, on June 11th, 2019

There are many people that are affected by back pain. In fact, lower back pain is the leading cause of job-related disability!

Back pain can diminish your quality of life, causing you to miss out on social activities that you enjoy and preventing you from being able to accomplish the simplest tasks!

Fortunately there are ways to lower the chances of back pain in your future. It starts by taking care of your neck and back!

Continue reading for some simple tricks for a healthy spine!

DRINK WATER

First, lets talk about staying hydrated. It is very important to maintain elasticity and fluidity in joints. Our spinal disks are vulnerable to loss of hydration and can begin to shrink!

Shrinking spinal disks make you more susceptible to painful back conditions. Herniated disks, also known as slipped disks occur when the disks become brittle and eventually slip out of place because they aren’t hydrated!

In addition, the protective padding of the spine can diminish and further contribute to the loss of the structural health of your spine.

WORK OUT

You have a high risk of back issues if you’re not being active! It’s recommended that you regularly visit a gym or keep moving by taking a walk, swim or bike ride. Staying active and keeping your body moving helps maintain a healthy spine!

The best exercise routine for your back and neck would be one that combines strength training, stretching and a type of aerobic activity. Ask Pickett Chiropractic for more advice! (850) 939-3339

EAT RIGHT

Speaking of health, eating nutritious foods will help you lose weight and also maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese are risk factors for low back pain!

Having excess weight like belly fat can put added stress on the lower back and cause some serious back problems in the future! Eat healthy and nutritious and feel the difference it makes!

SIDE SLEEP

Sleeping is an important factor of your overall health. Your body needs a good night’s sleep to repair itself and keep things working functionally!

So what is the best sleeping position for back pain prevention? Sleep on your side, not your stomach! Stomach sleeping puts too much pressure on your spine; side sleeping helps prevent Sleep Apnea symptoms and also gives you a better quality sleep!

It’s also important to have a supportive mattress and pillow that promotes proper alignment of your neck.

GET UP AND STRETCH

You should never go without stretching! Keeping flexible helps reduce the risk of injury and helps maintain normal joint function and a good range of motion.

Start your day with a few good stretches to promote a healthy spine.

WORK POSITION

Proper posture helps reduce a lot of stress on both the lower and upper back! Make sure your work space (computer, desk, car) is at the proper height and use a chair that gives you the most lower back support!

While sitting, your knees should be at 90 degrees and your feet should rest comfortably flat on the floor. If you work with phones, never cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder! Hold your phone to your ear or use a headset to avoid neck and shoulder problems.

Also, use frequent breaks to get up and walk around the office. If you stay in one position for too long your muscles will tighten up!

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

While it’s common to experience back pain every once in a while, don’t ignore constant or frequent pain as it can indicate a more serious problem! Left untreated, problems with your spine can worsen and become quite serious.

Listen to your body! We recommend if you feel back pain to not overdo it at the gym or self-medicate to relieve symptoms. Seek medical care to learn about your spine and get the correct treatment for your symptoms!

Take Care Of Your Spine With Our Navarre Chiropractic Center

As you can see, many steps can be taken to improve your spinal health that involves better movements and awareness of how you hold yourself throughout the day tackling various tasks!

We know how hard it can be living with back pain. Allow us to give you some relief. Give us a call at (850) 939-3339 today!

Want to learn more? Here are 5 Back Pain Myths – Debunked!

The Best Way To Sleep With TMJ

By brad, on May 14th, 2019

Are you searching for Joint Pain Relief in Navarre FL? TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is a common joint problem people struggle with but something that isn’t commonly addressed is sleeping with TMJ! It can be challenging sleeping because the joint that connects the lower and upper jaw is dysfunctional, resulting in facial pain and other discomforts.

At night the tension in the muscles can make it hard to find a pain-free position and the attempt to create one can be frustrating and upsetting!

You deserve restful nights without pain and we want to help get you there. We offer amazing Navarre Chiropractic Services to relieve your pain!

In the mean time, here are some ways you can relieve your TMJ symptoms for a more comfortable sleep.

The Best Sleeping Position

Strain on the face, jaw, neck or head can make it hard to sleep. If you wake up hurting, your sleeping position might not be the best option. The number 1 recommended sleeping position for TMJ sufferers is on your back!

Why? Because there’s no pressure on the jaw and it supports the neck and shoulders. You’re also less likely to grind your teeth—a symptom many TMD sufferers exhibit. As an added bonus, sleeping on your back is also the optimal sleep position for your spine!

Quick Sleeping Tips

Sometimes sleeping in the right position isn’t enough. Sometimes it’s just too hard to relax and the pain is distracting. Here are some non-medicated sleeping techniques and tips to help!

Relax. TMJ disorder is exacerbated by stress which leads to more jaw clenching and muscle tension, which in turn causes more stress! Break the cycle by finding something that relaxes you.

Use A Supportive Pillow. Try using an orthopedic pillow or even a rolled bath towel under your neck. This supports and extends the neck in a way that doesn’t strain your muscles and minimizes tension.

Ask Pickett Chiropractic for help selecting the best one for you. (850) 939-3339

Check Your Sleeping Position. Sleeping on your back may seem limiting if you’re not used to it but you can utilize your arms and legs by putting them in ways that seem more comfortable for you. Don’t place your arms up by your head; this can strain your neck and cause more jaw pain.

Tongue Placement. Pay attention to the position of your tongue. If it’s is pushing against your front teeth while you’re resting you might need to retrain it. Proper tongue position should separate your teeth and relax your jaw.

Long Term Relief For TMD

The best way to ensure a restful night of TMJ relief is by investing in a long-term solution. Chiropractic care can alleviate some of the symptoms of TMD through manipulation of the jaw and muscles surrounding it, potentially relieving your pain and tension!

Whether your symptoms are trouble chewing or headaches and sleepless nights, Pickett Chiropractic can help address your TMD/TMJ symptoms at the root of the problem and get you feeling better!

Contact Us Today For Pain Relief! (850) 939-3339

4 Auto Injury Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

By brad, on April 11th, 2019

If you’ve been involved in a car accident you might quickly realize you need auto injury care in Navarre. Some injuries such as cuts and fractures present themselves with clear symptoms such as pain. Other injuries may not show any immediate signs of injury.

It’s important to get a medical evaluation soon after your accident and stay crucially alert for delayed symptoms of injury. Sometimes injuries don’t show up for hours or even days after a car accident!

Keep alert for the following auto injury symptoms. To be safe, we recommend you visit our office. Give us a call now at (850) 939-3339 and we will help you start feeling better as quickly as possible.

HEADACHES/DIZZINESS

It is highly recommended to seek medical attention for a headache even if you think it’s not serious. As a car accident survivor you need to be aware of the risk of traumatic brain injury. This kind of traumatic injury can be life threatening, even if you walk away from the accident with no symptoms at first. A headache could be the first symptom of a brain injury.

Unfortunately it can be easy to miss a headache or dizziness after a car accident. You may assume it’s just a simple headache or it’s from stress. However if you ignore your dizziness, vision issues or other symptoms of head injury it can be fatal! Get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible.

BACK PAIN

If you begin to experience back pain a few hours to several days after a car accident it may be a symptom of a soft tissue injury, herniated discs, a spinal injury or whiplash.

If you experience numbness or tingling in addition to back pain in Navarre you may have pinched nerves! These conditions can cause debilitating pain and lessen your mobility so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as your symptoms appear.

Pickett Chiropractic specializes in auto injuries and uses gentle and natural treatments to help relieve your accident pains!

NECK/SHOULDER PAIN

Feeling pain down your neck or shoulder can point to a spinal injury or herniated disc. This is a common symptom of whiplash.

Pain in these areas may not show up until days after your car accident but if you begin notice these symptoms contact Pickett Chiropractic immediately for chiropractic treatment. (850) 939-3339

NUMBNESS

Numbness or tingling after an accident anywhere on the body can point to a herniated disc or pinched nerve. Untreated, this problem can cause severe pain and potentially other complications. We recommend getting evaluated immediately.

Even if you currently aren’t having symptoms or they don’t appear on this list consult a medical professional. Deep bruising, dizziness, fainting and other symptoms can indicate an injury requiring chiropractic treatment in Navarre.

AUTO ACCIDENT TREATMENT IN NAVARRE FL

Contact Pickett Chiropractic Today To Start Living Pain Free! (850) 939-3339

Want to improve your quality of life? Learn the Top 4 Benefits of Regular Chiropractic Adjustments

5 Back Pain Myths – Debunked!

By brad, on March 12th, 2019

The majority of people will experience back pain in Navarre FL at some point in their lives. It’s also the main reason people miss work! How much do you know about back pain? Lets test your knowledge with these common back pain myths that have been debunked.

No Pain, Nothing Wrong

The amount of pain you feel in your back doesn’t always reflect the physical damage you are dealing with. Most people are under the assumption that if they don’t feel any pain there is nothing wrong. Unfortunately pain is a poor indicator of health status. In fact, pain and other symptoms usually appear after a sickness or other condition has become advanced.

A good example would be a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? Regardless if it’s a disease, cavities or back problems, pain is usually the last thing to appear.

Back Pain – Hereditary?

Generally, your genetics don’t play a significant role in where your back pain came from. Even if your parents or family members suffer from back pain, it doesn’t mean you are destined to deal with it as well.

However, lifestyle choices can be passed down. If your family doesn’t live a healthy lifestyle it can influence your actions, which could lead to serious back issues. We can offer lifestyle advice to ensure you stay healthy and pain-free over the long run! (850) 939-3339

All Back Pain Is Treated The Same

Every patient is unique and different. Therefore, each person requires a unique and customized treatment and wellness plan! The treatment we provide you is based on several factors such as health-related issues and concerns, types of treatments you are open to and past medical history.

We take each of these factors into consideration when suggesting the most effective and gentle treatment for your condition.

Recover By Staying In Bed

Although bed rest can help alleviate your back pain, it’s not recommended to stay in bed for more than a couple of days. Inactivity can worsen your pain if you remain immobile for an extended period. Physical therapy and rehab would be highly recommended to get you back up and moving.

The best way to recover is to visit our office for regular Navarre Chiropractic treatment. (850) 549-5315

Prevent Back Pain By Sitting Up Straight

The goal is to keep your posture relaxed with the natural curvature of your spine. If you are positioning your body at an over exaggerated 90 degree angle you will put a strain on your spinal discs, associated muscles and tendons. This type of posture tightens your muscles and positions your back in an unnatural way, causing back aches and pain.

There is no perfect posture that can be held for a significant amount of time. You should change your position throughout the day, especially if you are stuck sitting at a desk most of your day.

If you have questions or concerns about back pain in Navarre, contact Pickett Chiropractic!

(850) 549-5315 or Use Our Contact Form

8 Tips to Avoid Neck and Shoulder Pain While Driving

By brad, on February 12th, 2019

Dealing with neck and shoulder pain in Navarre FL is common in today’s society. Driving is one of the main times pain can flare up and bad posture can especially lead to serious lower back pain and stiff neck and shoulders. If you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain, a sore back or even a headache while driving, there are some things you can do to improve the problem and eventually eliminate your driving pains!

What Causes Driving Pains?

There are several factors that can contribute to neck and shoulder pain while driving. One of them is the jolting caused by roads that may need to be repaired. Another important reason is because some car seats offer no lumbar support. Poor positioning of your seat can contribute to neck, back and shoulder pain. If you drive a manual vehicle, constantly pressing the clutch can even put a strain on your lumbar disks.

Thankfully, you can make adjustments to your seat and the area around it that can make a huge difference in whether or not you experience pain while driving!

The following tips can help you better avoid neck and shoulder pain while driving:

Keeping things in your back pocket while sitting can take your back out of alignment. Phones and wallets should be stored in the console while you are driving and out of your back pockets any other time you are seated.

If you know that neck, shoulder and back pain are problems for you, take breaks from driving when needed. It makes a big difference between a comfortable journey and a painful one. You might want to also do some light stretches that can add comfort to your trip.

Make sure you are seated close enough to the steering wheel so that your feet can comfortably reach the pedals. All controls inside of your vehicle should be within reach without strain.

Find the appropriate distance where both of your hands can comfortably rest on the steering wheel or your elbows can rest on the armrests.

You should be seated high enough so that your hips rest evenly with your knees or just below them, although some seats don’t allow this kind of adjustment. You can also use a pillow to lift your seat up and adjust as needed.

Adjust your headrest so you can rest your head without tilting your neck. Resting your head periodically can help you avoid a sore neck while driving.

The back of your seat should be positioned so that you can sit upright in a healthy natural way. This will allow you to look directly through the windshield without causing a stiff neck or shoulder.

Eye strain can cause you to tilt your head forward to see, causing headaches and a stiff neck. If you need to wear corrective glasses, wear them! Of course if you can’t see the roadway for any reason, it’s best to wait till it clears up.

Driving is a necessary part of life and if the tips listed above aren’t helping your problem, it may be time to see your Navarre Chiropractor. We can help you identify the cause of your pain and give you tips on healing and prevention. Regular Chiropractic Adjustments are a great way to manage your pain and better the quality of your life.

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