When nerves not connected to the conscious brain are damaged, the brain doesn’t feel any pain – even though the nerve damage may be causing physical malfunction. The damaged nerves may receive an improper nerve supply for years. Subluxations may be undermining your health for years, while you are unaware there is a serious problem.

Many of people are walking around with many subluxations. They don’t feel anything wrong in their backs or necks so they think their nerves are fine and they never get checked by a chiropractor. How wrong they are! How do you know if you have a subluxation? You go to a chiropractor and get your spine checked and adjusted!

Charlotte NC Chiropractor

Unlike many other items of furniture, mattresses don’t last forever and need to be replaced periodically. It is estimated that currently there are 80 million Americans sleeping on beds that passed their maximum lifespan 8-10 years.

If your mattress is approaching this age you may want to be on the lookout for signs of quality such as fine tailoring, superior fabrics and surfaces that look and feel plush. Today’s better quality mattresses feature extra layers of cushioning for comfort.

The next thing to consider is the size; if there is any doubt, go for the bigger size.

You need freedom of motion while you sleep and also to help you relax while getting to sleep. Sleep studies have shown that we all turn 40 to 60 times a night, including some full dozen body turns, and that we require room to move about freely so that we don’t awaken. If you sleep with a partner don’t settle for anything smaller than a queen size. You may even be happier with a king, especially if you are tall.

Comfort is another key factor. Make sure you try out each new mattress you are thinking about buying. One that’s too hard may only put your shoulders and hips to sleep. One that is too soft may not give you enough support. Modern cushioning material and extra surface treatments held together are designed to create a feeling of being cradled.

Finally, support is the most important part of mattress design. A good mattress and foundation will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with standing posture. Pay special attention to your shoulders, hips and lower back. Theses are the heaviest parts of your body and there is not enough support, the spine will sag, placing stress on the muscles and ligaments, resulting in back pain. It can also result in possible misalignments of the vertebrae. On the other hand a mattress that is rigid can result in uncomfortable pressure. It can force the spine to arch or bow instead of relax as the body relaxes. It can also create painful pressure at the shoulder and hips where body weight concentrates during sleep.

Look for a combination of superior upholstery materials with a top quality innerspring system. The number of coils and the thickness, or gauge of the wire, in each of these coils will have an effect. For example, firmer coils concentrated in the center of the mattress should have more than 450 coils; likewise, a queen size should have 375 and a full or double should have 300 coils.

Also, to preserve the life of your new mattress, make sure you don’t put it an old foundation. It’s important to choose the proper matching foundation for your mattress, because both parts are designed to work together as a sleep set. The foundation is crucial because it acts like a giant shock absorber and takes much of the nightly wear and tear.

Charlotte Chiropractor

In July, the British Medical Journal published a study that evaluated the effectiveness of an exercise program for dealing with back pain.

One hundred and eighty seven patients with low back pain of 1-6 months duration were divided into an exercise group or a control group. The exercise group participated in eight one-hour classes that included muscle strengthening, stretching, relaxation techniques, and a brief education on back care. The control group continued under the care of their doctor.

Questionnaires completed six months and one year after the program revealed that patients in the exercise group reported less back pain and associated disability than the control group. The exercise group also took less days off work than the control group in the 12 month follow up period (378 days by the exercise group vs 607 days by the control group).

As these results suggest, something can be done about back pain. In fact exercise is just one of the many potential options available to back pain sufferers. A doctor of chiropractic can evaluate you and outline the most appropriate course of rehabilitation for you condition.

Chiropractic Charlotte

Patricia Brennan, Ph.D., dean of research at National College of Chiropractic supervised the research team responsible for the project.

The major funding for the pilot study came from the National College of Chiropractic, with support by a grant from the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER), and tertiary support from the Practice Consultants Clinical Research Center, which was established by the (FCER) through a grant from William Harris, D.C., to help foster scientific research in the profession.

While more testing is called for, the charlotte chiropractic center found that women, who received chiropractic treatment consisting of spinal manipulation, reported significant reductions in back pain and menstrual distress. A measurable reduction in the substance believed to be responsible for menstrual pain was also noted.

Each year, and estimated fifty percent of all women are affected by primary dysmennorrhea, or the presence of painful menstruation not attributed to an organic pelvic pathology. 100 million work hours are lost because of primary dysmenorrhea per year. This translates into a loss of more than $1 billion annually for employers.

Standard medical treatment relieves symptoms in 80 percent of all cases, but side effects can lead to more debilitating complaints that range from dizziness and stomach distress to abdominal bleeding and stomach ulcers.

Primary dysmenorrhea is believed to be caused by prostaglandins, a group of naturally occurring fatty acids found in various tissues that induce muscle contractions. Abnormally high levels of prostaglandin found in dysmenorrheic women during the first 48 hours of their menstrual cycle are thought to cause uterine contractions that result in pain. For this reason, both perceived pain and blood levels of prostaglandins were tested in this study.

On the first day of their period, the 38 women participating in the trial received either spinal manipulation or a “sham” adjustment that did not have a therapeutic effect on the spine. The women were asked to fill out a menstrual distress questionnaire and rate their pain on a visual analogue scale, and blood was drawn and tested both 5 minutes before treatment and 60 minutes after treatment.

The results of the questionnaires showed the greatest reduction in perceived pain among the women receiving spinal manipulation when compared to the women who received sham adjustments. Visual analogue scale scores indicated that both abdominal and back pain decreased almost twice as much in the spine manipulated group that will require further investigation. Whether or not these differences are scientifically significant can only be established through additional testing.

Come give the accident recovery center a try and see we can reduce your back pain and menstrual pain, I’m sure we can!

Charlotte Chiropractor

A nutritional All-Star- one of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat. They are loaded with carotenoids, vitamin c, potassium and fiber.

2.  WHOLE-GRAIN BREAD

It’s higher in fiber and about a dozen vitamins and minerals than refined white or “wheat flour”.

3.  BROCCOLI

Lot of vitamin c, carotenoids and folic acid.

4.  STRAWBERRIES

Excellent source of vitamin c and fiber-and they taste great!

5.  BEANS

Inexpensive, low in fat and rich in protein, iron, folic acid and fiber. Choose garbanzo , pinto, black, navy, kidney or lentils.

6.  CANTALOUPE

A quarter of a delicious melon supplies as much vitamin A and C as most people need.

7.   SPINACH & KALE

Loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, calcium and fiber.

8.   ORANGES

A great-tasting fruit that is rich in vitamin C, folic acid and fiber.

9.   OATMEAL

Plain, old-fashioned whole-grain oatmeal is inexpensive and has no added sugar or fat.

10.   FAT FREE (SKIM) or 1% FAT MILK (BUT NOT 2%)

Excellent source of calcium, vitamins and protein, with little or no artery-clogging fat and cholesterol.

11.   GRAPE TOMATOES

They are sweeter and firmer than other tomatoes and their bite-size shape makes them perfect for smacking, dipping or salads. They’re packed with vitamin C and vitamin A and you also get some fiber.

12.   WILD SALMON

The omega-3 fats in fatty fish like wild salmon can help reduce the risk of sudden death Heart attacks,

13.   CRISPBREADS

Whole-grain rye crackers, like Wasa, Ry Krisp and Ryvita are loaded with fiber and often fat free.

14.   CITRUS FRUITS

Great-tasting and rich in vitamin C, folic acid and fiber.

15.   DICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Every half-cup has 5 grams of fiber and payloads of vitamins A and C.

Chiropractic Charlotte

1. Avoid rubbing, probing, or poking in the area your doctor adjust.
2. Avoid sudden twists or turns of movement beyond normal limits of motion, especially of the neck
3. Avoid extreme bending of your spine in any direction; avoid stretching, reaching, or other overhead work. Be particularly careful when brushing or shampooing hair
4. Avoid bending or stooping sharply to pick up objects; rather, bend your knees to minimize the strain on your lower back.
5. When lifting, keep your back straight; bend your knees let your legs bear the strain. Hold the object lifted as close to your body as possible.
6. When bathing sit rather than recline in the tub. Lying back against the tub may cause a vertebra to slip out of its normal position. If you are tired and wish to relax its better to lie in a bed.
7. Participate in simple exercises to strengthen your body, but avoid jarring activities which place stress on your neck and spine.
8. Watch your posture at all times; stand tall and THINK tall!

Rest, Relaxation, And Sleep

1. Set aside a special time each day for complete mental and physical relaxation. This is important in the restoration as well as maintenance of normal health.
2. When sitting choose a chair that has adequate firmness to hold your weight comfortably, and sit straight. Avoid too soft, overstuffed chairs. Recliner chairs are acceptable if they are constructed so that when you are reclining your back is normal straight position.
3. Cross your legs only at the ankles, not at the knees. Crossing your legs at the knees could aggravate an existing back condition as well as interfere with the circulation to the lower limbs.
4. Be sure to get plenty of sleep to allow your body to recuperate and repair.
5. Sleep on a firm mattress, preferably one which is neither to hard or to soft, but just firm enough to hold your body level while at the same time soft enough so that your shoulders, buttocks, ect will depress into the mattress.
6. Your pillow should be neither too high nor too low. The ideal pillow is one, which supports your head so that your neck vertebrae will be level with the rest of your spine. Avoid sleeping on two pillows; never lie on the couch with your head on the armrest.

Chiropractor Charlotte

Inadequate amounts of sleep affects the memory, according to a recent study conducted a Harvard University. Without enough sleep, newly-aquired skills and information are not properly coded in the brain, making it difficult to remember.

Sleep deprivation also decreases the ability of the immune system to fight off illness and disease. Reports show that just losing three hours of sleep causes a 30% decrease in immune system response. This lack of response supresses melatonin, which contributes to breast cancer; a growth hormone produced during sleep is impaired, which contributes to osteoprosis; insulin resistance and impaired glucose processing, can lead to diabetes, and excess insulin and stored fat, leads to obesity.

While some people choose to give up some of the necessary hours of sleep, pthers arte simply unable to sleep.

Factors that contribute to the insomnia are lack of exercise, poor diet, excessive alcohol or caffeine; medical conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, hypothyroidism, and over-active bladders; medications, such as antidepressants, pain killers, allergy drugs and various hormones; natural conditions, such as PMS and menopause; and various health disorders.

Many of these factors can be treated with Chiropractic. If you suffer from any of the above conditions or are having diffculty sleeping, see Charlotte’s Accident Recovery Center in University City Charlotte, NC!

Charlotte Chiropractic

Charlotte Chiropractor