Chiropractic Care Woodbridge

When people hear the term “chiropractor,” they tend to think of a healthcare professional who adjusts the back. Despite the growing awareness of the role chiropractic can play in the overall health and wellness of patients, this unfortunate generalization persists today. In truth, chiropractors do a lot more than just adjust the spine, though that is the core of the health and wellness services they provide. Your spine is the center of your body’s function. It is the conduit through which your brain communicates with the rest of your body, all the way to your fingers and toes, through your circulatory system, your digestive system and to other parts of your body. By keeping your spine in proper alignment, a chiropractor allows your body to function at peak performance levels. Chiropractic wellness services , then, take a “whole body” approach to holistic health and healing. By making the right choices, removing toxins from your body and, of course, correcting spinal subluxations...

It’s the very end of 2018, another year behind us, and we’re almost through two decades of the twenty-first century. Time flies, and society seems to be changing faster than ever. We live in a fast-paced world full of stress and pressure, and nobody seems to have time to relax and enjoy life. This unfortunately leads to people living lives that aren’t as healthy as they should be. In fact, the United States is one of the unhealthiest nations in the world, despite having leading medical science. A recent report from the New York Post even declared that people have written off being healthy in 2018, and determined to simply wait till 2019 to try to get healthier. They’re eating more sweets and gaining weight. Of course, when people talk about waiting, they’re usually talking about New Year resolutions, but just making a resolution isn’t the solution. To get healthy in 2019, you need to actually make a plan and stick to it. Just swearing to lose weight or get healthy next ye...

Chiropractors are focused on attending to a wide variety of chronic pain and even medical conditions that result from misalignments in the spine, which are called subluxations. When your spine is out of alignment, it can result in all manner of pain and health issues, from back and neck pain to problems in the extremities – as far as your fingers and toes. Many medical conditions are often related to spine problems. These include issues like hernias, carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, and even ear infections, among others. Your chiropractor can be an important part of your overall health and wellness routine. They allow your body to engage in its best natural healing, working like a finely tuned machine to maintain itself. Let’s take a look at a few of the more common conditions a chiropractor improves, as well as some of the other benefits you get from chiropractic care. Table of Contents: How Can a Chiropractor Treat Chronic Pain? Back Pain Lower Back Pain Neck Pain W...

As the bottom bone in your spine, the coccyx is more commonly known as the tailbone. It’s a triangular bone arrangement and consists of anywhere from three to five fused or semi-fused bones. One interesting thing about the coccyx is that it represents a vestigial tail. That is, once many hundreds of thousands of years ago, we had a tail, and this bone arrangement represents what’s left of it after evolution! Function While we no longer have need of a tail, the coccyx still does have a function. It helps to support you when you’re sitting down, distributing your weight evenly to provide for stability and balance. It’s also the connecting point for many of the muscles in your pelvic area. These muscles support many bodily functions as well as help you move your legs, walk and run. Injuries Coccydynia is a term that refers to persistent tailbone pain. It’s a very common injury and manifests as localized pain which tends to worsen when you sit or perform activities that put pressur...

One of the lowest bones in your back, the Sacrum is a large, triangular bone that connects to the base of your spine. It forms when you reach between 18 and 30 years old when your S1-S5 sacral vertebrae fuse together. It’s located at the back of your pelvic cavity, between its wings, and forms important joints with your other bones. The sacrum is a very complex bone that helps to provide support for the spine and protection for the spinal nerves, as well as articulates with your hip bones. Among the most common injuries suffered in the sacrum region is a sprain to the sacroiliac joint that articulates at the ala, or side-base projections, of the sacrum. Sacrum Articulations The sacrum articulates (forms joints) with four different bones. The first is the lowest lumbar vertebra. The second is the tailbone, which is directly below the sacrum, and the third is the hip bone at the ilium region. In humans, the sacrum is able to move slightly on its own along the sagittal plate to b...

Stress and pain share a deep connection. Many people who suffer from unexplained chronic pain find that the source is that they’re under a lot of pressure in their lives. Whether it’s family troubles, money problems, work issues or any other reason, the more stressed out you are, the more your body gets out of sync and the more likely you are to suffer pain. The problem with stress-related pain is that if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be very hard to identify it. The truth is, stress can be at the root of headaches, back pain, neck pain, shoulder and muscle aches, stomach pain and all manner of problems. Discover the unique relationship between stress and pain, tips to lower your stress, and how a chiropractor in Woodbridge, VA can help manage the pain. Stress and Pain Stress causes our body to tense up, which can lead to the pain you experience in your neck, shoulders, back, muscles, stomach and head. It can also cause your body’s hormone responses to be off,...

Over the past few weeks we’ve explored the lumbar, or lower back, vertebrae. While these don’t protect root nerve bundles like your upper and middle spine, they do bear the weight of almost your entire back above them. They also do protect the largest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve. They are, as such, particularly vulnerable to compression injuries and various conditions related to age, wear and tear. Let’s take a look at each of the lumbar region vertebrae, from the top L1 vertebra through the lowest L5 vertebra, see what function each has, and the dangers of injury for each. L1 Vertebra The L1 vertebra is the highest bone in your lumbar region. It is what is known as a “transitional” vertebra, serving as the point where your thoracic region becomes the lumbar. Injuries to the L1 region are most often related to compression issues, with one of the most common being spondylolisthesis. L2 Vertebra Next down in your spine is the L2 vertebra. At this level, we see in...

The one thing you always hear from people when you’re trying to live healthy or lose weight is, “Stop eating out.” We live in a world rich with fried foods, fatty meals, and way too many carbohydrates. Still, you have to live a little, and it is absolutely possible to eat out and make the right choices. The biggest trick is looking past the rich, fatty, sugary foods and finding the options on the menu that are still appetizing, but won’t put an end to your quest to healthy living. Learn about making the healthiest choices when you and your family eat out, and how a chiropractor in Woodbridge, VA, can help you live a better life. Don’t Drink Your Calories This is a huge factor for many people. There are 150 calories and 52 grams of sugars in a 16-ounce glass of soda pop. Now think about those free refills and consider you’re probably drinking 2 or 3 of those. Cut out the sugary soda, stay away from alcohol—especially sweet mixed drinks, and above all, avoid milkshakes. Diet s...

Every year, residents of Prince William County, VA, vote on their local “Best of,” awards, with thousands of voters participating in electing everything from the best local food to the best yoga study, from best boss to worst traffic hazards. These awards are a guide to all that is Prince William. For the past eight years, ACT Wellness has been voted Best Chiropractor in the region in these awards, a position we’ve been proud to hold. With the 2018 awards about to be announced, we are pleased to deliver the news that this year makes it nine! We have once again won Best Chiropractor, and in two other categories as well. Check out the awards we’ve won this year besides Best Chiropractor in Woodbridge, and why we’re so proud to be a continuing addition to the health and wellness of the people of this area. Best Chiropractor in Woodbridge, Nine Years Running For the ninth year running, ACT Wellness has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious “Best of Prince William” award ...

The lowest vertebra in your lumbar spine is the L5. It’s the bone that rests right above your sacral spine, and it’s the most common region of the back to suffer a range of common ailments, from herniated discs to spondylolisthesis. The lumber spine is what’s commonly just called your lower back, and is responsible for support and flexibility in your entire upper body. Because this region of your back bears so much weight, it’s also very vulnerable to degenerative conditions due to normal age-related wear and tear. Let’s look at the L5 vertebra, the conditions associated with injuries to this region, and where you can find the best chiropractic care to address such problems. L5 Vertebra Injury Symptoms Among the nerves that are associated with the L5 vertebra is the sciatic nerve, the source of the common injury known as sciatica. This is the largest nerve in the body, and when it gets irritated or compressed, the patient can experience a range of unpleasant symptoms. Sympto...

Did you know there’s a good reason to own multiple pairs of shoes? It goes far beyond style and appearance, though that’s certainly a part of it. In fact, the shoes you choose to wear should fit the activity you’re undertaking. Walking shoes, for example, have specific features related to posture and support that other shoes don’t share. The right walking shoes are comfortable and can help to prevent injuries, while the wrong walking shoes can lead to everything from blisters to back problems. Learn how choosing the right walking shoe will make all the difference in your posture and pain management, and find back pain relief in Woodbridge, VA. Choosing the Right Walking Shoe The right walking shoe is going to keep your feet comfortable and largely pain-free even on long walks. It will protect your foot from injury, from blisters, and calluses. It should also provide the right arch support and shock absorption that will not only protect your knees and legs, but your hip and b...

The fourth vertebra down in your lumbar region, the L4 holds the responsibility of bearing the weight of your torso above it just like its sibling vertebrae. Your lower back is the portion of your body that’s most responsible for your ability to stand, twist, and move properly and as a result it’s among the strongest areas of your body, while at the same time being the most prone to injury. Since the kinds of nerves to be found in this region have different functions than those further up, injuries to the lumbar region present a bit differently than those above. While nerves do travel through this area, you are much more prone to experience pain, weakness and numbness from lumbar injuries, than you are to experience other seemingly unrelated health problems. The most common and notable of these is sciatica. L4 Vertebra Conditions and Injuries The nerves that travel at the L4 vertebra level are the sacral plexus and lumbar plexus ends. These provide sensory and motor nerves. Among ...

Chiropractic and wellness care is an outstanding way to approach your whole body health from an all-natural, holistic and whole-body standpoint. It’s a way to live a better, stronger, healthier lifestyle without pumping your body full of chemicals and without engaging in invasive procedures. Best of all, it’s a focus on treating the root of injury and illness, and on not getting sick to begin with, rather than treating the symptoms after they pop up. One of the more popular holistic preventative treatments is the ionic detox foot bath. This is a great way to remove heavy metals and other toxins from your body, and it’s also one of the most relaxing activities there are. Discover four benefits of an ionic detox foot bath, and learn where to find a wellness center in Woodbridge to get you on the path to better living. 4 Benefits of an Ionic Detox Foot Bath There are many benefits you can get from an ionic detox foot bath. These include purging of heavy metals from your body, red...