11 Different Ways to Relieve Stress During the Holidays

As you probably already know, stress can have a negative impact on health. Although Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and sharing, many people find the holidays to be one of the most stressful times of the year. To keep stress levels from negatively impacting your health, following are some suggestions on ways that you can reduce the amount of stress in your life this Christmas season.

Read the rest at >>> http://www.wellness.com/blog/13273241/11-ways-to-reduce-the-stress-before-christmas/wellness-editor

Degenerative disk disease, lower back adjustments, and more on whiplash

Degenerative disc disease refers to any condition where the spinal discs are degenerating or degrading, often causing back pain. This interactive video provides information on spinal anatomy and how degenerative disc disease affects the vertebrae and spinal discs. It also gives an in-depth overview of symptoms associated with degenerative disc disease.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/degenerative-disc-disease-interactive-video

Chiropractic can be an effective nonsurgical treatment option for many types of low back pain, including those associated with facet joint or sacroiliac joint dysfunction and disc problems. Chiropractic manipulation is a common therapeutic treatment designed to increase function and decrease pain and nerve irritability. Here's a video explaining what it looks like and how it works.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/chiropractic-adjustment-lumbar-spine-low-back-video

When the cervical spine (neck) is subject to whiplash, there is usually a combination of factors that contribute to whiplash pain in the neck and back, and ultimately need to be addressed individually by a chiropractor. Read the details below:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/sources-whiplash-pain

Tai Chi, yoga, pilates & other exercise - Plus video on back muscle spasms

There are many aspects of Tai Chi theory which benefit people with back or neck pain. Posture, balance, muscle strength, and stress reduction are all benefits of this practice.

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/yoga-pilates-tai-chi/tai-chi-theory

Back muscle spasms may occur because of an injury or condition affecting the spine. Unless the underlying problem is evaluated, discovered, and treated, the back muscle spasms will tend to recur.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/causes-back-muscle-spasms-video

Examinations: What to expect

How chiropractors examine the structure and function of the spine and then determine specific chiropractic treatments separate chiropractic care from other disciplines.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-examination

Sciatica treatments, insomnia & back pain, and exercise

When someone is suffering from sciatic pain, the first treatments should be heat or ice, chiropractic manipulations, massage, medications, and acupuncture, followed by exercises.

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/sciatica-treatment

Without sufficient sleep, aches and pains become more prominent. And many chronic pains can make it more difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep. This loop can make recovery more difficult unless sleep issues are addressed as part of a treatment program.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/insomnia-and-back-pain

Exercise and chiropractic care go hand in hand as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to back or neck recovery.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/exercise-and-chiropractic-therapy

Exercising while in pain, study on chiropractic manipulation, and more

Exercise can be difficult while in pain, but it is a key aspect in healing from the injury and preventing future episodes of pain. Muscle pain and aches can be normal, but flaring joint pain should be a warning to avoid certain exercises. See this video from Spine-Health.com for information.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/video-if-my-back-or-joints-hurt-should-i-work-through-pain

It may be easier and less time consuming to take pain medicine to help your lower back pain, but a recent study shows that spinal manipulation may be more effective.

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/chiropractic-manipulation-or-medication-low-back-pain

For patients with lower back or buttock pain that stems from the sacroiliac joint, a variety of chiropractic procedures can be applied and are often considered the first line of treatment.

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction/chiropractic-procedures-sacroiliac-joint

Evaluations & Reactions - What to expect from evaluations and chiropractic adjustments

In the course of being treated by a doctor of chiropractic for spinal derangement or subluxations, certain reactions may be experienced by the patient receiving the chiropractic adjustment. Read all about the possibilities here:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/reactions-following-a-chiropractic-adjustment

How is a patient evaluated to determine chiropractic treatment? Read it all here:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/evaluation-patient

Chiropractic techniques & history, PLUS a do-it-yourself massage for back pain!

Scientific evidence has indicated that spinal manipulation is a safe, mild-to-moderate pain reliever for lower back pain, neck pain and headache, and recent health care guidelines have listed it as a viable treatment option for symptoms that do not respond to self-care.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/evolution-chiropractic-medicine-health-care

There are well over 100 types of adjustment techniques used by chiropractors throughout the world. Typically, chiropractors will focus on and utilize 8 to 10 different approaches in their practice.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/spinal-manipulation-techniques

Do-it-yourself massage ideas to alleviate back pain!

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/how-tennis-balls-and-duct-tape-can-morph-a-do-it-yourself-massage-lower-back-pain

Treatments for pregnant women

Chiropractic treatments for pregnant women suffering from lower back pain has a very high success rate and can be combined with other treatments that do not include adding medications into the system.

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/pregnancy-and-back-pain/treatments-low-back-pain-during-pregnancy

Ergonomics in the workplace

Back pain is one of the most common work-related injuries and is often caused by ordinary work activities such as sitting in an office chair or heavy lifting.

Applying ergonomic principles can help keep your back healthy.

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/ergonomics-office-and-workplace-overview

Controlling pain from disk regeneration, and battling the heat with back pain

3 suggestions to control pain from disc degeneration: 1-stay active 2-modify any activity that puts stress on your back 3-improve your nutrition

/www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/controlling-degenerative-disc-disease-pain-three-things-you-can

Sometimes battling the heat with back pain can be tough. Check out these tips.

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/battling-heat-and-back-pain

Chiro questions answered - plus info on muscle soreness

Sometimes joint cavitation or cracking does not occur during a chiropractic adjustment. Why not? And what are the chiropractors next steps?

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-adjustment

Even though there is usually some temporarily added muscle soreness (similar to the feeling of having completed an aggressive exercise session) after the manipulation, the patient should experience an immediate increase in range of motion post-anesthesia care.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/post-operative-care

Pillows for neck pain, drug-free therapy, & how painkillers can increase chronic pain

Patients with neck pain often ask "which is the best pillow to use?" and the truth is there’s no one pillow that works for everybody. This video reviews the advantages and disadvantages of different types of pillows.

http://www.spine-health.com/video/best-pillows-neck-pain-or-back-pain-video

Massages aren't just for pampering at the spa. Unknown to many people, there is evidence that shows massage therapy may be as-or more effective than- standard medical treatment for nonspecific back pain. Read all about a new study:

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/massage-therapy-drug-free-alternative-back-pain-relief

How pain killers sometimes increase chronic pain:

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/how-pain-killers-sometimes-increase-chronic-pain

Chiropractic history, lower back pain assessment, and exercise in chiro therapy

Welcome to December! I hope everyone is keeping warm this holiday season.

Since its inception in 1895, chiropractic has provided treatment for patients with back pain, neck pain and headache.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/american-chiropractic-history-treatment-back-pain-and-neck-pain

In the assessment of lower back pain, differential diagnosis utilizing a "triage" concept of classifying low back injuries into one of three categories helps to guide the doctor of chiropractic.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-diagnosis

Exercise and chiropractic care go hand in hand as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to back or neck recovery.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/exercise-and-chiropractic-therapy

Are lifestyle choices affecting your sleep?

We’ve all had those long nights before. When we should be dreaming of sandy vacations at the beach, we’re awake, haunted by the slow tick of an alarm clock.

There are many reasons why millions of people frequently lose sleep at night – diet, an outdated mattress, stress, caffeine, etc. Lack of sleep is typically not a result of a life-threatening illness, and medication isn’t always the best option.

For many people, lack of sleep is the result of simple lifestyle habits. Below are a few common factors that can lead to sleep deprivation.

Click here to read more >>>

Whiplash, lower back pain, sciatica, and "sitting disease"!

Because each individual case of whiplash is different, it is not possible to generalize about the chiropractic whiplash treatment.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-treatments-whiplash

Most low back pain and sciatica problems will benefit from a regular routine of hamstring stretching. Read all about it and check out the videos, too.

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/hamstring-stretching-exercises-sciatica-pain-relief

Are any of you convinced by this post to stand more at your office this week?

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/new-health-epidemic-sitting-disease