Dr. Judd Lowrey's Sports and Wellness Chiropractic Blog

Benefits: Increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

Neck Stretch

Steps:

When a headache strikes, it can not only be painful. It can literally make it impossible to accomplish everyday activities such as working, reading, or even having a conversation.

For many, the solution is grabbing for a pain reliever to mask the pain. While medications can help relieve the pain of a headache for some, they do not address the underlying cause. This reality can lead to a problematic cycle for those who suffer from frequent headaches, resulting in overuse of medications and diminished ability to treat the pain.

Many headache sufferers are often surprised to discover that chiropractic care is an alternative treatment to pain medications that can address the underlying causes of headaches. In fact, an innovative treatment called Active Release Techniques (ART) is proving to be effective in helping individuals break the cycle of repeated headaches and find real relief from the pain.

Why Chiropractic Can Help
It is certainly understandable to think that headaches originate in the head because that is where the pain is felt. However, scientific evidence shows that many of the most common types of headaches begin in neck muscles, nerves, and joints.

The cervical spine area is comprised of seven vertebrae along with a complex system of muscles and joints that help support and control the weight of the head. When these muscles and joints are strained, often occurring with computer use, certain sports, and auto accidents, micro-trauma can occur, causing small amounts of damage to the muscles, tendons, joint capsules, and ligaments. This damage can lead to scar tissue and adhesions which can result in pain, stiffness, tightness, restricted joint motion, and diminished blood flow.

Chiropractic care, and more specifically ART, is a method of addressing problems related to scar tissue and adhesions. Chiropractors skilled in this technique first locate and then break up restrictive adhesions, free entrapped nerves, and then reinstate normal tissue flexibility and movement. The result is better flexibility, balance, and stability to the affected area.

Many patients report reduced pain from headaches in a short amount of time after undergoing ART. Significant improvement is often experienced in just four to six treatments.

ART also enables a chiropractor to find additional problems that are in the kinetic chain associated with movement compensations. These often contribute to headaches and other types of aches and pains. By treating these, areas of dysfunction and weakness that can become future sources of pain and injury can be addressed.

Because of the promising results of ART, many leading professional sports teams are now beginning to add practitioners of the technique to their training staff. As the positive effects of this technique are now being seen in both top athletes and everyday individuals, more and more will be choosing this medication-free approach to treating headaches.

Are you suffering from headaches and seeking an alternative to pain medications? ART might be right for you. To book an appointment, call our office today at 916-941-7508.

80% of people suffer from back pain

Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office. In fact, it is estimated that low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year.

As long as it is healthy and functioning correctly, the low back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. However, if the low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as lifting a bag of groceries, or picking something up off the floor can cause a low back injury.

Consumer reports rated chiropractic care number one for the treatment of low back pain for a simple reason – “it works”. In fact, major studies have shown that chiropractic care is more effective, cheaper and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment. Chiropractic care is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine.  All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.

Here is the Piriformis Stretch for you to try out.  It helps to remove tension off lower back, correct hip imbalance, restore function, and increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

3. Grasp uncrossed leg under thigh and gently pull toward chest.

Dr. Judd Lowrey, D.C. | Lowrey Chiropractic | El Dorado Hills & Folsom Chiropractor

(916) 941-7508

March is National Nutrition Month! Learn how to Get Your Plate in Shape with these healthy tips from Academy of Nutrition.

Eating a healthy diet doesn’t have to be difficult. Making a few simple changes to your daily eating plans can benefit you for a lifetime. Here are a few ways to “Get Your Plate in Shape”.

• Make half of your plate fruits and vegetables: Eat a variety of vegetables, especially dark-green, red and orange varieties. Add fresh, dried, frozen or canned fruits to meals and snacks.

• Make at least half your grains whole: Choose 100 percent whole-grain breads, cereals, crackers, pasta and brown rice. Check the ingredients list on food packages to find whole-grain foods.

• Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk: Fat-free and low-fat milk have the same amount of calcium and other essential nutrients as whole milk, but less fat and calories. For those who are lactose intolerant, try lactose-free milk or a calcium-fortified soy beverage.

• Vary your protein choices: Eat a variety of foods from the protein food group each week, such as seafood, nuts and beans, as well as lean meat, poultry and eggs. Keep meat and poultry portions small and lean. And be sure to choose seafood as the protein at least twice a week.

• Cut back on sodium and empty calories from solid fats and added sugars: Compare sodium in foods and choose those with lower numbers, and season your foods with herbs and spices instead of salt. Switch from solid fats to healthy oils like olive and canola oil. Replace sugary drinks with water and choose fruit for dessert.

• Enjoy your foods but eat less: Avoid oversized portions. Use a smaller plate, bowl and glass. Cook more often at home where you are in control of what’s in your food. When eating out, choose lower calorie menu options.

• Be physically active your way: Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of physical activity every week. Choose activities that you enjoy, and start by doing as much as you can.

What are you doing to get your plate in shape?