Back adjustments involve the manipulation of the spine to improve mobility and reduce pain.

Today, we will discuss 5 reasons you should consider a back adjustment to increase comfort and mobility. Back adjustment:

1. Alleviates Back Pain: One of the most immediate benefits of back adjustments is the relief from chronic or acute back pain. By realigning the spine, adjustments can reduce pressure on nerves and muscles.

2. Improves Range of Motion: Regular adjustments can enhance flexibility and mobility, allowing for a more active and healthy lifestyle.

3. Boosts Overall Health: Back adjustments can have a positive impact on the nervous system, which is linked to various bodily functions. This means improvements in health far beyond just the spine.

4. Reduces Dependence on Medication: By addressing the root cause of pain, chiropractic care can reduce the need for pain medication and its potential side effects.

5. Enhances Posture: Ongoing chiropractic care can correct poor posture, a common issue in today’s digital world, leading to a range of benefits, including improved appearance and reduced strain on the body.

What Gets Adjusted

A back adjustment specifically targets the vertebrae of the spine.

The goal is to realign any vertebrae that have moved out of place, referred to as a subluxation, which can influence nerves and compromise the spine’s ability to transmit nerve signals efficiently.

The Mechanics of Pain Alleviation

Adjusting the back alleviates pain by restoring proper spine alignment, easing muscle tension, and improving blood flow. This relieves pressure on the nerves and promotes a more efficient healing process for the body.

How Long Does Relief Last?

The duration of pain relief from a back adjustment varies greatly among individuals.

Some experience immediate relief, while others notice improvements over time with regular adjustments. The longevity of relief can depend on several factors, including the nature of the back issue, lifestyle, and adherence to the chiropractor’s recommendations.

Frequency of Adjustments

The optimal frequency for back adjustments is highly individualized. It can range from multiple sessions weekly to once a month or even less frequently, based on the patient’s condition, response to treatment, and the chiropractor’s assessment.

A tailored plan is usually developed after an initial evaluation.

Potential for Harm

While back adjustments are safe for most people, there are circumstances where they may be avoided.

Individuals with certain conditions, such as osteoporosis, spinal cancer, or an increased risk of stroke, may be advised against adjustments. A thorough examination and patient history should precede any chiropractic treatment to minimize risks.

Back adjustments offer a pathway to improved health and well-being, addressing not only the symptoms but also the causes of discomfort and immobility.

However, like any medical treatment, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution.

At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic, we believe in providing personalized care plans that are safe, effective, and tailored to meet your specific health needs.

Whether you are new to chiropractic care or seeking to continue your journey toward optimal health, we encourage you to get in touch with us to schedule a consultation.

We offer complimentary consultations for all new patients, and our goal is to help you unlock the full potential of your body’s natural healing abilities.

The post The Top 5 Reasons to Consider Chiropractic Back Adjustments first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

One of the simplest and most effective types of exercise we at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic recommend is walking. Walking fits ideally into the chiropractic philosophy of holistic, natural remedies for pain.

How Lack of Exercise Hurts Your Spine

When you don’t get regular exercise, your spine suffers.  Back pain is often caused and aggravated by spinal misalignments and weak muscles in your core.

Lack of exercise also causes spinal discs to degenerate. Normal healthy discs hold fluids and act as cushions between your vertebrae. Walking promotes the good circulation and healing you need for a healthy spine.

Anxiety about pain can also inhibit you from exercising, making you even more prone to injury.

The Many Benefits of Taking a Walk

Regular walks improve your health in multiple ways, such as:

• Improved circulation throughout your body. This helps to rehydrate the discs of your spine to prevent mobility problems and pain.
• Increased immunity that lowers your risk of illnesses such as heart disease and osteoporosis.
• More strength in your core, hips, legs, and feet. Walking strengthens back and abdominal muscles, allowing them to support joints, ligaments, and spinal discs properly.
• Improved mobility, flexibility, and balance. A stiff back is more prone to pain and injury. Exercise helps to prevent pain and injury by maintaining flexibility in the connective fibers that help to support the spine.
• Better sleep and weight control.
• Psychological benefits.  Walking and other types of exercise naturally cause your body to release endorphins. These chemicals affect receptors in your brain that reduce pain and give you a feeling of well-being.

Tips for a Productive Walking Program

Regular walking can help heal many back problems, minimizing pain or preventing it from returning. It’s a great therapy that you can begin doing immediately and with minimal equipment.

If you’re out of practice, start gradually. Walk around the block to start. Add one minute to your time each day.

Walk fast enough that you raise your heart rate but can still talk.

Commit to exercise daily regardless of bad weather. Even marching in place in front of the TV gets you moving.

Listen to your body—if the pain is severe or increases during or after the walk, see your healthcare provider for an exam to determine the cause before resuming your walking program.

Exercise as Part of Your Chiropractic Care 

Your chiropractor diagnoses joint and spinal issues that cause pain and serves as a great source of information about increasing your mobility and strength.

Walking complements your chiropractic treatments. Both make your spine stronger and healthier, using natural, safe, non-drug methods.

Regular chiropractic adjustments align your spine and strengthen back muscles. Your chiropractic treatments and daily walks help to retain that alignment. Then you can walk for longer periods of time, build up your strength and reap all the benefits of a healthy spine!

Contact Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic for Your Complimentary Consultation

Call our Broken Arrow office at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Walking Your Way to a Healthier Back first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

What Causes Scoliosis?

If you have scoliosis, your spine, rather than being straight, becomes abnormally curved in an ‘S’ or ‘C’ shape.

Scoliosis is most often diagnosed in children and adolescents. As a child grows, the curve may become worse. Fortunately, most cases of scoliosis are mild, needing minimal treatment, and affect girls and boys equally. However, girls are more likely than boys to suffer from more rare, severe types of progressive scoliosis that lead to health problems.

Scoliosis is usually considered idiopathic, meaning that there’s no known cause.  Other causes include:

• Birth defects impacting the spine
• Spinal infections or injuries
• Neuromuscular disorders like muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy
• Previous surgeries

Adults Can Develop Scoliosis, Too

Although most cases are discovered between ages 10 and 15, sometimes people aren’t diagnosed until adulthood.

More commonly, adults develop a type called degenerative scoliosis. Normal wear and tear, arthritis and osteoporosis can cause joints and spinal discs to degenerate, making the spine weaker. This causes it to move out of normal alignment. Adults often suffer more mobility problems and discomfort from scoliosis than younger people.

Common Symptoms of Scoliosis

Getting early treatment is important. Many schools screen children for scoliosis, and often the signs are visible to others.  Parents should check their children for irregularities such as:

• A hip that’s higher than the other
• A protruding shoulder blade
• Shoulders or rib cage that look uneven
• A waist that looks lopsided
• A crooked spine that can be seen when the affected person bends forward

A spinal curve that becomes severe can cause serious health problems, such as pain, limited mobility, and breathing problems from reduced lung capacity. Treatments for advanced scoliosis include braces and sometimes surgery. However, even mild cases need to be monitored to keep track of changes in the curve as the child grows.

Chiropractic Care as Part of Your Scoliosis Treatment Plan

Adults and children with scoliosis, whether mild or severe, benefit from chiropractic treatments as part of their care program.

As an expert in spinal care, your chiropractor diagnoses scoliosis and provides therapies that complement your other medical care in important ways.  They’ll advise you on the best ways to move, and provide exercises to strengthen joints. Chiropractic treatments help to improve mobility, core strength, nervous system function, and posture, as well as relieve muscle tension and pain.

Chiropractic care for scoliosis has the advantage of being drug-free and noninvasive as it helps you or your child to relieve symptoms and move forward with a healthy life.

Contact Our Broken Arrow Office to Schedule Your Free Consultation

For safe, natural help to build a healthy spine and body, give Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic a call today at 918-940-4630.

The post How Does a Chiropractor Help to Treat Scoliosis? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

At Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic, we want to help you take control of your health naturally, with better lifestyle habits and chiropractic care that promotes wellness for years to come.

Risks of Poor Posture (Neck and Back Positions)

The risks of poor posture have increased in the past year, as many of us had to spend more time communicating on a screen instead of face to face.

When you tilt your head forward to use your phone or look down at your computer screen, you’re doubling the weight of pressure on your spine with every inch forward. Ten pounds of force on your spine can quickly ramp up to forty pounds or more.

Bad posture causes overuse damage in muscles from incorrect use. Your immune system tries to heal the muscles, promoting inflammation that causes problems like arthritis in joints.

How Poor Posture Can Lead to Disease

In addition to causing pain, impaired mobility, and arthritis, bad posture can also damage organs in your thoracic (chest) cavity, such as the heart and lungs, by reducing the space they need to function effectively.

An important study of older adults found that poor posture was actually a predictor of higher mortality rates.

The research involved people who had hyperkyphosis (also known as hunchback), a postural condition that occurs when the upper spine abnormally curves forward.

After following these patients over several years, the researchers found that older people with hyperkyphosis had a mortality risk 44 percent higher than those with normal posture.  Most commonly, people died from the effects of atherosclerosis, which causes restricted blood flow in arteries, often resulting in strokes and heart attacks.

Best Practices for Good Posture

You’re not about to give up smartphones and computers, but you can modify your habits when using technology, such as:

• Looking up from your phone every ten minutes and pausing to move your neck around
• Holding your phone at eye level or lowering eyes instead of tilting your neck
• Taking regular breaks from desk work to walk around
• Keeping your computer screen at eye level
• Using voice dictation instead of typing
• Standing (with shoulders back) whenever possible while working

Achieving Good Posture with Chiropractic Care

Regular chiropractor visits align the spine to ensure your posture is correctly positioned.  Manual manipulations, along with other treatments, reduce pain, improve mobility and prevent the posture problems that can cause future pain and impair overall health.

Chiropractic therapies safely and naturally play a key role in any family’s plan to stay healthy through years of technology use ahead.

Schedule Your Complimentary Visit at Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic

Give our Broken Arrow office a call at 918-940-4630 today.

The post Correcting Poor Posture with Chiropractic Care Improves Your Future Health first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Posture influences so many aspects of life, health and performance. Research even shows that proper posture uniquely and positively influences the effectiveness of communication. Some experts believe that people equate good posture with confidence and the ability to protect. The company and presence of such people breeds trust and credibility.

Texting, smartphone usage, computer focused jobs, and sitting at a desk represent a few of the stressors that negatively influence posture. Sedentary living, sitting at work, and technology use infect society more now than at any time in history. Estimates show that some teenagers spend up to 5000 hours on a smartphone or device every year. The damaging combination of sitting and technology produce dramatic consequences.

Poor posture is bad for your health.

New research from 2020 shows that poor posture negatively influences sensory-motor and autonomic functions. This means that poor posture between the head and shoulders interrupts proper muscle control and autonomic nervous system functions. Heart rate, pulse, respiration, digestion, reproduction, and immunity comprise a few examples of autonomic nervous system functions. Posture directly influences autonomic function and interferes with the body’s ability to maintain appropriate muscle and motor balance. The medical community tends to address the effects of pain and dysfunction created by poor posture through medications or surgery. The bigger issue remains the need for correction rather than sedation of pain.

Can chiropractic help?

Chiropractors help improve the health of the spine and posture for people of all ages and walks of life. The value and importance of Chiropractic care began skyrocketing with the invention of smartphones and reliance on computers in both the workplace and home. New research from 2020 evaluated the relationship between head and shoulder positioning and their effect on human health. Findings revealed that forward head posture negatively affects neck sensorimotor control and autonomic nervous system function. The simple assessment determined that a head resting in any forward position dramatically damages body function. The results of the study point out the significance of posture as it relates to organ health and control.

Chiropractic care focuses on improving the structure and function of the spine through improved posture. The single most significant influence of poor posture on function stems from the head position on the spine. Forward head position in 15-degree intervals creates exponential long-term damage. As the head extends forward, the spine loses proper position, neck joints degenerate more rapidly, and autonomic organ function deteriorates.

One of the most important recommendations for anyone working a desk job or spending large amounts of time on a computer or phone involves regular and consistent chiropractic care. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment does not involve the specific treatment of isolated pain. Chiropractic adjustments reduce stress in the spine and removing interference from the nervous system. Whole-body health improves through optimized autonomic nervous system function. Proper posture allows the body to maximize innate potential. Chiropractic care will continue to become more and more popular as studies reveal the value of adjustments far beyond pain relief. Technology advances society yet damages the priceless possession of health. Chiropractic provides the solution to a healthier tomorrow free from drugs and surgery.

The post Poor Posture Negatively Influences Autonomic Function first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Research shows the health of a spinal joint directly connects to the organ’s alignment and mobility. Decreased spinal joint mobility accelerates the degenerative process and diminishes the joint’s strength and functional capability. The biggest challenge of spinal joint degeneration comes from the permanency attached to the process. Spinal joint degeneration cannot be reversed and continues to worsen if not addressed appropriately. Chiropractors stop the degenerative process by improving alignment and mobility in specific joints through Chiropractic adjustments.

A study completed in 2010 helped to confirm the damaging effects of hypo (decreased) mobility in the spine. When spinal joints lost appropriate mobility for at least eight weeks, scar tissue adhesions formed within the joint. Joint scar tissue adhesions make up the early stage of degeneration. Chiropractic adjustments reduce adhesion formation in an offending joint by inducing motion into the spinal segment. An absence of joint movement produces long-lasting adhesion formation which eventually turns into one of the most prevalent and degenerative conditions known as osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the spine torments large numbers of people with one of the most significant causes of persistent pain and disability in the world today. Osteoarthritis has become so common that many assume degeneration simple exists as part of the normal aging process. The plague of osteoarthritis advances quickly and often deforms and disables spinal function. Up to fifty percent of individuals experience arthritic back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain represents a common plague on health, yet limited information and solutions await people suffering from the development of lumbar spine degeneration. The projected number of older adults with arthritis or other chronic musculoskeletal joint symptoms is expected to nearly double from 21.4 million in 2005 to 41.1 million by 2030 in the U.S.

The progression of persistent pain and disability due to osteoarthritis also appear to dramatically increase in the coming years. The most commonly accepted solution in the current health care model involves the use of dangerous opioids. Conventional allopathic medicine carries little information or solutions to help reduce the progression of this disease process. Chiropractic represents one of the only true solutions which address the cause of the problem. Focusing on the maintenance of the mechanical workings of the spine serves as the most effective approach to preventing degenerative wear and tear of the human spine. Normalizing car axle alignment produces a great metaphor to describe the value of Chiropractic adjustments for improving the degenerative process. People certainly take an avid interest in ensuring their vehicle’s performance and value do not unnecessarily deteriorate. A person’s spine and long-term health deserve so much more than a replaceable vehicle. Chiropractic works.

The post Spinal Health and Car Alignment: Reduced Degeneration Occurs Through Spinal Adjustments first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

The head and neck design allow for flexion and regular forward leaning. The challenge and consequences begin to occur when they maintain flexed or forward head posture positions for long, consistent periods of time. Cell phones, computers, desk jobs, and more sedentary living contribute to the growing number of people suffering from forward head posture.  Chronic abuse leads to  syndromes and other detrimental health consequences.

Our activities have changed

The average person spends 2 to 4 hours a day with their head tilted forward for reading and texting on their smart phones. This amounts to 700-1400 hours of excess, abnormal cervical spine stress per year. 86% of American workers sit all day at their job in addition to time spent sitting on the couch after work watching television, reading, playing games or surfing the internet. Sedentary seating adds up to approximately 13 hours per day for the average person.

Sitting is the new smoking

Sitting for long periods of time takes a toll on the body. Head posture in comparison to the neck and shoulders influences so many other aspects of health and performance. Forward head flexion for long periods of time negatively impacts whole body function. A study published in 2017 showed that forward head posture caused changes in the lungs, respiratory function, and neck muscles due to the strain placed on delicate structures in the head and neck. Significant correlations were found between forward head posture, lung volume, forced expiration, and neck muscle balance. As forward head deviation got worse, the lung and neck muscle findings and measurements also got worse. Authors concluded that forward head posture lowered respiratory functions and concluded with the need for maintenance of correct head posture to prevent restrictions and long-term health degeneration.

Improvement is possible!!

Chiropractic care represents one of the most utilized healthcare interventions to help patients improve their posture, head position, and spinal health. Three proactive tips to improve posture, reduce the risk of forward head flexion, and improve overall health and well-being include:

1. Pursue regular Chiropractic care.

2. Utilize proper sitting ergonomics to ensure technology and office tasks be done with the head and neck at eye level.

3. Take regular breaks every hour to keep the spine and body moving.

Chiropractors take pride in educating their patients on the dangers of prolonged sitting and forward head syndrome while providing unique care which minimizes the risk of poor spinal and postural health. The best health care plan involves a proactive approach to prevent disease and damage which hinders the body’s function and performance. Choose Chiropractic.

The post Poor Spine and Posture Health Linked to Breathing Deficiencies and Neck Muscle Imbalances first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

“Those who sat four or more hours a day were more likely to have developed heart disease, diabetes, or another chronic disease than those who sat less than four hours a day.”   –International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2013

“Sitting is responsible for 170,000 cases of cancer every year.”   -American Journal of Epidemiology

“Sitting is the New Smoking.”   –Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(2):123-132.

Exhibiting good posture pleases the eyes and speaks volumes about a person’s attention to detail. Good posture stands out so dominantly today because of the rarity with which people concern themselves with this important aspect of total body health. Increased amounts of time on phones and computers for males and females of all ages play a huge role in the poor posture epidemic.

Centuries of mothers and grandmothers collectively cringe at the visual landscape of poor posture roaming through society. Family matriarchs often demand better posture due to the poor appearance of slouching and hunching but the true effects of poor posture impact overall health and well-being more than appearances. One study determined that people who sat four or more hours a day were more likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic diseases than people who sat less than four hours a day.

Another study concluded that slumped forward shoulder posture specifically associates with an increased rate of death due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis impacts the arteries characterized by the deposit of plaques on the inner walls of the vessels. These important findings illuminate the value of good posture habits and measures. The threat of a back or neck pain problem represents only a portion of the health risks involved with bad posture. The majority of negative health outcomes associated with poor posture involve internal issues related to organs and systems, such as increased death rates due to atherosclerosis.

Everyone body functions better with optimal posture yet most people experience a deterioration of good posture at varying degrees. The majority of people only focus on posture as it pertains to cosmetics and appearances, unaware of the negatively influence impacting organ function.

Regular Chiropractic adjustments help change the spine and posture as it relates to function, and better education serves to share the postural benefits Chiropractic care offers every member of the family. Every Chiropractic technique helps improve posture by correcting areas of spinal stress called subluxations.

Other keys to improving posture include:

1) Make simple changes to the home or work station which ensures good posture and spinal support when sitting in front of a computer.

2) Watch less TV.

3) Take 2 brief walks per day – studies show that more frequent brief walks provide better benefits than one longer walk. (Set a reminder to take 2-3 brief walks per day).

4) Maintain regular Chiropractic visits to ensure better alignment and nervous system balance.

5) Drink more water throughout the day to lubricate the body’s discs and joints while forcing more movement with regular trips to the bathroom.

The post Sitting Rivals the Dangers of Smoking Medical Doctors and Patients Need Posture and Heart first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

Billions of people use cell phones daily all over the world. The majority of cell phone usage occurs with the spine and neck in a flexed position of poor posture. Extended use of a cell phone with the head in forward flexion creates a variety of unwanted health challenges. Those numbers continue to rise at unprecedented rates. As a result, doctors created terminology for new conditions and diagnoses specific to this growing epidemic. Proper care for the spine and neck prove essential to overall health. Strategies exist to counteract the stressors attributed to text neck and computer posture.

Cell phone usage continues to increase globally.

A study performed in 2014 evaluated the effects of forward head posture due to the stresses of cell phones and other technology devices. The findings showed that computer screens, tablets, and cell phone use create forward head posture.  Over time, this adds significant stress to the spine which leads to early degeneration. Loss of the natural curve in the neck leads to incrementally increased stresses on the cervical (neck) spine. The study determined that increased stress may lead to early wear, tear, and degeneration.  As a result, the stress leads to an increased potential need for future surgeries.

Poor posture defined.

Poor posture invariably occurs with the head in a tilted forward position and the shoulders drooping forward in a rounded position. The average person spends 2 to 4 hours a day with their head tilted forward for reading and texting on phones and other electronic devices. This amounts to 7001400 hours of excess of abnormal cervical spine stress per year. Research shows the average high school student spends more time on their phone accounting for an extra 5000 hours of poor posture per year.

Proper posture defined.

Good upper spine and body posture begins with the ears aligned with the shoulders and the scapula retracted. With proper alignment, spinal stress diminishes. Good posture creates less wear and tear on the spine and discs while creating an environment that translates into other health benefits. Elevated levels of testosterone, increases in serotonin, and decreased levels of cortisol represent a few additional health benefits attributed to better posture. Poor posture contributes to reductions in each of those categories. Regular Chiropractic adjustments combine with good posture habits to help reduce the stressors of text neck and computer posture. Three specific action steps help minimize the risk of spine and onerous system stress due to phone and computer usage. Take the necessary action steps to avoid the long-term outcomes of this worldwide epidemic while still enjoying the benefits that technology affords.

3 Action Steps to Minimize the Risks of Neck and Spine Abnormalities Due to Text Neck

1) Stay on track with a Chiropractic Adjustment Plan – adjustments reduce wear and tear in the joints and discs, lower tension in muscles, and improve the function of the nervous system.

2) Utilize Good Posture Habits and tools to support spinal curves and posture.

3) Drink More Water – forces routine movement and trips to the bathroom every 60-90 minutes.

The post Wear and Tear from Texting Leads to Spinal Degeneration… Take steps to avoid the dangers of “Text Neck” and Computer Posture first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.

1) Too much time in front of your computer. Does anyone else notice that after an hour or so at your computer you start to develop what I call “turtle posture”? Your start to hunch over and slump, your head inches forward towards your computer screen and your shoulders begin to round.

Sooner or later your body begins to feel more natural in this position than it does in a good healthy posture. Chiropractic adjustments can definitely help get your spine moving again so that your body can find a better and healthier posture.

2) Too much stress and tension in your neck and shoulders. Many people carry their stress in different parts of their bodies. For me, it is my lower back. For many of my patients, it is their neck and shoulders. I notice that when they have a bad day, the first sign is the fact their shoulders are up by their ears. It starts to be an unconscious reaction to stress. The longer they keep their shoulders elevated, the more the body develops a habit of keeping the muscles very tense. Getting adjusted helps your body clear out any physical manifestations of stress you’ve been feeling so they don’t accumulate into a chronic problem.

3) Clenching your teeth at night and TMJ problems. A big cause of headaches…I have personal experience with this one myself.

Many people don’t realize that your jaw can be adjusted just like your neck. You also have muscles on the inside of your mouth that if massaged, will relax and lessen the pain and tension in your jaw. Though this is an uncomfortable procedure, the discomfort is brief and the results are great. From my own personal experience, it is my opinion that only the best and most experienced chiropractors should be adjusting jaws. It is a very easy area to irritate. I’ve gotten really good at it over the years simply because I have had so many TMJ issues of my own since a bad car accident and have had to really work hard to find out what works and what doesn’t.

While there are many causes of headaches, many can be treated with a simple chiropractic adjustment. In fact, we have a success rate with headaches of nearly 90%. I’ve seen many patients with this common condition and with a tailor-made program to reduce the stress in their spines, many have great results. Remember that while headaches are common, they are never normal and should be treated with caution and concern.  Call our office today to schedule your own appointment or to just talk to Dr. Travis Ring of Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic to see if it could be a good fit for you.  918-940-4630.  Thank you for allowing us to be your chiropractor.

The post What is Causing My Headaches? Can a Chiropractor Help me? first appeared on Chiropractor Broken Arrow.