The Importance of Chiropractic Care for Teens

People usually think about visiting a chiropractor after an accident or some kind of sports injury. It is easy to remember to call for an appointment when your back aches or when your neck is stiff. What people forget, unfortunately, is how helpful ongoing chiropractic care can be—for people of all ages. 

Teenagers generally benefit greatly from chiropractic care, and early intervention can set young people on the road to good health. 

Posture Problems

Many children and teens these days suffer from postural problems. This is because so many young people spend a great deal of their day with their heads extended and facing downward to look at a screen. This position puts an enormous strain on the upper cervical spine. 

Many teens suffer from some kind of aches and pains, be it back aches, stiff necks, or headaches. All of these can be due to a misalignment of the spine but few think of telling their parents or doctors until the problem gets severe.

Growing Pains

Growing pains is not just a metaphor for the difficulties of going through common childhood traumas. Teens literally suffer from physical growing pains. As a teen's physical body changes and develops, his center of balance changes. This can lead to misjudgments in how to move or what they are capable of doing. Teens commonly suffer from injuries, falls, muscle strains, and other such problems. 

Pushing Limits

From carrying heavy book bags to taking risks in sports to all-night cram sessions, teens don't always make the smartest choices. These choices can have consequences, unfortunately. They serve to weaken the body and put youths more at risk for injury. 

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

A misaligned spine can cause a wide range of problems. One vertebra out of place can have a domino effect on the rest of the body, leading to all sorts of aches, pains, and health issues. Also, when the spine is misaligned it causes inflammation and swelling, which can compress nerves and disrupt signals between the brain and the body's major systems. 

Chiropractic care helps restore proper alignment to the spine relieving many symptoms that may seem unrelated. It also sets the teens on a good path for those crucial years when their musculoskeletal system is still developing by putting them on the right track. 

Call Us for Teen Chiropractic Care

Dr. Gordon Elder of the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas takes patients of all ages to help create lasting improvements. Dr. Elder is a practitioner of the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a modern technique that is not like the type of chiropractic care you may be familiar with—there are no sudden jerks or abrupt twists. 

Instead, Blair practitioners are upper cervical specialists who rely on state-of-the-art technology to accurately assess each individual's unique anatomy. This is the first step in Dr. Elder's treatment plan—a thorough screening and examination using 3D diagnostic imaging tools. 

Once the doctor has assessed your teen's anatomy, he can apply adjustments with more precision. This allows him to use a lighter touch to make corrections gently and swiftly, without any jarring jolts. 

Dr. Elder's third step is preventative care. He recommends adding regular chiropractic check-ups to your teen's healthcare routine to help nip problems in the bud.

Set your teen on the path to a healthy life, a strong body, and good health habits. Contact Dr. Elder for a consultation. Dr. Elder's areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms Can Be Relieved with Exercise

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas. This disorder, often accompanied by sleep, mood, and memory issues, is believed to amplify painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process pain signals. While the causes of fibromyalgia remain uncertain, strategies to manage the symptoms have been the focus of extensive research, with exercise emerging as a highly effective method. This article aims to delve into how exercise can alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Understanding Fibromyalgia and Exercise

The notion of exercising might seem counterintuitive for people experiencing chronic pain. However, numerous studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia. It appears that exercise helps by reducing muscle tension and improving the body's ability to respond to stress.

Types of Exercise Beneficial for Fibromyalgia

1. Aerobic Exercise: Aerobic exercises, also known as cardio, raise your breathing and heart rates. They include activities like brisk walking, cycling, swimming, or water aerobics. Regular low-impact aerobic exercise can improve heart health, help reduce depression and anxiety, promote better sleep, and manage fibromyalgia pain.

2. Strength Training: Strength training exercises, like weight lifting or resistance band exercises, can increase muscle strength, combat fatigue, and reduce pain perception.

3. Flexibility Exercises and Stretching: Activities like yoga and tai chi can improve flexibility, enhance balance, reduce muscle stiffness and pain, and promote relaxation.

4. Balance and Coordination Exercises: These exercises can help reduce the risk of falls and improve overall mobility. They include activities like tai chi or simple balance exercises.

Exercise Guidelines for Individuals with Fibromyalgia

It's crucial to approach exercise with care when dealing with fibromyalgia. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Start Slow: Begin with low-intensity exercises and gradually increase duration and intensity as your tolerance improves.

2. Consistency is Key: Regularity is more important than the intensity of workouts. Consistent, moderate exercise is more beneficial than heavy, sporadic activity.

3. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your body's signals. It's essential to balance activity with rest to prevent symptom flares.

4. Seek Professional Guidance: Working with physical therapists or trained exercise professionals can ensure your regimen is appropriate and safe.

The Science Behind Exercise and Fibromyalgia

Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, has been shown to boost the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, such as endorphins, serotonin, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These chemicals are known to have positive effects on mood, pain perception, and brain function.

Moreover, regular physical activity can improve cardiovascular health, enhance sleep quality, increase strength and flexibility, and boost overall mood—all of which can alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms.

The Psychological Impact of Exercise

Alongside the physical benefits, exercise also provides psychological benefits. Engaging in regular physical activity can instill a sense of control over the illness. It can also boost self-esteem, promote a positive outlook, and provide an avenue for social interaction, further helping manage fibromyalgia symptoms.

While fibromyalgia presents significant challenges, research demonstrates that regular, moderate exercise can play a pivotal role in managing this chronic condition. It's essential to remember that any exercise regimen should be tailored to the individual's capabilities and should ideally be developed with professional guidance.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Can Alleviate Fibromyalgia Symptoms

At Bair Chiropractic Clinic, our esteemed practitioner, Dr. Gordon Elder, specializes in upper cervical chiropractic care. He employs the Blair Chiropractic Technique, focusing on the upper cervical spine, to resolve associated ailments. This method involves accurate, minimal-force adjustments to the upper cervical spine, facilitating spinal column function and triggering the body's inherent healing capacities.

In managing fibromyalgia, Dr. Elder adopts a dual-phase approach to detect and rectify possible misalignments in the upper cervical spine. The first step entails a thorough 25-30-minute consultation where Dr. Elder employs various diagnostic tools, including 3D imaging, to accurately identify any misalignments. Following the consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss the findings and pose any questions to Dr. Elder.

Subsequently, Dr. Elder administers a sequence of delicate adjustments to your upper cervical spine. These painless, non-invasive techniques aim to correct the misaligned vertebrae. The total treatment duration spans approximately 3-5 months, with Dr. Elder suggesting 10-15 sessions to guarantee the adjustment is maintained.

If fibromyalgia is getting in the way of your day-to-day life, we invite you to get in touch with the Blair Chiropractic Clinic to make an appointment with Dr. Elder. While the Bair Chiropractic Clinic is located in Lubbock, Texas, we also extend our services to Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.

Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.