1. Dress Smartly for Comfort

While you want to stay warm, it’s essential to choose clothing that allows for movement. Overly bulky jackets can restrict your range of motion, leading you to hunch your shoulders or slouch. Opt for layers that provide warmth without compromising mobility. A well-fitted jacket and stretchy underlayers can help you maintain better posture while staying comfortable.

2. Mind Your Footwear

Winter often means slippery sidewalks and snow-covered streets. The right footwear can significantly affect your posture and overall safety. Choose shoes with good arch support and non-slip soles to help maintain balance. When walking on icy surfaces, take shorter, cautious steps and keep your body aligned to prevent falls and injuries.

3. Ergonomic Workspaces

If you’re working from home or spending extra time indoors, ensure your workspace is ergonomic. Your chair should support your lower back, and your computer screen should be at eye level. This setup will encourage you to sit up straight rather than hunch over your device, helping to prevent neck and back pain. Remember to take regular breaks to stand, stretch, and reset your posture.

4. Stretch It Out

Winter can cause our muscles to tighten, leading to discomfort and stiffness. Incorporating a regular stretching routine can help counteract this. Focus on stretches that open up your chest, shoulders, and hips. Gentle yoga or specific stretches targeting the back can also promote flexibility and alleviate tension. If you’re unsure where to start, consider consulting a registered massage therapist (RMT) in Burnaby for personalized advice.

5. Stay Active

It’s tempting to hibernate during winter, but staying active is key to maintaining good posture. Whether it’s a brisk walk outside, indoor workouts, or winter sports, find activities you enjoy. Regular movement helps keep your muscles strong and flexible, reducing the risk of injury and promoting better alignment.

6. Seek Professional Help

If you’re already experiencing pain or discomfort, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A chiropractor can provide tailored treatment to address your specific needs. Chiropractic care can help correct postural imbalances and alleviate pain, ensuring you stay aligned throughout winter. Additionally, massage therapy from a qualified RMT can help relax tight muscles and improve blood circulation, further supporting your posture.

With some small adjustments, you can maintain proper winter posture, keep your muscles flexible, and prevent unnecessary back and neck pain. Focus on core strength, proper walking and standing, good stretching, and supportive footwear. Don’t let the winter weather wreak havoc on your posture and cause pain.
If you have severe or persisting back or neck pain, visit a chiropractor in Burnaby for an adjustment. You can count on Burnaby Heights Chiropractic, where dedicated professionals are ready to help you stay aligned and pain-free all season long. Along with chiropractic care, we also offer massage therapy in Burnaby. So, book your appointment now!

The post Winter Posture Tips: How to Stay Aligned and Pain-Free in Cold Weather appeared first on Burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

By providing your muscles with a decent stretch, you’re improving their function by giving the targeted muscle group an improved range of motion to contract and expand during exercise. Stretched muscles are less likely to suffer excruciating spasms, cramps, scar tissue, and incorrect posture-compensating movement patterns.

Massage therapy, like you find with our registered massage therapist here at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic, works to improve the functioning of your muscles so that you reduce your risk of injury by having a musculoskeletal system that moves the way it should. How do stretching and massage therapy help to maintain the health of your muscles and joints?

How Massage Therapy Works

Massage refers to various techniques of applying pressure to tense muscle groups and tendons to facilitate blood flow, relaxation, pain reduction, and healing. A person either remains still or performs specific guided movements while a massage therapist exerts pressure on the targeted area, helping to release tightly contracted muscle, relieve pain, and add renewed nutrient-rich blood to the tissue to help it rebuild and recover at the cellular level. Here at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic, the entire body may be worked on during a general massage therapeutic process, but more often treatments will be tailored to target specific problematic areas.

Massage techniques can range from a light touch to intense pressure. Some people find it works best when done immediately following a demanding workout, helping to soothe sore muscles and relieve pulls or strains. Others may need a little time to let their bodies “settle down” a bit before a treatment.  Amid a hectic work week, massaging can also offer much needed stress relief and endorphins release as a way to manage constant performance pressure work work and life in general.

How Stretching Works

Like massage, assisted stretching uses an external force to improve muscle tension and relieve stiffness. While assisted stretching may resemble massage in a few ways, its primary goal is to improve flexibility..

A therapist extends your muscle groups during treatment until the ligaments and muscles are stretched slightly beyond their typical range of motion. This will help to prepare the body to contract and expand with greater range and greater elasticity, helping to prevent strains and cramps.

As you become older, your muscle mobility and efficiency may become unbalanced. As time passes, you’ll also discover that your capacity to move joints comfortably declines. Long-term structural instabilities and mobility restrictions could result from all these problems, accumulating into significant discomfort. Regular assisted stretching can improve flexibility and relieve muscle tension, improving the body’s biomechanical efficiency for everyday movement.

Benefits of Massage and Stretching

Massage therapy can encourage healthy blood circulation, reduce stress, and release tight muscles, while stretching is the technique to go if you wish to extend your range of movement and prevent strains, cramps and other injuries.

What is the best option for mobility, then? If flexibility or elasticity are your primary concerns, most specialists would advise stretching combined with massage. In light of this, combining stretching and massage therapy at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic is an excellent solution for long-term structural stability. Here are some pointers for beginning with both:

Benefits of Massage Therapy

The advantages of massage for flexibility and movement are listed below.

• Massage is a treatment method that passively relaxes muscles by manual touch, vibration, or oscillation.
• New, nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood is delivered to the area being massaged, naturally improving circulation. Your overall health and your body’s functioning can benefit from this in turn.
• Sometimes it can be challenging to maintain flexibility and skill due to trigger points. This happens because as you move during the day, knots can tighten up in the muscle and prevent you from moving naturally and comfortably. The astonishing thing is that a massage, particularly a trigger point massage, can help loosen these tight areas, so you can move more easily and comfortably.

Benefits Of Stretching

Stretching has numerous advantages; many health professionals advise including it in your regimen at least a few times each week. The following are some ways in which stretching might improve your maneuverability:

• Although muscle stiffness can occur at any time, it is more prevalent following a strenuous workout or recent surgery. Additionally, you might experience tightness or stiffness more often as you age.
• Stretching helps reduce and avoid stiffness in overworked, exhausted muscles. This is because it causes the muscle fibres to lengthen momentarily, which can reduce tension, stimulate the muscles and tendons before action, and promote flexibility in general.
• Stretching enhances the range of movement in the joints, according to research. Stretching can also improve your strain resistance, enabling you to move your muscles with a greater range of motion while reducing potential strain.

Cons Of Stretching

While stretching can have many tremendous advantages, there can also be drawbacks. For instance:

• You’ll want to be careful not to overextend because doing so may result in minor muscle strains. Remember to move carefully, pay attention to your body, and stop if you feel too much pressure.
• Stretching requires effort and involvement. You must develop strategies for maintaining your motivation and dedication to your routine to benefit from daily extension fully.

Verdict: Massage Therapy vs Stretching

Your body can experience far more optimal movement patterns, overall health, and relaxation when you combine massage therapy with stretching and rehabilitation. 

Your flexibility and full range of motion will improve with regular stretching, whether done daily or once a week. Additionally, a massage helps ease tension—both in mind and body.

To get massage therapy and assisted stretching from qualified professionals, reach out to Burnaby Heights Chiropractic. Our registered massage therapist, Tim Gropen, has years of experience providing massage and stretching sessions, and will be more than happy to help to help relax your muscles, improve flexibility, and eliminate the effects of life’s daily stressors. 

Book your session today!

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Registered chiropractors in Burnaby can help their clients more efficiently by collaborating with other healthcare professionals and initiatives. For instance, a balanced diet plan and an exercise plan specific to a patient’s biomechanical needs can help mitigate back pain’s causes.

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care is a complementary field of healthcare. It strongly emphasizes the manual adjustment or manipulation of the spine while concentrating on evaluating and treating neuromuscular disorders. These changes are thought to contribute to general health wellness by alleviating pain, extending the range of motion, enhancing flexibility, and fostering relaxation. 

Chiropractic treatment may also boost immunological and neurological system performance, which can benefit general health and fitness. Reducing neck/back pain, migraines, and sensations linked to some chronic illnesses (including fibromyalgia and asthma) are specific advantages of chiropractic treatment.

How Does Chiropractic Care Promote Wellness?

The system of tendons, nerves, bones, organs, and muscles that makes up the human body are intricately connected. Ensuring the spine is moving and functioning properly with chiropractic treatments has a chain reaction effect, which helps the rest of the body function properly as well. When your body is working well and feeling better, greater wellness is achieved. This treatment method can also trigger the brain to release endorphins, the “feel good” chemical that assists with mood regulation.

Being in intense pain from a specific injury will also cause significant negative effects throughout your body as a whole. The signals of pain that your brain receives can cause things like changing your overall stress level, decreasing your food intake, and altering your temperament to happen. You may find that you alter the way you move, or change your posture when you are resting because of the pain you are in. This compensation puts extra stress on different areas of your body, often leading to secondary problems.  As well, the inflammation caused by an injury in one area can spread to other areas, causing more wide spread discomfort. All of this added together can be very overwhelming, and lead to a significant decrease in how well you are feeling

Chiropractic treatments can improve function, decrease pain, reduce inflammation, and help promote faster and more complete healing. When the pain is gone, and your body is able to function normally, greater wellness is achieved. You’ll even get a better nights sleep!

Benefits of Regular Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care has various advantages for both short-term and long-term health outcomes and is an important part of the treatment and management of several chronic and acute issues. Chiropractic treatment offers relief from more than simply neck and back discomfort. It has advantages for your ability to exercise, helps in the management of hypertension, pain management, mental wellness, and more.

Regular chiropractic visits can help establish and maintain an optimal level of personal well being by relieving symptoms and keeping your body working and moving smoothly. Working with your chiropractor helps create an environment where your health can flourish, and builds a long-term health strategy. It is a non-invasive and low-risk therapeutic option, with the following benefits:

• Boost Energy & Sleep Habits

Any kind of pain makes it difficult to fall asleep. Tossing and turning all through the night due to physical pain can make it difficult or nearly impossible to obtain adequate sleep. Additionally, living a sleep-deprived life can lead to various psychological and medical issues.

Chiropractic treatment can lessen pain and assist you in falling asleep at night, increasing your energy levels during the day. At Burnaby Heights Chiropractic, Dr Eaton does this with hands-on manual therapy.

• Control Arthritis Symptoms

To alleviate the discomfort associated with arthritis, sometimes patients must take medication and receive ongoing medical attention from their doctors. While this medication helps lessen inflammation, using chiropractic treatments to control these symptoms is often just as effective, and is invaluable for those people who don’t like to take medication.

Massage, muscular activation, exercise,  acupuncture, and other modalities are also ways to keep you mobile and flexible. Taking all reasonable precautions to maintain good health is very important.

• Acute & Chronic Pain Relief

Helping to ease joint pain brought on by everyday activities and severe injuries is a daily occurrence here at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic. Despite some people’s beliefs, chiropractic  is a suitable method of treatment for many causes of  both acute and chronic pain.

Physical injuries from car accidents, old sports injuries that keep flaring up, repetitive stress injuries from repeated movements, disc bulges and herniations, issues with posture, movement imbalances, and even certain types of headaches and just a few of the things that chiropractors treat every single day. Whether they are acute issues that just happened, recurrent issues that flare up every once and a while, or chronic issues that need regular management, chiropractic treatments play a big part in managing the symptoms and  taking care of these things.

• Identify & Address Physical Issues

Do you ever wonder why, despite your best intentions, your head, neck or back always hurts? Or the reason why typing makes your shoulder ache?

A skilled registered chiropractor can assist you in identifying the underlying causes of persistent discomfort by doing a thorough physical examination. They will check your posture, analyze your movement patterns, check for restrictions in joint movement, and test the integrity of your nerves and muscles. Once the underlying cause is identified, a treatment plan can be made. Your chiropractor will help you regain your range of movement and flexibility by removing physical restrictions, and will develop exercises and movements to target imbalances and weaknesses. Once issues have been resolved, they can assist you in maintaining a solid spine over the long term.

The Overall Outcome

Regular chiropractic patients experience changes in a variety of aspects of their lives. Decreased pain, improved movement, improved sleep, reduced stress, and an enhanced ability to deal with above normal physical strain, are just a few of the benefits that many patients enjoy. Aches and discomfort, poor posture, anxiety, stress, and accidents are also reduced in chiropractic patients who regularly receive treatment.

There is no reason to prevent yourself from feeling your best and taking advantage of the perks of optimizing your physical health and biomechanics. Many of the health issues you face could be due to poor alignment and routines that cause physical stress to your system. Get to the root cause of your pain by seeking chiropractic care to help with life’s aches and discomforts.

Now that you are well-informed, it’s up to you to experience a healthier, happier version of yourself. Plan a time for your introductory appointment with Burnaby Heights Chiropractic. 

Reach out today!

The post What Is the Role Chiropractors Play in Helping You Achieve Wellness? appeared first on Burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

The causes of headaches can vary, but they are generally caused by excessive strain on muscles or nerves in the head and neck region and high stress levels. There are several types of headaches with different causes, duration and severity.

Chiropractor in Burnaby: What Causes Headaches?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, headaches caused by stress are the most frequently occurring primary headache disorder. They’re not considered a serious medical condition and are treatable with chiropractic care.

A headache is a common complaint among many who handle stress daily. Numerous types of headaches can be induced by stress, and tension headaches are the most common type. 

If you experience frequent, persistent or intense headaches that affect your quality of life, it’s time to look at what could be causing them. If you want to try an alternative approach before reaching for pain meds or other drugs, consider seeing a chiropractor in Burnaby to help with your headache issues!

The three most common headache types include tension, migraine, and cluster headaches.

Tension-Type Headaches

Tension-type headaches are the most common, characterized by tightness or pressure around your head and neck. They may feel like a band around your head or like someone is squeezing your temples. 

You may also experience muscle pain, neck and shoulders stiffness, dizziness and nausea. Tension headaches are often caused by:

• Holding your head in a particular position for too long (i.e., keeping it in one spot for too long while reading)
• Injuries to the neck area such as whiplash or sports injuries like tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome
• Poor posture while sitting at a desk for long periods (or even playing video games)
• Stress in life (work, personal relationships, etc.)
• Stress at work, home or school
• Skipping breakfast or lunch
• Frequent migraines
• Lack of sleep
• Fatigue

Tension-type headaches affect an estimated 29 percent of Canadians. These headaches are caused by stress and tension, and several factors can trigger them.

An active lifestyle can help prevent tension headaches—so ensure you’re getting enough exercise daily!

Stress headaches are caused by tension in your upper back and neck muscles, which pressure the surrounding nerves. This pressure can cause pain in your head/neck region but is usually located behind or around one eye.

The good news is that while they may be uncomfortable (and certainly inconvenient), they do not pose a significant health risk—so long as you begin taking preventative action. Continual poor posture and high stress levels have been shown to contribute to long-term health complications. 

How a Chiropractor Can Help

The good news is that visiting a local Chiropractor in Burnaby can help you mitigate the physical stressors contributing to your headaches. You don’t have to live uncomfortably or constantly take pain medications. Working with a Chiropractor can help reduce muscle tension and soreness in the neck, shoulders, and upper back regions. Your chiropractic treatments from an RMT in Burnaby will have lasting effects at the physiological level to help you reduce the occurrence of headaches.

As your muscles are able to relax, they release a buildup of lactic acids and other toxin buildups from constant tension. When you work with a registered chiropractor in Burnaby, the specific treatments and massage therapy will help stimulate new, nutrient-rich blood flow to your muscle tissue in these problem areas, helping to reduce tension and improve your body’s circulation.

With improved circulation, you’ll also experience stress relief as your body releases endorphins and serotonin, hormones to help with mood regulation and pain relief. Chiropractic treatment will also help reduce your heart rate and lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

Chiropractor in Burnaby

Dr. Forest G. Eaton

Dr. Forest G. Eaton has been a Chiropractor in Burnaby for over ten years and grew up in the region. You will receive honest and transparent guidance, advice, and quality care from a trusted local chiropractor.

If you’ve been suffering from stress-related headaches lately, consider making an appointment with a registered Chiropractor in Burnaby who can help relieve your symptoms so you can get back to living without pain!

Massage Therapy in Burnaby

Tim Gropen

Tim Gropen is our Registered Massage Therapist in Burnaby who can assist with your headache relief and injuries from motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, TMJ, and many other conditions. With over 17 years of proven experience, you can be sure that your health is in the most capable hands at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic. Get in touch today at 604-298-0525.

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1. It can reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications

Exercising while pregnant can lower the chances of developing conditions like gestational diabetes. If you do develop this condition, staying active will help keep your insulin levels in check.

2. It can improve heart health

Exercise will strengthen your heart and blood vessels which will help your body prepare for the physical changes and challenges you may face. This includes labour and delivery, so remain active to improve your stamina and heart health.

3. It can lower blood pressure

Your blood pressure can increase during pregnancy, and staying active can help prevent this from happening. Something as simple as going for regular walks is exercise, and can help tremendously.

4. It will improve your mood

Depression during pregnancy is common as is anxiety, and many women will experience these feelings while expecting. Exercising during pregnancy helps to boost your mood because endorphins get released, which will help improve your mood as well as diminish stress and anxiety.

5. It will help fight exhaustion

It’s very normal to feel tired throughout your pregnancy, and while exercising may sound contradictory, an easy walk or prenatal yoga classes can help improve your energy levels. Sometimes, getting too much rest will make you feel more tired, and while you shouldn’t push yourself to the point of exhaustion, you should exercise to some extent.

6. It can ease back and pelvic pain

A growing baby bump will put extra pressure on your body, often resulting in back pain and an achy pelvis. Strengthening these areas can help relieve that discomfort, but be careful,  as you don’t want to make any moves that may worsen things. Focus on safe exercises through a pain free range of motion..

7. It can improve sleep

Pregnant women generally have a harder time falling asleep but exercising may also improve your sleep quality, resulting in you waking up feeling better and more rested.

8. It can relieve constipation

Exercise will help keep you regular as an active body will encourage active bowels, and even a quick, ten-minute stroll can help.

9. It can lower the chances of delivery complications

Women who exercise during pregnancy are less likely to have macrosomic babies, which is vital because heavier babies can lead to complications for both the mother and their baby during delivery.

10. It can help with recovery

Exercising during pregnancy will allow you to recover faster physically after the birth of your baby. Additionally, you will also feel fit after the delivery, so you will feel better overall and have an easier time establishing a routine.

If you require any hands-on treatment to help ease the aches and pains that are often associated with pregnancy, we here at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic can help. Our registered chiropractor and massage therapist will help you feel your best, and we will do what we can to eliminate discomfort and pain. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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Minimizing Car Accident Recovery Time With Chiropractic Care

Due to the physical stress that a car wreck can put someone in, most people look for a chiropractor, or some other type of manual treatment to help speed up their recovery. Chiropractors are licensed primary caregivers, which means that you do not need a referral to see one. When you are in pain or sore after a car accident, you can book an appointment directly with a chiropractor. Here are some examples of chiropractic treatments that can help individuals recover from a car accident injury:

Whiplash Treatment

One common injury that occurs after a car accident is whiplash. In acute stages of whiplash, the focus should be on reducing the inflammation in the neck with things like ice and anti-inflammatory. Some chiropractors will use therapeutic tools like ultrasound or TENS to help with the acute pain their patients are experiencing. Whiplash treatment might also involve manual therapy techniques and gentle stretches.

More than just providing you with hands on treatment for whiplash, chiropractors can also make some recommendations for things you can do on your own to help make your recovery process quicker. For example, a chiropractor could recommend that you start using light neck support or instruct you on how to properly apply an ice pack to help reduce inflammation. Once the pain and inflammation in the neck diminishes, your chiropractor will be much more capable of using spinal manipulation and other techniques to help you restore regular function in the joints in your neck.

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation is one common treatment performed for whiplash. Spinal manipulation involves using various techniques to induce movement in the joints of the spine to help restore normal function, and reduce pain and inflammation. Three different techniques that are often used to treat patients after a motor vehicle accident are: flexion-distraction, instrument-assisted, and specific spinal manipulation techniques.

Flexion-distraction Technique

This technique uses a hands-on approach, and it will involve slow mobilization of the spine in order to treat discs that are bulging or herniated. Injuring your neck in a car accident can really aggravate a pre-existing disc injury. Your chiropractor will use slow pulling action, or distraction, on the neck to reduce any pain and inflammation from the injured disc.

Instrument-assisted Manipulation

To use this technique, your chiropractor will need a specialized hand-held tool, rather than his hands. They will use the tool to move the joints of the spine. This technique is suitable for older patients who have been in a car accident, and also for patients who suffer from low bone density.

Specific Spinal Manipulation

This is another hands-on technique. Your chiropractor will identify the spinal joints that have abnormal or restricted motion in the joint. They will then use a quick, small thrusting technique to restore normal motion in the joint. This technique effectively restores normal movement to spinal joints, helps stretch soft tissue, and reduce pain and inflammation.

Other Manual Therapies

Other than spinal manipulation, many chiropractors will also use manual therapy to help treat muscles and ligaments that were injured in order to speed up car accident recovery. Examples include therapeutic massage techniques, trigger point therapy, instrument assisted soft tissue therapy and more.

If you have any questions, or are looking for a chiropractor to provide treatment after a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact Dr Eaton at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic. He would be happy to help you out however he can!

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When your sciatic nerve becomes irritated, it can leave you with feelings of burning, stinging,  shooting pains, or even weakness through your buttocks down to your affected leg. Having poor posture and a lack of mobility in the spine are two common factors that often contribute to sciatica.

The good news is that you can try some sciatic pain relief treatments in the comfort of your own home by doing several types of exercises and stretches. These can help mobilize the joints of the spine, stretch tight postural muscles, and help to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve to help reduce any pain.

As well, it is always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider before you try any of these sciatica pain relief exercises.

Lying Glute Stretch

This type of stretch will lengthen the piriformis and gluteal muscles, and may help relieve pressure on your sciatic nerve. To start, you will need to lie flat on your back with your knees bent to roughly ninety degrees. Then raise one foot and bring it to the opposite knee, resting your ankle on your knee. Grasp the underside of the thigh which has your ankle resting on the knee with your hands, and gently begin pulling both legs towards your chest while still keeping the ankle on the knee. Keep your spine depressed flat against the floor. Hold this position for 30 seconds while taking deep breaths, then repeat the same on the other side. Perform this stretch three times on each side.

Extension Exercise (Press Ups)

This exercise can be helpful to alleviate sciatic pain that originates due to a disc bulge in the lower back. You start by laying on your stomach with your elbows bent at the sides, and your hands held palms pressed down on the floor under your shoulders. Slowly raise your chest upwards by pressing down on the forearms and elbows while you arch your lower back, trying to keep your hips down on the floor. Try to raise up as far as you can and hold the position for 20 to 30 seconds while taking steady, even breaths. You can repeat this stretch up to 5 times, three or four times per day.

Seated Lumbar Twist

This is another stretch for sciatica that can also help relieve tightness and pain in the buttocks. Begin by sitting on a mat or the carpet with your legs extended out in front of you and your hands flat on the mat behind your hips to help support you. Bend your left leg to bring your left heel up near the opposite side of the right knee. Now bring your right arm around to place your right elbow gently against your left knee, turning your torso to the left while doing so. Use your right elbow on your left knee with your left hand on the floor behind you, to gently push yourself further into the rotation. Hold for a slow count of ten and gently release. Repeat this on both sides.

If you have any questions about what stretches would be appropriate for your specific situation when dealing with sciatic pain, don’t hesitate to contact Dr Eaton and burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

Related : Massage Therapy For Shoulder Pain?

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Joint manipulation, or adjustments, help to restore mobility to stiffened or injured joints, reduce pain, and accelerate the normal healing process. So, many people visit chiropractors for pain relief related to any issues associated with their back, neck, and joints in the arms and legs. Chiropractors can also help treat headaches and other conditions. Here are some of the things chiropractors want you to know about chiropractic care.

Chiropractors Are Licensed Primary Care Givers, Just Like Family Physicians

All across Canada, chiropractors are recognized as primary-level care providers. This means that chiropractors hold their own licenses and can practice independently within their own scope of care, and that you do not need a referral to go see one. They must go to a nationally accredited, four-year doctoral graduate school program. Their curriculum will include a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, lab, and clinical internship. They must also meet yearly to continue education requirements to retain their license.

Before Treatment, Chiropractors Will Take A History And Do A Physical Exam

If you think that your chiropractor will be able to jump straight into treatment in your first session, You will be surprised to learn that they will first need to take a thorough history of your complaint and review of your overall medical history, as well as perform a physical exam. This is done for your safety, to make sure that you are getting the correct type of care for the issue that you are dealing with.

Chiropractors Cannot Prescribe Any Medication

Chiropractors are not licensed to write prescriptions of any type. For patients who would benefit from prescription medications, they will typically be referred to a physician.  Even though chiropractors cannot prescribe medications, you should expect them to ask you about your medication and supplement history to get a better idea of your overall health and develop a treatment plan, which will not cause other existing conditions to become worse.

Your Chiropractor Will Most Likely Suggest Exercise, Among Other Things

Conventional wisdom has told us to stay off our feet when we have back pain and wait until painkillers and muscle relaxants kick in. However, many patients are surprised when Chiropractors tell them that conventional research has shown that people will heal faster and more completely if they stay active and mobile to the best of their ability while they are recovering from their back injuries. That is why, in most cases, chiropractors will give patients specific instructions on how to stay active in a way that will help them the most.

Are you looking for a Chiropractor in Burnaby? Contact Dr Eaton at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

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Chiropractors have the skills and knowledge to deal with your muscles and the nerves that control them. Back pain, headaches, and sports injuries are familiar conditions and can treat them by correcting your body’s structural alignment. This will improve function, and if they see that your alignment is off, they will help you increase your range of motion in your spine and joints to prevent additional health problems and to restore your well-being. In addition to adjustments, chiropractors use other treatments as well, including electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat and ice, lasers and therapeutic exercises. The goal is to help realign you and promote healing in tissues damaged by structural imbalances.

Chiropractors can do more than just “crack” a patient’s back, and while this treatment can be very beneficial, there are certain situations where medication or surgery may be a better option. Chiropractic treatment is not appropriate for broken bones, dislocations, infections, cancer or tumours, or osteoporosis. As well, if you suffer from any visceral conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or any chronic degenerative diseases like Parkinsons or multiple sclerosis, you should seek traditional medical treatment for those conditions rather than chiropractic care. Seeking chiropractic treatment if you have some of these conditions may be more than just ineffective, it may be quite harmful.

It’s important that you understand when chiropractic care is beneficial and when it is not, because this will help you find the right treatment to help with your specific condition. In some cases, even if the condition itself cannot be treated by a chiropractor, you will still be able to see one because their treatments can be done alongside traditional medical care, and may be beneficial in  treating joint and muscle symptoms you are also experiencing as a part of something else. Chiropractic care is more than just spinal manipulation, and you will receive advice on healthy habits like exercise and nutrition as well. You can improve your lifestyle by incorporating chiropractic care as part of a holistic and whole-body approach to your health, which will help you effect a positive change in your well-being and your life.

Chiropractic care can be complementary to other treatments, but it’s important that you discuss your medical history and health issues openly and honestly with your chiropractor so that they are aware of your situation and any conditions you are dealing with. This will allow them to assess you properly, and they will discuss whether or not you are a suitable candidate for this type of care.

At Burnaby Heights Chiropractic we want what’s best for you. We truly care about our clients. Whether you are looking for a licensed chiropractor or registered massage therapist, we can help. Don’t hesitate to contact us!

The post What a Chiropractor Can’t or Shouldn’t Treat appeared first on Burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

The answer is quite simple, you should do some stretching exercises that your chiropractor can help you with.

Stretching exercises can be an important part of keeping your body in good shape, and they can be done anywhere and anytime you want. If you have any doubts about the effectiveness of stretching, you can do a bit of research. You will see that stretching is often a part of any physical treatment like chiropractic treatment or type rehabilitative treatment. And of course, athletes understand that they always need to do their stretching before they perform sports.

Today, we’ll look at the different types of stretches and the benefits that come with stretching that will help you feel more flexible and like you have the body you had when you were younger.

Some of the easiest stretching exercises that can be done anywhere can include:

• Hamstring stretches
• Butterfly groin stretches
• Lying hip stretches
• Lying quad stretches
• Calf stretches
• Shoulder stretches
• Triceps stretches

And there are many more that your chiropractor can recommend, but starting with the list found above will be a good start.

You can easily find resources, pictures and videos online of how to perform any stretching exercise. As a general rule of thumb, you should start slow. Try out a few different exercises, and then take your time, so you don’t strain your muscles. As you figure out how your body reacts to each type of stretching, you will be able to increase your repetitions and then add more exercises gradually to build up a regular routine. And don’t forget that even if you are really busy, you can still do these even while you sit at your desk at work.

Some benefits of stretching exercises can include:

Increased flexibility. By completing stretches regularly, your flexibility will increase, and you will be able to do all the things that you used to be able to do when you were younger, without suffering from any aches and pains. As you continue to stretch your muscles, you will become more accustomed to those movements that were difficult.

More range of movement. Once your body starts to loosen up your range of motion will greatly improve. You will be able to bend, squat, turn and reach much easier, and your head and neck will turn easily as well.

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