Who in Sterling Heights doesn’t take pride in working hard and reaching their exercise goals?  Regardless of the situation, it is human nature to enjoy the accolades that come with seeing results. In this day and age however, it is almost as though just reaching goals is not enough.  We have to reach our goals FASTER!  There are several reasons why “fast” is not necessarily the appropriate speed to obtain your goals, in fact racing toward results could actually hinder rather than help.

How many times have we all heard the same story?  Someone resolves to “get in shape”.  They buy the gear, the shoes, the gym membership.  They head to the gym one, two, or several more times.  They have grandiose dreams of a perfect body and want it after the first few trips.

The reality of the matter is they fail to properly prepare for the exercise program, they over do it the first few trips, they end up being sore for days or self inflicting an injury causing even longer delays and potential medical bills.  The goal of beginning an exercise program and getting into shape is often never realized because those that have set the goal are trying to rush the process, exercising harder and not smarter.

How To Exercise Smarter

So what does exercising smarter entail?  That is a simple answer, TAKE IT SLOW!  If you have not been exercising your body is capable of doing only a little bit of exercise before it becomes strained and sore. Additionally, even if you have been exercising for some time, you should not increase the intensity of your workout drastically because you risk the same soreness and potential injury.  Rushing yourself will most likely result in injury and keep you from slow steady progress that will lead to you reaching your goals.

Exercise for Life

The smartest exercise strategy is slow, gradual and long-term, depending upon your age and current fitness level.  It may be wise to begin with a walking program, gradually increasing your pace and length of the walk over time.  An exercise program should not be something you tackle for a few weeks or months.  It should be a lifelong healthy habit.

The same slow, gradual approach should be used regardless of the type of exercise you are performing.  If you are using weights, doing pilates or yoga, it is wise to take it very slow at first.   Always listen to what your body is telling you, less is more in the long run.  If you are consistent you will begin to notice amazing results like increased energy levels, better posture and flexibility, healthier complexion, and a more restful sleep.

Chiropractic – Another Smart Decision!

Chiropractic care in Sterling Heights is a great compliment to any exercise program.  As you exercise and increase your strength and fitness levels you may suffer minor injuries that go unnoticed.  Regular chiropractic care can aid in preventing potential injuries or speeding the healing process through increased joint mobility. Most injuries that occur are the result of tight muscles and poor flexibility. Chiropractic care helps restore and maintain joint flexibility in your spine allowing it to handle the physical demands of regular exercise.   Chiropractic should be an integral part of any exercise program.

Just Exercise Smarter.

Don’t wait until you have an injury to start chiropractic care!  Call Dr. Ryan Boechler in Sterling Heights today with any questions you might have.

A number of patients in Sterling Heights struggle with sciatica. Learn the facts about sciatica and it may help you understand your pain. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body, emerging from the spine in the lower back. It also runs through the buttock region, and all the way to the lower leg, where it functions to control the muscles in that region.

The sciatic nerve functions to provide sensation to the entire lower region of the body, including your thighs and legs and extending to the soles of your feet. If for any reason this nerve becomes irritated or inflamed, the pain that is caused is known as sciatica. Sciatica references the numerous symptoms that are directly associated with the irritation of the sciatic nerve, but does not indicate the source.

Sciatica Symptoms

The most common symptom of sciatic nerve irritation is when the pain flows consistently along the pathway of the nerve, especially when the pain is persistent on only one side of the body. There are considerable ways in which this pain can be experienced. Patients may experience a tingling sensation as well as aching or burning. The type of pain is often associated with the exact location of the irritation. It is possible that a patient suffering from sciatica will feel like they are being poked with pins and needles in their lower extremities, accompanied by weakness in the leg or foot of the affected nerve.

As a general rule, sciatica develops slowly and progressively, rarely beginning with intense pain. The pain is normally exacerbated by long sitting sessions, bending, sneezing or coughing, as well as sudden movements.

Diagnosing Sciatica in Sterling Heights

The diagnosis of sciatica begins with your physician. Your physician will be able to take into consideration your medical history as well as evaluate your descriptions of the pain. It will also be necessary for you to undergo a complete neurological examination that will place an emphasis on your legs and spine. This includes the assessment of your sensory strength as you perform certain activities, allowing the doctor to assess your reflexes, muscle strength, and any pain that may be caused by certain movements.

Treatment Options

In most cases, a conservative approach such as chiropractic care can be highly effective. Because sciatica can be caused by a number of issues, the treatments will vary based on the cause. This will depend heavily on your chiropractor. The term “conservative” in this context refers to treatments that are not invasive, which excludes surgical procedures and medication. A chiropractic approach would be focused on eliminating or minimizing the pain by addressing any spinal issues, restoring normal movement and function, subsequently reducing the irritation and inflammation.

Should you have any questions concerning sciatica, call the office of Dr. Ryan Boechler for help.

Athletes are always looking for an edge to take their performances to another level. No matter what sport you play, the competition is always getting bigger, faster and stronger which means you have to continually improve in order to keep up. Some athletes turn to dishonest methods like performance enhancing drugs to get ahead, but most look to nutrition, enhanced training concepts and similar methods to get better. One way Sterling Heights athletes can improve is through chiropractic care.

Enhanced Injury Treatment

Injuries are an unfortunate part of all sports, and recovering from injuries quickly and completely is critical. Chiropractic care helps athletes recover from injuries the same way it can help an auto accident victim recover from injuries. Spinal adjustments can align your vertebrae so your tendons and muscles heal correctly. If you’re experiencing pain from a past injury, chiropractic care can get to the root of the injury and correct the problem so your symptoms lessen or disappear.

Improved Performance

Sterling Heights athletes can also expect improved overall performance with regular chiropractic care. High-impact athletes can minimize their risk of injury and reduce pain, and low-impact athletes can relieve much of the strain placed on the body while playing their sport. This is true for sports like golf, bowling, and tennis.

With improved strength, balance, stability, flexibility and range of motion, it stands to reason that athletes will notice improved performance with regular chiropractic treatment. For athletes that play through longer seasons or play year-round, the improvement will be noticed as competitors start feeling fatigued and suffering minor injuries. The ability to “stay fresh” from the beginning of the season until the end provides a tremendous advantage to most athletes.

How Chiropractic Helps

Whether it’s to enhance performance or help heal an injury, chiropractic helps Sterling Heights athletes by taking pressure off nerves in the spinal column. When your spinal vertebrae are misaligned, the impulses sent from your brain to parts of your body through your spine may not be as clear as they should be. When these impulses are restricted, your body is not operating at full capacity, and your athletic performance can suffer. If you are truly looking for an edge and want to take your performance to the next level, try chiropractic treatment and see if it helps. Once the pathways between your brain and muscles, heart and lungs are clear, you’ll be amazed at what you can do.

Dr. Ryan Boecher is here to help answer your questions.  Please feel free to contact us today.

Do you suffer from chronic headaches? Do you have them every day, or do you have them infrequently but when you do they disrupt your whole life?

Chiropractic care in Sterling Heights is a natural way to manage your headaches and gain some control over your health.

Let’s take a look at tips for managing your headaches and how a chiropractor can build a personalized treatment plan to help you manage your headaches.

TIPS FOR MANAGING HEADACHES

While your chiropractor can offer chiropractic treatments for headaches, they may also help you uncover lifestyle adjustments you can make that will have an impact on your health.

Your chiropractor will discuss with you the types of headaches you get and how often. They will also perform an exam, and ask you questions about your daily life. This will help them dig deeper into understanding the possible source of your headaches.

From there, they can offer you personalized tips on what you may be able to do to lessen your headaches.

For example, do you sleep on your stomach? For many people, this is a habit that sounds impossible to break. Quality sleep is an important part of your health and can be a fragile thing to maintain. If you’re sleeping on your stomach, you may not want to do anything to change that. However, sleeping on your stomach means you are holding your neck muscles at an odd angle all night, every night. That’s a long time for the body to hold that position.

Practicing sleeping on your back may improve your posture during the day and your headaches. Your chiropractor can discuss this with you more personally, but a first step is to attemptp sleeping on your back at the beginning of the night. Placing a pillow or rolled up towel under your knees or under your lower back may help with this.

How long are you spending staring at a screen or sitting in one position at a time? While you may do this for work, so it is an essential part of your life, taking short breaks can do a world of good for your posture, eye strain, and headaches. See if you can set an alarm to go off every hour. Standing and stretching for five minutes will help a lot.

Do you get enough exercise? If this isn’t already part of your daily habits, it can be hard to get into. Building more muscle will improve your posture, which may help lessen your headaches. This can also help lower your stress levels, especially the way you physically carry stress. That can help with your headaches a great deal.

VISITING A STERLING HEIGHTS CHIROPRACTOR FOR HEADACHES

Your Sterling Heights chiropractor can also perform chiropractic treatments.

Chiropractors are professionals who work with spinal health and joint health every day. They see patients with acute and chronic pain, including headaches and migraines.

Many people have found that chiropractic treatments provide some immediate relief from their headaches and lessen them in the long term as well.

This is done through pain-free spinal manipulation techniques. By naturally helping the spinal column to get back into alignment, the body is able to move with more ease. This lessens the tension you are physically carrying, which can result in headaches. It also means that vertebrae or discs that have moved out of place are no longer in a position to compress nerves. Because nerves travel throughout the body, they can cause pain anywhere at any time.

While everyone’s headaches are unique, your chiropractor can work with you to discover what works best to relieve your pain.

As explained above, your chiropractor can also talk to you about your lifestyle and reasonable ways you may be able to make small adjustments to lessen your headaches. For your best results, you’ll want to track any small changes you make as well as your pain levels to see what makes a difference for your life.

People with scoliosis face the challenge of finding relief and ways to manage this condition in ways that support their lives. If scoliosis pain, inflammation, and other symptoms become too much, it can affect daily life in ways that are a constant struggle.

While prescription and over the counter medications are one solution that provides some relief, chiropractic care in Sterling Heights can help with managing spinal and joint pain and inflammation for scoliosis.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR GENTLE AND NATURAL SCOLIOSIS RELIEF

Scoliosis is a sideways curve to the spine. For most people, there aren’t yet answers on what caused their scoliosis. We do know a lot about the experience of living with scoliosis though.

Chiropractors are professionals who work every day with joint health and spinal alignment.

For scoliosis patients, it can be difficult to manage pain that comes from inflammation in the joints. There are also problems with spinal misalignment. When one of the discs or vertebrae press on a nerve, it can cause pain throughout the body. While this is true for everyone, it’s a problem scoliosis patients face more regularly.

Many scoliosis patients have found pain relief through chiropractic treatments, which leads to a better quality of day to day living with less need for pain medications.

Chiropractors perform non-invasive treatments that involve no medication or pain. They manipulate the joints or the spine so the body may return to its more natural position for optimal function. Sometimes there will be immediate relief from acute pain. Treatments will also provide gentle longer term solutions to help people get through the following days.

Scoliosis patients will work with their chiropractor on long term treatment solutions. As your condition may sometimes change over time, you will regularly communicate with your chiropractor and adjust your treatment plans to keep managing your symptoms in a way that works best for you. Chiropractic treatments are highly personalized, which is one of their great advantages for scoliosis patients who need long term and detailed care.

Your chiropractor can also talk to you about your overall wellness and options for other things you can do to keep improving your condition for long term best health.

FINDING A CHIROPRACTOR FOR SCOLIOSIS

Ultimately, a chiropractic treatment plan will include goals like relieving pain, decreasing inflammation, and increasing the natural ability to move through gentle exercise and daily activities without impairment. Chiropractic treatment can also work to improve your range of motion and flexibility.

SO HOW DO YOU FIND THE CHIROPRACTOR WHO IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you have friends with scoliosis, ask them who they recommend as a chiropractor. With a few personal recommendations, it can be a bit easier to feel good about visiting an office.

Your first office visit to a chiropractic clinic is where you’ll really make a decision about whether a chiropractor is a good fit for your wellness goals.

In the case of scoliosis, you will want to find a Sterling Heights chiropractor you feel comfortable with and can trust. It’s a good idea to go in for a consultation, meet the chiropractor, have an exam, discuss your history, and ask any questions you have. You will work closely with your chiropractor to create a long term treatment plan that is personalized to work best for your health concerns as they change over time.