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...

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...

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...

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 ...

We hear it constantly—exercise more. Exercise at least a half hour a day. Hit the gym at least three times a week for vigorous strength training and aerobic exercise. We also all know that who really has the time for all that if you’re not a fitness junkie? We all live busy lives, no doubt, but it’s still important to find ways to get some exercise in. Fortunately, there are great ways you can sneak exercise into your family fun time and still have a great time doing it. Let’s look at five fun ways you can sneak some exercise into family day, get all the activity you need to stay fit and live a better, healthier overall lifestyle, and how chiropractic in Woodbridge, VA, can help you stay that way. Go to the Playground! What kid in this world doesn’t love a playground, and what grown-up doesn’t secretly long for the days when they were climbing on the jungle gym? Going to the playground can be a great deal of fun, and you can get in on the activities with your kids to get som...

Chiropractic care is rapidly growing in popularity and mainstream acceptance, and for good reason. It’s safe, non-invasive, and doesn’t involve pumping your body full of drugs and chemicals. It focuses on healing your whole body, on allowing your own natural healing processes to work at their best. It’s great for controlling pain and helping you live a healthier life. Many people are uncomfortable, however, at the “popping” sound and sensation they get when they receive a spinal adjustment from a chiropractor. This sensation is so common that a colloquial expression for visiting the chiropractor is “getting your back cracked.” Learn why your back cracks during a chiropractic adjustment, and where you can find the best clinic to manage back pain near Woodbridge, VA. Understanding Spinal Subluxation A “subluxation” refers to one or more bones in your spine—your vertebrae—being out of their proper alignment. Your spine has a specific curvature, and when the bones that make it u...

Sciatica is a condition that is regularly addressed by Doctors of Chiropractic. It’s a condition that can make it very hard to function; even sitting down can be painful. It also presents symptoms that can come and go. Many thousands of people suffer with this condition, and it can be truly debilitating at times. Addressing the symptoms of sciatica may not be enough; in order to control the condition entirely it’s important to address the root cause. The first step is getting a proper diagnosis, and that’s where your chiropractor comes in. Learn about sciatica, what it is, how it causes the pain and discomfort it does, and how Woodbridge chiropractors treat sciatica to bring relief to their patients. What Is Sciatica? Sciatica is pain that’s caused by pressure on your sciatic nerve . This pain usually originates in the lower back and can radiate into the buttock and even down your legs. It can vary in intensity from mild to severe. In some patients it’s constant, while in o...

The T10 Vertebra, also called the tenth thoracic vertebra, is a part of your thoracic spine and the tenth down from the top. It’s in the lower part of your mid-back and is one of the vertebrae that attaches to your rib cage in your mid-back. Any time you have a misalignment in one of your vertebrae, it can result in pain and a variety of other health-related symptoms, but each of the regions in your back has the responsibility to protect specific bundles of nerves. Let’s take a look at the nerves that the T10 vertebra protects, the symptoms that can be associated with a subluxation in this region, and where to find help for your pain management. T10 Vertebra The T10 vertebra is part of the lower-middle back, and is known as a transition vertebra, due to its proximity to the lumbar, or lower-back, vertebrae. It is among the most susceptible to damage and injury from compression fractures. Aside from these injuries, however, it is among the most resistant to direct injury because i...

Dizziness and vertigo can be confusing and scary. There are all kinds of potential causes for these symptoms, and it’s vital to understand the potential causes as well as what they entail for you. In some cases, they could present signs of something very serious. In others, they could be symptoms of a relatively minor issue that can be adjusted by your chiropractor. To start, it’s important to know the difference between lightheadedness and vertigo, as well as the potential causes of each. Learn about dizziness, lightheadedness and vertigo, and how your chiropractor may be able to help with neck pain treatment near Woodbridge, VA. Vertigo vs. Lightheadedness Many people use the terms “vertigo” and “lightheadedness” interchangeably. IN truth, there are difference between the two. While both can involve a feeling of dizziness, lightheadedness is the feeling that you’re going to pass out or faint. You lose your sense of balance, but the feeling is centered on you. With verti...