You Can Build a Strong Immune System During a Pandemic

You Can Build a Strong Immune System During a Pandemic

 

build a strong immune system Pandemic life is strange. All of our routines are disrupted and even simple things like going to the grocery store can feel like an epic undertaking.

It’s even stranger now that Spring is finally here. In Doylestown, Pa, the flowers are blooming and the weather is calling you to come out for a walk.  Walking in the fresh air is a good idea. It gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine and can lift your mood.

Building a strong immune system is a blend of healthy mental and physical habits. You know, the standard, get enough rest and eat your veggies type of habits.

Often, people blame their busy schedules for not prioritizing healthy habits like eating real food and exercising. If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably found your life on “pause” right now. It’s a scary time, full of uncertainty, and you may want to subsist on pasta and chips.

However, if you can make a choice to take a short walk and eat some vegetables and fruits, it’ll help.

Let’s consider your immune system. Designed to fight off disease naturally, it can keep you healthy. In fact, part of what natural health care like chiropractic and acupuncture do is help your body heal itself.

It’s possible to boost your immune system with healthy lifestyle choices. That doesn’t mean you won’t ever get sick, but it can mean you may be less at risk for illnesses.

The Healthy Lifestyle Habits That Build a Strong Immune System

There’s nothing radical in these habits. They’re pretty simple actually. Yet, simple doesn’t mean easy.

  • Get your rest
  • Eat a variety of fruits, veggies, and lean protein
  • Get outside during the day for sunshine. Sunshine is a natural mood booster
  • Don’t smoke
  • Maintain a healthy weight

Which of these do you already have as part of your daily life? Which can you add?

Some people find cooking therapeutic. Maybe you like making (and eating) all kinds of comfort food. No doubt, you deserve some comfort right now. And, can you work some healthy foods into your rotation?

Foods like asparagus and berries taste great and they’re even stress reducers. Check out this list of stress reducing foods. Because while it’s tempting to eat all the carbs, it’s not going to help you feel better later tonight or tomorrow.

The foods you choose to eat can also help you reduce inflammation. As you may know, chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease and other dangers, so include some anti-inflammatory foods like berries and garlic (not together!) in your meals.

What about exercise? It’s a proven mood booster and also helps reduce inflammation. If you’re looking for an at-home routine you can do during quarantine, check out our Facebook page where we’ve shared some workouts.

Or go to Youtube and type in an activity you enjoy. For example, “At home Zumba” will pull up thousands of videos.

Take it slow though. If you’re not used to exercising, don’t go full tilt and risk hurting yourself. Better to start with some gentle stretches and a short walk than overdo it.

None of these are rocket science, and that’s the good news. They’ll help you feel better now and later by building a healthy immune system. How can you incorporate them in your day today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Ways to Improve Your Mobility and Feel Better With These Simple Tips 

7 Ways to Improve Your Mobility and Feel Better With These Simple Tips 

improve mobilityIf you’ve ever twisted an ankle stepping off a curb, then you know that it’s not only painful but keeps you chair (or bedridden) for awhile. 

If you’ve had a gout flare-up, it can be difficult to walk. Or if you simply haven’t been getting exercise, you may find yourself stiff and in pain. 

Mobility is related to our ability to do everyday tasks like cut the grass, reach a glass on a shelf or carry laundry up the stairs. Most of us don’t think of it until we don’t have it. 

Scientific studies from The Mayo Clinic have found a direct link between spinal health issues and other health concerns when the body isn’t getting the physical movement that it needs.

Staying active is more than improving your fitness level – It’s about keeping your joints active – keeping them flexible and mobile. This may not sound like too important of a health goal, but making sure your body is mobile and flexible is actually quite important because it means you can do all the things you want to do in your life. 

Here are 7 Simple Tips To Improve Your Mobility 

Tip #1: Use Warm-Up & Cool Down Stretches To Improve Mobility & Flexibility 

(YouTube is your friend to find exercises that work for you)

A couple of favorites are: 

Yoga with Adriene, Action Jacquelyn

Tip #2: Use Exercises That Help Improve Knee and Ankle Strength & Mobility 

(Walking is a simple yet very effective way to do this)

Start with just 5-10 minutes a day if you’re really out of shape. A walk around the block only takes a few minutes but can clear your head and remind you of the world right around you. This benefits your mental health as well as physical. 

Tip #3: Eat A Healthy Diet & Reduce Excess Weight 

You know this is important. Extra weight puts stress on your joints and this can lead to injury. Even if you’re only a few pounds overweight, imagine you’re carrying around a watermelon or two. 

Tip #4: Eat Foods that Fight Inflammation 

(this means less white flour and more veggies)

Soon, the Doylestown Farmer’s Market will reopen with spring peas and asparagus and other in-season produce. Or, visit the grocery store of your choice and stock up. If you’re short on time and energy, buy frozen veggies for quick and healthy stir fry. 

Salmon is also good anti-inflammatory food. 

Tip #5: Involve Your Family For Accountability 

Use an app like Pacer to track your activity levels, you will be amazed how addicting it will become when you see how many steps a day you take. 

Tip #6: Use Supplements That Help What Ails You 

(So many experts in our community can help you with this including Dr. Jeff)

Tip #7:  Enroll in a Fitness Class – Karate, Yoga, Swimming, Tennis, Golf 

Make movement a regular part of your life.  You know the expression, “move it or lose it.” It’s true. 

Mobility is essential for health and happiness. When we no longer can extend an arm, stand up straight or maintain balance or be agile, we run risks of falls and injuries. 

Unfortunately, mobility continues to decrease as you age. So if you’re in your 40s, 50s, or older and have begun to wake up with aches and pains for no reason at all, starting a routine to improve your mobility is important. 

Routine chiropractic adjustments can help you stay mobile and/or increase your mobility by keeping your spine flexible. If you’re in the Doylestown, Pa. area, we’d love to help you stay healthy and mobile with regular chiropractic care

The most significant factor in improving mobility is your mindset. If you keep committed and motivated to a healthy active lifestyle you’ll be able to manage your mobility levels. Keep motivated and commit to a better quality of life!

Chiropractic for Joint Pain: Can it Help You?

Chiropractic for Joint Pain: Can it Help You?

chiropractic for joint pain Several years ago, I twisted my ankle. I was wearing boots with a small heel, walking down a Philadelphia sidewalk, and boom! A patch of the uneven pavement caused my foot/ankle to roll. 

While painful, I still hobbled the dozen or so blocks back to my car. Later, it swelled up the size of a small melon and I applied the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for several days. 

While reading up on healing joint pain, I came across chiropractic for joint pain. Now, if you’re like a lot of people, you associate chiropractors with back pain. Yet, chiropractic care is designed to reduce pain throughout your body by readjusting the spine. The spine, of course, is attached to everything else via bones, nerves, ligaments, and tendons.

For example, if you have shoulder pain, then a chiropractic adjustment can free up a pinched nerve or other problem. It can even help run of the mill neck pain from sleeping “wrong.” 

In fact, chiropractic care can help all your joints and improve your overall range of mobility which is great. Of course, it’s effectiveness – and if it’s the right method — depends on what’s causing your joint pain.  

Can Chiropractic for Joint Pain Help You? 

Causes of joint pain vary from an acute injury like my twisted ankle to arthritis. Chiropractic care can help many of them. 

Let’s take the common condition of arthritis for example. As you probably know, arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. This decay of the body’s natural “cushion” means the bones rub together with less padding than before and it’s painful. 

However, studies like this one show chiropractic care can help patients suffering from certain types of arthritis. 

It can also help acute injuries like my twisted ankle. 

The reason chiropractic care reduces joint pain is that it can help reduce painful inflammation. It also releases muscle tension and improves your range of motion. 

How does chiropractic treatment reduce inflammation? Because it improves your body’s communication with itself. A spinal adjustment can readjust the nerves in your body and help release soothing chemicals through your body. 

It reduces muscle tension because when your chiropractor adjusts your spine, then any pressure that’s built up in your muscles is released. The effect is like a big breath of oxygen to your muscles. Chiropractors can also work with adjusting specific joints if needed. 

While chiropractic care can’t help every condition, it can help many of them including relieving joint pain. We start with a medical evaluation that includes an Xray. Then, if we decide that you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care, we’ll create a treatment plan to help you feel better faster. 

If you’re in or near Doylestown, Pa., call or stop by, we’re right across from CB West High School.  

 

How You Can Improve Mobility with Chiropractic Care

How You Can Improve Mobility with Chiropractic Care

improve mobility with chiropractic care

Can you improve mobility with chiropractic care?

Have you thought about your mobility? When chiropractors and other health professionals talk about mobility, it’s usually in relation to your range of motion. So, can you comfortably turn your head, rotate your hands, shoulders, feet, bend your knees and elbows, etc. ? 

If not, did you know you may be able to improve mobility with chiropractic care? 

There are a lot of reasons for mobility issues. Injury, gout, and joints breaking down are some common causes.

Hippocrates, “the father of medicine” is credited with saying, “look well to the spine for the cause of disease?” And you may have heard the expression, “the spine is your lifeline.” It’s because keeping your spine flexible and healthy is essential to your well-being.

Spinal flexibility impacts every part of your body. Whether you can bend and touch your toes, easily stand from a chair, or even look over your shoulder. It’s all related. 

And if you have restrictions, then the rest of your body overcompensates. For example, if your hips are tight, your knees may overcompensate. Or, if your shoulders are tight, then you may find your back is over-arching. Ultimately, these can lead to back and shoulder pain. 

To keep your spine healthy and improve your mobility, it’s worth seeing a chiropractor.

4  Ways to Improve Mobility with Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors have over 150 techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility. Including techniques that have nothing to do with cracking your spine. For example: 

1- Electrotherapy – Are you familiar with the at-home TENS machine that you can attach to yourself? If so, you know they send out small electric pulses to stimulate your nerves and muscles. At McQuaite Chiropractic, we use a professional version to provide pain relief and improve your mobility. 

2- Cold/Heat Therapy – Heat encourages blood flow. Improved blood flow brings nutrients to the painful area so it can heal. Ice restricts the blood flow. Both can be helpful for your joints. For example, if you’re having mobility problems due to arthritis, then heat can reduce stiffness so you can move easier. Ice reduces inflammation. 

3-Spinal Decompression – You may have seen people get strapped on tables and turned upside down. While it can look like a medieval torture device, it’s actually very helpful for taking the pressure off your spine. Additionally, there are other ways to do spinal decompression besides inversion therapy. For example, you can lie down, fully clothed on our special decompression table and the sensors will administer electromagnetic pulses throughout your body.

4- Ultrasound – More than imaging technology, an ultrasound also produces sound waves that have a massaging effect. This can reduce swelling and stiffness. 

Massage therapy is also good for mobility because it relaxes the muscles.

Of course, everyone’s body is different. When it comes to improving your mobility, your age, health, and condition play important roles. When you see a medical professional, we’ll assess your overall health and medical history before recommending a treatment plan. After all, if your mobility problems are related to a pinched nerve, then that’s a different treatment than arthritis-related mobility problems. 

If you’re in Doylestown, Pa. and are having mobility issues, come in and see if we can improve mobility through chiropractic care and get you feeling your best again! We take most insurances

6 Ways to Protect Your Joints as You Age 

6 Ways to Protect Your Joints as You Age 

Protect your joints

It’s easy to take our bodies for granted. You can walk, bend over, sit and stand, and maybe even run and dance. But one wrong step can change everything. Twist your ankle stepping off a curb and you may find yourself traveling through the airport in a wheelchair because you can’t walk. 

As you get older, many people find they have more aches and pains than before. Often, it’s joint related and if left unchecked, can seriously hamper your activities. 

There are a few ways you can maintain your joint health though, no matter your age. 

How to Protect Your Joint Health 

1- Maintain a healthy weight – There are so many health benefits to maintaining a healthy weight and joint health is a big one. Take your knees for instance. Every extra 10 pounds on your body is like another 20 pounds on your knee joints. That takes it’s toll after a while. 

2- Stretch – According to researchers at Harvard University, it helps to move and stretch every 15 minutes. That helps keep the oxygen flowing through your body which carries nutrients and helps lubricate the joints. Stretching regularly also improves range of motion.

If you can incorporate a regular yoga class appropriate for your abilities, that’s also beneficial. 

3- Create an ergonomic workstation – If you’re like most of us, you spend more time in front of screens that away from them. Not only is sitting for long periods unhealthy, but bending over a screen causes pain in the upper back, shoulders, and neck. Then there’s carpal tunnel pain a lot of people develop due to a lot of typing.

If you keep your screen at eye-level, that will help. If you have a laptop, you can raise it on a special laptop stand or even a stack of books and use an external mouse and keyboard. If you’re using a separate monitor, it’s easy to raise that on a shelf or books. 

4- Get a massage Therapeutic massage goes beyond just feeling good. It also helps reduce toxins and stimulate the blood flow throughout your body. A regular massage has many of the same benefits of stretching such as releasing tight muscles and improving range of motion. 

5- Chiropractic care – Chiropractic care works well with massage to protect your joints and offer pain relief. The massage relaxes the muscles and the chiropractic adjustment re-aligns your spine which in turn, helps your whole body. In some cases, we don’t do a traditional adjustment but rely on other techniques like ultrasound and a TENS machine to help your joints and reduce pain. 

6- Don’t overuse – If you have arthritis or consistent pain in certain joints, evaluate how you can make lifestyle changes to limit certain actions. For example, if it’s painful for you to chop vegetables, try to buy them pre-chopped. 

Overall, there are many ways you can protect your joints. Hopefully, you can implement some or all of these suggestions before you’re in a lot of pain. If you’re in or near Doylestown, Pa. and would like to talk with a chiropractor about protecting your joints, we offer a free consultation.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Benefits of Massage Therapy

benefits of massage therapy

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

When was your last massage? For many, it’s been awhile. Once thought of as a indulgence, the medical community now recognizes the benefits of massage therapy. You may know it reduces stress and relieves pain. But did you know massage therapy also releases feel-good endorphins?

Endorphins are naturally occurring chemicals in the body that promote relaxation. Endorphins also lower your blood pressure and improve oxygen flow. As you may know, better oxygen flow reduces inflammation and helps flush away toxins.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Massage therapy is used to help manage a health condition or enhance wellness. It involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the earliest tools that people used to try to relieve pain.”

Medical professionals of all types recommend massage therapy. Studies show it’s helpful for everything from tension headaches to chronic pain like fibromyalgia. It’s even helpful for diabetics.

Here at Mcquaite Chiropractic, we recommend massage therapy as a complementary therapy to your chiropractic treatments. The reason why is because while a chiropractic adjustment realigns your spine; massage relaxes your muscles. They’re each good on their own. But together, they’re like peanut butter and jelly. They both reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and improve your flexibility. It’s a good holistic approach to your body’s overall wellness.

Other Benefits of Massage Therapy

Anxiety Reduction

Lying still for an hour (or even half hour) forces you to slow down. This is good for your mental state. Plus, safe human touch fulfills a deep human need for human contact. Studies have shown that people feel less stressed and happier after massage.

Pain Reduction

Massage therapy improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation. You instinctively rub sore muscles for relief, a massage therapist does it better. Plus, this natural pain relief means you may skip pain medication including opioids.

Helps Control Blood Sugar in Diabetics

It can help control blood sugar by helping your body better absorb insulin. It also helps reduce toxins.

Improved Digestive System

Better circulation helps the blood carry oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and flush out toxins. This stimulates your lymph nodes, your digestive system, and even your immune system.

As you can see, there are many benefits of massage therapy. There are also many different types of massage. Some of them include deep tissue, Swedish, myofascial, and sports. If you’re wondering which is the best massage for you, it depends on why you’re getting the massage and your personal preference. Your chiropractor can make recommendations for you.

When you combine massage therapy with chiropractic care, you’ll feel better in between treatments. If you live in or near Doylestown, Pa. and you’d like to experience natural pain relief with chiropractic and massage therapy, stop in or call for your free consultation. 

7 Ways to Supercharge Your Immune System

7 Ways to Supercharge Your Immune System

supercharge your immune system

Photo by Filip Bunkens on Unsplash

Do you feel over-extended this time of year and your immune system is low? It’s common. There are work-related holiday gatherings, kids’ programs, and all manner of social invites. Sometimes, it can seem like you’re on a treadmill frantically wrapping gifts and rushing to this or that event around Bucks County and into Philadelphia.

Next thing you know, you or a family member have picked up a cold or the flu. While there’s no substitution for rest and getting enough sleep it’s tough to prioritize those things until it’s too late.

Here are 7 Ways to Supercharge Your Immune System

From supplements to squeezing in a chiropractic appointment or three, making time for healthcare will help you and your family feel your best.

1- Vitamin C is a tried and true supplement -Take it in capsule form and/or increase your dosage via one of those powdered forms like the “Emergency C” to boost your health. Most adults can go as high as 2000 mg a day for a short time. Children are less and it depends on size/age and general health.

2-Wash your hands – Your mother was right. Wash your hands before you eat. It’s common sense and yet gets tricky when you’re at a stand up gathering shaking hands with people and surrounded by finger food. Depending on the situation, you may opt to put a plate in one hand and a drink in the other, not eat until later, or use a cocktail napkin to put a tasty tidbit in your mouth.

Fortunately, more people are adopting new habits that don’t require hand shaking as much which lessens the social pressure.

3- Wipe down door handles – Since so many germs are spread via hands, it makes sense to wipe down door handles and anything else that a lot of people touch. Whether at home, work, or public places. Fortunately, the grocery stores around Doylestown started offering disposable wipes for the grocery cart handles years ago. We recommend using them.

 4- Get regular treatments – Many people don’t realize that chiropractic treatments can boost your immunity, but they can. The reason is because chiropractic adjustments relieve tension related to a mis-aligned spine. You may have heard, “the spine is your lifeline.” It is. And even if you’re not in pain, it’s natural that tendons, muscles, and bones may be a out of alignment and causing your body stress.

5- Reduce stress – It’s tough when you’re juggling a million priorities. Yet, stress always lowers the body’s defense against things like colds and flu. So, practice deep breathing throughout the day if you can. Take a break and breathe. Remind yourself of all the good things you have in your life and breathe.

And book yourself a massage or chiropractic appointment – or better yet, both! You’ll feel better.

6Build in rest time – Remember the nap schedule when your children were small? If you’re like a lot of parents, that nap schedule dictated your entire schedule if you wanted to have happy children (and happy parents.)

That may be a thing of the distant past now but if you can assess your crowded schedule and prioritize having some quiet time, you’ll help ease the stress. Especially, if you leave your phone in another room for an hour or two. Encourage your entire family to take some time to unplug and rest the brain.

A Forbes says we touch our phones 80 times a day! For teenagers it may seem more like 80  times a minute. All that interruption makes us anxious. Why not give yourself permission to take a break from it now and again. You may be surprised at how much calmer you feel!

7-Exercise – With all the holiday shopping, wrapping, gatherings, loaded on top of regular life, it’s easy to push exercise to the bottom of the “to do” list but the truth is, you need it. If you participate in regular yoga classes or go to the gym, try to keep your schedule. It gives your brain a rest from all the other thoughts racing through it and boosts oxygen levels which boosts immunity.

These seven ways to supercharge your immune system are not earth shattering. Yet, it’s all about making them important in your day to day life so you feel your best. People with healthy wellness habits usually pick up fewer cold and flu viruses.

If you’re in Bucks County, Pa. and want boost your immunity with chiropractic care, call us at 267-247-7000, we take most insurance.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

Is Chiropractic Care Safe?

If you’re considering trying chiropractic care for the first time, you may have a lot of questions.

is chiropractic safeQuestions like:

  • Can it help my chronic back pain?
  • Is chiropractic care safe?
  • Do you need to go multiple times?
  • Is it covered by insurance?

The answers are yes, yes, yes, probably.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, roughly 30 million Americans suffer with back pain every year. For some people, these are chronic conditions that cause you to miss work and seek all kinds of pain relief including chiropractic care. For others, it’s an occasional thing and you feel better with a chiropractic adjustment.

Is Chiropractic Safe?

In a word, yes.

A) Chiropractic care dates to 1895

B) Chiropractors attend four years of additional schooling after completing a pre-med program

C) It’s not habit-forming like opioids

Spinal manipulation, aka chiropractic care is considered a conservative approach to pain management and is recommended by traditional physicians.

In fact, you may not know that chiropractors attend a four-year rigorous training program after completing a full load of pre-med classes as an undergraduate. Then, they usually spend a year in a clinic working with patients like a residency program.

Chiropractic Care is a Gentle Approach to Pain Management 

Your first visit includes a medical assessment and at our office, an x-ray. These offer a guide for your treatment plan which may include electrical stimulation (TENS), spinal decompression therapy, and/or traditional spinal manipulation.

Everyone receives an individual treatment plan.

Typically, the chiropractic adjustment involves you laying on the chiropractic table and we use a combination of body weight and quick movements to release pressure in your joints.

Many people experience immediate relief, though not all.  In many cases, we’ll recommend 2-3 visits/week for a week or two to “jumpstart” the movement in your body. We may also make recommendations on diet/exercise/ergonomic tools to relieve pain. For example, resistance bands are an effective way to build strength.

For example, sitting slumped in front of the computer for hours a day will contribute to back and neck pain. So, if you raise your screen to eye level and get a chair that supports your back, you may have less pain. Taking these additional steps can go a long way toward reducing back, shoulder, and neck pain caused by poor posture.

Of course, there are dozens of reasons why you may have physical pain so you’ll want to come in for an assessment. Another common question is if we accept insurance. I can’t speak for all chiropractors but here at McQuaite Chiropractic in Doylestown, we accept most of them.  Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to treat pain.

 

 

 

Common Chiropractic Terms for Curious New Patients

Common Chiropractic Terms for Curious New Patients

common chiropractic terms

Common Chiropractic Terms You’ll Want to Know

Every profession has its lingo and chiropractors are no different. While you certainly don’t need to know all the terminology, you might find it interesting to know a few common chiropractic terms. For example, chiropractors use the terms subluxation, manipulation and adjustment a lot.

Before we define those, here’s a brief overview of the chiropractic philosophy.

As you probably know, chiropractors focus on spinal health. But they’re not only “back doctors.” If you’ve ever heard the expression, “your spine is your lifeline” then you have a sense of its importance. It’s true that the work the chiropractor does on your spine affects your entire body.

One of those ways is that by keeping your spine flexible you have better mobility and balance which help you avoid injury.

The chiropractor has your spinal flexibility in mind and focuses on “aligning” your body which improves your oxygen flow and keeps the nervous system in tip top shape. If you have one leg slightly longer than the other, or hunched shoulders and protruding neck from long hours at the computer, your chiropractor can “realign” your body.

This “realignment” can help you stand straighter and take the pressure off certain parts of the body so you feel better.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you walk around town with a computer bag on one shoulder. That can affect your opposite shoulder, lower back, and hip and cause you pain.  A chiropractic treatment will help realign your spine (and hence the hip, etc.)

It’s even possible to not know that your spine is out of alignment and yet, when a practiced eye looks at you, they may be able to see that one shoulder is higher than the other or your neck sticks out a bit more than is ideal.

If that sounds like you, read on for some basic terminology.

4 Common Chiropractic Terms and What They Mean

Alignment – When your spine is in alignment, it helps your head balance properly on your neck. Your head weighs typically 8 pounds. This means you want it positioned correctly, otherwise, it’s putting pressure on your neck, shoulders, and upper back which can hurt.

Of course, your spine connects to your shoulders, upper back, middle back, etc. so if something is out of place in one area, it affects another.

A chiropractic’s goal is to help your spine support your body from head to toe.

Adjustment – “Getting an adjustment” means your chiropractor will use their tools and techniques to adjust your joints. Usually, they focus on the vertebrae, but they can also adjust wrists. It’s basically used to refer to the entire chiropractor treatment.

Subluxation – This is chiropractic speak for a misaligned spine. A healthy spine features the vertebrae in a “line” descending the spinal column. In the case of poor postural habits, accidents, or medical issues like scoliosis, the bones can be shifted to the right or left. This can be the source of chronic, nagging pain unless addressed.

Manipulation – The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describe it as, “It’s a technique where practitioners use their hands or a device to apply a controlled thrust (that is, a force of a specific magnitude or degree in a specific direction) to a joint of your spine. The amount of force can vary, but the thrust moves the joint more than it would on its own.”

While these common chiropractic terms can sound like variations on the same thing, to a practitioner, they’re a little different. As a patient, you can always ask your chiropractor to describe what they’re doing.

Life naturally takes its toll on our bodies. Long hours at the computer, repetitive tasks and accidents are all ways in which our spine get out of alignment. Stretching for flexibility, light yoga, and regular chiropractic treatments can help you stay healthy.

Need to see a chiropractor? Dr. McQuaite in Doylestown, Pa. takes most insurances and is voted Best of Bucks! Make your appointment today or just stop by.

 

Is Chiropractic a Good Scoliosis Treatment for You?

Is Chiropractic a Good Scoliosis Treatment for You?

Is Chiropractic a Good Scoliosis Treatment for You?

scoliosis treatment

Can Chiropractic care be an effective scoliosis treatment?

If you’ve been diagnosed with scoliosis, you probably have questions. What is scoliosis exactly? Will you have to wear a brace, how will it affect your life, and what type of scoliosis treatment will help?

As you know, scoliosis is an abnormal spinal curve.

While the spine is meant to curve in an “s” shape down your back, someone with scoliosis usually has a more pronounced curve that goes side to side. As a result, it can make for uneven shoulders, waist or hips.

In some cases it’s very obvious.

Those of us of a certain age will remember the Judy Blume adolescent classic, Deenie. In the book, the central character was diagnosed with severe curvature of the spine and had to wear a metal brace from neck to hips. While such braces have gotten lighter over the years – they’re now plastic and a little less obvious – they’re still uncomfortable and can make people feel self-conscious.

Whether or not you or a family member needs a back brace for scoliosis treatment is between you and your doctor but when it comes to pain reduction and increased mobility, Dr. McQuaite in Doylestown, Pa. has helped many patients with scoliosis over the years.

But first, how do you get scoliosis? According to the Scoliosis Institute, there are around 4 million people with scoliosis in the U.S.

In many cases, doctors don’t know what the true cause is which is frustrating and left untreated it can continue to worsen. It CAN be linked to cerebral palsy, infections, birth defects, and other such conditions, but not always.

And, to further confound things, it’s more common in teens and pre-teens during a growth spurt, yet can also show up adults. In adults, it’s usually related to wearing out of your spinal discs and joints as you age. Ouch!

What to Expect with Scoliosis?

Depending on the extent of the curve, your doctor may recommend wearing a brace. When prescribed to teens who are still growing, it’s in hopes that it will prevent the curve from worsening.

There are adult versions too though those are light weight and can be worn for shorter periods of time.

Some doctors may recommend surgery and/or physical therapy.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Chiropractic treatment can’t correct or cure scoliosis, but it can help increase joint mobility and decrease pain. It’s also possible that you have other spinal issues in addition to scoliosis that can be helped with chiropractic care.

With chiropractic care as part of your scoliosis treatment plan, your chiropractor can help you find pain relief and improve your spinal mobility through a variety of tools and techniques. There’s more to chiropractic care than the traditional spinal manipulation. We also have gentle tools including electronic stimulation and a small “tapping” tool that uses a small amount of force.

If you have questions about scoliosis or other spinal concerns, stop by. Our office is in Doylestown, across from C. B. West. We offer a free consultation and take most insurance.