2020 – Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

Chiropractic Care Can Help You Work from Home More Comfortably

by Dr. Sherry McAllister, President, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

American employees now work from home. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic made the transition to work from home inevitable, but it hasn’t been easy.

Though working from home is great for social distancing and “flattening the curve,” it presents various challenges. Instead of meeting with co-workers face-to-face, you now have to hop on a phone call or Zoom meeting. Team-building activities such as picnics and game days have gone the way of the dinosaur. Not to mention, most promotions and raises have been put on hold.

Working from home affects your physical health, as well. Most office setups feature comfortable, ergonomic furniture meant to support productivity. But if you rarely worked from home prior to the pandemic, you probably had little reason to invest in a home office.

As a result, many workers are conducting business from their kitchen tables, bedrooms or couches. There’s nothing wrong with working from where it’s most convenient, but without a proper setup, you’re much more likely to experience headaches, neuro-musculoskeletal pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Can you relate? If so, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor of chiropractic.

Doctors of chiropractic earn at least seven years of higher education before receiving their license. This training includes guidance on how to achieve and maintain good posture. Following a comprehensive exam and a discussion of your lifestyle and symptoms, a doctor of chiropractic can develop a custom treatment plan that improves your posture and helps you feel better.

Your doctor of chiropractic can recommend office furniture that’s comfortable and supportive. They can improve your neuro-musculoskeletal health with hands-on spinal adjustments, nutritional advice and drug-free treatments. Throughout treatment, they can tweak your plan as necessary, ensuring you achieve the desired outcome.

If working from home is causing you pain, don’t wait to seek professional help. Your doctor of chiropractic is only a phone call away.

Self-Care Options for Relieving Chronic Pain

by Dr. Sherry McAllister, President, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. If you’re one of them, you might think your only treatment options are prescription medications or orthopedic surgery, but that’s far from the case.

A growing number of Americans are turning to all-natural, drug-free approaches to pain management. One of the options increasing in popularity is chiropractic care.

A recent study found that more than 22 million Americans visit a doctor of chiropractic each year to address neuro-musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports- and work-related injuries, and arthritis. What’s more, three out of four people who visit a doctor of chiropractic report treatment as “very effective.”

Chiropractic care has shown to be one of the topmost effective drug-free approaches, but there are other complementary options that can support your recovery as well. Let’s take a closer look at three self-care treatments worth considering:

1. Acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves the insertion of small needles throughout your body’s meridians. It’s thought that acupuncture improves the flow of qi, or life force. Studies show that treatment is quite successful. In fact, 66% of people who undergo acupuncture experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms. Additionally, acupuncture treatments can lower blood pressure and improve sleep.
2. Yoga. Yoga is another self-care option that’s been practiced for thousands of years. It was invented in India and uses stretching and range-of-motion exercises to increase muscle strength, flexibility, cardiac health and energy. One study found that 79% of people who practice yoga at least six times a week say their pain-causing condition greatly improved.
3. Massage. Many people consider massage a form of self-pampering, but it provides medical benefits, too. Light manual manipulation of your skin and soft tissues can improve circulation, ease inflammation and spur your body’s natural healing process. Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are particularly effective.

If you or a loved one regularly experiences chronic pain, consider combining chiropractic care with one (or several) of these self-care treatment modalities. Doing so can significantly improve your quality of life!

Celebrating 125 Years of Chiropractic

By Dr. Sherry McAllister, president, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

September 18, 2020, marks the 125th birthday of the chiropractic profession! To celebrate the occasion, we thought it would be fun to take a brief look at the history of chiropractic care and how it all came to be.

Our story begins in 1895 in the small town of Davenport, Iowa. Daniel David Palmer, known to his friends and colleagues as “DD,” was an enthusiastic scholar who spent much of his free time reading scientific and medical literature.

Over the course of his studies, DD made a significant realization –– for thousands of years, humans had used various forms of manual manipulation to ease pain and improve health, but no one had drafted scientific documentation or developed a philosophical rationale to explain how it worked.

Inspired, he decided to translate his studies into action. Palmer believed all systems in the body were interconnected. DD theorized that manual manipulation, or chiropractic care, could restore balance to the neuruo-musculoskeletal system safely.

Following several years of study, he decided to put his research to the test. On September 18, 1895, DD Palmer performed the first-ever chiropractic adjustment. During this treatment session, he manually aligned a vertebra. Afterward, his patient, a deaf man, noticed an improvement in his hearing.

DD took these results and continued to hone his manual treatment technique. Two years later, in 1897, he opened the Palmer School of Cure in Davenport, Iowa. It’s still there today, but under a different name, the Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Palmer’s early research gained a following and by 1913, legislators passed the first state law licensing chiropractors. 18 years later, in 1931, 39 states officially recognized chiropractic care. Now, millions of Americans visit a doctor of chiropractic every year, including children, senior citizens and professional athletes.

Chiropractic care has come a long way over the last 125 years and we can’t wait to see where it goes next! If you’re interested in finding a doctor of chiropractic in your area, use our free online tool today.

How to Eat Like (Healthy) Royalty

by Dr. Sherry McAllister, Executive Vice President, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

Americans love eating food that’s easy to make and packed with flavor. Unfortunately, these two features don’t always equate to a healthy diet.

If you want to keep your family healthy and nourished, it’s important to incorporate fruits, vegetables, legumes and lean proteins into your daily meal plans.

Doing this can improve energy levels, help you sleep better and lower your risk of chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and neuro-musculoskeletal pain.

1.) Stick to staples. Food staples such as beans, rice, potatoes and wheat aren’t very glamorous, but humans have incorporated them into their diets for hundreds of thousands of years. There’s good reason, too. These foods contain important vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but they’re also incredibly affordable. Additionally, you can make a pot of beans or rice and have it last for several days. This saves you the hassle of coming up with a new meal plan every night.

2.) Grow your own vegetables. Economic lockdowns in response to COVID-19 have encouraged many Americans to start their own gardens. Have you considered doing the same? Gardening can be good for your mental health, and it teaches you where your food comes from.

Even if you don’t have a “green thumb,” you can start out small. Planting herbs, tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers is a great way to add freshness and flavor to salads or sides. As you learn more, you can try more challenging plants such as melons or leafy greens. There’s a small investment up front, but the long-term benefits are sure to add up.

3.) Be brave. Do you regularly make the same three or four meals over and over? While there’s nothing wrong with this, it prevents you from trying new things. Social media platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook are packed with recipe ideas that are healthy and easy to make.

You can also find recipes that adhere to special needs, including gluten sensitivities, peanut allergies and more. Don’t be afraid to try something new every once in a while. Plus, if you expose your kids to new dishes regularly, they’re less likely to be picky about what they eat.

Eating well is the foundation for good neuro-musculoskeletal health. By following these tips, you can improve your nutrition and overall quality of life.

What To Expect At Your First Chiropractic Care Appointment

by Dr. Sherry McAllister, Executive Vice President, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

Every year, about 27 million Americans visit a doctor of chiropractic, and that number increases all the time. If you’ve just made your first appointment, you may be feeling nervous or apprehensive. This is perfectly normal, but there’s nothing to worry about! Chiropractic care is an integrative, holistic branch of medicine with a proven track record of more than 100 years. No two doctors of chiropractic conduct treatment the exact same way, but most initial consultations follow a similar process.

On the day of your appointment, try to arrive at your doctor of chiropractic’s office 10 to 15 minutes early so you have time to fill out any necessary paperwork. Usually, this includes a new patient intake form and a sheet of paper that shows a diagram (front and back) of the human anatomy. On this sheet of paper, you will mark areas of your body that cause you pain or discomfort. Your doctor of chiropractic might even ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1-10.

Next, you’re taken to an exam room. Before conducting a physical exam, your doctor of chiropractic will review your health history, asks you questions about the symptoms you’re experiencing and quiz you about your lifestyle. During this part of the exam, let your doctor of chiropractic know about any prescription medications, vitamins or nutritional supplements you’re taking. You’ll also discuss your sleep habits, exercise routine, and diet.

After gathering this information, your doctor of chiropractic will conduct several neurological and physical tests. This includes gathering your vital signs (heart and respiratory rate), testing your reflexes and asking you to participate in some range-of-motion exercises. If necessary, they might also take X-rays or order another type of diagnostic imaging.

Lastly, your doctor of chiropractic will develop a custom care plan based on your needs. If you suffer from chronic pain or a sports injury, your doctor of chiropractic might recommend a combination of treatments such as yoga therapy, spinal adjustments, and lifestyle changes such as changing your diet. If you’re relatively healthy and want to stay that way, they might recommend regular preventive checkups once a month.

Your initial consultation will take up to an hour. By the time you leave the office, you’ll have a foundation to work off. One designed to improve all aspects of your life. Feel free to ask questions or take notes. Your doctor of chiropractic is your partner on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

Congrats on taking the first step. You’re going to love the results!

How can you stop tension headaches on your own?

by Dr. Sherry McAllister, executive vice president, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced many of us into self-quarantine to avoid getting sick.

During this period, you may feel a little more stressed than usual. You’re likely working and teaching your children in your living space. You may be worried about your job or economic pressures. Or dealing with increased childcare and homeschooling. You may even feel more significant strain on your mental health without the in-person social interactions with friends and family that you’re used to.

This is a challenging time. This added stress and lifestyle changes can lead to tension headaches, which feel like a tight pain around crown around your head. Tension headaches can be triggered by a few things including:

Stress and anxiety
Staring at a computer or phone all-day
Poor posture
Sleeping on your stomach
Poor diet
Dehydration
Clenching your jaw

A chiropractic adjustment can help to reduce the tension in your shoulders and neck that may be causing the problem. However, if you are homeward bound for the foreseeable future, here are a few ways to manage your headaches on your own:

Stretching exercises to help ease your pain
Daily exercise
Relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing
Using a heating pad on sore shoulder and neck muscles
Taking screen breaks
Practicing good posture
Getting enough sleep
Eating healthy and drinking plenty of water
Fresh air

Once you’ve started a routine of chiropractic care, a disruption to your treatment plan can be hard on your body. Remember to take care of your physical and mental health in the best way you can. If you have any questions for your doctor of chiropractic, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Why Is Chiropractic Care Becoming So Popular?

by Dr. Sherry McAllister, executive vice president, Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

Are you new to the world of chiropractic care? That’s okay. New patients discover the wonders of chiropractic care every day. In the U.S., doctors of chiropractic treat almost 27 million Americans annually. That’s 1 million chiropractic adjustments performed every business day.

Chiropractic care is increasing in popularity. More people are turning to chiropractic care for everyday aches and pains to maintain their spinal health and for drug-free pain management. In fact, in the fight against opioids, chiropractic care is becoming increasingly important. People with lower back pain or chronic pain are looking for drug-free approaches, and care from a doctor of chiropractic can help manage their pain without the use of prescription drugs and opioids.

Another reason that more people are turning to chiropractic care is the financial benefits. Most health insurance plans offer some form of coverage for care. Research is also showing that chiropractic care can be cheaper than prescription drugs or other medical interventions. A review from The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that a chiropractic adjustment for back pain instead of a visit to a family doctor could save Medicare nearly $83.5 million/year. On average, a session of chiropractic care costs $65, though costs can vary from state to state.

If you are nervous about trying chiropractic care, seek out the advice of a doctor of chiropractic. They receive a minimum of seven years of higher-level education and are the third-largest group of doctorate level professionals in the healthcare industry. Doctors of chiropractic know their industry; they know the benefits of regular care and are passionate about helping their patients feel their best. Once you begin a regime of proper care, you will see the benefits quickly. You’ve got to give it a try!