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Easy Ways To Boost Spinal Health When You Work From Home
Easy Ways To Boost Spinal Health When You Work From Home
Working from home has become pretty common in recent years; for many people, it’s a dream come true, but it takes some getting used to. It’s all too easy to fall into a pattern of inactivity or poor habits when you’re working in the comfort of your own home all day, so it’s important to protect your health. This can start with some simple lifestyle changes, such as altering your posture to keep your spine in good shape. Consider getting regular adjustments from a chiropractor who can relieve and prevent back and neck pain. Holmes Chiropractic has some helpful information on the different chiropractic services and health resources available to individuals of all ages.
Create a custom workout
As any chiropractor will tell you, exercise is a crucial part of maintaining spine health. It’s important to create a customized workout for your specific needs, however, especially if you’re a senior. You might need to find exercises that take your mobility into account or some that offer low-impact movements. Walking, yoga, swimming, stretching, and utilizing workout videos are perfect options when the weather is uncooperative and you need an indoor activity; check out your local mall, a museum, or the YMCA for the perfect exercise space when you can’t get outside.
Get moving at home
Of course, if you would rather workout in the comfort of your own home, there are plenty of ways you can fit in some daily exercise that won’t get in the way of your work. Streaming fitness videos is an easy way to find motivation and get moving, but you’ll want to make sure your internet connection is strong enough to handle them, as there’s nothing worse than finding your groove within a workout only to have the video freeze up. 5G Ultra Wideband internet is now available in some major cities, which can boost your speed and keep your videos streaming smoothly; check to see if it’s accessible in your area.
Give yourself the right tools
Exercise is important, but you’ll also need to make sure you have a comfortable, supportive chair to sit in while you work. You may be tempted to curl up in a soft armchair with your laptop, but that will definitely take a toll on your back. So, look for an adjustable desk chair and consider using a small back support pillow while you work. You can also use a footrest, which will keep your spine in a healthier position. You might even invest in a standing desk, which has several health advantages and can ease the pressure that sitting puts on your neck and shoulders.
Set reminders
No matter which type of desk you use, it’s important to take breaks throughout the day to stretch or get up for a few minutes. Set an alarm on your phone so you can remember to get up now and then and move around. Even if you don’t have time to exercise, it’s good for your spine and joint health to stand every so often. In fact, taking care of your spine can be beneficial for other parts of your body; according to Holmes Chiropractic, spine care can affect all kinds of issues because the spine houses the nerves that go to every organ and cell. If the nerves are not working at their best, how can the brain give the best direction and control of each organ and tissue?
Taking care of your spine can alleviate various problems, but it can also prevent major pain and disorders from occurring in the future. No matter your age or ability, there are several things you can do to keep your spine in great shape. By making minor lifestyle changes while you work from home, you can maintain overall wellness and feel better at the same time.
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Learning to Live with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a brutal reality
Defined broadly as pain that lasts for more than three months, chronic pain can come to define a person’s entire life, especially in old age. The daily battle against symptoms can take all the willpower and determination an individual can muster just to survive the day. The pain becomes a permanent fixture in life- stemming from conditions that we can identify but that have no definitive treatment. At Dr. Randall Holmes Chiropractic, we specialize in helping people find a way to live happily despite musculoskeletal disorders that cause chronic pain, conditions like:
- Spinal stenosis
- Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease
These are serious spinal conditions that often appear with age, as the natural degenerative process finally starts to get the better of our spines. Managing chronic pain requires coming to grips with the reality of your condition and a dedicated, individualized treatment plan that seeks to help you live better despite it.
Stressed Out and In Pain? Here’s the Connection
A stressed-out lifestyle breeds physical pain
Stress, anxiety, depression; all of these symptoms influence each other and have a knock-on effect on your physical health. Your body’s natural defense mechanism to stress is to tighten- muscles tighten involuntarily and remain that way until the stress passes. But if you live a lifestyle with chronically high-stress levels, there is a chance that your body will remain chronically tight. Tense muscles create a pull on the spine that can have a devastating effect on spinal health and wellness. By contributing to misalignment and nerve impingement, stress is effectively hastening the natural degeneration of our spines and leaving you at risk for the development of seriously painful spinal conditions. So what’s the solution? Read on to find out how we help.
Chiropractic As a Holiday Gift Option
As the holiday season approaches, this year you may be looking to purchase gifts that keep on giving, and chiropractic treatment is one gift you can give that provides a host of health and wellness benefits to gift recipients of all ages.
Sure, a chiropractic adjustment might not be the perfect stocking stuffer for a ten-year-old, but one simple adjustment would be a great thing to give someone in their teens, twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond.
The holiday season can be stressful — we all have people we’d like to shower with presents. But we have to work long hours at our stressful jobs in order to have the purchasing power required to procure said gifts. Once you make it through the holiday finish line, chiropractic treatment might even be a great little gift to give yourself.
One simple treatment at Holmes Chiropractic provides the following benefits:
- Drug-free pain relief
- Improved Flexibility
- Increased Range of Motion
- Better Mental Cognition
- Improved Digestion
- Clears the Sinuses
- Reduces or Eliminates Headaches
- Promotes a Better Night of Sleep
- Natural Mood Booster
If you’re interested in purchasing chiropractic treatment as a gift, contact Holmes Chiropractic today. We have multiple gift options that will fit just about any budget. Chiropractic makes the perfect gift for patients from all walks of life.
Healthy Thanksgiving Food Options
It doesn’t matter if you plan to have a few low-risk family/friends over for Thanksgiving (if your local government permits, that is) or if you’re planning on throwing a socially distant Thanksgiving, it’s a good idea to have some nutritious options in lieu of the normal comfort food. Keeping your health in mind during this holiday season will only serve you well during this time.
As far as healthy Thanksgiving dish options, first make sure you have your vegetable situation in check. Provide salad options that include spinach and kale, not to mention healthy add-ons like walnuts, almonds, beets, celery, sprouts, radishes, and more.
Next double-down on that veggie foundation and provide a few vegetable side dishes. Veggie casseroles, yam dishes, and broccoli dishes are good side options.
Next, make sure that your source of protein is clean. Going organic is a good idea. Be thoughtful and provide a plant-based protein option for those in your family who do not eat meat.
Chiropractic treatment is a wonderful compliment to a healthy diet and lifestyle. Our treatments aren’t just for those who get injured at Holmes Chiropractic. We provide our wellness treatments to members of the entire family experiencing any circumstances life throws their way. Contact us today to learn more about how our treatments can help make a healthier you.
Q4 Wellness Check-in With Holmes Chiropractic
Now that November is in full swing we figure it’s a good idea to do a little fourth quarter of the year check-in with ourselves so we can see where we’re at as far as our health and wellness goals are concerned.
Chances are many of us had to make some adjustments related to lockdowns, depending on how much the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our individual lives. Below, Holmes Chiropractic goes over a few ways you can do a self-assessment — that way you can make any health and wellness adjustments necessary to finish out a productive year.
First, ask yourself how you feel on a daily basis. Do you feel energized at the start of each day and are you currently able to carry out all your work and errands successfully each day? Or are you feeling bogged down, exhausted, and overwhelmed. A healthy diet, proper hydration, exercise, and a good night of sleep — these are all things that should be helping you feel amazing. If you’re not doing them, we highly suggest building up new habits.
Getting outdoors is essential, even during the cold time of year. When we visit nature, it has a way of putting things into perspective. Do a few nature outings to close out the year — you’ll feel good about things and you might even come up with some good resolutions for the coming year.
Take an honest look at where you’re at physically. Are you feeling strong, able, and in shape? Or are you feeling weaker than usual, lethargic, and soft in areas where you used to be firm? Being honest with yourself will help you make any key adjustments moving forward so you can achieve the results you’re looking for.
If you have any questions about how chiropractic treatment makes an excellent gift for the holiday season, contact Holmes Chiropractic today.
3 Benefits to Working Out Outdoors
Even if you can only get outside for a portion of your exercise routine this Fall and Winter, it’s still a great idea to take your workouts outdoors for a number of health benefits.
Below, Holmes Chiropractic goes over a few of the benefits of working out “al fresco.”
1.) The All-Natural Mood Booster
Working out outside is a natural antidepressant and will help boost your mood. Sunshine helps increase serotonin and releases endorphins — a one-two punch naturally designed to make you feel amazing.
2.) Operate Off of Self-Propulsion
Running outside will work different muscles in your legs and your body since you’re no longer running on the treadmill, which provides a healthy amount of mechanical assistance. Every inch you travel outdoors while running is earned by you.
3.) It’s Zero Cost
Working out outdoors means you no longer have to spend money on a gym membership since running and doing your exercises outside is absolutely free.
PRO TIPS: Invest in excellent outerwear as well as workout equipment — you and your workout routine are both worth it. Holmes Chiropractic is here in case you experience any tension, aches, pains, or even injuries due to your newly active outdoor lifestyle. Contact us today to learn more about our all-natural, drug-free treatments.
Fall Wellness Suggestions
It’s Fall season and Holmes Chiropractic would like to give a few wellness suggestions that will help you finish this tumultuous year in a healthy and positive way. First, it’s important to stay faithful to eating healthy and exercising 3-4 times per week.
Keeping your health and wellness routine on point while others might be in hibernation mode is a great way to stay on track and continue to make gains.
Take your workouts outdoors — run in the early morning to avoid foot traffic. Take a nature hike or even bring your yoga routine to a secluded nature spot in the early afternoon — before it gets too chipper outside.
As the season turns, try to prepare some healthy hot food options — break out that crockpot and make some healthy soups with lentils, quinoa, squash, and plenty of Fall friendly veggies, like carrots, cabbage, and radishes.
Chiropractic treatment is a great way to give yourself the active recovery you need this Fall season as well. Don’t just think of your local chiropractor as someone solely to visit after experiencing a back injury. We help patients from all walks of life stay happy, healthy, and active for the long haul.
Low-Key Ways to Practice Mindfulness While at Work
In today’s grind culture it seems like everyone we know is somewhat on the go, and the same might be true for you as you read this article right now. Mindfulness might seem like something of a luxury when you’re grinding away at that 9-5 plus, but, the truth is, you have to set aside the time to take care of your mind just like you would any other part of your body.
At work, it might seem like an impossible task to be anything but highly productive, but Holmes Chiropractic would like to throw out a few ideas that will help you get to your zen place — even while you’re in the middle of your work day and your workweek.
First, if you get any type of short break beside a lunch break, utilize this for a mindfulness exercise. Sit at your computer and try some positive visualization, or maybe just focus on your breathing and counting slowly to ten over and over until ten or fifteen minutes have passed — you’ll be surprised at how good and relaxed you feel.
If there are any errands to run at work or odd jobs to engage in, be the first to volunteer yourself. You’ll be showing your boss some of that all-important initiative, but, also, working on a menial task or going on some type of run will give you time to practice mindfulness.
Lastly, that bathroom break you take every now and then is a perfect opportunity to get into the right headspace. Take a few extra moments to go on a thought experiment or a brief meditation. Think about your loved ones, your ancestors, and how they all came together so that you can be here right now. It’s a great way to put things into perspective!
You know what else helps your mind function at 100%? Chiropractic treatment! Contact Holmes Chiropractic today to learn more about how our treatments help get the best out of our patients.
Chiropractic for Hoopsters
Have you been watching the NBA playoffs and finals? We have! It’s been pretty incredible what a team like the Miami Heat have been able to do despite a few of their key players being out of the roster due to injury. Basketball in particular puts a ton of abuse on the body, particularly the spine and the joints.
Chiropractic treatment is an amazing remedy for basketball players experiencing pain after games, no matter what the level of competition is. Many professional athletes, basketball players included and especially, have close relationships with their local chiropractor. Many professional teams have chiropractic specialists designated for their players.
One simple chiropractic treatment provides drug-free pain relief for athletes, not to mention provides a better night of sleep for those who explore chiropractic treatment. One simple adjustment can improve flexibility, range of motion, and cognitive function, making you a better player on the court.
Contact Holmes Chiropractic today to learn how to make chiropractic treatment a part of your active basketball recovery plan.