Chiropractic Research
Read the latest news and research on how chiropractic care can benefit you and your family!
Does Everyone Get Chiropractic Adjustments the Same Way?
As you might expect, many people don't get adjusted the same way (the same adjustment, with the same technique and the same treatment plan) because there are many factors that determine what an adjustment looks like for someone. Let's dig deeper into why this can be! Chiropractic Technique: In the chiropractic world, there are many different techniques that allow a chiropractor to analyze someone's spine as well as to execute an adjustment. Depending on the technique that your chiropractor uses, your adjustment could include: Manual adjustments Drop tables Instruments Distraction tables Sacro-Occipital Technique blocks Soft tissue therapy Others Age/Stage of Life Expectedly, how you get chiropractic care as a baby is not the same way that you get care as a child or an adult. Babies are not tiny adults, which is why their adjustments looks different! When it comes to babies, their adjustments are much gentler and there is a more neurologically-based approach instead of a musculoskeletal one. Additionally, a young adult with a simple case of neck pain may be adjusted very differently than someone past their seventies who has a tougher time getting on the table, shifting positions or whose body is more sensitive to certain [...]
Can Chiropractic Help with High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a fairly common condition, with the NHS estimating that 18% of adult men and 13% of adult women have elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, they state that half of the people over 75 years of age have high blood pressure. But what is high blood pressure, and what does that mean for our bodies and our health? What is High Blood Pressure? The ideal blood pressure is typically 120/80 mmHg. What does that measurement mean? Blood pressure is measured by the amount of pressure that blood traveling through your body will exert on the artery walls holding it. It is measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. The two numbers represent systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure exerted on the blood vessels when your heart beats and pushes the blood flow through your arteries, and diastolic blood pressure refers to the pressure in between each beat of your heart. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is defined as having a sustained blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above. How does High Blood Pressure affect the body? Often, people with high blood pressure will not know that they have hypertension, as [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Chiropractic Care Can Help Make VBAC Deliveries Possible
No matter how much planning you do, there is no way to account for everything that can happen when you give birth. In many cases, C-sections and other interventions may become necessary. You may have heard that this means all your future deliveries will be similar. However, having a C-section at one birth doesn’t mean that one will be necessary in any future births. In fact, it’s been shown that C-sections are often performed when they are not needed for the situation and it can be better to have a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean. One of the benefits pregnant women can experience from visiting a Lithia Springs chiropractor is a higher chance of a vaginal birth in the future, even if she’s had prior cesarean sections. Why Try for a VBAC? It has been shown in a number of studies that a large number of interventions during birth, such as forceps, vacuums, or C-section deliveries, can actually be detrimental to the short- and long-term health of a baby. Jaundice and feeding problems are among the top concerns for intervention-related risks, though others can occur. In some cases, a C-section can be a lifesaving procedure and is very medically [...]
The Webster Technique for Breech Presentation in Babies
We know that chiropractic care can be beneficial for babies as early as right after birth, but did you know that a baby can benefit from chiropractic care before they are even born? In pregnancy, a baby should be head down by a certain point to ensure that he or she can be born safely. When the baby’s head is up, that is known as a breech presentation. A breech presentation can rule out vaginal birth if it is not corrected early enough in pregnancy, making it one of the most common causes of C-sections. One option to help a baby get into the right position is visiting a Lithia Springs chiropractor who is skilled in the Webster Technique. Turning Breech Babies By the 34th week of pregnancy, a small portion of fetuses are in a breech position- about 4%. At this point, it is uncommon for the baby to flip before birth due to dwindling space in the uterus for movement. This is the cause of about 13% of the C-sections performed today, and while these interventions can be life-saving in some situations, the invasive nature of a surgery makes them a less optimal choice for most mothers and [...]
Backpack Safety Tips from Your Lithia Springs Chiropractor
In most cities and states, school is already back in session or is starting soon. While times remain uncertain and some schools are still closed and opting for virtual education, kids still have school supplies and books that they need to learn this year. Whether they’re learning at home, going to their school in-person, or doing digital learning from a location other than at home, they will likely be hauling all their school materials around from time to time, if not on a daily basis. Since back pain is such a common complaint among Americans, especially kids and teens who have a heavy load of school supplies to transport, it’s important that you utilize these backpack safety tips. Lithia Springs chiropractor Dr. Ronnie Bolar is passionate about helping kids and adults maintain health and optimal function of their central nervous systems, and that begins with the spine. Here are his top tips for backpack safety to keep kids healthy and pain-free this school year. Choose a Quality Backpack While quality may not be as big of a deal for younger students, middle and high school students who are carrying more books need a durable and supportive backpack. Choose one with [...]
Overcoming Nursing Difficulties with Chiropractic Care
Being a new mother is an overwhelming task, and there’s probably nothing you are more worried about than whether your baby is getting everything she needs to be healthy. For many, this includes breastfeeding, as it is known to be the healthiest option for newborns. But while breastfeeding is extremely beneficial, it can often come with challenges. Many women stop breastfeeding earlier than they would like because of the difficulties, even with the help of consultants and supportive families. One option that is not as well-known is seeking the help of a Lithia Springs chiropractor to ensure the spinal health of yourself or your baby is not impacting your ability to nurse well. Why Nursing Can Be Challenging Because it is a natural way to feed our babies, many people think that breastfeeding will come easily to them. While this is true for some moms, in many cases, there are unforeseen issues that can cause issues. Some babies have a hard time latching onto the breast in a way that allows them to get the milk they need. When they do latch, some babies will nurse but still seem to be hungry afterwards, or they may refuse to eat on [...]
Exercise Myths That Are Holding You Back
Everyone knows that exercise is good for the body and the soul. It boosts your mood, helps you be healthier, and keeps your body working as effectively as it can. It helps you maintain a healthy weight, avoid many common health issues, and reduce your likelihood of injury and sickness. But as more research is done and new techniques are explored, many of us have to alter our perspectives and ideas on what exercises are the most beneficial and how we approach our exercise regimen. Myth #1: Short, Quick Workouts Are Just As Effective As Lengthy Ones Some gym rats will spend hours in the gym each day, yet they barely break a sweat. Others will have a super intensive workout that only lasts 15 minutes. Whose method is best? Honestly, neither one is ideal. For exercise to be truly effective, you should aim for high intensity workouts that last at least 30 minutes, and they should happen at least 3 times per week. A vigorous workout will get your heart rate up, get you sweating, and leave you with all the feel-good benefits immediately after a workout. If pain is holding you back from working out, make an appointment [...]
Healthy Children = Healthy Adults
As children grow, they tend to learn a lot by doing, whether that is a baby mimicking the sounds and movements she sees her parents do or a small child trying to run as fast as his older sibling. These activities are a great way for children to learn and grow, but as we well know, they can end up taking plenty of tumbles and falls along the way to discovering new things. Additionally, children tend to follow the paths of their parents in terms of lifestyle choices and overall health, so it’s important to start them early with making healthy choices and taking care of their bodies. Chiropractic care is a healthy, natural way to address your child’s growing bones and body to encourage and promote healing and growth, both during childhood and well into the future. Chiropractic Care for Developing Brains Children’s brains are continuously developing for many years, and as their brains develop, they send out communications through the nervous system, telling the body what muscles to move, what hormones to release, and more. The spine houses the spinal cord, which is where all these communications travel, and regular chiropractic care can help ensure these important lines [...]