Blog

athletic performance

How Painkillers Hamper Athletic Performance

By OConnor | September 25, 2017 |

Is it acute injury or normal aches and pains related to exercise? This is the question all athletes should ask themselves before they reach for the painkillers. Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs for short, such as advil and ibuprofen, are ubiquitous in the athletic world because they offer pain relief for many of the aches and…

blood circulation chiropractic

Blood Circulation and Sleep: The Vital Link

By OConnor | September 18, 2017 |

Increasing blood circulation can help you sleep better Sleep is a regulated function of the brain. The brain controls your ability to fall asleep by limiting arousal signals; in essence, it is inhibiting activity in the parts of the brain which are responsible for wakefulness, causing the body to transition from the stable state of…

sciatica and chiropractic

Why Chiropractic is Effective Pain Relief for Sciatica Sufferers

By OConnor | September 15, 2017 |

Sciatic nerve pain is not your friend Sciatica is characterized by pain that begins in the lower back and radiates to the lower extremities. Symptoms are often experienced only in on leg and include: pain that begins in the lower back and radiates downward, as well as numbness and weakness in the legs and feet,…

decompression

Pressure Relief for Overburdened Spines

By OConnor | September 12, 2017 |

Positions that put the spine under the most pressure Humans have a habit of putting their spines under pressure. Many of the most common positions that we assume throughout the day pressurize the spine, including:  Leaning forward  Lifting and bearing weight Sitting by itself Sitting and leaning forward Forward head posture  How many times do…

ERGONOMICS

Embracing an Ergonomic Lifestyle

By OConnor | September 10, 2017 |

Ergonomic injuries are on the rise  The more people we bring into the white collar job market, the more we send down the road toward degeneration of the spine and disability. Ergonomics is an applied science that studies human efficiency as it relates to the surrounding environment. Few employers are ethical enough, or are willing…

piriformis

Piriformis Syndrome: Pain Comes in Small Packages

By OConnor | September 2, 2017 |

Do you know your piriformis muscle?  The piriformis is a little-known muscle located deep in the buttock, near the gluteus maximus. Its primary function is to allow for rotation of the hip and turning of leg and foot outward. It is small, but its potential for pain is enormous because of its location, connecting the…

trigger point

The Dreaded Trigger Point

By OConnor | August 31, 2017 |

First of all, what is the myofascia?  We are glad you asked: it is a good thing to know about, since it covers you from head to toe. Fascia, or myofascia is the continuous, dense layer of tissue that covers every muscle and bone in your body without beginning or end. It covers the inside…

radiculopathy

Radiculopathy: Nerves Under Pressure

By OConnor | August 18, 2017 |

Radiculopathy is nerve compression Modern medicine knows comparatively little about this irritating condition that occurs when nerves exiting the spinal cord are compressed. Symptoms of radiculopathy include: Pain and weakness in the affected area Referred pain in other parts of the body Feelings of tingling or numbness Weakness in the extremities We most commonly detect…

white collar back pain

White Collar Back Pain

By OConnor | August 8, 2017 |

Office work has become the predominant source of back pain in the 21st century The stats don’t lie: more than a million workers in the US are affected by back pain related complaints each year; and the umbrella category of back pain is responsible for more lost work hours than any other musculoskeletal complaint. While…

back pain and breastfeeding

Back Pain and Breastfeeding

By OConnor | July 31, 2017 |

The last two words you want to hear when breastfeeding are: back pain However, back pain is among the most common complaints among new mothers, regardless of whether they are breastfeeding or not. Simply adjusting to carrying the child, bending over to pick it up, and the lack of sleep associated with nursing is putting…