There is also a mechanical response that is triggered when you get a massage and this particular effect happens whenever pressure is applied to soft tissues. There are a lot of benefits to getting a massage, both physical and emotional, which is why people should schedule them regularly. 

The relaxation factor alone is well worth it and massages help a person’s heart rate slow down and improve their breathing so they can feel calmer, allowing their body to relax. Additionally, the production of stress hormones will start to decrease as well as a person’s blood pressure and the muscles will no longer feel tense. This state of relaxation also affects a person’s mood positively because it helps increase the levels of serotonin, which is the chemical found in the drain that is directly connected to a person’s emotions. 

Stress is a common condition that many people experience and massages will help fight it off so that its effects do not lead to more issues like anxiety, exhaustion, digestive disorders and psychological issues, to name a few. There are so many risks associated with stress, which is why it must be addressed; otherwise, you may experience insomnia, cardiac arrhythmias and hypertension, which massages can help prevent. When work or personal matters start to cause you a lot of stress, a massage can make a world of difference.

If your job requires you to sit at a desk for several hours a day, you may experience issues with your blood circulation and a massage can help with this too. It will help improve your circulation by moving fluids in your body so they can nourish and cleanse your body in a way that is very healthy. It’s a simple solution that will not only help with the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells in your muscles but feels great too. 

Related: Health Benefits of Massage Therapy.

Allowing stress and tension to build up will lead to a lot of pain and allow waste products to accumulate in your body. Massages help eliminate the tension from your muscles so that you no longer experience spasms. Massage therapists will apply the right amount of pressure to the areas that need treatment and the goal of the session is to ensure you’re comfortable so they can eliminate all of your stress and the knots that are a result of it. 

If massage therapy is something you are interested in, Burnaby Heights Chiropractic can help. Located in Burnaby, their registered massage therapists and chiropractors will help you feel more relaxed through the unique and skilled techniques they apply that are specific to each patient and their needs. If you want an RMT who will listen, contact Burnaby Heights Chiropractic today!

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What Causes Shoulder Pain?

When your shoulder muscles are strained or injured, the areas around the muscle becomes inflamed, which leads to spasms, and can make moving difficult. The upper back muscles are the most prone to irritation, due to lack of strength or overuse. 

The main cause of shoulder pain is bad posture. Most people have jobs where they are sitting for around eight hours of the day, which negatively impacts your shoulders. Being slumped over a desk for long periods of time your muscles adapt, and stay that way, which is when you start to feel discomfort. When you are slumped over, the chest muscles get tight and short which pulls your shoulders forward, which causes your upper shoulder and your neck to get tight as well. 

If you suffer from shoulder pain, you may notice that some of the pain is not continuous and can come and go. You are not miraculously healed, the body is just acting like a well-oiled machine, and is repairing itself. However, if the root cause is not identified, the pain and injury will come back, in which case, massage therapy can be a great solution. 

Massage Therapy for Shoulder Pain 

Massage therapy not only aims to decrease shoulder pain, but to speed up the healing time of the injury, and improve posture. Treatments usually begin with massaging muscles in your shoulder, which will reduce the chronic tension and knots in the muscles. Next, your RMT will target specific muscles, such as the pectoralis major and minor in order to re-lengthen them so that your shoulder joints and blade resume their normal resting position.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

• Increased blood flow will aid in the recovery of your shoulder muscles 
• Reduce tension in your muscles which will improve flexibility 
• Increase endorphins 

While massage therapy is a safe solution for back pain, it is advised for patients to consult with their doctor. Things such as recent surgery, varicose veins, or an unhealed wound would make you ineligible for massage therapy. If you or someone you know is suffering from shoulder pain, contact Burnaby Heights Chiropractor.With a team of skilled registered massage therapists, we can help you identify the cause of your pain, and work with you to devise a treatment plan. 

Related: Massage Therapy to keep you Healthy

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General Rule(s) of Thumb 

Mattresses that don’t contour the body are usually the cause of lower back pain and neck pain, as they don’t offer the necessary support. On the other hand, a mattress that is too soft will not provide adequate support. A good mattress will distribute your weight and relieve pressure and pain. Ultimately, there is no such thing as a bad mattress, there is only a bad mattress for you.
It is based on personal preference and what your health concerns are when considering a new mattress. Therefore when choosing a mattress test out many, and choose what feels the most comfortable for you. 

Tips 

Searching for a mattress can be a daunting experience, especially with all of the variety on the market. Here are some tips to help you along the way. 

1. Keep your spine aligned
   It’s important to search for a mattress that keeps your spine aligned, as it can prevent pain in your neck and your lower back and prevent injuries to those areas. 
2. Ask about trial periods
   You should always ask about trial periods, because it takes time to know whether a mattress is for you or not. You might realize the mattress is not for your first night or over thirty nights. Having a leeway to test a mattress over a period of time guarantees that you won’t be stuck with a mattress you hate for several years. 
3. Do your research
   There are so many mattresses on the market, so going in with an idea of what is recommended for your needs is crucial for a successful purchase. If you do have areas of concern, consulting with your chiropractor will help you narrow down your options. 
4. Don’t be afraid to shop around
   These days there are many places that sell mattresses, which makes it great for the buyer, as you don’t have to go far to find what you need. Contrairly, it can become overwhelming, when you have too many options. Making a list of three to four stores that you’d like to visit will cut down your driving time, and will give you more time to shop for your mattress. 

Set a budget
Since mattresses vary in price, it is crucial that you set a budget and shop around it, or you may run the risk of spending way more than you intended. Many manufacturers may be willing to work with you since buying a mattress isn’t something you do every day, it would be worth it to see what kind of discounts or extended warranties they can offer.

Related: Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

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The following benefits may come as a surprise, but massage therapy is great for your overall health because it:

1. Helps reduce the number of headaches and migraines you experience, and in many cases, helps to eliminate them completely. Massage therapy can be used as a form of treatment because a professional and registered therapist will know exactly what pressure points they need to work on to alleviate the tension that causes your headaches. The next time you have a migraine and want to reach for medication, consider getting a massage instead because the results will surprise you. At the very least, you’ll see that the frequency of your headaches has been reduced, so it’s well worth it.
2. Helps treat digestive disorders, such as constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. These conditions are difficult and frustrating to deal with but massage therapy will help. Massage therapists can focus on the affected areas and through massage can help stimulate movement of the digestive tract. This spontaneous movement will not only help with these disorders it will also reduce symptoms like cramping, bloating and gas and help you feel more comfortable. 
3. Helps improve your sleep, which is very important for a person’s health. If you have trouble sleeping at night, a massage will help you eliminate the stress that can be affecting your ability to close your eyes and get some rest. Insomnia makes it difficult to function and will ruin your day because a lack of sleep causes a person to be short tempered and groggy. By targeting your stress points, a massage therapist will help restore a healthy sleep pattern so that you can get the proper rest than every person requires. 

These are just three of the many health benefits that massage therapy provides and there are countless others. It’s much more than a relaxing experience and in addition to the fact that it feels good, a massage can help with so much more, resulting in a healthier and happier version of yourself.  

Related: How does Massage Work? The Truth will Amaze You.

The registered massage therapists at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic can provide you with an experience you won’t forget. They will target, massage and treat all of your problem areas to help with your health and well-being. If you want a chiropractor or an RMT you can count on, visit Burnaby Heights Chiropractic today!

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Exercise

Physical activity helps to increase flexibility, strength, and joint mobility. It is an essential aspect of your overall health and can help reduce your pain. Exercise lubricates your joints by encouraging fluid to circulate. It increases blood flow, meaning more nutrients are delivered to body tissues to assist in the healing process. Non-weight bearing exercises (like swimming) are especially useful at managing arthritic pain. Be sure to ask your chiropractor for the best workouts and stretches based on your type of pain.

Related: 5 Stretches and Exercises for Better Posture.

Spinal Manipulation

Studies have proven that spinal manipulation can decrease back pain and increase mobility. Many patients experience an enhanced range of motion and report fast pain relief from manual therapy. Your chiropractor can see if spinal manipulation is right for you.

Behavioural therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy is effective in reducing long-term pain. Relaxation and coping techniques can help decrease muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure. Reducing your level of stress is also helpful. Try incorporating stress-relieving exercises into your daily life like yoga and meditation. Just a few minutes each day of doing either can put your mind and body to rest.

Acupuncture

This is proven to be clinically beneficial in treating pain, especially shoulder and lower back and pain. Acupuncture is one tool that many chiropractors incorporate into their practice to offer complete care to patients.

Medication

Some medications are beneficial in the management of chronic pain. Although, there is still some types of medicine that carry a risk of addiction. Starting treatment plans that do not involve the use of any medications—like any of the first four methods mentioned above—are a good first step to managing pain before starting any pharmaceutical treatment. If you are considering medicine, talk to your family doctor to find out more first.

Chronic pain can be managed in several different ways beyond the five listed above. It is essential to consider all avenues before approaching treatment with medication. If you have any questions, visit a qualified health professional like Dr Forest Eaton at Burnaby Heights Chiropractic to see what option will work best for you.

The post 5 Ways You Can Manage Your Pain appeared first on Burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

Improving your posture not only prevents strain on your joints and muscles, but it also helps to correct bone and joint alignment, decreases unnecessary stress on your spine and increases muscle efficiency. Having poor posture is caused by more than just sitting at a desk all day. Factors such as obesity, pregnancy and wearing heels that are too high can result in bad posture. What’s the best way to correct this? Here are five movements you can do on a daily basis to improve your muscle coordination and straighten your back.

Trapezius Stretch

Sitting down, gently bring your right ear to your right shoulder. If needed, raise your right hand over your head and place it on your left cheekbone to increase the pressure. Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds before repeating on the opposite side. Do this stretch three to four times a day.

Levator Scapulae Stretch

Similar to the previous stretch, this is a modified version that has you gently pulling your head and nose to your armpit area. Don’t force this movement. Hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat with the other side. Again, do this three to four times a day.

Chest Stretch

Sit at the edge of your chair and place your legs slightly wider than the width of your shoulder. Place your hands out with the palms facing upward before lifting your chest. Hold this for 20 to 30 seconds, three to four times per day.

Chin Tucks

More of an exercise than a stretch, look forward while seated and move your head backwards, as though to form a double chin. Don’t tilt your head back, but rather bring your chin inward. Hold this position for eight seconds, then repeat it five times to complete one set. Do three to four sets throughout your day.

Shoulder Blade Squeeze

Lastly, we have another sitting exercise. With your arms relaxed and placed by your side, squeeze your shoulder blades together. Do this five times to complete one set, doing three to four sets throughout your day.
If you’ve completed these movements but still find that your posture is lacking and discomfort is setting in, then it’s time to visit a certified chiropractor to help. At Burnaby Heights Chiropractic, it’s our mission to make sure every one of our clients gets the help they need while in a relaxing environment. On top of chiropractic care, we also have a registered massage therapist who works to reduce pain and improve your range of motion. Contact us today for more information or book your appointment online at https://bbyheightschiro.com/.

The post 5 Stretches and Exercises for Better Posture appeared first on Burnaby Heights Chiropractic.

Asking assistance

If you think your child has suffered a concussion, the first step is to get the attention of the on-site health worker or team coach who should be trained to handle such situations. Allow them to perform a proper sideline assessment. Getting an immediate analysis of how your child is doing after a possible severe impact is the first step to protecting them from worsening the injury.

Resting is not enough

While 80% of concussion symptoms improve within a couple of weeks, prolonged symptoms are not uncommon. If you feel that your child has not recovered completely or is not showing signs of recovery, bring him to a healthcare provider. They will use the Standardized Concussion Assessment tool- 5th edition (SCAT 5) or its modified version to track symptoms and help to estimate recovery. Resting alone cannot help to calm symptoms of concussion and need to be combined with an individualized symptom-based approach. Prescribed rest can be ineffective without taking into account an individual’s symptom and history. Interventions such as therapies, medicines, activity modulation tests can help to shorten the duration of post-concussion symptoms.

REAPing benefits

Rest

Like any other injury, head injuries were also believed to get better with adequate resting. However, as discussed earlier, determining the right amount of rest is a major component of early evaluation and diagnosis is an injury by a trained medical professional.

Evaluation

Post-concussive evaluation and monitoring by a medical professional is extremely crucial to determine the well being and path to recovery for your child.

Activate

Research and studies have indicated that a gradual reentry in the sport is actually productive in the healing process to someone with a concussion.

Prevent

Once your child recovers from the injury, you need to be aware of the relative risks and plan to eliminate or at least reduce the risks. It is easier to sustain a second concussion than the first one.

At Burnaby Heights Chiropractic, we strive to provide all of our customer with the same quality of care without reservation. As members of both the BC Chiropractic Association and the BC College of Chiropractors, it is our mission to ensure that everyone we meet gets accessible, ethical, high quality chiropractic treatments in a clean and relaxing environment. Contact us for more details.

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