Back pain is one of the most common ailments for adults. Bad posture and improper desks are some of the leading causes of back and neck pain in adults. Alleviating back pain can be difficult when you are constantly putting strain on these muscles and your spine. While the idea of alternating between sitting and standing while working can be appealing, there are some considerations to keep in mind when incorporating a standing desk into your work day. 

The Link Between Sitting And Back Pain

Long periods of sitting can put pressure on the spine. Most people who work a desk job begin to slouch or have compressed spinal discs because of this pressure and the weight of gravity. Prolonged sitting can increase the risk of back pain by as much as 50% so any type of movement throughout the day is encouraged to promote normal posture. 

Noticing your posture throughout the day while sitting can help alleviate some pressure on your joints and spine. Standing desks are a way to more subconsciously improve your posture instead of constantly focusing on the straightness of your back while working. Standing, taking a walk, and stretching are all great ways to help limit pain while working a sitting job. 

Posture Considerations

When switching to a standing desk or implementing some standing during your workday will promote upright posture. Here are some of the benefits that standing desks can provide. 

Reduce Slouching

Standing is what promotes a more natural spinal alignment as compared to a slouched position. As gravity pulls our weight down, we tend to bend over or slide down in a chair. While this may feel more comfortable, it is not natural for the spine. Slouching causes neck, back, and hip pain. 

Engaging Core Muscles

While standing is more relaxing on the spine, it can become tiring or put pressure on other areas of the body. Your core muscles will be more engaged when you are standing. This can help improve your strength, work ab muscles, improve digestion, and more, but it can also become tiring after a while. Your feet and legs may start to hurt after standing for 8+ hours a day. 

Improve Blood Flow

Sitting for your job has been linked to higher blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, and tight muscles. Standing up, even for just a few hours of the day can help achieve better blood flow to your heart and other muscles. Improved blood flow helps lower your risk of blood clots and other heart issues.

How Do Neck And Back Pain Begin?

The root cause of neck and back pain may not be the chair you are using or the actual act of sitting. Sedentary lifestyles, outside of work can add to your pain and health issues. Even though a standing desk may help to alleviate some back pain, it can put pressure on other parts of your body. 

Most neck and back issues are caused by spinal misalignment. Our spines are responsible for communication from the brain to other parts of the body. Slipped disc or spinal misalignment can lead to stiff neck, back pain, muscle weakness, and more. 

Stay Healthy While Using A Standing Desk

Standing can also have negative affects on the body. The development of muscle pain and fatigue, especially in your feet, legs, and hips are common complaints when using a standing desk. By not standing correctly, you can also put strain on your ankles and back, exacerbating your lower back issues. Using a combination of standing and sitting desks will help alleviate the pressure on your body. Getting enough exercise and having a proper diet will also help combat the risks of sitting desks. 

Chiropractic Services From Elevate Wellness

Since a majority of issues originate in the spine, we suggest chiropractic care for many muscle and joint issues. Elevate Wellness Chiropractic has helped patients of all ages achieve more well rounded health with chiropractic adjustments. Aligning the spine will help your body communicate better and send proper nutrients to the rest of your body. While chiropractic is not a reversal of the effects of sitting desks, it can help give you better movement and energy for a more active lifestyle. Chiropractic can reduce pain, so you have more energy to participate in physical exercise outside of work.

Whether you experience pain, want to be a better athlete, or are pregnant, Elevate Wellness has evidence based treatments for you. Dr. Casey Simmonds has seen first hand how chiropractic can change your life. Reach out to our office and book a consultation today!

It’s fall, which means the summer heatwaves are over. It’s the perfect time to go for a run outdoors and enjoy the crisp autumn air. As you seek to enhance your running performance and avoid injuries, consider the potential of chiropractic care. 

This often overlooked yet highly effective approach to injury prevention and recovery goes beyond addressing back pain — it can play a vital role in optimizing your athletic performance, reducing recovery times, and preventing future injuries. In this blog post, we’ll dive into how chiropractic care can benefit runners and keep them on track.

5 Ways Chiropractic Care Helps Runners

As a high-impact sport, running places significant stress on the body, from the spine and joints to the muscles. Many runners sustain injuries such as runner’s knee, shin splints, IT band syndrome, and plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, chiropractic care can be an effective way to give the body the tools it needs to perform optimally.

1. Improved Biomechanics

One of the main goals of chiropractic care is ensuring the musculoskeletal system is properly aligned. Running requires a lot of repetitive motion, which means that even a slight imbalance or misalignment can cause the body to compensate with movement patterns that put undue stress on certain joints and muscles, increasing wear and tear on the body. 

By using manual adjustments and other techniques, chiropractors aim to restore alignment to the spine and joints and ensure proper biomechanics, which allow the body to move more efficiently, enhance running performance, and reduce the risk of injury. 

2. Injury Prevention and Recovery

One of runners’ biggest challenges is avoiding injury. Regular chiropractic adjustments are key to maintaining optimal musculoskeletal health and ensuring imbalances are corrected before they can escalate into significant injuries that put runners on the sidelines. Chiropractors are able to detect and address areas of misalignment or tension that make a runner more likely to sustain common injuries like knee pain or shin splints. 

However, even the most careful runners sometimes get injured. Whether it’s a strain, sprain, or overuse injury, chiropractic care can help them recover faster. A combination of soft tissue therapies, spinal adjustments, and rehabilitation exercises help improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote better healing. By addressing the root cause of the injury rather than just the symptoms, chiropractic treatment can help prevent recurring injuries.

3. Enhanced Flexibility and Range of Motion

As runners push their bodies to the limit, flexibility and mobility are crucial. Chiropractic care helps maintain or increase range of motion by promoting overall joint health. Targeted adjustments can alleviate tension and stiffness in the joints, ensuring the body can perform its best. 

With an enhanced range of motion, runners are less likely to experience cramps, strains, or muscle tightness. Increased mobility allows for smoother movements, which can improve running efficiency.

4. Better Posture and Running Form

For runners to maintain efficiency and prevent injury, they need proper posture. Postural issues such as slouching shoulders or forward head carriage can negatively affect their form, leading to improper foot strike, overpronation, or other issues. These small deviations can cause more serious problems down the road, including IT band syndrome or persistent back pain.

Chiropractors can evaluate and correct postural issues, helping runners maintain proper alignment, optimize their form, reduce fatigue, and prevent unnecessary muscle and joint strain.

5. Natural Pain Relief

One of the most significant advantages of chiropractic care is its drug-free approach to managing pain. Runners may be tempted to reach for painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications to continue training, especially those dealing with chronic pain. However, these drugs simply mask pain without addressing its underlying cause.

Chiropractic care, on the other hand, offers a natural and effective pain management solution. Chiropractors can use various techniques to reduce pain and inflammation without the need for medication. This approach allows runners to recover and heal more holistically and continue training with fewer side effects.

Integrating Chiropractic Care into Your Running Routine

If you’re a runner looking to integrate chiropractic care into your training routine, follow these tips:

• Schedule regular adjustments — even if you’re not currently experiencing pain — to maintain alignment and prevent injury.
• Address minor pain and discomfort before they become more serious issues.
• Incorporate the stretches and exercises recommended by your chiropractor.
• Communicate with your chiropractor regarding your training goals so they can help you achieve peak performance.

Enhance Your Performance with Elevate Wellness

At Elevate Wellness Chiropractic, we specialize in helping athletes enhance their physical performance and keep their bodies running smoothly. If you’re a runner looking to bring your speed and endurance to the next level, schedule an appointment with us today!

Most people associate chiropractic care with relief from musculoskeletal pain, whether it’s joint discomfort or spinal misalignments. However, the effects of chiropractic care extend to more than just physical health; it’s a holistic approach that considers the entire body, including the mind. 

Emerging research and patient anecdotes suggest a connection between chiropractic care and mental health, illuminating the ways spinal health influences overall well-being. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how chiropractic care can have a positive impact on mental health.

The Mind-Body Connection

The mind and body are intricately connected, influencing each other in profound and complex ways. In addition to affecting the mind, mental health conditions like chronic stress, depression, and anxiety often manifest physically, causing fatigue, headaches, and muscle tension. The opposite is also true: physical ailments can contribute to mental health issues.

Chiropractic care addresses the mind-body connection by focusing on the nervous system, which plays a key part in regulating mental and emotional health. The spine is home to the spinal cord, a vital component of the central nervous system that transmits signals from the brain to the rest of the body. Spinal misalignments can interfere with these signals, potentially leading to both physical and emotional stress.

Reducing Stress and Anxiety

One of the most significant ways chiropractic care can improve mental health is by reducing stress and anxiety. Spinal misalignments, also known as subluxations, can cause muscle tension and physical discomfort. This, in turn, triggers the body’s stress response, which can lead to excess cortisol, a hormone associated with depression and anxiety. 

Chiropractic care aims to correct spinal misalignments, allow the nervous system to function more effectively, and better regulate the production of stress hormones. This can lead to a reduction of anxiety and a sense of overall relaxation. Many patients feel less anxious or stressed after chiropractic sessions, which can have a positive impact on mental health over time.

Enhancing Sleep Quality

Poor sleep can contribute to a wide range of physical and psychological issues, from fatigue to brain fog to mood disorders. Among the factors that can affect sleep are spinal misalignments, which cause disruptive pain and discomfort.

Chiropractic care addresses the root causes of these disruptions, hopefully improving sleep quality. Relieving pressure on the muscles and nerves reduces pain and discomfort, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Additionally, by reducing stress and promoting relaxation, chiropractic care allows the body to recover from daily stress, leading to a more balanced mental state that’s more conducive to restful sleep.

Boosting Mood and Emotional Well-Being

Chiropractic care can also have a positive effect on mood and emotional well-being. Spinal alignment impacts the central nervous system, which regulates the production and release of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Imbalances in these neurotransmitters have been linked to anxiety and depression.

Ensuring proper spinal alignment contributes to optimized nervous system function and supports neurotransmitter production. Therefore, chiropractic care can improve mood, reduce feelings of sadness or depression, and enhance overall emotional well-being.

Supporting Mental Clarity and Focus

When it comes to productivity, whether at work or at home, mental clarity and focus are essential. However, stress, chronic pain, and poor sleep can significantly impair cognitive function, contributing to memory issues, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog. Fortunately, by addressing these underlying issues, chiropractic care can enhance mental clarity and focus.

When proper spinal alignment is restored, the nervous system is able to function properly. After a chiropractic adjustment, patients often experience reduced pain, better sleep, and less stress, helping to improve their cognitive function. When they have a clearer mind, patients can better manage their daily tasks, make decisions more confidently, and have a more positive attitude.

A Complementary Approach to Mental Health Care

By focusing on the physical aspects of mental health, chiropractic care offers a drug-free, non-invasive treatment option for those dealing with mental health challenges. However, while chiropractic care can contribute to enhanced mental health, it’s important to utilize it as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, especially for more serious mental health concerns. 

Chiropractic care is most effective when combined with other treatments, such as therapy, exercise, a healthy diet, and medication (when prescribed). It’s an excellent complement to traditional treatments, offering a more holistic approach to mental health management and acknowledging the deep connection between the body and mind.

At Elevate Wellness Chiropractic, we understand that chiropractic care is more than just a solution for back pain. If you’re seeking to improve your mental and emotional well-being, give chiropractic care a try. Schedule an appointment with us today to take the first step toward a more balanced, healthy life.