Posts Tagged ‘Low Back Pain New Fairfield CT’
Welcome to Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center's Low Back Pain New Fairfield CT Archive. Here you can learn more about Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center, Chiropractic, and Dr. Brandon Chorney, today's choice for Chiropractors in New Fairfield, CT. Read Dr. Brandon Chorney's Chiropractic Low Back Pain New Fairfield CT for the health of it.
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Feb 25, 2016 | Health Articles
Ice or Heat? When you suffer with an injury or are in need of pain relief this question arises quite frequently. Most often we reach for the solution that our mothers gave us or what our best friend who also suffered with the same the injury or pain did.
While some say ice is better for your pain, others claim that heat will do the trick. But how can you tell which is more appropriate for the type of injury you’ve sustained or pain you are feeling? And what is the best way to apply ice or heat?
With many differing and conflicting opinions, I am going to help clarify what is the most effective way to apply ice and/or heat to help you return to the best of health.
Natural Pain Relief Is Best
Safe and effective pain relief is found in ice and heat. When applied correctly, ice and heat offer you natural and effective pain relief. The other benefit is, when you apply an ice or heat pack to an area, you are placing it precisely on the affected area. Pain medication, on the other hand, has to be swallowed, digested and assimilated, affecting your entire body. Therefore, medication can leave a trail of potential side-effects. Remember, it is always better to act as Mother Nature intended.
Glorious Ice
With an acute or new injury, ice is very effective for relieving pain and reducing inflammation. The icy cold temperature numbs the area to reduce pain, slows down other cell functions and bleeding which in turn prevents bruising and swelling from the waste and fluid build-up, helping to minimize further tissue damage and scar tissue formation.
If you want to numb pain fast and most effectively, invest in a gel pack and have it frozen and ready inside your freezer. If you are desperate and are nowhere near a frozen gel pack, grab some frozen peas and mould the pack with maximum contact to your skin.
Heat Is Sweet
Heat is best used for stiffness of joints, to relieve muscle spasm and chronic pain, such as chronic neck or back pain, it helps increase blood flow during the repair stage of an injury. Greater blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients to your cells along with the removal of waste materials.
With heat, muscles relax and allow you to move freely, allowing for increased flexibility and facilitating proper stretching of damaged tissue. Remember to always use a barrier between the heat and your skin, such as a cloth or towel to prevent burns. Heat can be applied with a thermal gel pack or simply a small warm wet hand towel.
When To Apply Heat and Ice
When one or more of your muscles go into spasm, your body reacts to this “injury” by sending more white blood cells to the site. These extra white blood cells can interfere with the red blood cells’ routine tasks of carrying oxygen and nutrients to the injured area. Waste products stagnate and accumulate in the affected tissue. A lack of oxygen to the site can also stimulate a “pain-spasm cycle” where the nerves send “pain” signals to your brain. In response, your brain contracts the muscles near the injury to close off blood supply and prevents swelling. So starts a vicious cycle that can lead to more spasms and more pain. Even worse, unless the cycle is broken, it can continue for years.
One of the best and easiest ways to break this cycle is to alternate ice and heat. Both ice and heat help shut down the nerves that fire the pain signals. When the pain messages can’t reach the brain, muscles don’t contract and constrict blood flow to the injured area. Applying ice and heat consistently for a sufficient period of time can help break the pain-spasm cycle.
Quick Caution Note
If heat is inappropriately utilized during the inflammatory phase of healing, an increase in blood flow to the already swollen, injured area often results in an increase of pain. As long as pain is present, ice is usually safer and more effective.
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jan 28, 2016 | Health Articles
The winter season is upon us. Whether you live in a climate that naturally enjoys the excitement of the cold brisk weather or you travel to enjoy a snow holiday, here are a few great tips to keep you safe and healthy. Warming Up To Winter Snow, ice, and cold weather are part of the seasonal...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jan 21, 2016 | Health Articles
This is it! You have committed to eat right and loss the weight you promised to lose every year. Remember that statement you made on New Years? We know you do and want you to reach out and let us help you conquer finally that resolution to lose weight and to keep it off. The...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jan 14, 2016 | Health Articles
Another flyer to the local gym lands in your mailbox. You have committed that this is the year of my best body and you quickly call to join. It’s hard work, it hurts, and could be slightly embarrassing but in our minds we are still in our prime; so what could the downside be? The Down...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Nov 10, 2015 | Health Articles
Basketball season is upon us! Whether we play professionally, for a school team, or for fun, it’s time to stop defending the back court and invest in the proper shoes to avoid future injuries. This way we can make the slam dunk of the season – without any lasting consequences.
The majority of people choose fashion over function when purchasing athletic shoes. This can lead to poor fitting shoes which will not only leave you with painful feet at the end of the day, but pain throughout your body too. Because footwear plays such an important role in the function of bones and joints—especially for runners and other athletes—choosing the right shoe can help prevent pain in your back, hips, knees, and feet.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect athletic shoe—every pair of feet is different, every shoe has different features, and overall comfort is a very personal decision. For this reason, it is recommended that you first determine your foot type: normal, flat, or high-arched.
The Normal Foot
Normal feet have a normal-sized arch and will leave a wet footprint that has a flare, but shows the forefoot and heel connected by a broad band. A normal foot lands on the outside of the heel and rolls slightly inward to absorb shock. Best shoes: Stability shoes with a slightly curved shape.
The Flat Foot
This type of foot has a low arch and leaves a print that looks like the whole sole of the foot. It usually indicates an over-pronated foot—one that strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls excessively inward (pronates). Over time, this can cause overuse injuries. Best shoes: Motion-control shoes or high-stability shoes with firm midsoles. These shoes should be fairly resistant to twisting or bending. Stay away from highly cushioned, highly curved shoes, which lack stability features.
The High-Arched Foot
The high-arched foot leaves a print showing a very narrow band—or no band at all—between the forefoot and the heel. A curved, highly arched foot is generally supinated or under-pronated. Because the foot doesn’t pronate enough, usually it’s not an effective shock absorber. Best shoes: Cushioned shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion. Stay away from motion-control or stability shoes, which reduce foot mobility. When determining your foot type, consult with a chiropractor and their amazing team. He or she can help determine your specific foot type, assess your gait, and then suggest the best shoe match.
Tips To Help You Win The Game
Consider the following tips before you purchase your next pair of athletic shoes:
- Match the shoe to the activity. Select a shoe specific for the sport in which you will participate. Running shoes are primarily made to absorb shock as the heel strikes the ground. In contrast, tennis shoes provide more side-to-side stability. Walking shoes allow the foot to roll and push off naturally during walking, and they usually have a fairly rigid arch, a well-cushioned sole, and a stiff heel support for stability.
- If possible, shop at a specialty store. It’s best to shop at a store that specializes in athletic shoes. Employees at these stores are often trained to recommend a shoe that best matches your foot type (shown above) and stride pattern.
- Shop late in the day. If possible, shop for shoes at the end of the day or after a workout when your feet are generally at their largest. Wear the type of socks you usually wear during exercise, and if you use orthotic devices for postural support, make sure you wear them when trying on shoes.
- Have your feet measured every time. It’s important to have the length and width of both feet measured every time you shop for shoes, since foot size often changes with age and most people have 1 foot that is larger than the other. Also, many podiatrists suggest that you measure your foot while standing in a weight bearing position because the foot elongates and flattens when you stand, affecting the measurement and the fit of the shoe.
- Make sure the shoe fits correctly. Choose shoes for their fit, not by the size you’ve worn in the past. The shoe should fit with an index finger’s width between the end of the shoe and the longest toe. The toe box should have adequate room and not feel tight. The heel of your foot should fit snugly against the back of the shoe without sliding up or down as you walk or run. If possible, keep the shoe on for 10 minutes to make sure it remains comfortable.
When Should I Invest In A New Pair?
Once you have purchased a pair of athletic shoes, don’t run them into the ground. While estimates vary as to when the best time to replace old shoes is, most experts agree that between 300 and 500 miles is optimal. In fact, most shoes should be replaced even before they begin to show signs of moderate wear. Once shoes show wear, especially in the cushioning layer, the midsole, they also begin to lose their shock absorption. Failure to replace worn shoes is one of the leading causes of injuries like shin splints, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis.
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