If You Go To A Chiropractor, Do You Need To Go There Forever?
Clear Lake City Chiropractor Comments: One of the biggest myths about chiropractic is that if you go once, you must go the rest of your life. This is not true.
Like other doctors, it sometimes takes a couple visits to figure out what treatment will work best for each individual patient. Like seeing a physical therapist, some conditions require multiple visits over a couple weeks or months. After the problem is fixed, most chiropractic doctors give the patient exercises and stretches to maintain the correction. This is comparable to a dentist telling you to brush and floss after they repair a cavity.
Now just like dentist and other doctors, some people like, or need, to come in for periodic maintenance. This is the same if you go to your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and check-up or if you go to your family doctor for an annual physical.
Some patients, because of their physical jobs or previous injuries, need regular maintenance care. This keeps them performing at their maximum potential without pain or discomfort.
While some patients choose to come in for periodic care to tune-up their bodies and live a life with less pain, nobody must go to their chiropractic doctor forever.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Being An Adult Is Hard Work
Houston Chiropractor Comments: I was recently talking to a young patient of mine about how he was doing. He told me “Being an adult is hard work.”
I asked him what he meant by saying that. He told me that he had started a new job with good benefits, he had moved into his own apartment, and was paying his own bills. The hard part was realizing how much everything cost in money and in time. He had never realized how much groceries cost, the expense of electricity and the internet. The hours that he worked at the plant did not allow much time for hanging out with his buddies or just relaxing.
He told me that he realized that it was cheaper to cook at home and prepare his food in advance for the week. Watching baseball at home instead of going to the game saved even more.
The best thing that he told me was that he realized that he needed to take care of his body better if he was going to eventually be able to support a family. He said that the stretches that he used to only do when he was hurting, he was now doing daily. He was eating healthier at home than when he was eating fast food all the time. He was exercising regularly so that he could do his job without being sore. He was even having a somewhat regular sleep schedule. He even committed to a regular maintenance schedule for his spinal adjustments.
Being an adult can be hard work, but do not make it harder by making bad decisions about your health. You only have one body, so take care of it so that it can last.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
How To Choose The Best School Backpack
Bay Area Chiropractor Comments: Every year millions of children walk around with heavy school back packs filled with books and supplies. While this is a good way to carry their school materials, by using their back and shoulder muscles, the tendency is to place too much strain on their neck and back due to overloading the back pack. The back will compensate for any load applied to it for an extended period of time. A heavy weight carried in backpacks can:
- Distort the natural curves in the middle and lower backs, causing muscle strain and irritation to the spine joints and the rib cage
- Lead to rounding of the shoulders
- Cause a person to lean forward, reducing balance and making it easier to fall
This problem can be made worse by carrying the pack on just one shoulder. Doing this causes the body to adapt by causing the body to lean to the other side placing additional stress on the mid and lower back as well as their associated muscles. This can lead to the children having headaches, shoulder, neck, and back pain as well as pain down the arms and legs.
There is not a consensus among doctors on the correct amount of weight that a child can carry or the perfect back pack design, but parents should use common sense in choosing the best back pack for your child.
Look for backpack design features that help reduce the chance of back pain:
- Lightweight material (canvas as opposed to leather)
- Two padded, wide (2-inches), adjustable shoulder straps on the backpack
- Padded back
- Individualized compartments
- Hip strap, waist belt, or frame to redistribute the weight of the backpack from the shoulders and back to the pelvis
- Wheels so that the backpack can be pulled rather than carried
- Consider using a separate bag for the child’s laptop or other heavier electronic items
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Chiropractic Treatment of Pickleball Injuries
Houston Chiropractor Comments: Pickleball is a popular sport, unfortunately it also is causing an increase in injuries. Of the 22 million players of the sport, almost a third of them are seniors. Seniors also account for 86% of the emergency room visits. Over the last six months, we have seen a couple patients a month that have been injured while playing the sport.
Since it began in the 1960’s, it was seen as way for people to get exercise while playing a sport similar to tennis. According to CBS, it is now on track to cause almost $500 million in injuries in 2023.
According to a 2021 medical study, 60% of pickleball injuries are sprains, strains, and fractures. Twenty percent of the injuries are contusions and abrasions, and 10% are lacerations or dislocations.
What I have noticed with my patients is that half of them had played competitive sports when they were younger. Their mind is telling them that they can run, jump, and swing like they could when they were younger, but their body cannot perform at that level. The other half of my patients have never been very active, but they want to play the sport as a social activity. They have a hard time getting their bodies to adapt to the repetitive motions that the game requires.
The best advice that I have is to begin playing the game slowly. Start by just playing one game a day and do not play on consecutive days. This helps to minimize the sprain strain injuries. Get comfortable walking for 20 minutes. This will help your cardiovascular fitness so that you can move about the court. Work on your balance. It is common to fall after bending and twisting rapidly in a game. You can do this by walking on uneven surfaces or spending some time on a balance board. Begin to play more after 2 or 3 weeks when your body has begun to get use to the new activity. Finally, remember that is just a game. You do not have to win every point. Take time just to enjoy the comradery.
If you do get injured, then we can help you recover from your sprain strain injuries. We can also adjust your spine to help you perform at your maximum potential. We are here to help you enjoy all of your activities of life.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Causes Of Tailbone Pain and How To Minimize It
Nasa Area Chiropractor Comments: One of the more painful conditions that we see and treat in our office is tailbone pain. This can be either from the sacrum or coccyx. Usually, the cause is from direct trauma. We have seen it from people slipping and falling backwards around a pool, striking an underwater rock while tubing, or landing wrong while doing cheer or gymnastics.
Initially we need to make sure through a proper examination and x-rays (if needed) that there is not a fracture. If the bone is not fractured, but instead it is out of alignment, we can help reduce the pain through spinal adjustments and using physical therapy modalities.
Sometimes the bone is not out of alignment, but instead it is just bruised. A bone bruise can cause pain for several weeks. The best thing that the patient can do is to avoid putting pressure on the bone. This is accomplished by using a donut pillow or a cushion with a sacral slot. This will allow the bone to heal while not aggravating the problem.
If the tailbone pain was not caused by trauma, we need to look at other causes. It can be caused by repeated strain on the coccyx from prolonged driving or cycling. Other causes are pilonidal cysts, anal fissure, or shingles.
The key thing is to make the correct diagnosis first. This way we are able to determine if you can be helped via chiropractic or if you need to be referred to a medical doctor.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Self-Cracking: Can I Adjust My Own Spine?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: The short answer is yes you physically can, but you should not do it. Below I will explain why you should not adjust your own spine and I will give you a way to still feel relief on your own.
A couple times a year I will have a patient come in that has injured themselves while trying to adjust their own spine. It can be as simple as pulling a muscle or mildly getting a joint out of alignment to as severe as herniating a disc, breaking a rib, or dislocating their jaw.
The problem arises when the patient tries to force the joint so that they can hear the “crack.” To do this, they press on their jaw to get leverage on their neck or they lean against a chair or object to rotate their low back enough. Some people even try to just turn their body quickly in hopes that they will get the joint to release and make the “cracking” noise.
The irony is that they usually are not even adjusting the joint that is giving them discomfort. Usually that joint is stuck or fixated. They are manipulating the joint either directly above or below the problem area.
It is better to have the joint properly adjusted by a trained doctor of chiropractic. The chiropractor is the best equipped doctor to determine where the problem is and how to properly align the joint so that it does not cause a problem in the future.
If in the future, while doing your home stretches and exercises that your chiropractor has given you, you may hear and feel the joint adjust or “crack.” This is ok. Once the joint is properly aligned, then sometimes regular stretches or using a foam roller will allow the vertebrae or rib to properly position themselves without risk of injury.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Can A Chiropractor Help My Frozen Shoulder?
Houston Chiropractor Comments: Most cases of a frozen shoulder occur after a recent injury, especially after a fracture. During this time your arm is in a cast or a sling, and is immobilized. This causes you shoulder’s joint capsule to thicken with scar tissue subsequently causing shoulder pain and limiting the movement of the affected shoulder.
Several other factors can increase your risk of developing a frozen shoulder. It can be affected by your age, sex, and medical history. Certain medical conditions, such as a stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and thyroid conditions such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism appear to increase the likelihood of you developing a frozen shoulder.
The initial symptoms of a frozen shoulder typically get gradually worse over 2 – 4 months. The pain is typically worse at night, producing a dull achy pain. The range of motion of the shoulder is painful and limited. The next stage produces a stiffness with the range of motion severely restricted. This stage typically lasts 3 -12 months. The final stage shows the range of motion gradually improving with good and bad days. This stage usually takes 6 – 12 months.
Typically, x-rays are obtained to determine if there are any other medical conditions, and in some cases advanced imaging studies, such as an MRI, are obtained.
Most medical treatment involves using medication to control the inflammation and pain until the condition resolves in up to 3 years. In severe cases steroid injections are prescribed in the shoulder joint. Physical therapy is often prescribed to increase the shoulder motion and strength. In severe cases arthroscopic surgery will be performed to loosen the joint capsule or shoulder manipulation under anesthesia will be prescribed.
At my office we will examine the shoulder and surrounding muscles to determine the actual cause of the problem. We will treat the complaint with manipulation, physical therapy, and a specific exercise program designed for you to resolve the root cause and prevent future injuries. Most patients get relief in a couple weeks instead of a couple of years.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
How To Avoid Backpain While Breastfeeding
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: After the joy of childbirth comes the realization that taking care of an infant causes back pain. Suddenly you are carrying around a baby that only grows larger. You are bending over to change diapers and to place them in their crib or bassinet. You are also feeding the child several times a day.
One of the questions that I get regularly is “How can avoid backpain while breastfeeding?”
The most important thing is sitting correctly. You can even semi-recline on a couch or adjustable chair. Allow yourself to use pillows to support your baby while they are feeding.
Periodically you should change your position. This allows you to use different muscles and not overuse just one set.
You can try feeding the infant in front of a mirror. This allows you to see if you are in an awkward position.
Sometimes you can get up and walk around while feeding. Remember that movement is beneficial.
Other things that are beneficial to preventing backpain is staying hydrated by drinking enough fluids, getting some rest while the baby is sleeping (if possible), and getting some exercise so that you can use other muscles.
To help minimize any pain that occurs, remember to stretch, use a heating pad, or hot water bottle, and keep up with your regular chiropractic care.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
What Is The Best Chiropractic Technique?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: From time to time, I will get a new patient that has been to another chiropractor at sometime in their life. Some of these patients will mention that I adjusted them differently than their previous chiropractor, but they still got relief with my care. They will then ask me “What is the best chiropractic technique?” I have to say that it depends on the doctor.
Chiropractic care is different than your typical care at your medical doctor. Our profession is much more hands on. We palpate the spine and examine the supporting musculature on each and every visit. This lets us know what area of the spine we need to treat with our chiropractic adjustments and what type of therapy we need to utilize or stretches to recommend.
There are a variety of different chiropractic techniques that are taught in our chiropractic colleges. Some techniques require specific instruments and some require specific tables to perform the adjustments.
The good thing is, they all work. Their patients get relief from their pain and the condition resolved. This is because the doctor took the time to master the specific technique. If it did not work, the doctor would not still be in practice.
But just because the technique worked and the pain was resolved that is not enough. As doctors our job is to get the patient well, with lasting relief, in the shortest amount of time as possible. Some techniques get quicker results on different types of patients.
This is why the best chiropractic technique is call diversified. The chiropractic colleges have taken the best forms of treatment from a variety of different techniques and created the diversified technique. With this technique you can find what gets the best results, in the shortest amount of time, for a variety of different patient types.
Being a doctor of chiropractic over the last 34 years has allowed me to work on over 10,000 patients. I have been able to see which techniques work the best with different patients and when I should expect results.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Top 5 Reasons To See A Chiropractor
Houston Chiropractor Comments: A common question that I get from people that I meet is “How do I know when to see a chiropractor?” This is understandable, since most people are unaware of what conditions chiropractors treat.
Reason #1 The most common reason to see a chiropractor is for low back pain. This is the main condition that people associate with chiropractors. Patients are often amazed at how quickly they get relief with chiropractic care from their pain without the need for drugs or surgery. They usually get relief even if they have had prior spinal surgery or failed physical therapy.
Reason #2 The second most common reason to see a chiropractor is for neck pain. Most neck pain is caused due to poor posture. This is due to looking down at a phone or tablet, poor sleep position, or a poorly designed workstation. The poor posture leads to a loss of the neck’s natural curvature, with the head leaning forward. Chiropractors help to restore the natural curve of the neck, show you how to strengthen the muscles to support it, and then give you ideas on how to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
Reason #3 Headaches. Most headaches are due to muscular stress and tension. Chiropractic care allows the cervical (neck) joints to move freely and remove any adhesions in the joint. By gently adjusting the bones in the neck, the supporting muscles can relax. Chiropractors also help to ease the secondary support muscles in the upper back.
Reason #4 Tingling or numbness in the arms or legs. The nerves that go down the arms and legs originate in the neck and lower back. If the vertebrae (bone) in the neck or back is out of alignment, it can cause pressure on the nerves going down the arms or legs. A good example of this is sciatica. The pressure on the nerve can cause, tingling, numbness, weakness, or even pain. Through gentle chiropractic adjustments and therapy, a chiropractor can alleviate these symptoms and correct the cause.
Reason #5 A general stiffness and lack of energy. Remember the saying that “Movement is Medicine.” That is true here. As people age, they tend to exercise less and spend more time sedentary. Chiropractic care helps to keep the joints in the body moving and preventing nerve interference. If you do not move the joints in your body regularly, you tend to stiffen up. If there is nerve interference, you tend to be lethargic with a general lack of energy. In addition, chiropractors will show you stretches and exercises that are appropriate for your body to help keep you limber and vibrant.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
