The busy holiday season is upon us and the team at Mount Pleasant Spine Center wants to make sure you are ready to enjoy it! Below are some common signs and symptoms of burnout and how best to combat it.

You know you are probably experiencing burn-out if you’re constantly tired, life is just “too hard,” and your fatigue prevents you from enjoying time with friends and family.  You are probably experiencing burn-out if you heave a heavy sigh and wonder if whatever it is that you’re doing is really worth the effort with even the simplest of tasks.

What are some of the other symptoms of burn out? You might experience:

-Physical and emotional exhaustion

-Lowered immune system response, turning into frequent bouts of illness

-Apathy or lack of excitement about previously enjoyed activities

What can you do to recover from burnout? Slow down and take some time for yourself to rest, relax and reflect. Let go of unnecessary commitments that are a burden. Although it can feel difficult during the busy holiday season you do not need to say yes to everything that is asked of you- take the time you need to enjoy those people and activities that are a priority to you. Lean on loved ones or professionals for the emotional support you need.

Remember that burnout is usually triggered by over-activity, increased stress hormones and the lack of ability for your system to successfully managed stress. Along with making sure you are getting proper nutrition and hydration, regular exercise and adequate sleep one of the best ways to help your body better accommodate stress is to obtain regular chiropractic care. For any questions or if you would like to make an appointment at our Mount Pleasant Chiropractic office please call 843-416-8012.

The entire team at Mount Pleasant Spine Center would like to wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

We are extremely grateful for all of our wonderful patients and your continued support, referrals and friendship- we have a lot to be grateful for!

We will be closed for the holiday Thursday November 23^rd and Friday November 24th. For emergency appointments please call 843-991-6038.

Back pain is a big deal. In fact, it is such a big deal that it costs Americans at least $90 billion a year in medical expenses and has affected an estimated 59 million Americans in just the past three months! Low back pain is also one of the most frequent reasons for employees to miss work days- not good for productivity.  Below are six simple yet effective ways to improve and, more importantly, prevent low back pain.

1. Get regular chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic is proven to effectively treat back pain. Manual based therapies such as chiropractic adjustments help to restore function and structure without the risk of complications from surgery or drugs.
2. Increase core strength. Your core plays an important role in back pain and strength. A strong core will reduce the amount of strain on your lower back. Pilates, yoga, weight lifting and bodyweight exercises are great ways to increase your core strength. Simple exercises such as planks can significantly increase core strength and help prevent low back weakness and pain.
3. Don’t become dependent on a back brace. Your doctor of chiropractic may prescribe a back brace for lower back pain to help temporarily relieve some acute symptoms. But it is critical you avoid depending on your back brace entirely. Overuse can cause your core muscles to weaken, putting your back at increased risk for injury and strain. Your main focus should be in on finding the root of the problem and strengthening your core muscles.
4. Practice excellent posture. Good posture helps to maintain proper alignment in the spine, reduces stress on ligaments and prevents muscle strain among other benefits. Ask your chiropractor for tips on how to improve your posture, make sure your work and home spaces are ergonomic and keep your spine and low back pain-free.
5. Improve your flexibility. Flexibility can help release tension and stress in your back and allow it more flexibility with daily tasks. If you have any questions about proper stretching or foam rolling techniques be sure to ask your chiropractor for tips and suggestions.
6. Check your mattress, pillow and sleeping position. These three things can have a detrimental effect on your spine and your level of low back pain.

For any questions or further information on how to best prevent and treat your low back pain do not hesitate to contact our Mount Pleasant Chiropractic office at 843-416-8012.

“Sit up straight” and “put your shoulders back” have been two of parents’ favorite sayings for a very long time. And, as you may suspect, this is one case where mom and dad are absolutely correct.

Having good posture (which does indeed incorporate sitting up straight and having your shoulders in a proper ergonomic position) is very important for your overall musculoskeletal health. In fact, poor posture can be a contributing factor to a multitude of health conditions. For example, strain issues such as chronic headaches, neck pain and low back pain can be caused or at the very least exacerbated by bad posture.

In addition, if you are slouching think about the effect that has on the inside of your body. When you are slouching your heart, stomach, lungs, blood vessels, nerves, et cetera are all being compressed. Therefore, as a result these organs now have to work harder to function. The next time you are feeling fatigued, sit up straight and allow your organs to have the proper room to function and see how you feel.

Correcting bad posture and the physical problems that result due to incorrect postures can be accomplished in two ways.

The first is by eliminating as much “bad” stress from your body as possible. Bad stress includes all the factors, habits or stressors that cause your body to deviate from your structural center. Bad stress can result from a poorly adjusted workstation, from not having your seat adjusted correctly in your car, or even carrying too much weight in a heavy purse or backpack.

In addition, one area we often overlook is our sleeping position.

We spend on average 33 years of our life sleeping, that is a very long time to have your head or spine twisted.  It is important to have your neck and spine in a neutral position while sleeping.

The second is by applying “good” stress on the body in an effort to move your posture back toward your center of balance.

This is accomplished through a series of exercises, stretches, adjustments, and changes to your physical environment, all designed to help correct your posture.

For questions or to book an appointment please call our Mount Pleasant chiropractic office at 843-416-8012.

As healthcare professionals we discuss prevention for cardiac health, cholesterol management and diabetes development among various other disease processes and ailments, however, we do not discuss enough regarding osteoporosis prevention. Outlined below are a couple of key points on ideas for osteoporosis prevention as well as tips and tricks that will increase your overall health and wellness.

Exercise (but don’t abuse) your joints- A sedentary lifestyle which is lacking in exercise and aerobic activity makes for weak muscles and increases the odds of developing osteoporosis (and other health issues). Regular exercise is essential as it helps to creates stronger and more flexible joints. Exercise does not always have to be strenuous but it is important for it to be regular. Consider a cross-training program that includes a variety of exercises and weight training. The use of weights is an important factor in the prevention of osteoporotic changes as it helps builds denser bones and strengthens the muscles, ligaments, and tendons associated with joints.

Supplement your joints- Poor food choices, environmental chemicals, and excess stress contribute to widespread nutrient deficiencies in our society. Research shows that certain nutrients are vital for joint health. Ensuring proper supplementation can protect the joints and minimize symptoms of osteoporosis. Such supplements include vitamins A and D, calcium and magnesium. However, it is important to determine the individualized supplement plan that works best for you which should be determined with your individual healthcare provider.

Water your joints- Water makes up 70 percent of the cartilage in joints and plays a major role in the lubrication and shock absorbing properties of healthy joints. Dehydration may be a major underlying, and unrecognized factor in degeneration and pain. It is important to ensure that you are drinking enough water daily to help ensure joint health.

Stretching/Yoga for flexible joints- Incorporating simple yoga postures for a couple of minutes a day is a great addition to keeping joints happy and healthy. There are many simple yoga poses that can increase muscle tone and the flexibility and range of motion of joints. Research indicates that yoga generates beneficial mechanical pressures on joints.

These are just some of the simple tips and tricks that can help prevent changes in the joints. For any questions or to make an appointment please call our Mount Pleasant chiropractic office at 843-416-8012.

You’ve probably included the crunch in your exercise regimen at some point, maybe even currently. They’ve been a staple at the gym for years, but I cringe every time I see someone doing them and routinely recommend that my patient’s do not perform them. It’s about time everyone knew the truth about crunches and why they aren’t the right exercise for strengthening your core or your back.

1. Crunches load your spine at high levels of compressive force- over and above the maximum recommended by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. For an exercise that is thought to help eliminate back pain by strengthening the core, crunches have only worsened the back-pain epidemic.
2. When performing a crunch, the work is being done by the superficial muscles in the abdomen and the hip flexors, which shorten and tighten with each repetition. But here is the issue- these muscles are already short and tight due to all the sitting we do in our daily lives, so it makes no sense to further shorten and tighten them. In actuality, crunches weaken your core, mess with your alignment and set you up for back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. In addition, we have all seen those individuals who recruit their neck muscles to perform a crunch and end up with neck pain- not a good idea.
3. Crunches do not make your tummy flat. Next time you are at the gym, watch people doing crunches and pay attention to their abdomen – you will notice the tummy pooches outward, which is the opposite of the so-called purpose of this exercise. You will also notice that the shoulders round, the head tucks forward, the butt tucks under and the breath is often held. This is not beneficial to the core or pelvic floor and only serves to exacerbate the terrible posture we live in all day.

So the big question- what to do instead of crunches? The short and quick answer is planks- not only does planking strengthen your core but it does so without any of the side effects of crunches. For any questions, or to learn more about properly planking techniques call our Mount Pleasant office at 843-416-8012.

Many people have either heard of or experienced the pain associated with a herniated or a ‘blown disc’ but what does that mean and how can chiropractic help?  A good place to start when discussing the causes and solutions to treating a herniated disc is by explaining the anatomy of a vertebral disc.  The disc itself functions as a cushion for the vertebrae (or bones) that make up our spine.  In addition, discs help to create space for the exiting nerve roots that come off of the spinal cord at each level to innervate the organs, muscles and joints of the body.  The disc itself can be compared to a jelly donut- with a soft, pliable inside (the nucleus pulposus) and a sturdier outer layer (the annulus fibrosis).

When a disc herniation occurs it can be a result of an acute trauma or from chronic abuse and degeneration over the years.  A bulging disc is one of the most common disc problems that people encounter.  This is not a true disc herniation as the annulus fibrosis is still fully intact.  This may or may not cause pain for an individual (usually 50% do, 50% do not) and is a symmetric bulging of the entire disc.  A disc protrusion is a true herniation, with a tear in the annulus fibrosis where part of the nucleus pulposus goes beyond the borders of the annulus fibrosis.  A protrusion differs from an extrusion in that an extrusion can travel up or down the vertebral segment adjacent to the disc.  There is also the possibility of a sequestration in which a part of the nucleus actually breaks off and is a free fragment.  Most people with protrusions, extrusions, and sequestrations do experience local and radiating ( into the arm/ leg) pain.  Herniated discs are most common at L5/S1 which is the transitional segment between the last lumbar vertebrae and the start of the sacrum (tailbone).

What if you already have a disc herniation?  Chiropractic care can help to treat herniated discs. To treat a herniated disc, your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that may include appropriate spinal manipulation—and other chiropractic techniques to help ease your herniated disc symptoms. This will be an individualized treatment plan, but it may include manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.

The specifics of what are in your treatment plan are particular to your pain, level of activity, overall health, and your specific diagnosis.

For any questions, or to schedule an appointment call our Mount Pleasant chiropractic office at 843-416-8012.

Here at Mount Pleasant Spine Center the discussion regarding proper posture and ergonomics comes up quite frequently. More and more of our patients are transitioning to jobs that require them to work on a computer and, therefore, the discussion regarding proper posture and computer ergonomics is an important one.  Whether it is at home or in an office, most people have some type of work station set up while going about their daily routine.  In our Mount Pleasant chiropractic office we are constantly seeing work and stress related injuries associated with spending too much time, in a not ideal posture, while working on the computer. However, the good news is that there are some simple solutions to improve posture and decrease muscle strain while doing computer and desk work.

Chair Height – You should be able to fit a fist between your chair and knee and be able to slide a flat hand between the bottom of your thigh and the chair seat.  If your seat is too high you will tend to tuck your feet back and cross them which increases the stress on your joints.  You may have to work around the height of the desk first as you may not be able to adjust it.  If you need to, make your chair height taller in order to reach the keyboard comfortably, and consider using a small box under your feet for support so they are not ‘dangling’ off the chair. Also, if it is an option for you, we have seen a lot of patient’s experience positive results when transitioning to a standing desk.

Feet – There are a few options here.  You can either have your feet rest comfortably on the ground or use a binder to raise your feet to a 15-25 degree angle.  Having an increased angle will help to relax the muscles of the lower back.

Back Rest – The back of the chair usually has a small lumbar support on it and this is exactly where the support should rest.  Remember your spine is made up of curves and we want to use the back rest to support these curves. Having the support too high can cause us to slouch with our lower back.  Having the support too low increases strain on your upper back and neck

Arm Rest – The arm rests are meant to take the stress off your shoulders and neck.  Set them at a height that is comfortable for you when your shoulders are relaxed.  Having them too high will cause you to shrug your shoulders, creating trigger points and stiff muscles.

Monitor Height – The top of the monitor should be at or below eye level.  This will keep you from craning your neck. Remember you want your eyes to be able to look directly at the screen with you neck in a ‘neutral’ position- you do not want to flex or extend your neck in order to see the screen.

For any questions, or to make an appointment, call our Mount Pleasant Office at 843-416-8012.

We are a society that is constantly in a state of stress. Who doesn’t feel the need to reduce the stress in their life? Stress relief is vital to finding the balance of a healthy lifestyle. Massage therapy is one excellent option for helping to decrease stress. Research indicates that even a single massage session has been shown to significantly lower heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels – all of which help reduce overall stress.  In addition, we find that most individuals are dealing with some kind of postural stress, and oftentimes that tends to manifest in the shoulders and neck and can certainly be exasperated by desk and office work. Massage therapy, along with chiropractic care, is a great way to help combat this postural stress induced by prolonged sitting and desk jobs. At our Mount Pleasant Chiropractic office we find that our patient’s love getting massage therapy treatments in conjunction with their chiropractic care for a number of reasons including;

Massage therapy is very successful in helping to alleviate both postural and emotional stress- a massage is a great way to give yourself some much needed relaxation and “me time.”

Massage therapy helps ease post workout or post-activity muscle pain- we see many athlete’s benefit from their massage therapy sessions at the office.

Many surgeons and primary care physicians are now recommending that their patient’s receive massages for post-surgical healing as massage is proven to accelerate the healing process.

Studies have found massage may also be helpful for:

Anxiety

Digestive disorders

Fibromyalgia

Headaches

Insomnia related to stress

Myofascial pain syndrome

Soft tissue strains or injuries

Sports injuries

Temporomandibular joint pain

And this is just a small list among numerous other conditions and common patient complaints.

At Mount Pleasant Spine Center we are in Network with all of the insurance companies that cover chiropractic care and massage therapy so we find many of our patients can receive massage therapy as part of their treatment at our office for a very reasonable co-pay amount.  If you have any questions on whether your insurance covers massage therapy treatments or for any questions on how massage therapy may benefit you please call our Mount Pleasant chiropractic office at 843-416-8012.

A new study found on consumerreports.org demonstrates that chiropractic care and manual based therapy is now recommended as the go-to approach for low back pain.

The study notes that “an analysis published April 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that spinal manipulation can ease your backache and get you moving again without the risk of medication side effects. For the JAMA analysis, researchers from the Department of Veterans Affairs and elsewhere combined results from 26 studies involving more than 3,000 patients with low-back pain lasting six weeks or less. Patients treated with spinal manipulation were able to move through daily activities with less pain than people who didn’t get the therapy.”

As we noted in a previous blog post, recent research from the American College of Physicians “recommend trying spinal manipulation or other nondrug measures such as acupuncture and massage before turning to OTC pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and generic) or naproxen (Aleve and generic). They also strongly discourage the use of prescription opioid painkillers because of the risk of addiction and overdose.”

Consumer reports indicated that “the real strength of spinal manipulation is that it is equally effective to other forms of commonly used treatments, and it’s safer,” says Paul Dougherty, D.C., chief of chiropractic care at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Canandaigua, N.Y., and a co-author of the JAMA review.” In addition, “none of the studies included in the JAMA analysis reported that spinal manipulation had serious adverse effects. Minor side effects included headaches, soreness, and muscle stiffness, but those were generally short-lived.” As we indicate to first –time patients in our office, if post-treatment soreness is experienced it is generally comparable to post-exercise or post-work-out muscle soreness.

The article also notes that “pain medications, on the other hand, carry more serious risks. Opioids commonly cause nausea, vomiting, and constipation, and make you feel drowsy and “fuzzy-headed.” And a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that taking an opioid painkiller for more than a few days sharply increases the risk of getting hooked on the drug. OTC anti-inflammatory drugs are safer than opioids for most people but—especially when taken long term—they can cause serious harm, including kidney problems, bleeding in the stomach or elsewhere in the digestive tract, and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.”

“A new Consumer Reports survey of more than 3,500 back-pain sufferers reached similar conclusions: Nearly 90 percent of people who tried spinal manipulation found it helpful.”

To access the Consumer Reports article click on the link below;

http://www.consumerreports.org/back-pain/spinal-manipulation-can-ease-your-aching-back

For any questions, or to schedule an appointment, call our Mount Pleasant Chiropractic office at 843-416-8012.