Is Your Computer Causing Your Back Pain?

Computers Use Can Cause Neck and Back Pain

We live in a computer driven society and spend hours on our computers, phones, and tablets for both work and pleasure. Unfortunately, sitting at the computer can often be the cause of neck and back pain.

Lifestyle Changes to Your Daily Habits Can Help to Prevent Neck and Back Pain

How can you help prevent and fix existing neck and back pain? You should first ask yourself about your workstation at the office or home. Is your computer monitor too low, or too high? Fixing your monitor position alone can take a lot of stress off of your neck, shoulders, and back. With the popularity of laptops these days we end up with a computer that sits way too low in relation with our eyes. This forces us to lean forward and look downward to extended periods of time.

Lifting Up Your Monitor to Where the Top of The Screen is Level with Your Eyes is One of

The best thing you can do for yourself to prevent pain to your back and neck is to get your monitor lifted up to the point where the top of the screen is level with your eyes. This will prevent you from having to look down much. The suggested screen distance should be a minimum of 20 inches from your eyes with the screen slightly tilted back.

 

It is also important to stretch your neck muscles throughout the day. Key muscles to stretch in the prevention of neck and back pain include: trapezius muscles and elevator scapulae muscles. In addition to muscle stretches, you should try to get up and take a break every 20-30 minutes throughout your day.

Chiropractic Adjustments Can Aid in the Prevention of Future Back and Neck Pain

If you notice the pain is not going away, you should contact your local chiropractor who can further instruct you on proper stretching techniques as well as adjust your spine.

For more information and health tips, visit the Rosa Chiropractic Chiropractic Temple Hills website and like us on Facebook.

Chiropractic Care for your Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint, and there are many common causes of this problem.  It is important to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause.

Common signs of shoulder pain:

1.       Having trouble carrying objects

2.       Deformity of the joint

3.       Pain at night

4.       Trouble raising the arm

5.       Swelling

6.       Numbness

Common causes of shoulder pain:

1.       Bursitis

2.       Rotator cuff tendonitis

3.       Arthritis

4.       Rotator cuff tear

5.       Frozen shoulder

6.       Calcific tendonitis

7.       Shoulder dislocation/separation

8.       SLAP lesion (labral tear)

9.       Biceps tendon rupture

10.   Cervical disc bulge referring pain into the shoulder joint

How can your Chiropractor help?

It is important to have a proper diagnosis because the treatment depends on the cause of the pain. Depending on what the diagnosis is the chiropractor will design a treatment plan for you. Treatment plans include: heat, ice packs, massage, traction, stretching, strengthening exercises, correcting poor posture, soft tissue work to the shoulder,  electric stimulation and ultrasound.

Contact Rosa Rehab for a consult for your shoulder pain and start feeling better now!

For more information, please visit our Rosa Chiropractic of Temple HillsWebsite and "Like us" on Facebook. 

Wrist Pain Hindering Your Daily Activity? Chiropractic Care Can Help

Wrist Pain is Caused By Many Different Conditions

Wrist pain is caused by many different conditions, including: carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, arthritis, sprain/strain injuries or fractures. Repetitive movements with your wrist such as typing on a computer for hours, using a computer mouse, playing racquetball, sewing, painting, writing, or carrying heavy objects are all daily activities that can cause wrist pain.

You Do Not Have to Take Medications to Cover Up Wrist Pain

You may wonder, what can be done to treat wrist pain? The answer is easy, and does not have to include taking medication to cover up the pain.

Going to your chiropractor is a safe and easy way to help decrease pain and fix the actual problem!

A Chiropractic Examination Can Determine the Underlying Cause of Many Wrist Pain Cases

Most people think chiropractors are only "back doctors". Chiropractors do much more than just treat neck and back pain. Your chiropractor will examine you and conduct diagnostic tests to determine exactly what is causing the wrist pain. From there they will come up with a proper treatment plan that is designed to help you. Chiropractors can help you modify your habits and lifestyle to protect yourself from future wrist injuries.

For more information, please visit our Rosa Chiropractic of Temple HillsWebsite and "Like us" on Facebook. 

Neck Pain Interrupting Your Daily Activities? Chiropractic Care in Temple Hills Can Help!

Neck pain interrupting  your daily activities?

Ever experience neck pain or know someone close to you that does? Activities and events that affect cervical bio mechanics include but are not limited to: sitting for long periods, repetitive movement, accidents, falls, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety of causes. A few causes of neck pain include: whip last from an auto mobile accident, degenerative changes, poor posture, stress, and weakness in muscles. 

 How can a chiropractor help Neck Pain?

A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion as well as proper function. It can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. A chiropractic visit includes much more than just the actual adjustment. There are other modalities that can be used to help decrease pain that include: electric stimulation, soft tissue work to surrounding muscles, stretching, intersegmental traction, application of kinseio tape as well as show exercises that will help strengthen weak muscles.

For more information, please visit our Rosa Chiropractic of Temple Hills Website and "Like us" on Facebook. 

Is Your Job Causing You More Back and Neck Pain?

Low Back and Neck Pain Caused By Poor Posture on The Job

As our society advances, jobs continue to become more sedentary in which people are spending most of their workday using a computer while sitting at a desk.  This trend has seemed to increase the incidence of low back and neck pain like never before seen.  Is part of the problem due to our physical deconditioning? Absolutely.  However, another significant cause is improper workstation ergonomics.  This refers to factors such as seat height, positioning of the computer screen, distance we have to reach when typing, etc.  These factors are important because improper positioning can cause postural related syndromes that directly lead to neck and low back pain.  So if you work at a desk for long periods throughout each day, try some of these simple changes to relieve neck and low back pain.  

Steps To Take To Avoid Low Back  Avoid Low Back and Neck Pain on the Job

-          Check the height of your chair.  If it is adjustable, proper positioning includes being able to comfortably rest both feet flat on the floor.  Your thighs should be roughly parallel with the floor or even slightly downward.  If using a computer, allow your shoulders to relax and bend your arm at the elbow.  The elbow should rest comfortably on the armrests of the chair.  From that position, you should be able to rest your forearms on the desk comfortably.  This is where you should place your keyboard and mouse so that you do not have to vary from that position to type or use the mouse.

-          Check the front edge of the chair.  Your thighs should extend slightly past the edge of the chair and not be pressed directly against it.  This prevents certain nerves, veins, and arteries in the legs from constantly being compressed which could lead to sensation changes in the lower extremities.

-          Position of the computer screen.  Ideally, you want the computer screen placed directly in front of you and not off to either side.  This will help prevent overstimulating and straining various muscles of the neck, shoulders, and upper back.  Also, if possible, the screen should be placed in such a way that your eyes gaze downward at approximately a 15 degree angle.  Research has shown that this is the natural sight line for our eyes and prevents constant eye strain.  If you absolutely have to place your screen to the left or right, try and arrange your body so that you are completely turned that way and not just turning your head in either direction.  Also, consider changing the side it is located at from time to time in order to avoid overworking the neck musculature on the same side constantly.

-       Proper Lighting.  Natural light is best to prevent eye strain and to help avoid headaches.  If possible, arrange to have your desk located near a window where you can have access to the natural light during the daytime hours.  Avoid placing lamps or bright lighting near your line of sight.  This can cause severe eye strain leading to headaches.

If you work a desk job or use the computer often, feel free to talk to Dr. Kmett about setting up your workstation properly!

Healthy Tips to Prevent Back Pain

Back Pain is often caused By Years of Accumulated Physical Wear and Tear

Ever lift something light or bend down to pick something up and stand up with back pain? Most times the low back pain was not caused by lifting something light, or bending over. It is due to a previous injury or everyday physical wear and tear that has occurred over the years. There are many ways to help prevent this from happening. Regular chiropractic visits, exercising, eating healthy and stretching can help prevent injury down the road. Why wait until you have a more serious injury like a disc bulge or chronic back pain before you do something about it?

Some helpful Tips to Prevent Back Pain:

1.     Eating healthy

2.     Exercising

3.     Stretching (hamstrings, gluteal muscles & lumbar paraspinal muscles) and having a strong core

4.     Regular chiropractic visit( once every 6-8 weeks)

Living by these few lifestyle tips will help prevent back pain and issues down the road.  By adding in these simple tips, you won’t just feel better but you will help prevent that nagging back pain down the road.

To learn more about chiropractic treatment for back pain visitwww.rosachiropractictemplehills.com.  

Food Pyramid Gets a Facelift

New Food Pyramid Shaped as a Plate Makes Choosing Healthy Meals Easier

The new food pyramid, called MyPlate, was introduced to show people how a typical meal should look.  Fruits and vegetables contain important nutrients such as fiber and potassium that help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Whole grains should be consumed, allowing the food to be broken down slowly while preventing sharp spikes in blood glucose while also helping to lower cholesterol.  Protein sources should consist of lean meats including at least 8 oz of fish per week. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are some of the reasons that having dairy at each meal is very beneficial.

The new MyPlate also shows the proper portion size when compared to your standard dinner plate.  This differs from the food pyramids of the past that gave recommendations as to how many servings one should consume from each individual food group with no attention paid to portion size.