How to Choose the Right Chiropractor for You

June 1, 2020 Helpful TipsFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

Choosing the right chiropractor can make a massive difference to your overall health and your feeling of well being. Your family doctor has suggested that chiropractic treatment may help with your long term pain in your spine or other areas and is referring you to a chiropractor for treatment. Should you follow your doctor’s recommendation or is a little investigation warranted?

Many people ask this question every day and wonder if the treatment received and the customer service will meet their expectations. What should you expect, especially if this is your first time visiting a chiropractic clinic? The profession comes with a wide variety of techniques as well as philosophies. Many include hands-on techniques, as well as other treatment styles. For many people, it is essential to establish a rapport with your physician.

Ask for Referrals

Referrals are very important in any business. However, in health-related issues, referrals can be separated into professional referrals and patient referrals. Both are equally important and should be considered carefully.

Professional referrals can be provided by your health care provider, your family physician, physical therapists, and other specialists you may be seeing. You might ask them who they would like a member of their family to go to? Many have a list of practicing chiropractors and have little personal interaction with them or feedback from patients. You can choose one from the list or do some more research.

Referrals from friends and online ratings are another approach used by many patients. Talk to other family members and friends, keeping in mind that your requirements may be different than those of your contacts. The more people that recommend a single chiropractor is usually a good indicator of someone that is reliable and provides professional services with the rapport you may be looking for.

Complete Background Research

Referrals are usually the best approach to follow when looking for a chiropractor to provide treatment for your health issue. For many people a good referral is more than sufficient, however many patients would like to be more thorough and follow through with additional research.

For example, check with the Council on Chiropractic Education to confirm accreditation. Check for disciplinary action against the physician, the staff, or the clinic. Look for online reviews and testimonials. This information can often be found on your state’s regulatory and licensing board website.

Meeting the Chiropractor For the First Time

Now that you have settled on one or two clinics based on referrals and information you have gleaned from online searches, it is time to set up an appointment and meet the Chiropractor. Many patients do not realize that the chiropractor is also interviewing the patient. They want to get to know you and ensure that with treatment, they will actually be able to help you.

Your consultation is also your chance to get to know the chiropractor. Determine if you feel comfortable with him or her and the clinic in general. There are many factors to consider, and some may be more important than others depending on your personal needs, likes, and dislikes. For example:

How long is the wait in the waiting room?
Is the office location close to your home?
Is the chiropractor respectful, friendly as well as courteous?
Do you feel comfortable speaking with the chiropractor?
Have all of your questions been answered?
Do you feel that all of your concerns about treatment, and preferences were addressed?
How long has the chiropractor been in business?
Does the clinic focus on a specialty fitting your condition and needs?

Once your initial session is complete, you should have sufficient information to decide on the treatment plan proposed and your overall comfort or rapport with the physician delivering the proposed treatment plan.

Making Your Decision

Once you have completed your homework, i.e., obtained referrals, conducted an online search, and met with the physician, it is time to make a decision. Many people will interview or consult with several chiropractors before making a decision. They want to receive the best treatment from someone they are comfortable with and confident about the outcome.

While the pain your experiencing may cause you to want to expedite the decision and obtain treatment immediately, keep your eye on the long term goal. The reality is that recovery from ailments that can be treated by a skilled chiropractor may take several months and many treatments. Changing physicians part way through your treatment only prolongs the pain, causing additional discomfort and anxiety.

Do your homework up front and make the right decision choosing a chiropractor with the reputation, the skills and the rapport that meets your needs.

Brief History of Chiropractic Treatment

June 15, 2020 Chiropractic CareFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

Everyday many people experience joint and back pain. Injuries from accidents, playing sports, and everyday life often contributes to spinal compression of nerves that can cause intense pain to radiate up and do your spine as well as into your pelvis and down your legs. Spinal manipulation, exercise, and pain medication are used to treat pain that emanates from the spine. Chiropractic treatments of the spine without surgery or drugs is relatively new and has a storied past.

How Chiropractic Got Started

A gentleman by the name of Daniel David Palmer was the first person to treat a patient by making adjustments to his patient’s spine in 1895. A janitor working in Palmer’s office had a lump on his back along the spine. The janitor told Palmer that he had heard a pop in his back one day and lost his hearing. The following day, Palmer had the janitor lie on his stomach. Palmer proceeded to make adjustments to the spine, and within days, not only did the janitor feel better, but he could also hear again.

Palmer went on to develop his philosophy around vitalism, naturalism, magnetism, spiritualism, science and metaphysics. He was also the first to use manipulation as a technique to adjust the spine and reduce impacts on the nervous system.

There was a great deal of competition between various professions at the time which lasted well into the 1960s. The profession gradually established standards for training, treatment and memberships in recognized associations. Eventually after enduring everything from arrests, jail, and extensive fines, Chiropractic was finally recognized as a profession by state and national organizations. This recognition increased interest in improving service quality, standard clinical guidelines, and research to improve treatment.

From Fringe to Main Stream Medical Recognition

In recent years, interdisciplinary practices have become common. Chiropractors, physio therapists, and medical doctors often work together in common medical settings. Rehabilitation centers, sports medical centers and occupational centers quite frequently have a multitude of professions working together to provide care for their patients.

The objective is to treat the patient without the need to make referrals outside of the organization.

Chiropractic Associations

Today, there are Chiropractic associations in every state, as well as in Canada and many countries around the world. Formal recognition of Florida’s Chiropractic association was given by the state legislature in 1931. Doctors of Chiropractic are encouraged to join the Florida Chiropractic Association as well as national groups to promote standards of care and equality. In addition, the Council of Chiropractic Education, recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education. Regulates the quality and training offered by colleges specializing in Chiropractic care and treatment.

Members

Doctors of Chiropractic are considered physician-level providers in many states and are part of the federal Medicare programs as part of the Federal Health Delivery system. There are over 70,000 doctors providing chiropractic treatment to millions of patient’s worldwide. Also, there are an estimated 40,000 assistants working in clinical and managerial roles in practices.

Schools & Training

At present, there are approximately 10,000 students attending eighteen nationally recognized educations programs in the US. On average, 2500 chiropractors graduate and enter practices every year in the US.

Licensing

Doctors of Chiropractic are required to write and pass a series of four national board exams before becoming licensed with their local state authority.

Chiropractic Helping Millions of People

Today chiropractors are helping millions of people with a variety of ailments related to back pain and the spine. They promote a form of healing that relies on the body’s natural recuperative powers without relying on surgery or drugs for treatment. A doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) is a recognized physician, focuses special attention on spinal mechanics, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, and nutritional relationships in the absence of drugs or surgery.

As with many professions, Doctors of Chiropractic specialize in specific areas. Many are focused on sports medical-related injuries and treatment for local, professional, and Olympic level competition, while others focus on crisis treatment and management. Then there is the rehabilitation of chronic sufferers of pain and degenerative disorders.

Choosing the right treatment and clinic can be crucial to your recovery form whatever injury you may have sustained. Consumers may want to consider accreditation and membership with state organizations, a doctor’s area of specialization and relationship to your specific needs as well as referrals from other patients and clinicians.

The profession has evolved over the past century and become fully recognized by national, state, and local bodies, including Medicare and Veterans associations, to provide health care.

How a Chiropractor Can Help Shoulder and Neck Pain

April 6, 2020 UncategorizedFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

There are various different body ailments that an experienced chiropractor can help you with. It’s not just back issues that chiropractors can help you with. A lot of people suffer from some form of neck pain, shoulder pain, or both.

However, just because you experience some mild shoulder and/or neck pain or discomfort due to everyday activities, doesn’t mean you need to run off to your friendly neighborhood chiropractor at the drop of a hat. It’s a perfectly normal part of the human living experience to have some pain and discomfort from time to time (especially in their neck and shoulder area); give yourself a few day of rest and good posture to see of there is any improvement and if there isn’t any, go ahead and make an appointment with your chiropractor.

Listing Neck and Shoulder Ailments

Rotator Cuff

Rotator cuff injuries can be VERY painful and the healing time can be quite long depending on the amount of damage and how quickly your body can heal itself. In some cases surgery is required so you should see a doctor for an examination if you are suffering from chronic shoulder pain.

What causes rotator cuff pain usually is known as bursitis and tendonitis. Either can be painful to the point of ruining your sleep, and if you’re sleep is being interrupted you need to see a doctor to get yourself on the path to healing.

Inflammation of the “bursa” known as bursitis. The bursa is fluid sac in your shoulder joint area moving with your tendons and bone. With tendonitis it’s just like it sounds; caused from inflammation of your tendons.

Torn Muscles

There are a lot of different tendons and muscles in motion with neck and shoulder movement. In some cases (due to accidents or sports injuries usually) muscles in the neck or shoulder area can tear. This causes a lot of pain and healing may take up to many months to for a complete recovery.

Your chiropractor can help by being part of your healing process. There are different approaches a chiropractor can take in order to give you some much needed relief as your healing process is under way.

Frozen Shoulder(s)

Also known as an adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder is a persistent and painful stiffness that often limits range of shoulder movement. Frozen shoulders mostly occur when there is swelling, tightening, or thickening of tissues that surround the shoulder. Diabetes and stroke are risk factors.

People with frozen shoulders find simple tasks such as dressing impossible. You may also not be able to drive and even sleeping becomes a chore. In worst cases, you may not be able to move your shoulder at all.

Shoulder Instability

The shoulder joint comprises a ball and a socket. The top of the upper arm bone forms the ball which then fits into the socket formed by the shoulder blade. When you have shoulder instability, it means that the ball has not fit perfectly in the socket. Maybe there is slipping, or it could be a total shoulder dislocation.

Shoulder instability can cause tingling, weakness, numbness, or fatigue in the arm. Some people may also experience clicking or locking and feel a popping sensation on the affected shoulder.

What to Do if You Experience Shoulder and Neck Pain

If you all of a sudden get extreme pain in your shoulder, neck and jaw it may be a sign of heart attack so you should have someone call 911 to get checked out immediately. However, this a rare occurrence. With 99% of cases your shoulder and neck pain or discomfort with come after you’ve had some kind of physical trauma such as accident, a fall, or sports injury.

The first hing to try is applying heat and ice where the pain is located. Always try ice first. Apply the ice pack to the inflamed area for 10 minutes, then give it a 5 minute rest, then apply heat for 5 minutes. Then repeat. If after a day or two you find the pain just isn’t subsiding, get into see a doctor for further examination.

This may result in you heading off to get X-rays (or some kind of imaging work) done to further diagnose the exact cause of the inflammation. As the healing process moves on you would be greatly benefited if you can manage to afford physiotherapy and/or a chiropractic care.

We’d like to finish with a video today. Check it out below!

10 Helpful Tips When Recovering from a Herniated Disc

March 4, 2020 Helpful TipsFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

It hurts like hell but your body is going to deal with it – just watch!

A herniated disc is extremely painful. If you’ve ever had a herniated disc you are probably wondering why I didn’t add a few exclamation points…well OK – it’s extremely painful!!!!

If you are currently suffering with the pain of a herniated disc, I want to help you through it if I can. I have personally “gone through” a herniated disc and know exactly how bad it can get.

PLEASE remember that the keywords are “gone through” – in other words you MUST remember that it’s only temporary. No matter how bad the pain gets, remember this fact. Your pain is going to go away!

It just takes time.

When I was going through it my doctors just prescribed bed rest and a lot of heavy painkillers. Unfortunately, I was afraid of becoming addicted to the painkillers so I avoided them as much as I could. Mistake.

None of the doctors or the physiotherapists ever told me to ALWAYS remember my pain would be temporary.

I wish they had.

As a result of the extreme pain and lack of sleep due to the pain, a went through depression, heavy anxiety, and eventually acrophobia set in (just to put a cherry on it 😉 Then the medications were prescribed to deal with all that.

It was a vicious cycle to say the least.

Finally someone truly helped me! It was my chiropractor. He had been practicing for decades and it was actually his LAST week of work before retiring.

He gave me some incredible advice and a reality check. He said he had seen patients with herniated discs many, many, many times.

This is what he said (paraphrasing):

“You can see your doctor, take your medications, go to physiotherapy, lie on your side, lie on the floor, lie on a bed – HELL…you can lie UNDER a bed, read the Bible and pray to God for some relief, but only one thing is going to cure you….

Time.”

And that’s what happened. I was in absolute extreme agony for about 2 weeks, then a very slight improvement, but still not enough to sleep. Then 2 more weeks later going to the bathroom wasn’t a quite as bad – but still a horrid experience.

I’m not going to give the typical advice on the exercises you should do, what professionals to see, what medications to take, or what God to pray to. I’m going to give the my personal advice in a list by priority. This is what I learned to DO and NOT to do.

10 Tips During Recovery

REMEMBER it’s a temporary situation – it will pass!
Don’t be afraid to take your pain medication – you won’t become addicted if you are actually in a lot of pain – just make sure to stop all strong pain medications (like Oxycontin) as soon some everyday Advil or Tylenol 3 can give you some slight relief – you will know when the right time is.
Don’t worry if you can’t sleep because your body is tougher and smarter than you think. You will eventually doze off – it might not be for long! Maybe just a minute or two, but it still helps. This is why you shouldn’t fear the pain medication in the early stages – it can help you sleep.
You might not be able to lay on a bed or any furniture at all – so don’t! I was a floor dweller for an entire month. Get yourself all set up somewhere on the floor. Keep warm with some blankets and sheets of course. Lots of pillows around in case you need them.
Try laying on your side and slide a pillow between your knees – that was the miracle move for me.
As soon as the most extreme pain has it passed (AND IT WILL!) and if you can afford it, get yourself to a physiotherapist who has experience with herniated discs.
If you slip into depression and/or anxiety don’t be afraid to use the medications the doctors prescribe for that as well – and REMEMBER that you are going to be fine again. The depression and anxiety will naturally fade away when the pain fades away. Count on it.
Try to keep yourself entertained if you can. Watch your favorite shows and read if you can. When you are in the early extreme pain stage you may not want any of that, but whenever you can try to get your mind off your pain and situation do it.
Talk your loved ones’ ears off. Don’t be afraid to keep asking them to lay by your side and talk to you. You might not want any physical contact, but just having someone to talk to can help a lot – it reminds you that you’re not alone. If you live alone use Social media or the phone to keep in touch friends and/or family. That includes you too guys! When you are communicating with people it’s a very real validation that you’re not alone.
After a time you will know when you can actually move enough to slowly and carefully walk. If it’s warm enough outside to go for a walk do it – a lot! The more you walk the faster you are going to heal. If you can’t go outside, live in a high-rise, or don’t want others to see you in that way, walk around your home. Keep pacing the halls and rooms. Try listening to music or have the TV on while you do it – just to alleviate the boredom.

Conclusion

So remember that you are not alone. You are one human of billions (over the centuries) who has suffered through (note the word “through” – it’s going to pass) a herniated disc.

It’s no fun and it will be really painful for 2-3 weeks, then quite painful to move for a few more, and then it will start to subside.

There is a possibility that your doctor will want you to consider an operation to fuse a disc, but that’s not usually the case. Either way…just know that “this too shall pass”.

I wish someone had told me all this when I was going through it.

You. Are. Going. To. Be. OK.

Once you have recovered from the worst of it and you’re slowly walking and moving again, you can start introducing the exercises shown below.

Author: Unknown

Sciatica: Causes & Treatments

January 4, 2020 Chiropractic CareFredrick Williams1 Comment

Sciatica pain is extremely common. The pain can range from debilitating to a minor discomfort.

If you’ve ever suffered from an extreme case of sciatica you know just how hard it can be to function day to day. You may be reading this very post because you’re dealing with pain right now! If you’ve never experienced sciatic pain before and you’re just reading to learn about, will start from the beginning.

Hopefully you can take away some knowledge you didn’t previously have before, and perhaps use the tips segment to help you deal with any sciatic nerve pain you may be experiencing.

Most Common Sciatic Symptom

The most common symptom (patient complaint) is a pain that runs down the back of their leg(s). It can be a dull pain, a sharp pain, and/or a burning sensation. It all depends on exactly where the sciatic nerve is compressed, and how much the nerve is compressed.

Sciatica: A Definition

The word “sciatica” is the most common (layperson’s word) used to describe the pain or discomfort a human body feels when their sciatic nerve is stressed, pinched, or damaged in some way.

The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back all the way down your leg to your feet. Most sciatic suffers usually have only one side of their body causing them pain. However, in some cases, sciatic nerve pain can be extreme down both legs. We hope that isn’t your case!

Chiropractors and/or doctors have other terms to describe sciatic nerve discomfort; such as, “nerve root pain”, “discgenic sciatica”, “nerve root entrapment”, and “lumbosacral radicular syndrome”. So you’ll never hear good ‘ol uncle Marvin say, “Damn…I had to drive four hours today on vacation an my damn lumbosacral radicular syndrome was acting up!”.

Sciatica is not to be confused with basic lower back pain. Your everyday run-of-the-mill back pain usually originates from the spine, or the muscles around the base of your spine. Whereas sciatic pain orginates soley from your sciatic nerve which effects muscles in your lower legs, feet, and hamstrings.

Some of the very basic life activities will become painful if you are struggling with sciatica. Some sitting positions cause sciatic to flare up. Like driving a car, different chairs, poor posture choices, sleeping posistions, etc. If it’s bad enough, you can experience sciatica pain when you turn or twist your core, bend down/over, breathing, sneezing, laughing, or coughing.

Sciatic Pain: Main Causes

Sciatica pain is usually caused due to a herniated disc whereby the patient’s spine is out of position, or there as been an injury of some kind.

Car accidents, sport injuries, and on the job activities are common causes. Whenever there is a herniated disc (whether minor or extreme) there is a “bulge” in the disc tissue which results in a nerve root being somewhat compressed.

Your humble narrator was laid up in a bed for months healing from a herniated disc, and I can tell you from personal experience how painful it can be. There was almost NO escaping the pain, no matter what position I put my body in. It effects your sleep too, which slows down the healing process. It’s makes for a long an painful recovery.

If you are in the throes of a badly herniated disc, please understand that there is treatment for it, and eventually you WILL heal! Hang in there! Reading that sentence would have been a HUGE relief for me when I was going through it.

Of course there are other causes of sciatic pain. Piriformis syndrome, and lumbar stenosis are two examples of the top of my head.

Diagnosing Sciatica

Sciatica is is usually very easy for health care professionals (chiropractors/doctors) to diagnose.

The patient(s) will complain of pain and discomfort running down the back of their leg(s), and more often than not, they experience the pain only in specific settings or activities.

Then the doctor or chiropractor has to access how extreme the patient’s condition is, and that will set forth a plan for further investigation. The investigation might include advanced imaging equipment in more extreme cases, and if it’s just at the point of being mild irritation, the health care professionals can educate their patient(s) on posture, diet, sitting, bending, sleeping and other lifestyle choices.

If the sciatic pain is extreme and there is a full blown herniated disc situation, the patient may end up requiring surgery, such as spinal fusion. Read more on disc/spinal fusion here.

Sciatica Treatment

As mentioned above, depending on how extreme your sciatic pain is, there are different ways and extremes in treatment. In most minor cases the patient just needs to be educated on what sciatic is and how it’s caused.

Then they can begin changing (hopefully!) their lifestyle, or begin periodic treatments such physiotherapy, spinal manipulation (chiropractor), acupuncture, and an exercise plan. One of the BEST ways to help recover from typical sciatic is to lose weight and WALK!

Walking is the BEST way to overcome sciatica. Core muscle exercises are really good too, but you need to make sure you’re exercising PROPERLY so as not to make matters worse. Consult with your health care professional before starting any exercise program.

Depending on how extreme your sciatic nerve pain is, your health care professional(s) may suggest stretching your lower back muscles, stretching your hamstring muscles, taking daily walks, water exercise, swimming, core muscle exercise, laying down and pulling your knees up to your chest, ice and/or heat treatments, proper posture, proper bending, and proper lifting.

Sciatica Prevention

Sciatica prevention is unfortunately not common. A very small percentage of the population ever practices prevention, making most everyone susceptible to having a sciatica flare up at some time in their life.

Here is a short list of activities you can do for sciatic prevention:

walking of jogging
weight lifting/training
swimming
bicycle riding
dancing
yoga
Pilates
tai chi
sit ups
squats

If you are suffering from sciatic you need to take matters into your own hands. The first step is educating yourself (if you’ve read this far in this post WAY TO GO!).

Then you should reach out your chiropractor, doctor, or physiotherapist. Whatever health care professional you decide to visit, make sure you explain them in accurate detail; your lifestyle, your home life, work life, and recreational life.

The good news is that in most cases patients overcome sciatica and go on to live a pain free life again. Below we’ve included a diagram showing some great stretching exercises you can do (carefully and easy does it – and only after you’ve consulted with your doctor and/or chiropractor first.

They include:

double or single knee to chest
hamstring stretch with towel
gluteal stretch
partial curl
quadruped arm & leg raise
quadratus lumborum stretch (QL stretch)

From everyone on our team here at Kingdom Chiropractic we wish a great 2020! Look after yourselves out there!

5 Great Reasons to See Your Chiropractor

November 30, 2019 Tampa Florida ChiropracticFredrick Williams1 Comment

There are many good reasons to see a chiropractor, and today we’re going to focus on 5 GREAT reasons to do so!

1] Less Reliance on Medication

The pharmaceutical industry gets a really bad rap these days, especially after the opioid epidemic debacle. In so many cases patients DO need to take drugs to manage their pain; but so often doctors prescribe pain medication before testing alternatives. This is where a good chiropractor comes in.

If you find yourself a good chiropractor in your area, he or she may be able to help you reduce your pain medication usage, and in some cases put an end to meds altogether. Furthermore, you may find that the costs of a chiropractor are far less than your medication bills AND you don’t have to deal with any side affects!

2] Back Pain (of course)

I know it goes without saying, but back pain has to be high on the list of reasons for seeing your friendly chiropractor. Some patients’ lives are greatly improved by weekly visits to get their spine adjusted. Your humble narrator used to see a chiropractor twice a week for around two years!

Depending on your ailments, you may only need to go for treatments once a month, whereas some patients go for appointments quarterly to have everything realigned. It always amazes me how much better I feel physically and emotionally after I’ve finished my chiropractor appointment.

Perhaps it has something to do with the aspect of being physically touched and cared for…whatever the reason, I’ve noticed a sense of feeling good every time I leave the office.

3] To Improve Your Sleep

Sleep is SO IMPORTANT for many reasons (short list):

concentration and productivity
heart & internal organ health
weight control
immune system
sense of well being

If you have trouble sleeping due to back pain (or even slight back discomfort) it’s definitely a good idea to see a chiropractor to see if you can get things back on track.

With just a weekly visit to a reputable chiropractor with good reviews, you may be able to avoid self medication or sleep aids to get a good sleep.

If you’re losing sleep due to stress and worry, your chiropractor visits may help with that as well. Once again…it’s much better than using pharmaceuticals and dealing with the side effects that come with them.

You can see why the reduction of medication is #1 on our list.

4] Total Mind & Body Health

An excellent chiropractor can help their patients in many ways. Often much better than a typical appointment to their MD; where so often they’re whisked into a room, wait for bit, get a prescription, and get shown the door.

A chiropractor is literally hands on. If they’re highly experienced, they can reduce pain and discomfort, give you a sense of well-being, provide advice, and help you understand how you can protect your body on a daily basis.

We’re not saying a chiropractor is the cure-all (far from it), but in combination with a good GP, your own due diligence, and some education, you can greatly improve your life.

Total mind and body health is the ultimate goal, and something most people don’t even attempt to achieve. But if you are serious about feeling your very best and getting the very most out of life you’ll add chiropractor visits to your routine.

5] Car Accident Recovery

When you’re unlucky enough to be in a car accident you may have chronic pain. A really good chiropractor can feel like a lifesaver, as they can greatly reduce your pain and discomfort, while providing ideal exercise plans to help you during your recovery.

Even a small fender bender can throw out your neck and/or back to the point where you’re in constant pain, losing sleep, and popping pills like a Grateful Dead groupie on a binge.

And it’s not just back and neck injuries you could be struggling with. Hips, knees, elbows, wrists, or pinched nerves can be causing a lot of pain; greatly decreasing your quality of life.

And if the above ailments aren’t enough, when your body has been damaged from a car accident you may be suffering from extreme headaches. In fact, some headache sufferers visit a chiropractor for that reason only!

In Closing

If you’ve never been to see a good chiropractor, or EVER had an appointment before, you are in for a real treat. You might find out you’ve become so accustomed to discomfort that you’ve long forgotten what feeling good is like.

It happens.

Take some personal inventory, and closely pay attention to how your body feels. Do you have any nagging aches or pains? Are you waking up in the middle of the night and you don’t know why?

It’s worth going to a chiropractor at least once a month to get an adjustment or have your body attended to by a professional.

Yours in health, from all of us @ Kingdom Chiropractic

Dr. Fredrick Williams / Founder of Kingdom Chiropractic / Tampa Florida

5 Reasons You’re Waking Up With a Sore Back

November 16, 2019 Tampa Florida ChiropracticFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

Figuring out the causes of back pain and how sleeping could be the cause?

Let’s talk about it!

We spend one-third of our 24-hour cycle sleeping, which makes us certain that this past time should always be comfortable and pain-free. And yet, so many people still wake up in the morning with terrible aches in pains that they just can’t shake.

How is it possible that when we are in our most relaxed state, we are doing some kind of harm to ourselves?

You’d be surprised by the answer.

There are a handful of reasons that you could be waking up with a sore back. In fact, you might even be partaking in more than one of them!

Qualified chiropractors in Tampa Florida see it all the time; hundreds upon thousands of people come in for back pain treatment.

The good news, is that there are solutions for your ailments. The following are the 5 reasons you’re waking up with a sore back, as well as solutions to help reverse the pain.

1) Sleeping On Your Stomach

We all have our sleep position preferences, but some of us are doing more harm than good. That’s because back pain is often caused by forcing the spine out of its natural curve, and this is common when people sleep on their stomach.

Stomach sleepers are putting their spine into an awkward position, and keeping it there for up to 8 hours at a time. Not only can this be a cause for a sore back, but it can also cause soreness in the neck and potential headaches.

Solution: Even if you’ve always slept on your stomach, now is the time to change that. To make the transition easier, utilize a pillow. When you’re on your side, put a pillow between your knees.

If you’re sleeping on your back, place a pillow underneath your knees instead. This will help to keep the spine in a more natural, curved position, and help to relieve that additional stress you’ve been putting on it.

2) Quality of Your Mattress

When you invest in a quality mattress, you’re investing in your health. That’s because the right mattress will support your back, as opposed to making it impossible for you to get comfortable or fall into a natural position.

It is suggested to look for a mattress that is medium-firm, so that you’re not sleeping on anything that is too hard or too soft. A hard mattress will make you stiff, and a soft mattress will bend your spinal curve more than it needs.

Solution: Test out multiple mattresses in-store, and choose the one that has a good balance between hard and soft. Additionally, you might try looking for eco-friendly mattress options, which can provide odor and chemical-free support that can be good for your overall health.

3) Embracing the Day the Right Way

It’s not always easy to remember, but the way you get out of bed in the morning can actually have ramifications for the health of your back.

For a lot of us, mornings tend to make us feel a little stiff. And yet, when we rise to get out of bed, we sit up straight, twist our back, and use our back to help us get out of bed.

Even the smallest movements can cause discomfort to the back, so we need to be mindful as soon as we wake up.

Solution: Be mindful in the morning. When you’re ready to get out of bed, turn onto your side, and use your arm to push yourself into a seated position. Come to the end of the bed using your legs, instead of your back.

4) Your Pillow Choice

Believe it or not, the pillow you choose to sleep with can have a negative effect on your back. That’s because a pillow that isn’t properly supporting your neck can cause you to strain your neck and shoulder muscles.

As a result, your back is forced into a tight and uncomfortable position, which can worsen over time. Keep in mind, your spine often suffers when other parts of your body are suffering, and giving your back time to rest properly is very important.

Solution: To keep your spine aligned and straight while you sleep, an orthopedic pillow can help. This particular pillow style helps to correct the placement of the neck and spine when lying in bed or on any other surface.

5) Existing Illnesses

The spine is often the truth-teller of existing illnesses in your body. Even if you sleep on a supportive mattress and use orthopedic pillows, some illnesses can cause lower back pain.

Some of these illnesses include:

Vitamin D Deficiency (Osteomalacia): Aching back bones can be a sign of low vitamin D
Fibromyalgia: A neurological disorder that can cause pain all over the body
Chronic low-grade inflammation: This kind of problem can worsen with age if not treated

Solution: If you’ve tried everything to assist your back during sleep, then another unknown illness could be the cause of your discomfort. If this pertains to you, consider seeing your doctor to get to the bottom of your back pain woes.

Back in Business

We rely on our backs to help us with a whole slew of processes, including our balance, our strength, and our posture. Unfortunately, we rarely give our backs the love that they deserve for all that hard work.

Even if you’re not experiencing back pain, it’s a great idea to practice daily back health.

This includes warming up before activities, stretching, and strengthening the abdominal area to avoid unnecessary injuries. An active lifestyle can also help to keep the back limber so that when you wake up in the morning you feel strong, and ready to go!

About the author: This article was written by Jennifer Bennet from Santa Cruz Natural Mattress.

5 Ways To Protect Your Back

November 3, 2019 Tampa Florida ChiropracticFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

Let’s face it. Life is rough…

On your back!

As we grow from children into adulthood, we take a lot of chances; risking our bodies in many ways; like playing sports, in the playgrounds, on the fields, or just running down the alley from your parent’s back gate to the street.

In fact, most all Americans are faced with back pain or injury as some stage of their lives. Some people get really unlucky and suffer severe back pain, and/or end up with a spinal disease they’re forced to live with on a daily basis.

When you look at the data, it’s no wonder back problems are such a drain on our health care system.

So how can we avoid back pain and spinal injuries?

5 Ways To Protect Your Back

Number 1.) Take regular walks: I know, I know…you’re sick of hearing about how great walking is for your health, and you might be a person who doesn’t enjoy walking. If that’s you, try this:

Step outside your home and walk only one block. Stop, take a deep breath and walk back home. The next day do the same thing. After many days of doing this, try walking two blocks. Then stay at two for awhile.

Then keep progressing. What happens here is you make walking a habit. Getting changed, putting on your shoes, and breathing in fresh air will become something you’ll look forward to.

By starting off slow, you’re removing the fear of discomfort that comes from taking a long walk when you’re out of shape.

Number 2.) Keep your weight down to a dull roar: This is why walking was number 1 on our list. If you gain too much weight your spine can develop a tilt and start absorbing your weight unevenly. This can lead to many other issues, such curvature of the spine, disc problems, etc.

Number 3.) Make sure you lift properly: This can’t be overstated, and that’s why you’ve been hearing this mantra your entire life. If you lift anything heavy always make sure you’re wearing foot wear that has traction, you’re not a on a slippery surface, and never twist as you’re lifting.

Your humble narrator ended up with a prolonged back injury (herniated disc) from changing a heavy tire break on a 737. The floor was slippery with oil, my boots were old and worn, my back was in a hunched position, and I twisted around with the 140 pound break and slipped. Basically, I did everything wrong you can think of…

…and I paid the price. Still paying the price somewhat, and it’s now 20 years later. Like I mention at the bottom of this post, be careful out there.

Number 4.) Never sit with bad posture: The torque load on your spine and discs is much higher when you’re sitting. This is why the age-old mantra of “sit up straight” is so common. Watch to make sure you never sit with poor posture, and if you have to sit for extended periods of time, be sure to get up and move around at least every 45 minutes (if you can).

If you’re traveling long distances this may not be possible, but whenever you can find a moment, get up and stretch out your legs and body.

Number 5.) Strengthen your core muscles: There are many different exercises you can do to strengthen your core (stomach) muscles, and some of them are even fun and relaxing.

Just be sure that when you do these core strengthening exercises you do them correctly and safely. If you don’t take care when exercising your core muscles you could end up hurting your back. Not helping it.

Be Careful

And there is one more very important method of protecting your back and spine that I’ve rarely ever seen published online; and it’s very simple.

JUST BE CAREFUL!

Yes. I know that sound contrite, but the sooner in life you realize that you need to be mindful, and careful with your body, the better off you’ll be.

Just a few examples:

Don’t climb ladders that look dodgy
Don’t work on a roof if you’re not in good shape
Don’t sit in a position if it’s causing you pain.
Don’t drink too much alcohol as it impairs your balance
Don’t be hero on moving day – get help

I’ll give you an example. I had a friend who was always rough on his body. He over-worked and over-played all the time. Eventually he had to get knee surgery, and these are the first two things he did after healing:

he learned how to skydive
he jumped off the back of his truck

The jump from the truck destroyed his new knee, and he spent over a year trying to recover. They did multiple surgeries, and he had to fight off a dangerous out-of-control infection as well. He never did fully recover, and he has a permanent limp (not to mention daily swelling).

So like the old sayings go…

Take it easy, and take care!

And always, before I go, I just want end leaving you with my very biased opinion that my boss Dr. Fredrick is one of THE best chiropractors in Florida. A bold statement I know, but it’s fact I believe to be true. 😉

Why Runners Need a Chiropractor

February 18, 2019 Tampa Florida ChiropracticFredrick Williams1 Comment

If you believe chiropractors simply “crack” backs, you’re not alone. Frederick Williams, D.C., proprietor of Kingdom Chiropractic in Tampa Florida Florida, is accustomed to hearing this false impression.

” Sports chiropractic practitioners that are trained in muscle mass job, such as Energetic Release Technique (ART) and also Graston, are most likely the very best hand-operated therapists for preventing injury and also optimizing efficiency,” states Dr Fred. “That’s why there’s always a sporting activities chiropractic doctor on Olympic as well as professional sports groups.”

For joggers, chiropractic care can be made use of for injury avoidance since it stresses appropriate alignment of the spine and also hips. One of the most usual running-related injuries Dr Fred sees in his patients, which vary from leisure runners to Olympians to marathon champions, are plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, IT Band Syndrome, knee (knee) tracking troubles and hip bursitis.

Dr Fred’s primary step in treating these injuries: Look for imbalance.

” Malalignment of the spinal column can create unnecessary tension on one certain body part versus an equivalent circulation of stress,” he says. “I can not deal with anyone’s persistent IT band issue without making sure their pelvis remains in as best positioning as it can be. Otherwise, it’ll continue to use, tear, and put strain on that one certain body part.”

What Creates Improper Positioning?
Significant root causes of inappropriate alignment include running in the same instructions on the same training course every day; running usually slanted surfaces, such as a beach; and also not replacing footwear every couple of hundred miles.

Deal with these training errors that cause imbalance with a couple of simple tweaks:

Vary your running surface– pavement, track, asphalt, yard, dirt, wood chips– a few times a week, and you’ll naturally operate on different programs.
Run as near to the water as possible when on the coastline, as the sand has a tendency to be much more level there.
Buy 2 of the same sort of running shoes, and also button between both.
” There’s a whole lot that contributes to incorrect spine or pelvic alignment, as well as in some cases it has nothing to do with running,” says Dr Fred. “It concerns a day work, where you sit in one particular position throughout the day and after that choose a run. The muscle mass remain in a state of tightness on one side and are lengthened on the other, and then you go for a run and your pelvis shifts.”
Switch over placements and seats, when possible, every thirty minutes during the day. Varied pose stays the most effective posture, according to Dr Fred, so cross your left leg, then a half-hour later on, cross your appropriate leg; sit on top of your ankle joint, sit right, and also slouch.

Attempt sitting on a stability ball– it challenges your stomach muscles and enables you to shake your pelvis, which lubes your joints. Switch over between a chair as well as stability ball, stand, and take brief walk breaks if you operate in a workplace. “One setting for numerous amounts of time is devastating for the back,” states Dr Fred.

Whether you run in the morning not long after rising, or in the afternoon/evening after resting all day at work, a proper warm-up likewise aids avoid injury.

Workout and also Extends to avoid Injury

” You require to warm up the hip in round patterns, and you need to heat up the spinal column in rotating motions,” states Dr Fred. “You need to wake up the outer butt muscular tissues, called the glute medius, in order to keep your hips steady when you opt for a run. Those are the fundamentals.”

The most effective injury-preventing workout for joggers includes exercises that sustain the back, get you engine, lube the joints, “as well as break up the intra-articular attachments that get stuck in the joint and prevent it from liquid flexibility,” states Dr Fred. Your hip socket is a fantastic instance– you need to heat up your hips so they can relocate as openly as feasible to respond to slips, quick changes in stride and also irregular terrain.

Dr Fred’s warm-up takes 2 minutes to complete; do 10 or so representatives of each workout as well as transfer to the following. Beginning each workout in a standing position.

Angled leg swings: Hold on to the wall surface or a chair for balance. Expand your left leg straight sideways as well as swing it from side to side before your body. Repeat on best leg.
Hip gyros: Hang on to the wall or a chair for equilibrium. Increase the left leg and also, keeping the knee bent, circle the leg inward for 10, after that outside for 10. Repeat on the other leg.
Side lunges: Start with feet together. Lunge to the left, keeping your ideal leg directly and prolonged and your left knee bent. Let your weight move a little bit back to maintain stress off your knee. Repeat, and then finish on right leg. “This gets up the glute medius, which aids keep your hips level while running,” claims Dr Fred.

” There’s a great deal that adds to improper spinal column or pelvic alignment, and also in some cases it has nothing to do with running,” says Dr Fred. “It has to do with a day task, where you sit in one particular placement throughout the day and then choose a run. The muscular tissues are in a state of rigidity on one side as well as are extended on the other, and after that you go with a run as well as your pelvis changes.”
Switch placements and seats, when possible, every thirty minutes throughout the day. Varied posture continues to be the best position, according to Dr Fred, so cross your left leg, then a half-hour later, cross your appropriate leg; sit on top of your ankle joint, sit right, as well as also slouch.

Try resting on a stability ball– it tests your stomach muscles and also enables you to shake your pelvis, which oils your joints. Change between a chair and also stability ball, stand, and take short stroll breaks if you work in an office. “One setting for numerous quantities of time is tragic for the spinal column,” says Dr Fred.

Whether you run in the morning right after climbing, or in the afternoon/evening after resting throughout the day at work, a correct warm-up additionally aids protect against injury.
Warm-up as well as Stretches to Prevent Injury
After years and also years of treating people for the majority of the very same injuries, and also acknowledging patterns such as not warming up and/or stretching effectively, Dr Fred created an app, called W.E. Run, that demonstrates workout as well as extending exercises.

” You need to warm up the hip in circular patterns, and also you need to warm up the back in rotary activities,” states Dr Fred. “You require to get up the external butt muscles, called the glute medius, in order to keep your hips steady when you choose a run. Those are the fundamentals.”

The best injury-preventing warm-up for joggers consists of exercises that sustain the spine, obtain you engine, oil the joints, “and also separate the intra-articular adhesions that get stuck in the joint and also prevent it from fluid mobility,” claims Dr Fred. Your hip outlet is an excellent example– you need to heat up your hips so they can relocate as freely as possible to respond to slides, fast changes in stride and unequal surface.

Dr Fred’s warm-up takes two minutes to complete; do 10 approximately reps of each exercise as well as transfer to the next. Beginning each exercise in a standing position.

Angled leg swings: Hold on to the wall or a chair for balance. Expand your left leg directly sideways and swing it back and forth in front of your body. Repeat on right leg.
Hip gyros: Hang on to the wall or a chair for balance. Increase the left leg as well as, keeping the knee bent, circle the leg internal for 10, then outside for 10. Repeat on the various other leg.

Side lunges: Beginning with feet with each other. Lunge to the left, maintaining your best leg right and also extended and your left knee bent. Allow your weight change a bit back to keep pressure off your knee. Repeat, and afterwards finish on appropriate leg. “This wakes up the glute medius, which assists keep your hips degree while running,” says Dr Fred.

Healing through Chiropractic Care

February 1, 2019 Tampa Florida ChiropracticFredrick WilliamsLeave a comment

If you are regularly complaining of neck, back, as well as joint pain, migraines, numbness, and also tingling, but have yet to see a chiropractor, then you are certainly missing out on a risk-free and also non-invasive choice that will bring some relief from your pain. Numerous people all over the world have actually experienced the unbelievable benefits of chiropractic treatment, a medicine- as well as surgery-free method that has been revealed to effectively recover the body naturally.

Making an appointment with a chiropractor at Kingdom Chiropractic with locations in Tampa, Brandon/Riverview, Clearwater and Brooksville is easy to see why we are the fastest growing chiropractic practice in the Tampa/Clearwater area.

What’s The Difference?

Chiropractors treat severe back as well as neck pain, in addition to headaches, and also improve your overall health with back adjustment. Chiropractic care adjustments help to preserve healthy musculoskeletal and also nerves by placing your body in the appropriate placement, which then permits the body to heal itself. This non-invasive technique reduces tension put on somebody’s immune system and also permits the nerves to work freely and also ideally. The nervous system regulates every cell and organ in your body, so it is simple to see how chiropractic isn’t simply for discomfort alleviation, yet also for general health and also disease prevention.

Why Obtain Chiropractic Care Adjustments?

There are several factors that can lead to a vertebral subluxation. Some of the more common causes include:

Injury from a mishap, slip, or fall
Poor stance
Joint swelling
Inflammation triggered by an inadequate diet plan, dehydration, or anxiety
Osteoporosis or degenerative modifications
Muscular tissue stress that emphasizes the vertebrae
Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractic practitioner

Finding an excellent chiropractic practitioner that you can trust is the best way to remedy the damage as well as start a positive technique to securing your wellness. Chiropractic specialists treat people with a vast array of signs as well as conditions. We don’t just concentrate on discomfort relief or the factor for their client’s visit, but they care for the overall health and wellness of our patients. It truly is healthcare.

The all-natural and restorative benefits of chiropractic care have been revealed to decrease the demand for possibly addictive medicine and also surgical treatment.

In addition, the therapies typically work quickly, which for some, can be a lifesaver to those in pain.

If you are suffering, contact our office at 813-434-1045 and make an appointment. You will not regret it.