Posts Tagged ‘New Fairfield CT Back Pain’
Welcome to Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center's New Fairfield CT Back Pain 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 New Fairfield CT Back Pain for the health of it.
We look forward to serving you! Call - 203-746-6543.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | May 31, 2016 | Health Articles
Summer vacation is near! The excitement of warm weather and the well-needed break from school or work is upon us. As the last school bell rings or the final confirmation of your travel plans arrives to make sure you not only pack accordingly but prepare with these simple tips so you may enjoy the most of your holiday.
Pack Light – Leave Your Back Pain Behind
Traveling in any mode of transport can be physically demanding. Even if the final destination is a luxury holiday, getting there can leave you tired, stressed and in pain.
Sitting down for too long can cause significant problems for the body. No matter how comfortable the seat or surroundings, pressures build and blood flow is restricted. This is why some people experience DVTs on long-haul flights; because pressure builds up in the blood vessels of the lower legs as the blood becomes more sluggish. Contracting and relaxing the muscles can help to counter this and help the blood flow better.
Top Tips For Traveling:
Travel should be looked on as a form of strenuous exercise that requires a period of warming up and cooling down. Warm up and stretch before you travel, and cool down with a brisk walk when you arrive to reinvigorate your hamstring and calf muscles.
Road Trip!
- If you are driving, adjust the seat so you’re as close to the wheel as you can be while still feeling comfortable. Keep the knees just a little bit above the hips.
- Use a back support if the seat does not provide adequate support by design. This will help reduce the risk of lower back pain and injury. The support should be widest between the lowest ribs and the waist.
- Exercise your legs while driving to keep the blood flowing and limit any swelling or pain. Count to 10 while spreading your toes wide; count to 5 while tightening your calf muscles, followed by your thigh muscles, then your glutes (butt); roll your shoulders back and forward (keeping your hands on the wheel!).
- Alternate holding the wheel with your hands at the 2 and 7 o’clock positions, and then the 10 and 5 o’clock positions.
- Try not to grip the wheel too tightly, which reduces the circulation and increase fatigue in the muscles of the hands, wrists and arms.
- Vary your focal point to reduce eye strain and headaches, but keep your eyes on the road.
- Take frequent breaks from driving; remember that fatigue behind the wheel can kill.
The Jet Set!
- Airline seats are incredibly spine-unfriendly. Stand up straight, familiarize yourself with the normal curve of your spine, then use rolled-up towels to recreate that curve when sitting down. Use another between your neck and the headrest.
- Bags heavier than 5-10% of your body weight should ideally be checked in rather than carried on. Lifting heavy bags into overhead lockers can damage the spine. Whatever the weight of the bag, make sure you stand directly in front of the compartment and do not twist your back or neck when lifting.
- Under seat luggage should not be forced in using feet or hands while standing, which can cause muscle spasms given the confined and awkward space between the seats. Instead, sit down first, then push it in using both your hands and/or feet.
- Move about in your seat frequently to keep the blood flowing and guard against cramps. Massage your thighs and calves, then push up with your toes to shift your knees up and down. Use a bag to raise your feet higher.
- Don’t blast yourself with the overhead air vents which can cause your neck and shoulders to tense.
Baby On Board!
- Use an approved car seat appropriate to the age of the child when traveling in a car.
- Infant car seats should always face rearwards so that any impact is spread around the back and shoulders and not taken directly by the neck.
- A car seat should not be used in the front seat of a car where an airbag could deploy into it. Similarly, if the rear doors or the rear of the front seats are equipped with airbags, position the child seat in the center of the rear seat to avoid it being hit by any of them.
- Secure the car seat as per instructions and make sure it is properly fixed in place and cannot shift. The seat should be at a 45-degree angle to properly support the child’s head.
- Traveling by air, ask if a car seat can be used which is safer than seating a child on your lap.
Preparation Meets Opportunity – Ultimate Success!
For the ultimate success plan ahead and schedule a spinal examination and address underlying issues that may be aggravated by the journey of your holiday. Our fantastic team is just a simple call away and ready to have you jump into your well-earned break!
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.
Questions?
Our team wants to help you win on and off the court. Call us and let us help you slam dunk a victory in better health!
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Sep 15, 2015 | Health Articles
The excitement of fall is here! Our senses come alive again as many of us are beginning to enjoy the beautiful and majestic colors displayed on our trees this autumn season. As we know, this beauty is brief for the trees soon lose their leaves and decorate our lawns with piles of wonderful and less exciting dead debris. That beauty also comes at a price for our back, neck, and shoulders as we sweep, gather, and dispose of the leaves more than once this season. So if your home is subjected to leaves falling each year, follow these helpful tips and avoid the consequences of leaf-raking on the body, including strain and pain in the neck, the upper and lower back, and the shoulders.
Top Notch Lawn Care Tips:
- Stretch before you commence work, and throughout, performing knee-to-chest stretches, trunk rotations, and side bends with hands above the head, palms up and fingers weaved. Spend 10 to 15 minutes all together on your stretching. Intersperse the work with a short walk to get the circulation going throughout the body, and do the same stretches as a cool-down once you have finished.
- As you rake, stand erect with your head held up.
- Use a “scissors” stance when raking; that is, keep one foot forward for a few minutes, then swap and put the back foot forwards.
- When bending to pick up leaves or any other trash, bend at the knees not the waist.
- When mowing the lawn, put your whole body into the pushing, not just your arms and back.
- When starting a mower with a pull cord, bend at the knees and extend up in a smooth motion. Do not twist at the waist or yank at the cord.
- Keep well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and wear a hat in the sun. Always wear shoes and protective glasses, and use gloves if your hands are likely to receive rough treatment that might raise blisters. When using loud machinery, employ ear-protectors, and if you suffer from asthma or allergies, use a mask.
- Try to use ergonomically-friendly tools that help take the strain from your muscles and joints.
- An ice-pack can be used to ease any discomfort you feel following raking or other outdoor work.
Pile in the Benefits!
Enjoy the season but remember to follow the tips to rake in the benefits! If your discomfort does not dissipate within two to three days please contact our expert team.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Jun 18, 2015 | Health Articles
Gone are the days of sitting back in our office chairs with our feet on the desk. Now we have gone to the absolute other extreme to where our heads are almost in the computer screen as they are stretched and extended by our form that is becoming hunched and almost disfigured. With this wonderful posture we have gained illnesses and pains that could and can be avoided. To help find and create solutions to this growing trend and to help companies have healthier employees and in turn more productivity with less sick days, the science of workplace ergonomics was developed to address work place solutions which creates a win for both employee and employer.
Simple Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the practice of suiting the conditions in which a person works to the specific capabilities and job demands of that employee. It follows that, for an ergonomic workplace to be created, a proper assessment of the environment must first of all take place so that appropriate changes can be made on the basis of accepted ergonomic principles. The aim is to create a safer and more productive working environment for the employee.
The Three Most Important Applications of Workplace Ergonomics:
- The stress of any lifting should be taken by the largest muscles to protect the smaller and more vulnerable ones.
- When working, the employee should be able to move comfortably between various correct postures so they don’t over-stress one particular part of the body for an extended period. Muscles become fatigued when kept tense for too long, especially if that one posture is poor.
- Joints should move through no more than 50% of their range when performing activities, and preferably be kept in a neutral position. Joints that are overextended can become damaged and susceptible to repetitive stress/strain injuries.
Tips for Safe Lifting:
When lifting anything off the floor, bend at the knees, not at the waist. Keep your head up, your neck and back straight, and use your leg muscles to power up to standing. Bending forward at the waist to lift brings your low-back muscles into it, and these can be easily pulled. Keep your elbows flexed and hold the object close in to your body to further minimize back strain.
Tips for the Desk Jockey:
- The height of the desk should be suited to your frame, and everything you need should be within easy reach.
- Your feet should be able to touch the floor, and the angle between your torso and thighs should be 90 to 110 degrees.
- Keep your body straight, head and neck upright, and keep your task directly in front of you. Don’t hunch or slouch.
- The top of your computer monitor should be at your eye level. Your head should be in a neutral position, otherwise any leaning forward can cause pain in the neck and head.
- Your wrists should be straight when typing, and your shoulders and forearms parallel to the floor.
- Anything you read at your desk should be at the same level as though you were reading it on your monitor. Use a book stand or a paper holder.
- Use a headset when talking on the telephone – certainly if you are doing so for long periods. Never use your shoulder to cradle the phone against your ear. This will lead to headaches and neck pain.
- Every 20 or 30 minutes, get up, have a stretch and go for a little wander. But do not stray to long.
- Frequently stretch out your neck, arms, wrists, back, and legs while working. Try neck rotations, fist clenches, arm dangles, and shoulder shrugs.
- Don’t stare at one thing for too long. If your eyes do not frequently shift focus, they will become strained. Take a few seconds to look from objects that are nearby to objects that are farther away, such as your colleagues who are still frowning at you following your last stretching routine.
Bonus Mouse Safety:
Use you arm and shoulder to move the mouse, not just your wrist. Hold the mouse loosely and keep your wrist straight and relaxed. The edge of your desk is not the best place to rest your wrist; instead, use a gel rest incorporated into the mouse mat. Take regular breaks during each hour to flex your wrists, and to move your arms and shoulders.
We Can Help!
With the exponential growth of the internet world our bodies can endure poor repetitive posture and strains for over eight hours a day and sometime more. These demands have developed many of these health challenges such as neck pain, headaches, low back pain, carpal tunnel.
As specialists our team has been developed to first address your pain symptoms but also work to create better solutions for you and your company’s team. We encourage questions and would love to help your team by helping you develop solutions to your work environment, which should be a happy healthy place for you; for you may be there more than your own home.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | May 28, 2015 | Health Articles
Man’s trajectory from the beginning has been to come, become, adapt, and grow. Our evolution from even a small infant can be measured by lying to sitting, sitting to crawling, and finally crawling to standing. With this said our species from an outside observer would now be entered as the era of de-evolution of man. Our postures on a grand scheme are beginning to hunch and roll from an early and earlier age. But the most noted is the amount of illness, pain, and degenerative diseases that are occurring in the most technologically advanced societies.
If you are now taking the time to Google the why, Stop! you have stumbled onto one of the main causes of the de-evolution of man’s posture.
The Small Screens of Incite
Today, most of our communications are received through a small screen that we slouch and slump to see due to the long hours we remain in that position to inner face with the world. We as adults down to our smallest children can now easily be found no longer interacting with the real world but living virtually. Although we may be obtaining good information, few people understand the true importance of maintaining good posture while obtaining information and interacting on our computers.. This poor posture is accelerating our forward head posture which is not only a main contributor to headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and back pain but is having a detrimental effect on our overall health.
Let’s Start at the Top
Good posture is more than standing up straight. You have posture when you stand, walk, sit, kneel, lie down, play sport, etc. Whatever position your body gets into, there is a right way and a wrong way of doing it. The right way reduces strain on the supporting muscles and ligaments. The wrong way hurts but not necessarily with immediate pain.
The most serious posture change that is effecting our society of all ages today is the forward head posture. The forward head posture change is a huge factor in your overall health because it relates to your central nervous system, which is your body’s power supply. When you have a forward head posture your spinal cord is pulled and stretched. This tension changes the shape of your spinal cord.
When your spine is healthy and relaxed, your spinal cord sends signals between your brain and body at approximately 275 mph. As you decrease the natural curves of your spine and over stretch the cord, the speed of these signals traveling between your brain and body all day long is compromised.
Advantages of Good Posture
Good posture does the following for you:
- Keeps your bones and joints correctly aligned so your muscles work correctly and your joints experience the least possible wear and tear, reducing the risk of degenerative arthritis and joint pain.
- Reduces the stress on the ligaments that hold your spinal joints together, making injury less likely.
- Allows your muscles to function with less effort, so you get less tired and stressed.
- Lowers the risk of muscle strain and overuse disorders that can cause back and muscular pain.
Common risk factors for bad posture include: obesity, stress, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, unusually tight muscles, high-heels, lack of flexibility, poor work ergonomics, and bad habits when sitting and standing.
Mastering How to Sit
- Your feet should rest on the floor. If they don’t, use a stool.
- Crossing your legs is not advised, and keep your ankles in front of your knees.
- Check there’s a small gap between the front of your seat and the back of your knees.
- Keep your knees at or below the level of your hips.
- Support your low- and mid-back, either with a backrest or back support.
- Don’t tense the shoulders, and check that your forearms are horizontal.
- Get up and move about regularly when stuck sitting down for long periods.
Mastering How to Stand
- The balls of your feet should bear most of your weight.
- Don’t lock your knees; keep them slightly bent.
- Feet should be shoulder-width apart.
- Let your arms hang free at your sides.
- Stand straight and tall with shoulders pulled backward.
- Keep your stomach tucked in.
- Your head should be level, earlobes over your shoulders. Don’t force your head in any direction.
- When unavoidably on your feet for a while, shift your weight from your toes to your heels, or from one foot to the other, to share the burden.
The Artistry of Lying Properly
- A suitable mattress is very important. Make sure you find one that is supportive and comfortable. This is a personal matter based on your own shape.
- Use a pillow to maintain your spine in proper alignment.
- Don’t sleep on your stomach.
- Sleeping on your back is preferred with a small cushion to support your natural neck and lumbar curve. To assist with this place a small pillow under your knees.
- Place a pillow between your legs if you sleep on your side.
Experts at Your Finger Tips!
Our expert team looks forward to helping our community become healthier and stronger by addressing the body as a whole unit while reducing pain and addressing processes in our health that have become a challenge. Make sure to visit our website for more great health education information – Just make sure to schedule an appointment so we can help you achieve a healthier taller you!
Gone are the days of sitting back in our office chairs with our feet on the desk. Now we have gone to the absolute other extreme to where our heads are almost in the computer screen as they are stretched and extended by our form that is becoming hunched and almost disfigured. With this wonderful posture we have gained illnesses and pains that could and can be avoided. To help find and create solutions to this growing trend and to help companies have healthier employees and in turn more productivity with less sick days, the science of workplace ergonomics was developed to address work place solutions which creates a win for both employee and employer.
Man’s trajectory from the beginning has been to come, become, adapt, and grow. Our evolution from even a small infant can be measured by lying to sitting, sitting to crawling, and finally crawling to standing. With this said our species from an outside observer would now be entered as the era of de-evolution of man. Our postures on a grand scheme are beginning to hunch and roll from an early and earlier age. But the most noted is the amount of illness, pain, and degenerative diseases that are occurring in the most technologically advanced societies.