Health & Safety Tips

Posture

Posture is an important preventative measure in maintaining a healthy spine. Patients should aim to keep their spine in a neutral position so that it maintains its three natural curves while sitting and standing. Patients with poor posture may eventually develop headaches, shoulder pain, fatigue, muscle aches and painful joints.

To maintain proper posture, you should:

Keep feet shoulder width apart
Keep knees unlocked
Relax jaw and neck muscles
Keep chin parallel to the ground

Pregnancy

The excess weight put on from pregnancy can cause significant damage to a woman’s neck, shoulders, back, hips, legs and feet as the pressure placed on the musculoskeletal system increases.

To relieve and prevent symptoms from pregnancy, patients should:

Get regular exercise (walking, swimming, stationary cycling)
Bend at the knees, not the waist
Get plenty of rest
Sleep on your side with a pillow between the knees
Get regular chiropractic care

Relaxation Techniques

At Sharp Treatment of South Bay, we encourage patients to relieve stress, ease pain and improve their energy levels through a series of relaxation breathing techniques. These techniques are proven to help patients feel better overall and enjoy a higher quality of life, as pain and other symptoms are diminished.

Your doctor will guide you through the breathing technique to help improve your relaxation. Learning this technique may take time, so you must be patient and remember that calmness and relaxation are your goals.

Shoes

Ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoes are a common cause of muscle strains, back pain and other serious conditions. Although many people choose style over comfort when it comes to their shoes, preventing pain should be your top priority.

To reduce the risk of problems caused by shoes, patients should have their feet measured before every shoe purchase, as your shoe size is likely to increase with age. If your shoes have been causing pain, avoid heels as often as possible. It is important to choose a shoe with a supportive sole, made of a soft material for maximum comfort.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is a common condition that involves inflammation of the lining within the paranasal sinuses. Sinusitis is classified by which sinuses the condition affects, and may be chronic or acute. It often causes pain in the face, sneezing, runny nose and headaches.

To relieve symptoms, patients can use antibiotics, decongestants, saline sprays or other over-the-counter treatments. The most effective step in relieving symptoms is to eliminate the specific allergens that cause your symptoms. Chiropractic care is also effective in relieving both acute and chronic sinusitis.

Sports and Recreation Injury Prevention

While all sports carry some risk of injury, some carry a higher risk because of their highly competitive nature and/or direct contact with others. High-risk sports include football, weightlifting, gymnastics and wrestling.

To prevent injuries during sports and other recreational activities, participants should properly warm up and cool down for their individual activity. This may include stretching, staying hydrated and performed related warm-up exercises. It is also important to eat a balanced diet before participating in physical activities.

Sports Nutrition

Because of their excessive physical exertion, athletes often require a special diet in order to maintain endurance and prevent conditions such as muscle fatigue, cramping and dehydration. It is important for athletes to consume the proper amount of calories and not burn off too many. They must also receive the proper amount of protein, fruits and vegetables, vitamins and minerals.

The most common deficiencies for athletes are insufficient fluid and carbohydrate intake. Athletes must make sure consume the proper amounts of these in order to prevent dehydration and exhaustion, and be able to perform at their best.

Sprains

A sprain is a stretching or tearing of one or more ligaments, which is most often caused by a sports injury or accident. These conditions often cause pain, swelling and muscle spasms in the affected area. Your doctor will perform an X-ray to determine the severity of the injury.

To relieve the symptoms of these injuries before the condition is properly diagnosed, patients should:

Rest
Apply ice
Wear compression garments
Elevate the affected area

TMJ Problems

Many cases of jaw pain are caused by a disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the small joint located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet. TMJ disorders may be caused by:

Trauma to the head or neck
Stress
Bad oral habits
Arthritis

Patients with these conditions often experience headaches, earaches and facial pain. To relieve and prevent the symptoms of TMJ, patients can:

Chew on both sides of the mough
Avoid bad oral habits like grinding teeth
Eat a soft diet
Apply ice to the affected area

Travel Tips

Although we travel by car or plane all the time, it is important to practice certain cautionary measures to ensure a safe and happy trip. For long car rides, drivers should position their seat for comfort and function, take frequent breaks and keep their eyes on the road at all times.

For air travel, passengers should change positions frequently to improve circulation and avoid cramps, and also pack lightly to minimize heavy lifting. Stretching before boarding the plane helps prevent muscle stiffness that often occurs from sitting for long periods of time.

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