Keeping Sciatica at Bay During Pregnancy

When your pregnancy presses on your sciatic nerve

The results can be disastrous. You already have enough anxiety to deal with as the due date approaches; to add severe back pain into the mix can push you to a breaking point. But this is exactly what happens to so many women, because pregnancy creates the perfect mix of circumstances for sciatica. Take the growing weight of the fetus, add a shifting center of gravity, then increase pregnancy hormones that loosen ligaments in the pelvis, then add an accentuated arch in the back and pressure on the facet joints, and voila, you have sciatica. Fortunately, chiropractic specializes in treating these exact pre-conditions to help alleviate nerve impingement and help you feel better. 


Chiropractic for sciatica during pregnancy

Our goal is to stabilize the pelvis and restore alignment throughout the spine. This requires specific spinal adjustments that restore the alignment of the spine and increase function in the facet joints; this in itself is often enough to alleviate nerve impingement. From here, we focus on balancing the pelvis to prevent misalignment from recurring, and to increase stability at the base of the spine. Finally, we introduce gentle stretching and strengthening movements to increase the natural support system for your lower spine. We also employ modalities such as massage and soft tissue therapy to help increase circulation where it matters most. If you are interested in finding out about how chiropractic can benefit your pregnancy, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Healthy Thanksgiving Food Options

We all know that Thanksgiving tends to be associated with mass amounts of comfort food, however, there are still options you can prepare that are more health-forward than the traditional mashed potatoes and gravy, apple pie, not to mention ham and turkey. Of course, we’d never knock these foods, but there are options that will provide you with more vitamins and minerals than the junk food options will.

Below, Family Chiropractic & Spinal Health Care Center goes over a few healthy dishes you can prepare for Thanksgiving, even if you’re going to be having a socially distant holiday this year.

First, prepare plenty of veggie dishes to go with the clean whole protein you plan on preparing. Have a salad option or two and make sure to include healthy greens like spinach, kale, and other vitamin and mineral-dense leafy greens.

Next, yams and sweet potatoes are a great option, but, in lieu of the brown sugar and marshmallows, top your sweet potatoes with almonds and granola to give it a healthy kick.

Having more than one entree is a good idea, too, and it’s always considerate to provide a plant-based option for those who do not eat meat.

At Family Chiropractic & Spinal Health Care Center our treatments are design to optimize our patient’s lives on a daily basis. Combine our treatments with a healthy diet and exercise and you won’t go wrong. Contact us today to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we play a vital role in keeping our community happy and healthy.

Chiropractic for MMA Fighters

MMA is starting to becoming an increasingly popular sport on a global scale. One can take a look at the champions from all of the weight classes and truly see representatives from all over the world.

One thing most professional MMA fighters agree upon is the necessity of a good chiropractor to perform the important body work that needs to be done in order to properly recover from the immense wear and tear that the MMA life will certainly put on you.

Below, Family Chiropractic & Spinal Health Care Center goes over a few ways that chiro comes in the clutch for those practicing any form of martial art or combat sport.

Drug-Free Pain Relief

Chiro is widely popular among professional fighters due to the fact that most organizations have rigorous drug testing policies. Chiro gets the job done without prescription drug intervention, helping the spine, neck, legs, and joints feel better.

Improved Sleep

Rest is an important aspect of a fighter’s training, and chiropractic adjustments have been shown to promote a better night of sleep due to the fact that adjustments ease tension, pain, and provide the body with proper relaxation.

Increased Flexibility and Range of Motion

Chiropractic adjustments realign the body and helps reduce tension in the body and in the joints, which will increase flexibility and range of motion. Flexibility is important for martial artists, especially in the hips.

Many forms of martial arts put tons of strain on the back, neck, and spine. Contact Family Chiropractic & Spinal Health Care Center to learn more about how are treatments can make you more effective at your craft and have you feeling healthier on a daily basis, no matter what happens in the ring or on the mat.

November Health Goals

November might seem like a month where there are going to be more than a few obstacles for your health and wellness routine.

Thanksgiving Wellness Obstacles

First of all, Thanksgiving will usually entail making plans, or, at the very least, planning an extensive meal for the family, relatives, and possibly friends. These foods are usually not the most nutritionally sound. During Thanksgiving, we tend to eat comfort foods, and in large amounts.

Some of us might also be picking up extra hours in an effort to make the holiday season extra magical for those who we care about.

Couple these aspects of November mentioned above with the creeping in of the cold air and it might seem like it’s going to be really hard to stay healthy and active this month.

Tips for a Healthy November

Instead, make it a point to eat healthy foods and even prepare healthier foods for your Thanksgiving Fare. For instance, prepare some Fall friendly veggies and make extensive salads that incorporate healthy greens, carrots, sprouts, avocado, cucumber, celery, and other healthy ingredients geared toward fueling you throughout the day.

Quickly you will find that clean, whole foods will bog you down considerably less than carb-ridden, processed sugar-dense comfort foods.

Getting outdoors may be a challenge, especially in those early morning hours that are now freezing cold. Invest in some outerwear that will make your exercise routine a little more comfortable in the cold weather. It’s still worth it to bring your workouts outdoors when you can. If you can’t, at home is still a fantastic place to build a workout regiment.

Lastly, make sure you double-down on your mindfulness exercises. Meditation, yoga, and even taking a moment to take a few deep breaths can do wonders for your mental health. We know the holiday season can be stressful, but you got this!

Chiropractic in November

November is also a great month to explore chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, provide drug-free pain relief, and more. Contact Family Chiropractic & Spinal Health Care Center today to schedule your consultation.