Sunday, June 30, 2013

Back Pain

What are the symptoms of back pain?

Anchorage Chiropractor
Symptoms of low back problems include:
  • Pain in the low back
  • Pain in the legs or feet
  • Numbness or tingling in the legs or feet
  • Restricted range of motion
  • Stiffness
While pain is primarily present in the back, you may also experience symptoms in the legs and feet.

How prevalent is back pain?

If you’re experiencing low back pain – you’re not alone:
  • 85 percent of Americans will experience back pain during their lives.
  • 15 percent of Alaskans are suffering from back pain right now.
  • Back pain is the second most common reason for missing work, the second most common reason for doctor visits, and the third most common reason for surgery.
  • A total of $75 billion is spent annually on low back pain treatment.

What causes back pain?

Anchorage Chiropractors
Low back pain can be caused by a number of common conditions, including:
  • Subluxations – “stuck” or “out of place” vertebrae (the bones in your spine)
  • Disc degeneration – discs between vertebrae worn thin due to loss of fluid content
  • Bulging or herniated discs – discs between vertebrate push to one side or rupture
  • Arthritis – deteriorating cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in the joints
  • These conditions are caused by a number of factors, including poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, injuries, obesity, dehydration or just plain age.

What can be done about back pain?

The good news is low back pain is treatable. Some of the most effective treatments include:

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Chiropractic Advocates

Charopractor Anchorage
"Chiropractic has advanced tremendously over the past few decades. It has grown by leaps and bounds to become a specialized and accepted science."

- Andy Griffith, Actor

Friday, June 28, 2013

Better Health Pain & Wellness Centers Testimonial

"After just four treatments on the DRS machine, I could stand up straight and I was free of much of the pain." 

-Carol Moon

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Featured Quote

“For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival, liberty is human rights, the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants.”

- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States of America

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Featured Emotional Health Treatment

Benefits of Outdoor Meditation

Meditation Blogs
As more and more people are turning to various forms of meditation to deal with stress, finding peaceful places to get the most from your experience can be challenging. It can be difficult to find a private place to meditate when you have a house full of children running wild and screaming. The outdoors may be the solution you are looking for. Not only does it give you the peace and quiet you are looking for, it also can provide a rather profound experience. Perhaps it is the primitive side of our human nature that allows us to easily connect with nature, or perhaps it is the incredible smells of the forest or fresh blooming flowers.

The ability to relax and just lose yourself in your environment is what makes meditation and relaxation so beneficial. Taking your meditation outdoors can help bring you to a more focused state, which will, in turn, increase the effects of your meditation. The warmth of the sun as it kisses your skin, or the gentle breeze caressing your body as it blows, can amplify your experience. These simple pleasures can help our bodies relax without having to meditate; although once you combine these features with your meditation routines you can find a greater sense of Nirvana.

This will lower your overall stress level, which has numerous health benefits. These benefits can also transcend into our personal and work relationships and performance. The clearer your mind is, the easier it is to focus on important tasks. This results in an increased level of productivity which can be beneficial in numerous avenues within your life.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Julie's Jazz

Health and Fitness
Every once in awhile I come across a blog that is so well put together and fantastic that I just have to give it a shout out. This time it is Julie's Jazz. The author, Julie, has a knack for finding the things in life that are truly worthwhile. Be it a great recipe or a hilarious anecdote you're after, you'll find it in one of the many blog posts she has written over the years. Julie knows what people like and she displays her blog posts with masterfully shot images and detailed information ranging from delicious recipes, both healthy and sinful, to her personal health tips and goals.

Julie is a health nut. She is currently training for a marathon and her husband, Ben, is currently training for the Ironman Challenge. Julie has probably run more miles in the past year than I did for 4 years in the Marine Corps! When it comes to health and fitness, you'll find TONS of information within the pages of her blog and you'd be hard pressed to find another comparable blog that is as in-depth as Julie's Jazz.

Julie's Jazz
So check her out and give some social love! Share it on Facebook and Google+! If the internet had more bloggers like Julie and blogs like Julie's Jazz, I think that we would live a much healthier and delicious life!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Featured Recipe

Two Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins


Anchorage Chiropractic
Ingredients:
  • 18 ounces spice cake mix
  • 15 ounces pumpkin ( not pumpkin pie mix)
Directions:
  1. Simply mix the pumpkin and the spice cake mix together with electric mixer until well combined. (At this point you may also want to throw in some nuts or raisins, if you like).
  2. Spoon into paper lined small muffin/cupcake tins, 2/3 full. (The batter is very thick and doesn't "settle", so you may wish to smooth the tops if you care what the finished product looks like!).
  3. Bake at 350* 18-22 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Men's Corner

Most Effective at Home Physical Activities for Men

Anchorage Chiropractor
A lot of men want to find new ways to stay or get in shape. Most of the time men forget about all of the household activities that can help exercise our bodies. Something as simple as cleaning out the garage or basement can help give your body the required exercise it needs throughout the day. You also get the added benefit of organizing these forgotten areas of the home. General yard work, such as mowing the lawn or trimming the trees, is also an excellent way to help increase your heart rate while doing some of your household’s weekly tasks. The repeated motion of cutting down and removing the branches will help strengthen your arms and legs, while the extended walking required for mowing the lawn can easily replace a brisk walk or jog.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion...

The constant moving up and down the stairs from the basement to the garage or the garbage also simulates using a stair climber at a local gym. This will help strengthen your legs and provide you with a good cardio-style workout in the process. Not only will you reap the benefits of exercise and a well organized and cleaned environment, but you will likely earn the attention and admiration of your spouse. You will not have to worry about dealing with the stress of having your spouse constantly asking or reminding you to do these tasks.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Conditions that Better Health Pain & Wellness Centers treat

You have pain? We have solutions


Pain relief. Results. Reliability. Options. Commitment. That's what we are all about.

Anchorage Chiropractor
At Better Health Pain and Wellness Centers, our doctors and therapists help both children and adults find relief from many of the following conditions:
  • arthritis
  • back pain
  • degenerated discs
  • disc herniation, protrusion, bulges
  • failed back surgery syndrome
  • headaches/migraines
  • muscle imbalance/weakness
  • neck pain
  • pinched nerves
  • post-surgical rehabilitation
  • posture problems
  • sacroiliac joint pain
  • sciatica
  • scoliosis
Anchorage Chiropractors

Non-Spinal Conditions Treated:

  • Ankle strains/sprains
  • bursitis (hip and shoulder)
  • carpal tunnel syndrome
  • fibromyalgia
  • hip/leg pain
  • knee conditions
  • knee sprains/meniscus tears
  • muscle imbalance/weakness
  • muscle injuries
  • musculoskeletal disorders
  • myofascial pain
  • rotator cuff syndrome
  • shoulder/arm pain
  • sports injuries
  • tendonitis
  • tennis/golfer's elbow

Friday, June 21, 2013

Featured Excercise

June's Featured Exercise


Obliques with Ball:
Lie with your back on the floor and both feet on the ball, using your hands to stabilize yourself on the floor.

Roll the ball to the left with both feet together and your back stationary on the ground.

Then slowly return your feet to center and roll the ball to the right, repeating the process.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Condition: Osteoarthritis/Arthritis

Osteoarthritis/Arthritis

What it is:

Anchorage Chiropractors
As we age, the cartilage covering the ends of our bones in our joints deteriorates. This causes the bones to rub together, creating a painful condition called osteoarthritis.
There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, and osteoarthritis is overwhelmingly the most prevalent. It is a degenerative disease, which typically affects people over the age of 50, unless there is a history of an injury to the area involved.
Osteoarthritis generally begins to occur in the spine when subluxations, disc bulges/herniation, annular tears, disc degeneration, instability, scoliosis, spondylosis, sprains and strains, and whiplash, are left untreated.

Where it occurs:

Subluxations can appear in the:
  • Neck (cervical spine)
  • Low back (lumbar spine)
  • Middel and upper back (thoracic spine)
  • Joints throughout the body

The Symptoms:

Patients with arthritis may experience:
  • Limited range of motion
  • "Crunching" and "popping" in the joints
  • Tenderness
  • Pain
  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Instability
  • Loss of Strength

What are my treatment options?

Chiropractic Medicine - Physical Rehabilitation - DRS Treatment - MCU Therapy

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Testimonial from a satisfied client at Better Health Pain and Wellness Centers

Chiropractor Anchorage
"I was suffering from lower back pain severe enough that I could not bend far enough to put on my socks. The DRS and occupational therapy I received at Better Health Pain & Wellness Center has reduced my pain to almost none. The staff is wonderful, friendly, and caring. I highly recommend Better Health and its people."
- Margaret L.