Our chiropractic clinic in Broken Arrow focuses on getting you back to feeling great. We treat back pain, neck pain, and more. With experienced chiropractors and modern care methods, we’re here to guide you to better health.

Ready to feel better? Keep reading to find out how we can help you.

Key Takeaways

• The clinic in Broken Arrow offers care for back and neck pain, sports injuries, family health, and more.
• Dr. Travis Ring, who grew up locally, leads the clinic with over ten years of experience.
•  They use hands-on methods like manual adjustments and spinal decompression therapy.
• They focus on long-term relief without surgery or drugs.
• The clinic is equipped with advanced tools designed to help you feel better.

About Our Chiropractic Clinic in Broken Arrow

Our chiropractic clinic in Broken Arrow is dedicated to providing top-notch care to our community. We place a strong emphasis on back and neck pain relief, sports injuries, family and pediatric care, as well as accident and injury rehabilitation.

Our services include manual adjustments, spinal decompression therapy, and active release techniques aimed at ensuring your overall wellness.

Mission and values

Our mission is clear. We aim to offer the best chiropractic care. This means putting patients first in everything we do. Dr. Ring knows how bad back pain feels from his own experience with a back injury.

He brings that understanding to our clinic every day.

We promise to always be open and honest with you, treating you like family. Our values include patient-first decision-making. This guides us as we help people find relief from pain, manage chronic conditions, and live healthier lives through chiropractic adjustments and therapies.

Commitment to the local community

Dr. Travis Ring, a Broken Arrow local, knows the value of giving back to his town. He grew up here and went to Catoosa High School. Now, he uses his chiropractic skills to help folks in his community live pain-free lives.

His clinic offers free workshops and seminars about keeping a healthy lifestyle. These events are for everyone in Broken Arrow who wants to learn more about spine health and how to avoid back pain.

His team is dedicated to ensuring the health and well-being of all the children in the area. They focus on making chiropractic care easy for families to get. This way, kids can grow strong without being held back by pain or injuries.

Next, we’ll discuss the various types of pain Dr. Ring treats and his methods for helping people recover from sports injuries.

Next, we’ll talk about the kinds of pains Dr. Ring treats and how he helps people recover from sports injuries.

Areas of Treatment

Back and neck pain relief, family and pediatric chiropractic care, sports injuries and recovery, accident and injury rehabilitation – our clinic offers comprehensive treatment for various conditions aiming to provide long-term relief for individuals seeking alternatives to traditional medical interventions.

Our services extend beyond basic adjustments, utilizing modern techniques aimed at addressing a range of musculoskeletal issues while promoting holistic healing.

Back and neck pain relief

Lots of people deal with back and neck pain. In fact, 80% might feel back pain while 70% could face neck pain at some time. Our clinic helps by getting to the bottom of this pain. We use hands-on spinal adjustments and other treatments.

These methods improve spine health.

Chiropractic care can turn life around for those with back and neck issues.

For neck relief, we might also suggest exercises or lifestyle changes. This way, you get a full plan for feeling better, not just quick fixes. With our help, joints wear down less and you can move more freely.

Sports injuries and recovery

Sports injuries are common, especially among active individuals. Chiropractic care can help in the recovery process, enhancing healing and reducing pain. Whether it’s a muscle strain or a more serious injury like a herniated disc, chiropractic treatments aid in improving function and mobility.

Chiropractic adjustments have been proven to enhance athletic performance and promote faster recovery from sports-related injuries. They also play a crucial role in post-car accident rehabilitation.

Dr. Travis Ring, an experienced chiropractor with over ten years of practice, incorporates these effective treatments into his patient-centered care approach at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic Clinic in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

In addition to standard medical treatment like physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), chiropractic care offers complementary therapies such as spinal manipulations for spine health that align with patients’ needs for holistic approaches when seeking long-term relief from pain related to sports injuries and recovery.

Family and pediatric chiropractic care

Transitioning from sports injuries to family and pediatric chiropractic care, we understand the significance of addressing all age groups when it comes to pain relief. Chiropractic care for families and children is advantageous in managing common ailments and promoting overall health.

Children benefit from chiropractic care for issues related to feeding, crying, and sleep. It’s important to highlight that otitis media is a prevalent reason children under 15 visit doctors across the U.S., emphasizing the significant role of pediatric chiropractic care in this area.

Chiropractic adjustments tailored for infants and children are crafted to improve spine health and alleviate discomfort. It’s important to mention that chiropractic care benefits individuals across all ages, supporting optimal musculoskeletal function from infancy through to elderly years.

For those seeking long-term relief from chronic pain or recurring issues such as muscle strain or herniated discs, family-centered chiropractic services offer a gentle yet effective approach.

Accident and injury rehabilitation

The chiropractic clinic in Broken Arrow also specializes in accident and injury rehabilitation. They put a special focus on post-car accident recovery, helping individuals regain functioning after traumatic events.

Their approach aligns joints and muscles, assisting with pain management and supporting the healing process. Chiropractic care plays a significant role in long-term relief from injuries; it’s a vital part of the journey toward recovery.

Chiropractic practices have been shown to reduce opioid reliance while providing safer alternatives for managing pain. Patients receive personalized care aimed at improving their overall well-being, incorporating soft tissue therapies and other techniques that aid in rehabilitation after accidents or injuries.

By addressing the challenges related to injury recovery, chiropractors aim to guide patients through the realms of physical recuperation effectively.

Chiropractic Services Offered

Our clinic in Broken Arrow offers a range of chiropractic services including manual adjustments, spinal decompression therapy, and active release techniques to alleviate pain and promote healing.

To learn more about how these services can benefit you, continue reading our blog.

Manual adjustments

Manual adjustments involve the chiropractor using their hands to apply controlled force to your joints, primarily the spine. This helps restore proper alignment, improve mobility, and reduce pain in areas like the back and neck.

Chiropractors use these adjustments to address issues related to joint restrictions or misalignments that can cause discomfort and limit movement. Manual adjustments have been used for many years as a natural way to alleviate back and neck pain without relying on medication or surgery.

The effectiveness of manual adjustments is supported by evidence showing its ability to enhance spinal health, align joints and muscles, and promote overall well-being. Patients seeking relief from chronic pain or looking for preventative care may benefit from including manual adjustments as part of their treatment plan.

These non-invasive techniques are often complemented by additional therapies like soft tissue therapy or spinal decompression therapy for a holistic approach towards managing musculoskeletal conditions.

Spinal decompression therapy

Spinal decompression therapy gently stretches the spine to relieve back pain. It helps with herniated discs and sciatica, promoting healing by creating negative pressure in the disc.

This helps retract bulging or herniated discs while also pulling nutrients and fluids into the disc to stimulate healing. Spinal decompression can reduce pressure on nerves and improve overall spinal health, offering a non-surgical option for those seeking relief from chronic back pain.

Patients undergoing spinal decompression therapy may experience reduced pain levels, improved mobility, and enhanced quality of life. This form of treatment is safe, effective, and has shown positive results for many individuals seeking long-term relief from persistent back pain.

Active release techniques

Active Release Techniques (ART) are a treatment method used to relieve pain and improve movement. This therapy is beneficial for various conditions, such as muscle strains, back pain, and sports injuries.

ART involves the practitioner using their hands to find and treat soft tissue adhesions or scar tissue in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. By specifically targeting these areas and applying precise tension or pressure, the therapist aims to break up adhesions for reduced pain and improved range of motion.

Patients benefit from this targeted approach to address their specific discomforts while enhancing overall mobility.

ART is known for its effectiveness in providing relief from chronic pain by improving flexibility and reducing muscle tension. Individuals seeking long-term solutions to their discomfort often find significant improvement through active release techniques.

A combination of manual therapy alongside chiropractic adjustments further supports spinal health enhancement through these treatments.

Why Choose Us?

When seeking a chiropractor, you want experienced and certified professionals who put your needs first. Our patient-centered approach, together with state-of-the-art facilities, makes your well-being our top priority.

Experienced and certified chiropractors

Our clinic encompasses skilled chiropractors who have completed 4 years of study at a chiropractic college, accumulating 4,200 hours of education and 1,000 hours of clinical training.

Dr. Travis Ring holds a Bachelor of Science from Rogers State University and has earned his chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College. With over ten years in practice, he specializes in pediatric and family care at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic.

These certified professionals use manual adjustments, spinal decompression therapy, and active release techniques to provide patient-centered care for back and neck pain relief, sports injuries, family and pediatric chiropractic care as well as accident rehabilitation.

They are dedicated to the local community and offer state-of-the-art facilities with affordable services tailored for long-term relief from pain.

Patient-centered care approach

Our chiropractic clinic in Broken Arrow adopts a patient-centered care approach. We treat you like family and prioritize your needs. We follow a patient-first decision-making philosophy, ensuring open and honest communication is maintained at all times.

Moreover, we ensure to have treatment within 20 minutes of your appointment time, providing flexibility in scheduling for varying arrival times.

State-of-the-art facilities

Our chiropractic clinic is equipped with cutting-edge technology to provide you with top-notch care. We have advanced tools and equipment for spinal health, such as spinal decompression therapy and manual adjustments.

Our facilities ensure a comfortable and effective treatment experience.

Furthermore, our state-of-the-art clinic in Broken Arrow features modern amenities crafted to enhance your comfort during treatment. You can rest assured that we prioritize your well-being by maintaining an environment tailored towards providing the best care possible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic is your reliable local clinic for effective chiropractic care in Broken Arrow. Our experienced and certified chiropractors provide patient-centered care with state-of-the-art facilities.

We offer manual adjustments, spinal decompression therapy, and active release techniques to address back pain, neck pain, sports injuries, and family chiropractic needs. Choose us for personalized treatment tailored to your unique needs and a commitment to guiding you through your wellness journey.

Schedule a complimentary consultation today to experience the transformative power of our holistic approach towards long-term relief from pain.

FAQs

1. What chiropractic services can I expect from the best Broken Arrow clinic?

At our trusted local clinic in Broken Arrow, OK, we offer a range of chiropractic services including adjustments, manipulations and soft tissue therapy to help with back pain, neck pain and muscle strain.

2. How does this chiropractic team provide relief for lower back pain?

Our expert team uses advanced chiropractic technologies like spinal manipulation to improve spine health and provide effective pain management. We also use techniques such as cold therapy for immediate relief.

3. Can I get a complimentary consultation at this Broken Arrow Chiropractor Clinic?

Absolutely! At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic in Broken Arrow, we believe everyone should have access to affordable chiropractic care which is why we offer a complimentary consultation for all new patients.

4. Does the clinic treat chronic pain issues too?

Yes indeed! Our skilled chiropractors specialize in treating chronic conditions using proven methods such as spinal health maintenance and adjustments to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain including lower back discomfort.

5. Is there any evidence that proves the effectiveness of your treatments?

Certainly! We have numerous patient testimonials that attest to our success in relieving everything from minor muscle strains to severe cases of forward head posture or flexed spine conditions.

6. What are some tips for maintaining good spinal health post-treatment?

We recommend regular physical examinations along with practicing proper posture habits at home and work spaces, gentle exercises targeting core muscles supporting your low back area can also be beneficial.

The post Best Chiropractor In Broken Arrow: Your Trusted Local Clinic first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Typical Causes of Allergies

Allergies are very common, especially ones that come from airborne allergens. Affecting more than 50 million Americans every year, allergies are the sixth most frequent source of chronic illness.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a reaction to pollen produced by grass, trees or other plants during spring, summer or fall.

And it’s not just blooming plants that can cause your discomfort. Some people suffer from perennial allergies to a variety of airborne substances. Common allergens around your home include:

• Mold growing in dark, damp areas
• Dander shed from your cat or dog—skin cells that cling to surfaces in your house
• Dust from allergy-triggering dust mites

Typical airborne allergy symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, sinus headaches, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, and itchy, watery eyes.

Of course, allergic reactions come from other sources, too:

• Substances (such as poison ivy) that contact the skin, causing rashes and hives
• Foods—most commonly wheat, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, fish, and soy
• Drugs
• Insect bites

Allergic reactions to foods, medications, and insect bites can be the most serious, causing medical emergencies such as anaphylaxis that impair breathing.

Allergies and Your Immune System

What do all of these different forms of allergies have in common?

They’re all directly tied to the performance of your immune system.

When your immune system is working normally, it defends you against harmful invaders like viruses, bacteria and diseases.

But sometimes the immune system can go into overdrive, fighting against harmless substances. Your immune cells produce histamines, triggering those allergy symptoms.

To function properly, your immune system depends on your nervous system to carry messages between your brain and body through the spinal cord.

And this is where chiropractic care comes in.

How Your Chiropractor Treats Allergies  

Your nervous system relies on a properly aligned spine to relay its all-important signals to your immune and respiratory systems.

When your spine is out of alignment, vital communication is disrupted, and your nervous system can’t perform at its best.

As a spine specialist, your chiropractor will assess any misalignment and create an individual treatment plan for you. A spinal adjustment aligns your spine, allowing your nervous system to properly regulate your immune and respiratory systems.

Many people take antihistamines and other drugs for their allergies, and experience side effects such as drowsiness, dry mouth and headaches. Chiropractic care works naturally, helping you to reduce or eliminate your need for medications. Treatments address the source of problems, rather than just the symptoms.

Your chiropractor provides holistic, whole-body care that can improve your allergies and overall health.

Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic

To start feeling better, contact our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Natural Care for Allergies from Your Chiropractor first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Intersegmental traction therapy is one of our restorative treatments. It promotes healing as it gently relieves pain and improves the body’s range of motion.

What is Intersegmental Traction Therapy?

This type of traction therapy is used by chiropractors to stimulate additional healing in the spine.

The treatment employs a special table with rollers, which move gently up and down the patient’s back. It uses passive motion to stretch spinal joints and muscles, improving the alignment of the vertebrae. The process increases blood and oxygen circulation to the spine’s muscles, ligaments and discs.

Why Your Chiropractor May Recommend Traction Therapy

People with various types of pain and spinal disc problems can benefit from traction therapy. Patients often suffer from painful muscle spasms caused by fatigue, poor posture or injuries.

Your chiropractor will determine whether this therapy is appropriate for you, based on a full examination and on your medical history.

The gentle motion of the roller table relaxes tense muscles and provides relief to a range of conditions, such as:

• Lower back pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Stiff or sore neck
• Weakness or numbness in the back
• Joint pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Benefits of Traction Therapy

By stretching muscles around the spinal discs, use of the traction table decreases the pressure on your discs, providing benefits that include:

• Relaxation of muscles to help relieve pain, stiffness and muscle spasms
• Restored mobility, flexibility and range of motion to the spine
• Improved stability of the spine
• Better strength and balance
• Faster healing and recovery from back injuries
• Better disc hydration through improved circulation that supplies nutrients to discs
• Less swelling, as motion of the spinal joints helps to reduce fluid buildup from injuries
• Increased function of spinal joints
• Overall feelings of wellbeing from the traction experience

What to Expect at Your Intersegmental Traction Therapy Session

As your session begins, you’ll relax face up on the roller table. Rollers travel slowly up and down your back, gently moving each segment of your spine to restore movement and function. The rollers manipulate each vertebra, moving from your neck down to the base of your spine. The effect is reduced pressure on discs, nerves and tissues and improvement in blood flow to the area.

Treatments typically take 5-15 minutes, and patients often find them quite relaxing.

The traction table has many settings that can be adjusted to the most comfortable pressure for each patient, as well as for different body types, including children.

As a highly-trained spine specialist, your chiropractor puts together a treatment plan uniquely customized for you, with another important benefit: it’s noninvasive–no medication or surgery needed.

Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation at Our Broken Arrow Office 

Our mission at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic is to help you feel great and live pain-free. Give us a call today at 918-940-4630.

The post The Benefits of Intersegmental Traction Therapy in Your Chiropractic Care first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

As a family-centered wellness practice, Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic provides the care and advice your child needs for a safe, fun and successful athletic experience.

Sports and Your Child’s Musculoskeletal System

As the saying goes, children aren’t simply smaller versions of adults.

Because their muscles and bones are still growing, kids are at a higher risk of injury from impacts or overuse than the typical adult. At the ends of young bones are areas known as growth plates. These have weaknesses that can intensify injuries, even interfering long-term with normal bone growth.

Common Injuries in Youth Sports

Children are typically injured in two major ways during sporting activities:

Acute injuries (such as broken bones, sprains and bruises) occur suddenly, from a fall, twist or impact.

Overuse injuries (such as tendinitis or shin splints) happen gradually from repetitive motions, especially when the child’s body doesn’t get enough rest time between activities.

Parents and coaches should be alert to signs that a child may have an overuse injury. These include swelling, pain, and reduced performance or interest in practicing.

Common sports injuries in children include:

• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Lower back or neck pain
• Knee injuries
• Shin splints
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Sprains or strains
• Swollen muscles

Tips to Help Your Child Prevent Sports Injuries

The good news is that lots of injuries are preventable with good safety practices, such as:

• Scheduling a sports physical exam for the child before starting a sport
• Using the correct protective gear, such as padding, helmets or shin guards
• Playing a variety of sports, with rest breaks, to avoid overuse injuries
• Doing proper warmups, stretches and cooldowns for physical activities
• Performing strength, aerobic and flexibility exercises that are appropriate for the child and the sport
• Not playing if in pain or fatigued

Also, be sure to encourage healthy habits:

• A balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and fewer processed foods
• Plenty of sleep—at least 8 hours nightly
• Good hydration—especially before, during and after sports

Helping Children Reach Their Best Fitness Potential with Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors work with athletes of all ages and even professional sports teams, providing treatments that align the spine and promote:

• Improved posture
• Reduced chance of injury
• Improved joint function, flexibility and range of motion
• Less pain and inflammation
• Faster recovery
• Better athletic performance

Your child’s chiropractor provides care that is noninvasive and safe. They diagnose and treat the source of pain and coordinate with other medical professionals for your child’s care.  Spinal adjustments are gently modified for children, using only light pressure.

As a bonus, you’ll find that many overall benefits of children’s chiropractic care–such as better immunity, stress relief, and optimized brain development–also carry over to your child’s success in whatever sports they choose.

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to Schedule Your Free Consultation

To get your child started on achieving their best physical fitness potential, call our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Chiropractic Care for Kids Who Play Sports: Why It’s Important first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

What is Active Release Technique?

Many people suffer from soft tissue damage due to overuse, trauma, or sports injuries.

When tissues in your body become injured, they may develop adhesions, which are areas that stick together abnormally. As part of your body’s healing process, scar tissue may form in muscles , tendons or ligaments. Over time, this can cause inflammation, restricted movement, impingement of nerves, pain and stiffness.

Active Release Technique is an intensive manual therapy that breaks up scar tissue to relieve pain and other symptoms. It was developed in the 1980’s by a chiropractor, Dr. Michael Leahy, and has become a valuable tool in wide use among chiropractors, physical therapists, and other health professionals.

ART releases the tissues that are stuck together, allowing joints and muscles to move freely. This reduces inflammation, relieves discomfort and restores mobility.

Symptoms and Conditions that ART May Help

You might have scar tissue that responds to ART if you have conditions such as:

• Pain during exercise
• Limited mobility and flexibility
• Pain or stiffness in your back, neck, hands, elbows, or knees
• Numbness, tingling or pain in your fingers or other areas
• Inflammation in joints
• Reduced strength
• Tension headaches
• Sharp pain in the foot, such as from plantar fasciitis
• Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tennis elbow
• Bursitis
• Shin splints
• Shoulder problems, such as frozen shoulder

How Your Chiropractor Performs ART

With Active Release Technique, your chiropractor feels the affected area and diagnoses any areas of painful scar tissue. He then manually applies deep pressure to release the adhesions. At the same time, under his instructions, you actively move your muscles to assist in breaking up the scar tissue most effectively.

Areas that can be treated to restore mobility and relieve pain include:

Ligaments and tendons. Your ligaments connect your bones to each other, while tendons attach muscles to bones.

Fascia. These connective tissues support your organs and muscles. When they’re inflamed, they can become very painful and stiff. Plantar fasciitis is an example of fascia inflammation causing pain in the foot.

Major muscles. Damage from trauma and repetitive motion can lead to pain and lost mobility in your major muscle groups.

Benefits of Active Release Technique

ART promotes healing by increasing blood flow to the treated area and breaks up scar tissue that restricts muscles and nerves.

The result: relief from stiffness and pain, plus a better range of motion and flexibility.

Active Release Technique can help athletes or anyone with pain and mobility problems return more quickly to a fully active life.

Set Up Your Free Consultation at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic

We’re here to answer any questions you may have about ART and other treatments. Call our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630.

The post Active Release Technique with Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Cold Weather’s Effects on Your Joints

Even fairly mild winter weather causes physical changes that can lead to stiffness and pain.

Medical science isn’t clear on exactly why this happens. One possibility is that as barometric pressure changes with the weather, muscles and tissues around joints expand, causing pain and swelling.

Winter joint pain is especially common for people with arthritis or other chronic pain problems. It can also affect those with conditions like depression or seasonal affective disorder, which often make pain feel more intense.

Common Wintertime Injuries

Risks in winter include:

• Slipping and falling on slick surfaces
• Winter sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating
• Snow shoveling and other outdoor chores
• Car accidents

Slippery, high-speed, and/or physically demanding winter activities may cause:

• Back injuries, such as muscle strain and spinal compression fractures
• Shoulder damage, including torn rotator cuffs caused by repetitive motions
• Sprains or strains of ligaments and muscles in areas such as the neck, knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist
• Broken bones, especially wrist and hip fractures
• Head injuries, such as concussions
• Whiplash injuries to the upper spine

Why a Strong Core is Essential

Your body’s core, including your spine, is the central command center that controls the quality and safety of all your movements.

A strong, flexible and well-aligned core gives you better stability and balance, helping to prevent falls and injuries. Exercises and treatments that strengthen and align your spine promote good posture, reduce strain on your spine and relieve pain.

Chiropractic Care to Prevent and Mitigate Injury

Without treatment, winter injuries often lead to chronic back and neck pain. Being proactive with chiropractic treatments can help you prevent injuries or recover from them more quickly, by:

• Aligning the spine to promote faster healing and recovery
• Improving stability, balance, range of motion and flexibility
• Relieving muscle tension

Your chiropractor will help you manage any pain effectively, by treating the underlying source rather than masking it with medication.

Tips to Help You Avoid Injuries

Whether you’re headed to the ski resort or just facing an especially cold, icy day, here are some ways to protect your joints and muscles:

• Warm up and stretch before winter chores or sports.
• Dress in layers to keep muscles warm.
• Wear proper safety equipment for winter sports.
• Quit when you get fatigued. Many skiing injuries happen at the end of the day when people go for one last run.
• Wear shoes or boots with non-slip soles in icy conditions.
• To avoid falls, don’t rush.
• When shoveling, push the shovel, rather than lifting. Take frequent breaks.
• Get regular exercise and stay at a healthy weight to reduce stress on joints.
• Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of sleep to boost your overall health.

Being proactive about your safety and health will help you stay strong and pain-free all year round.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation at Our Broken Arrow Office

To begin your journey to better health, contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Chiropractic Care and Protecting Yourself from Wintertime Injuries first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

So, it’s no surprise that we help a lot of patients with osteoarthritis at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic. Although OA can’t be cured, you can do a lot to minimize symptoms and enjoy a good quality of life.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Your joints have a layer of cartilage that provides a cushion for the ends of your bones. In osteoarthritis (“osteo” means “bone”), this protection is wearing down. The cartilage deterioration causes damage to the bones and inflammation in nearby tissues.

Most people with OA are over age 50, but the disease begins to develop silently years earlier.  OA may also show up in younger people, usually due to an injury to the joint.

The condition tends to get progressively worse, causing people to have pain and stiffness in their joints, most commonly the knees, spine, hands, and hips.

Factors that May Put You at Risk

Osteoarthritis develops for a variety of reasons, which include:

• Heredity—OA can run in families
• Age—your risk goes up the older you get
• Diseases, such as diabetes, that can damage joints
• Gender—females have a higher risk
• Injuries and repetitive stress on joints
• Birth defects of the joints or cartilage
• Being overweight

Symptoms of OA

People develop symptoms in their joints gradually, such as:

• Pain, aching or tenderness
• Limited range of motion
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Clicking or crackling sounds when bending a joint
• Weakness or instability
• Bone spurs, especially on finger joints

Help for Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Consult your healthcare providers, including your chiropractor, about beneficial treatments and lifestyle changes.

Practicing healthy habits can help to relieve symptoms and reduce or eliminate your need for medication.

Keep moving. Stay physically active to preserve mobility and reduce inflammation.  Aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week. Include strengthening, stretching, aerobic and balance exercises. Make sure to warm up before and cool down after you exercise.

Achieve a healthy weight to reduce pain, inflammation, and damage to joints.

Eat a healthy diet. Avoid excess sugar and processed foods. These raise blood sugar, which stiffens cartilage and increases inflammation.

Reduce stress that causes muscle tension by getting enough sleep and finding ways to relax, such as meditation.

Chiropractic Treatments for Better Joint Health

Chiropractic care provides a variety of therapies and exercises that improve the overall function of your muscles and joints, enhancing the communication between your spine and nervous system.

If an arthritic joint is too inflamed for direct treatment, your chiropractor can treat the surrounding area, helping to reduce pain and improve mobility.

People with OA sometimes have weaker muscles and balance problems, increasing their risk of falling. Chiropractic care may help you avoid medications that can cause side effects, like dizziness, that lead to falls.

Making use of all the tools your chiropractor has to offer will help you to live your most pain-free and active life.

Schedule Your Free Consultation at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic

We’re here to support you in living a healthy life with OA.  Call our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care: Protecting Your Joint Health first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Why an Aligned Spine is Essential

Misalignments happen when parts of the spine move out of their natural position.

Signals from brain to body sent through your nervous system require a correctly aligned spine. Because the nervous system enables your immune system to work properly, good spinal alignment helps you to stay healthy.

Good alignment also reduces strain on the ligaments that hold your spinal joints together, protecting your musculoskeletal system.

How Your Spine Can Lose Alignment

A sedentary lifestyle can create misalignments, weakening the muscles that support your spine and worsening posture. Sometimes, the cause is degenerative disease, such as arthritis. Additionally, common life mishaps—falls, repetitive and sports injuries, accidents, and emotional stress–contribute to misalignments.

Damage Caused by Misalignments

Spinal misalignments are common. The resulting wear and tear on the body and disruption of the central nervous system may lead to increased risks for a variety of problems, such as:

• Compressed and irritated nerves
• Back pain and sciatica
• Increased stress
• Poor sleep quality
• High blood pressure
• Reduced range of motion and mobility
• Poor circulation
• Joint, nerve and muscle damage
• Reduced immunity
• Breaks and deformities in joints and bones
• Chronic pain

Signs that May Indicate Spinal Misalignment

• Joint stiffness
• Pain in neck, hip, lower back or knee
• One leg longer, or one shoe more worn down, than the other
• Limited range of motion in the neck
• One shoulder, hip, knee, or ankle lower than the other
• Fatigue
• Frequent headaches
• Chronic illness
• Numbness in feet or hands
• Trigger points (painful muscle areas)

Chiropractic Care Aligns Your Spine

Your chiropractor is trained to diagnose misalignment in your spinal joints and provide treatments such as spinal adjustments to restore the correct position. This helps to resolve pain, inflammation, and muscle strain.

Other benefits include improved mobility and better sleep, which promotes healing and lowers stress. Your chiropractor can also offer wellness advice, such as counseling about exercises and nutrition.

And, importantly, the wellness benefits of your chiropractic sessions come noninvasively, without the risks of medications or surgery.

Keeping Your Spine in Line

All the daily stresses of life cause your muscles to tighten up, making you more prone to injury and spinal misalignments. Activities that promote good posture and mobility will improve your overall function and reduce pain.

Get regular exercise, stretch, take walks, don’t sleep on your stomach, avoid prolonged sitting, and add lumbar support to your chair when you must sit.

Activities such as yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, and Pilates are beneficial. These help to relax muscles, slow down your movements, and improve concentration, balance, and flexibility.

Keeping your body well-tuned between your chiropractic visits helps you maintain the alignment you’ve achieved, so you can enjoy a lifetime of good spinal health.

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic Today

Call us at 918-940-4630 to schedule a complimentary consultation with our supportive team in Broken Arrow.

The post Is Your Spine Misaligned? What to Know about Symptoms and Treatments first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

How You Benefit from Stretching

When you don’t stretch muscles, they become shorter, weaker, and tighter. That sets you up for injury and declining mobility. People working in jobs that involve lots of sitting are especially prone to joint and muscle damage as their leg muscles become tighter.

Regular stretching helps lengthen muscles, leading to improved flexibility and range of motion. And stretching delays potential mobility losses that come with aging.

Here are some other bonuses of stretching:

• Improved blood flow that relieves muscle tension and promotes healing
• Better performance in sports and physical tasks, with lower risk of injury
• Improved posture resulting from good spinal alignment
• Reduction in stress through practicing meditation and mindfulness while stretching
• Easing of tension headaches and other body aches
• Energy boost from improved circulation and pain relief

How to Stretch Safely and Effectively

Start slowly if you haven’t stretched recently. Check with your doctor, chiropractor or other health professional before you start if you have an injury or condition that stretching could affect.

Plan to stretch every day, or at least 4 days a week. If you’re not exercising first, warm up muscles with 5 or 10 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as jogging or walking.

Know the difference between two common types of stretching. Static stretches, best done after exercise, involve holding your stretch position for 10 to 30 seconds. In dynamic stretches, you perform active movements to prepare your muscles for exercise, without holding the stretch position.

Don’t bounce while stretching. You should feel tension, not pain.

Use moderation. Don’t stretch the same muscles too frequently each day or you risk overuse injury.

Best areas to stretch for improved mobility include:

• Hamstrings
• Calves
• Quadriceps (front of thigh)
• Hip flexors
• Lower back
• Shoulders
• Neck

Try this simple neck stretch: stand with shoulders relaxed. Gently tilt your head sideways toward your right shoulder. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat on the left side.

Stretching as Part of Your Chiropractic Wellness Program

Stretching works along with your chiropractor’s treatment toward common goals: good mobility and pain relief.

When you don’t exercise properly, your muscles may shorten unequally, leading to imbalances that throw your spine out of alignment. Stretching the muscles in your upper body and lower back helps you maintain good posture and keep your spine aligned between chiropractic visits.

A custom stretching plan tailored to your needs and abilities can help you avoid injuries from sports and other activities. Improved circulation, flexibility, posture, and pain relief will help you enjoy an active life for years to come.

Call our Broken Arrow Office to Book Your Free Consultation

For support with your plan for better mobility, contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic today at 918-940-4630.

The post For a Healthy Spine and Lifelong Mobility, Make Sure to Stretch! first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Benefits of a Nutritious Diet

A balanced diet helps prevent and heal pain by building up your immune system, strengthening bones, and reducing inflammation. Unlike using medications and invasive procedures to alleviate pain, a healthy diet has no risks or side effects.

Poor diet is rampant in our culture. It contributes to higher rates of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, osteoporosis, and back pain.

Inflammation in moderation is a normal bodily function, activating white blood cells to help heal injuries or illnesses. When inflammation becomes chronic, it damages connective tissues and raises your risk of disease.

Nutritious foods help you achieve a healthy weight, reducing inflammation and stress on joints.

Food—the Good and the Bad

Cut out: processed foods, such as sugary cereals and fried foods. These contain refined carbohydrates, sugar, and saturated and trans fats that raise inflammation.

Cut back: red meat and starchy natural foods, like white rice and white potatoes, that also promote inflammation.

Eat more:  

• Colorful fruits and vegetables, including berries and leafy greens with antioxidants that help repair or prevent tissue damage
• High-quality protein that helps build and preserve bone density, including fish, legumes (such as lentils and kidney beans), chicken, seeds and nuts, dairy products, and eggs
• Vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamins D and K, magnesium, and zinc
• Healthy fats, such as olive oil and omega-3

How Your Healthy Diet Complements Your Chiropractic Care

Nutrition is a central element of the holistic (whole-body) care that chiropractors provide.

A strong musculoskeletal system depends on a well-aligned spine and good overall health. Chiropractic adjustments align your spine to promote good communication between your immune and nervous systems. Eating a balanced diet strengthens your immune system and bones, enhancing your chiropractic treatments and optimizing your body’s performance.

Tips for Building Healthy Eating Habits

Don’t “go on a diet.” Instead, making moderate lifestyle changes allows good long-term habits to take hold.

Phase out sugar and processed foods. Purging sugar from your body modulates blood sugar, reduces cravings for sweets, and makes you feel better.

Write down what you eat. You’ll be more conscious and in control of your food, leading to better decisions. If you’re pressed for time, grab your phone and snap a photo of your meal.

Avoid low-calorie diets. Eating fewer than 1200 calories a day is counter-productive, slowing metabolism, increasing hunger, and causing loss of muscle and bone mass.

After a junk food slip, get back to good food habits the same day. You’ll keep your blood sugar and cravings in check. Don’t wait till the next day (or week!) to keep living your best life.

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation

Our team in Broken Arrow is here to support you in your journey to better health. Call us at 918-940-4630.

The post Healthy Eating for Strong Muscles and Bones first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.