Non-Cardiac Chest Pain & How Chiropractic Can Help

Having pain in your chest can be scary—most people immediately assume the pain is related to a heart attack and rush to the emergency room. While this isn’t a bad idea since it’s better to err on the side of caution, heart attacks typically only cause about 5% of total chest pain. If you experience chest pain that has been confirmed as non-cardiac, it’s important to explore all your options to resolve the pain and get to the root of the problem. Dr. Ronnie Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic has experience with non-cardiac chest pain and can help you find relief with neurologically-based chiropractic care.

Getting to the Root Cause of the Pain

One of the aims of chiropractic care is to find the true origin of discomfort and dysfunction. Dr. Bolar is not satisfied with just treating symptoms or putting a hypothetical band-aid on a problem for temporary, short-term relief. Instead, he wants to figure out what is causing the non-cardiac chest pain that you’re experiencing so that he can help resolve the issue fully and permanently. Most commonly, the cause of non-cardiac chest pain is related to the ribs. When the rib cage is out of alignment or ribs are displaced, this can bring about muscle tightness and pain in the chest. Lower back problems can also cause ribs to be displaced or can bring about muscle spasms and pain in the chest. Tightness in any muscles or muscle groups near to the chest can also cause pain in this area.

Most commonly, muscle issues that result in chest pain are due to misalignments of the spine. When a vertebra is shifted slightly to one side or another, or if it is a little twisted or turned, the muscles on either side of […]

Slip and Fall Accident

If you’ve been involved in a slip and fall accident, you likely have a lot of things on your mind. You’re thinking about your physical pain levels, insurance costs, and doctors’ appointments. If your accident happened at work, you’re dealing with workers’ compensation claims, conversations with your employer, and figuring out how to make ends meet while you’re out of work. While many traditional treatment methods are utilized to speed up healing after a slip and fall accident, you may be surprised to find out that a chiropractor can play an important role in your healing as well.

Spinal Subluxations

A subluxation in your spine is simply a misalignment of one or more of the vertebrae. Several of these small bones make up your spine, and any of them can get twisted, turned, or shifted out of alignment from a slip and fall, and this can bring about a lot of health problems, pain, and discomfort. Not only do spinal subluxations cause back and neck pain, headaches, and muscle soreness throughout the body, but they can also cause dysfunction in other systems of the body.

Since the spinal cord travels through the spine and is an important part of the central nervous system, any misalignment of the vertebrae can put pressure on the surrounding nerves and wreak havoc on the proper function of the central nervous system and all the other system it helps to control. For example, a misalignment of the lumbar spine can bring about digestive troubles while a misalignment in the neck can bring about vision problems, sinus issues, or headaches.

When you fall, your body experiences a jolt of impact. Depending on where the impact occurs and how hard you fall, the accident can cause one or many spinal […]

Ergonomics in Today’s Unique Work Environments

If you’re like most people, the past few months have brought about many changes to your work environment. Many people across the country have been working from home for weeks, and many of us will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Whether you’re figuring out how to optimize your home office, are struggling to set up a productive workspace in your kitchen, or are still in the office on a daily or weekly basis, you should be paying attention to how helpful your work environment is when it comes to your productivity.

What Role Does Ergonomics Play?

Ergonomics is the study of an individual’s efficiency as it pertains to their working environment. It is about both the mental and physical efficiency you have based on your work setting. It includes how focused you feel in addition to how physically comfortable you are, as both work together to maximize your productivity and concentration. Ergonomics not only affects how much work you get done how quickly, but it’s also about you feel in your physical environment—are you uncomfortable, in pain, or overly distracted? If so, your work ergonomics need an overhaul. You may need to clean up your desk, clear the area around your workspace, or move your furniture into a different room or layout. You also may need a better chair, as your physical comfort is a big part of work productivity and efficiency.

Back Pain & Work Ergonomics

One of the biggest complaints of office workers is back pain. The next most common is neck pain. This makes sense since they’re sitting the majority of the day, often hunched over paperwork or a computer screen and keyboard. If you’ve been working from home, you may be experiencing even more pain and discomfort than normal. […]

How Can Chiropractic Decrease the Risk of Falls for the Elderly?

One of the biggest risks of injury as we enter our golden years is falling.  After the age of 65, the risk of falling rises significantly. In fact, 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 experience a fall each year and about 25% of them experience serious injuries due to a fall.  The statistics related to older adults falling can be scary in and of themselves.  Not only does the older population have to worry about serious injuries, surgeries, and hospital stays from falling, but they also experience a psychological fear of falling because of an increased awareness of the risks. But the fear of falling doesn’t have to consume you. An experienced Lithia Springs chiropractor can give the elderly back their confidence in their ability to function well and avoid falls through regular chiropractic care.

What Contributes to Increased Falls as We Age?

As we get older, our bodies experience significant wear and tear. The musculoskeletal system may not function as it once did.  The elderly population also deal other types of pain that can affect their ability to walk and get around easily. Additionally, poor spinal alignment can also lead to balance problems that causes unsteadiness when moving or standing. Vertigo is another issue that many elderly people face. Problems with the inner ear can cause dizziness that can lead to a higher risk of falling. Over time, aging causes muscles to atrophy and blood flow to decrease. Weakened muscles can decrease function, causing stiffness and making walking difficult. Any number or combination of these health concerns will only increase a person’s chances of falling and therefore increase the risk of injury. Thankfully, regular chiropractic care from a Lithia Springs chiropractor can address all these concerns to […]

Whiplash Pain? Seek Chiropractic Care for Relief

Have you been in a car crash?  Are you now experiencing neck or back pain?  You are most likely experiencing whiplash pain as a result of the accident.  No matter how small or minor your car accident may have been, if there is damage to the car, there is damage to your body. Whiplash can also occur from other issues such as banging or shaking your head too much.  Symptoms of whiplash can be quite painful, to the point that you can’t carry out daily tasks because you can’t turn your head from side to side.  Before the pain worsens, seek chiropractic care from a Lithia Springs chiropractor for whiplash relief after a car accident or other injury.

Signs and Symptoms of Whiplash

The impact of a rear end car crash forces the head and neck forward and then violently slams them backward.  This forceful motion can cause significant damage to the musculoskeletal system.  You may not notice any pain or problems at first, but after a day or two, you will often experience muscle stiffness, headaches, limited range of motion of the neck, back pain, numbness, and even dizziness.  If not addressed, symptoms of whiplash can worsen, possibly even leading to chronic pain.  To relieve the pain, your first instinct is probably to reach for medication.  But medication only acts as a band aid, covering up the pain until the medicine wears off and symptoms return.  For long-term relief, turn to Lithia Springs chiropractor Dr. Ronnie Bolar.

Address the Root Cause of Whiplash Pain

Because whiplash affects the musculoskeletal system, it makes sense to visit a Lithia Spring chiropractor that focuses on the musculoskeletal system to improve your overall health.  Impacts or injuries can lead to spinal misalignments that cause dysfunction throughout the body, […]

Pinched Nerve Pain: Find Relief with Chiropractic

Did you wake up this morning with a terrible pain in your back? Do you feel like you pulled something while moving a certain way or playing a sport? The pain you may be experiencing could be a pinched nerve. There are several things that may cause a pinched nerve, though the reason they occur is mainly because of a subluxation, or misalignment of the spine. A pinched nerve is simply a nerve that is being compressed in an unnatural way. This can occur after an intense workout, from bad posture, or just by reaching for something that misaligns the spine, causing the compressed nerve and a whole lot of pain, tingling, or numbness. Pinched nerves can also cause a few other symptoms. A pinched nerve can be debilitating and many people that experience this pain cannot function properly in their day-to-day life; it can make driving to work or school nearly impossible, and sometimes the only way of finding comfort is lying on your bed with a hot or cold pack, but you can’t really get a whole lot done or enjoy your life by doing that constantly.

What Should I Do About It?

The pain caused by a pinched nerve can linger for weeks if not treated properly and in a timely manner. Dr. Ronnie Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic is experienced in treating pain caused by these pinched nerves, and he can help get you back on your feet and back to your life before this pain takes over and before more serious health concerns come about because of it. Several people who experience pinched nerves believe that the pain will eventually go away on its own, or they will take large amounts of pain medication to alleviate the […]

Chiropractic Care for Auto Accident Pain

Every year, many people find themselves involved in auto accidents.  Thankfully, most accidents are minor fender benders, but even though you think everything is fine, you may actually have an injury to the spine or neck. The sudden impact of any auto accident, no matter how minor, is enough to cause injury.  You may be oblivious to the effects of an auto accident as pain is usually the last symptom to manifest itself.  However, if these issues are not dealt with in a timely manner, they could lead to more serious chronic back or neck pain later on, in addition to a slew of other issues.  To avoid recurring problems from auto accident injuries, visit a Lithia Springs chiropractor for examination after any fender bender, no matter how minor it seemed.

Common Injuries from an Auto Accident

One of the most common complaints after an auto accident is neck and back pain caused by the sudden forward motion of the neck during an accident.  Out of the 6 million auto accidents that occur each year, rear-end crashes are the most common, and all of these lead to some form of forcing the head forward and then slamming it back, causing the painful symptoms of whiplash.  Whiplash Associated Disorders, or WAD, occur in about 15% of these auto accidents.  Lower back pain is also a common problem after being in an accident, and unfortunately, this type of lower back pain will recur frequently until corrected.  Symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, stiffness, or blurred vision after an accident should not be taken lightly as they can lead to more serious, long-term problems in the future.  In most accidents, any damage to the car usually signifies damage to the spine as well.  It […]

Chiropractic for Those with Scoliosis

 

An abnormal curve of the spine is known as scoliosis.  Any twisting of the spine or improper curve of the spine when looking from a front or back view is considered a form of scoliosis.  Although there are many varieties of spinal curvatures that could contribute to scoliosis, the most common form involves a side to side curve instead of a straight spine.  This common type of scoliosis is called idiopathic scoliosis and often occurs in the adolescent years (ages 10-14), but it can occur at any age.  Other forms of scoliosis include neuromuscular or myopathic scoliosis, degenerative scoliosis, or congenital scoliosis.  No matter what type of scoliosis people suffer from, it can be both painful and even debilitating.  Before scoliosis worsens to the point of causing health issues, find out how a chiropractor can help.

Managing Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a disease that usually progresses over time. While there may be no cure to eradicate spinal curves completely, chiropractic can manage scoliosis to prevent it from worsening and it can even reduce the curve in certain cases.  Because scoliosis is an improper spinal alignment, chiropractic care can also prevent scoliosis from occurring before it starts through maintaining optimal spinal health with regular adjustments.  Chiropractic for children is highly recommended since most cases of scoliosis occur in adolescence.  Be sure to visit Lithia Springs chiropractor Dr. Ron Bolar to promote spinal health as well as overall health and wellness for all ages.

Chiropractic Care for Scoliosis

Many people ask if chiropractic can cure scoliosis.  Unfortunately, there isn’t technically a cure for scoliosis. However, chiropractic care is a great solution for managing scoliosis throughout one’s lifetime.  Dr. Ronnie Bolar of Vital Life Chiropractic will gently adjust the spine to prevent further curvature of the spine and assist […]

Is Chiropractic Safe for Herniated Discs?

A herniated disc is caused when a disc protrudes out from the spine.  Spinal discs are rubbery pads that support your vertebrae, and when even one is out of place and pressing on a nerve, it can cause significant amounts of pain and other health problems.  Herniated discs can occur in many ways, such as from playing sports, stretching or twisting incorrectly, being in a car accident, improper lifting techniques, or simply getting older.  No matter what the cause, chiropractic care offers relief from the severe pain herniated discs cause and can even help you avoid surgery or other extreme medical measures.

Methods for Managing Herniated Discs

Symptoms of herniated discs include back and neck pain, stiffness, leg pain, arm pain, or spinal tenderness.  If the symptoms of a herniated disc become too much to bear, doctors often resort to back surgery to correct the disc protrusion.  However, an invasive procedure such as surgery is often a last resort and comes with many risks.  Before resorting to surgery, consider chiropractic care from a Lithia Springs chiropractor. Studies have shown that spinal adjustments can considerably help in managing herniated discs.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Herniated discs are excruciatingly painful and any little movement could further aggravate them.  While some may think that chiropractic care will cause more damage to the spine and further aggravate a herniated disc, nothing could be further from the truth.  Lithia Springs chiropractors are careful to examine the issue and treat it with caution and care.  In fact, specialized methods are used to ensure quality care that can gently move the herniated disc away from nerves.  This, in turn, alleviates pain and discomfort. Removing subluxations of the spine also removes nerve interference, thus ensuring your body’s systems are working properly.  Misalignments […]

The Importance of Proper Spinal Curves

It is no secret that chiropractic care is used to treat all kinds of ailments beyond just the spine and musculoskeletal system.  But many people seek chiropractors primarily for the treatment of back or neck pain or various spinal disorders such as scoliosis (C- or S-shaped spinal curve), lordosis (curved lower back), or kyphosis (abnormally rounded upper back). However, very few people are aware that a healthy adult spine, running from the base of the skull to the pelvis, when viewed from the side should have a gentle S-shaped curve. The neck and lower back regions are concave and the thoracic and sacral regions have a convex curve.

The spine is basically a series of bones stacked with cushions to absorb shock, and its main function is to support body weight and protect the spinal cord. Due to this incredibly important job, it is very important to keep the spine strong and in proper alignment, both retaining necessary spinal curves and avoiding abnormal spinal curves.

Spinal Curves Dictate Proper Posture

Spinal curves are responsible for accurate posture while standing and sitting. Ideal spinal curve prevents the onset of any spinal curve disorders and also improves balance, stabilizes muscle, improves muscle strength, and increases the range of motion.

Accurate spinal curves dictate proper posture. However, posture alone cannot determine an onset of poor spinal curvature. Any alteration in the normal curve can lead to future trouble and back pain.

Spinal Curves and Overall Health

Similar to the adage, “The eyes are the window to the soul,” there is a saying in the chiropractic world that says, “Your spine is the window to your health.” Your spine is the foundational framework protecting the spinal cord and if it introduces dysfunction into your body, you can develop injuries, aches, pain, […]

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