In general, most people enjoy a massage. Humans enjoy physical contact with another person, whether it’s a hug with a friend, a fist bump with a co-worker, or a massage with a professional who works in a chiropractic office.

But is a massage at Lexington chiropractor always the right course of action? Each type of chiropractic service we offer — chiropractic adjustments, decompression therapy, cold laser therapy — all have their time and place in treatments. Should you get a massage every time just for the feel of it, or are there times when you should forgo it?

The fact is, it’s going to depend on the type ailments you’re having, and if the staff at our chiropractic clinic in Lexington think that a particular type of chiropractic medicine is right for you. Let’s take a look at how massage therapy can complement chiropractic care.

Preparing the Muscles

Sometimes a chiropractor will suggest that a massage be performed before a chiropractic adjustment. After all, chiropractic medicine focuses on the soft tissues of the body — muscles, tendons, and ligaments — as well as the skeleton and joints.

Chiropractic adjustments include quick motions during the doctor’s manipulation, and if someone is susceptible to muscle problems during the procedure then it might be best if they have a massage beforehand. This loosens and prepares the muscles so that they aren’t harmed during the coming adjustment. The warmth from the massage also causes the muscles to relax.

All of these benefits come together in order to improve flexibility. A massage isn’t always required to prepare the body for chiropractic adjustment, but in certain circumstances it can be an excellent way to relax the muscles before treatment.

Improving Circulation

One reason that massage therapy is so beneficial to muscles is that it improves circulation directly to the areas that are massaged. This means that blood flow is returning the area, which is one of the tenets of chiropractic medicine. When blood returns to the area, oxygen also returns, and every cell in your body needs oxygen to thrive. Improved circulation also delivers more nutrients to your muscles, which aids in healing. On top of that, massage helps to dispose of lactic acid, which is the acid that builds up in muscles and leads to fatigue.

Aiding Hard Tissue Manipulation

Whenever a muscle is tightened, it hardens and makes it more difficult to work with the hard tissues, such as the spine, joints, and bones. Essentially, the muscles can fight against the therapist as he or she is performing an adjustment, making it harder to get the results they’re looking for. If the muscles are relaxed before an adjustment, it just makes it easier to get deeper and to properly adjust the hard tissues. It can also reduce any soreness that might occur after the adjustment.

Feeling Good

The final benefit you can experience from massage therapy at our chiropractic clinic is simple, yet very effective. As we started off saying in this article, massage simply feels good for most people. We’re social animals, so the touch is certainly an important part of the experience, as it tends to lighten our mood when the massage is performed in a safe setting. Aromatherapy can also be a part of massage therapy, further relaxing a patient and helping them to enjoy the entire experience.

When something feels good, it’s boosting your endorphins and your mood, which can make you feel better and reduce pain. It relaxes you physically as well as mentally, so that you’re not carrying as much tension around with you and undoing some of the good the doctor or therapist performs with other treatments at our chiropractic clinic.

Are You Ready For Your Massage?

If you’re like most patients, the mere mention of a massage makes you want to contact us today for an appointment. Massage therapy at our chiropractic clinic can help to improve range of motion, make chiropractic adjustments easier, reduce pain, and just make you feel better overall.

If you’re ready for an amazing massage that also aids in your health, we’re ready to help. Schedule your next Lexington chiropractic appointment with us today!

Do you suffer from back pain, neck pain, or frequent headaches? Depending on the cause of your pain, there’s an alternative therapy that could bring you relief and it’s called dry needling. For people who have never heard of dry needling before, it can sound a bit scary. Many wonder if it’s the same thing as the traditional Chinese therapy called acupuncture. In today’s post from Flex Chiropractic, we’re going to discuss the differences between the two and why one may be a safer and more effective alternative to managing pain. Keep reading and then contact Flex Chiropractic if you have additional questions or would like to schedule an appointment. 

What is Acupuncture?

 Many people have heard of acupuncture, but you might not be familiar with how it works or the theory behind it. Acupuncture is deeply rooted in Chinese traditional medicine. It is believed that pain and illness are a result of an imbalance in the energy or qi (pronounced “chi”) within our body. In order to restore balance and promote health, an acupuncturist uses very thin needles and inserts them into strategic points that are intended to help rebalance the flow of energy.

Some people have found relief from various ailments including back pain, respiratory disorders, osteoarthritis, and headaches, but there are some risks. First, science has yet to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture and there is little evidence as to why it may work for some. Second, many acupuncturists have little formal training and some complications have been reported from the use of nonsterile needles and improper delivery of treatments. 

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a safe, pain-relieving treatment performed by a trained, skilled therapist. Dry needling uses extremely thin, monofilament needles to penetrate the skin for the purpose of eliciting a twitch response and treating underlying muscular trigger points. Although it may sound scary or painful, there’s no reason to be afraid. The needles used are so small that it’s virtually impossible to feel them.

Although dry needling may sound similar to acupuncture, it is in fact very different. Acupuncture is rooted in Chinese Medicine and functions to “restore energy balance.” Dry needling, however, is rooted in Western Medicine and uses the understanding of the musculoskeletal system to treat patients by stimulating the myofascial trigger points that are causing the problem.

Dry Needling to Reduce Pain

If you suffer from chronic or acute pain as a result of injury, arthritis, or poor posture, dry needling may be able to help. It not only helps to relieve pain by stimulating the trigger points that cause pain, but it also helps to activate the immune system and increase blood flow.

Although many patients have found relief with dry needling, it can be more effective when used in conjunction with other treatments like chiropractic treatments, ultrasound, and massage. All of these treatments seek to heal the body from within instead of relying on potentially dangerous and risky alternatives like surgery and opioid medication. With regular treatments, dry needling can be a very effective and safe way to manage pain and improve range of motion. 

Contact Flex Chiropractic

At Flex Chiropractic, we take a holistic approach to wellness, which is why we offer several alternative therapies to help our patients find relief and restore their health. At the Flex Chiropractic office in Columbia, we offer dry needling as well as ultrasound, cold-laser therapy, massage, chiropractic adjustments, decompression, and more. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you live a life free from pain, contact our office today. We’ll schedule an appointment at a time that works for you so we can discuss your needs and concerns.  

Finding the right chiropractor to help you on your journey to optimal health and wellness can be challenging, but at Flex Chiropractic, our mission is to go the extra mile to ensure you get the care you deserve. Your first chiropractic care visit will involve some unique steps that will help us best understand your condition and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Learn more about what you can expect during your first chiropractic care visit below, then schedule your visit in Lexington or Columbia today!

As you’ve probably noticed, many chiropractic offices are going beyond treatments that would have been found in clinics of the past. While chiropractic started out as simply adjustments, modern offices will offer a large variety of treatments such as kinesiology taping, ultrasounds, cold-laser therapy, massage, and electrical stimulation. Today we’re going to talk about another way that we can help our patients: cryotherapy.

When we offer cryotherapy to our patients, they are often unsure of what we’re talking about. That’s because, while the effects of cold as a way of treating the human body have been known for a long time, it’s just recently made its way into chiropractic practices. Let’s take a look at how it works and how it might be able to make you feel better.

What Is Cryotherapy?

If you’ve ever used an ice pack to reduce swelling to a sore muscle, or put a cold washcloth on your forehead in order to cool down, you’ve experienced the benefits of cold used to make the body feel better. In short, it’s any form of body cooling for therapeutic purposes.

Clinical cryotherapy goes well beyond cold compresses, though, and uses special equipment to cool specific parts of the body.

How Is It Performed?

There are two popular methods that are most commonly found at some local chiropractors. The first is spot cooling, which is where a canister of super-cooled liquid is used to cool specific areas of the body. (Think of it as a can of compressed air that gets temperatures much lower.)

The second type is a whole-body cryotherapy chamber, which is large enough for a person to step into.

Who Can It Help?

Cryotherapy has three very distinct ways in which it can help those who visit a chiropractic office.

Reduced Pain

Those who undergo cryotherapy, whether it’s because of muscular or skeletal pain, often see a reduction in pain. That’s often due to…

Reduced Inflammation

Cryotherapy reduces inflammation and swelling, which can actually speed up the healing process after an injury. This is most likely brought about thanks to…

Increased Blood Flow

The body redirects blood flow to areas of the body that are cold. Using cryotherapy to cool parts of the body ensure that blood (including the oxygen and nutrients it carries) is directed to the parts of the body that are coldest.

Is Cryotherapy Right For You?

Cryotherapy might sound uncomfortable at first, but most patients actually feel very invigorated by it. Still, it’s not for everyone, as the invigoration it offers can affect those with certain medical conditions. Before we offer it as an option for you, we’ll be sure to ask you about your medical history.

Let’s Talk About Cryotherapy!

We’ve seen some excellent benefits for those who have sought cryotherapy out, and we’d love to talk to you about how it might help. Whether you’ve recently experienced an injury or are simply looking to increase blood flow to painful areas, we’re ready to discuss this wonderful treatment. Contact your local chiropractor in Columbia or Lexington and discover the benefits of cryotherapy!

While chiropractic adjustments are an excellent way of helping to adjust the body and reduce inflammation, they are far from the only types of treatments offered at your local chiropractic clinic. In fact, many of the treatments you’ll find at a chiropractic office today are more high-tech than ever. Sometimes this includes ultrasound therapy, other times the use of a Pro Adjuster. Today we’re going to look at one of the most technologically advanced pieces of equipment you might experience at a chiropractic clinic: a cold laser therapy machine.

What’s In A Name?

The idea of “cold lasers” might seem like an oxymoron. After all, aren’t lasers hot light used to cut metal and blast starships? While the former is true (and the latter is Hollywood fantasy!), not all lasers are hot. Lasers are used for many different purposes; you might also encounter lasers at hair removal salons, at grocery store scanners, laser-guided levels, in DVD and Blu Ray players, and laser pointers

Cold laser therapy is sometimes known as LLLT therapy, or Low-Level Laser Therapy. Other names include low-power laser therapy, soft laser biostimulation, and photobiomodulation. These lasers are tuned to a very specific frequency so that they gently interact with tissues in the body. The low levels of energy used are not enough to directly heat the skin.

How Does It Work?

Cold laser therapy works by using the light to stimulate the cells inside the body. Invisible wavelengths on the light spectrum are delivered to the cells, causing the light-sensitive elements of the cell to be stimulated. This can increase blood flow to the cells, which therefore also increases their oxygen intake and speeds healing.

LLLT is used on nearly any part of the body that has pain. This means any place a chiropractor believes increased blood flow will help, such as joints and discs. The primary uses of cold laser therapy are to reduce pain, inflammation, edema, and to reduce healing time of injured areas.

What Can You Expect During LLLT Treatment?

The chiropractor or clinician will get you comfortable in the appropriate chair or on a table, depending on the part of the body to be treated. The area is exposed and the laser device — about the size of a flashlight — touches the skin and may be moved around to ensure the area in question is hit by the low-level laser. The device is usually used for as little as 30 seconds to as many as five minutes or more. An area in greater pain or that covers a larger area of the body may require more time.

The laser has different settings depending on the depth of the area inside the body to be treated. These settings change the wavelengths of the light from around 600 nanometers for shallow pain to 950 nanometers in order to target deeper pain (or to get through deeper tissue on a heavier patient).

Does Cold Laser Therapy Hurt?

As we mentioned in this article that detailed the level of pain involved in chiropractic procedures, there’s no pain associated with cold laser therapy. At most you might feel a bit of tingling in the area due to increased blood flow in the area. Not only is there no pain, but there’s no ionizing radiation and no risk of cell damage.

Cold Laser Therapy Or Ultrasound?

Ultrasound therapy is another type of treatment you might find in a chiropractor’s office. Instead of using light waves like LLLT does, ultrasound uses sound waves that are above the range of human hearing. While most people think about in-utero baby imaging when they hear the word ultrasound, therapeutic ultrasound uses a different wavelength of sound and has no image-receiving head.

If your chiropractor offers both LLLT and ultrasound, which should you choose? We’d suggest listening to the doctor’s opinion. Both have their advantages, but the better option might come down to the severity of the injury, where it is in the body, and your body type. The are some instances in which using both is advantageous, so we advise simply taking your chiropractor’s advise.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

The primary disadvantage of cold laser therapy is that it doesn’t tend to offer immediate relief. It’s a slow process that builds over time, so eight or more sessions (typically twice a week, but check with your chiropractor) may be needed to see good results.

Let Our Chiropractic Clinic Help!

Cold laser therapy is often used in conjunction with other services you find in a chiropractic office. It’s seldom used alone but can be an excellent addition to other forms of high-tech and traditional chiropractic care. If you’re experiencing pain, we’d very much like to help you. Contact our chiropractic office in Columbia and Lexington at the first sign of pain!

When most people head to a chiropractic office, the pain or discomfort they’re experiencing at the moment is everything on their mind. If they have neck pain, they’re not usually sitting in the waiting room thinking “I wonder what that previous person was in for?” In the moment, everything is about their particular pain and how to get rid of it.

If this sounds familiar, you might be surprised at the wide array of problems that chiropractic can take care of. Let’s take a look.

Neck Pain

Since we already mentioned this one, we’ll start here. Neck pain can occur for many reasons. Some of these are caused immediately (such as a car injury), while other neck pains can crop up over time (because of a bad pillow or posture at work).

Chiropractors can help with both of these situations. If the pain isn’t recurring, they might simply suggest a massage to hasten the healing process. If there’s a tear in the soft tissue of the neck, they can make adjustments with chiropractic care. They can also suggest particular exercises or lifestyle changes to prevent the problems from returning.

Headaches

Headaches are another of the most common maladies that people come in with. It might not be obvious how chiropractic care can help with headaches; after all, there’s no joint to manipulate in the skull. But many headaches are the result of problems within the back, or, even more likely, the neck. Interestingly, there might not even be pain in either of those areas, but misalignments could cause headaches all the same.

Herniated Discs

Lumbar discs are spongy masses of connective tissue that both cushion the bones of the spine and keep them in place. Each disc is made up of a harder outer portion and a softer, gel-like inner part. (We won’t blame you if you think of it as a jelly donut.) When the outer part is damaged, some of the gel portion of the disc can escape. This is called a herniated disc. Herniated discs can occur because of an injury, but the natural aging process is the most common reason that discs love their hydration and begin to deteriorate. Other factors that can cause a herniated disc include repetitive stress, poor nutrition, tobacco use, genetics, or being overweight.

Herniated discs can be minor or very severe. The chiropractor will first determine the severity of the disc problem by doing a manual examination and checking your reflexes, sensation in the extremities, and strength. If you are a candidate for chiropractic care, spinal manipulation is often used as a means of taking stress off the disc so that it can have room to expand and heal.

Sciatica

The sciatic nerve runs from the lower spine down both legs and into the feet and is the largest nerve in the human body. When this nerve becomes inflamed, pain can travel all along the path. Pain is most often felt in the lower back but can also occur as far are beneath the knee.

The most common reason for sciatica, also known as sciatic nerve pain, is lumbar disc herniation pressing directly on the nerve. Sometimes bone or muscle could also cause the nerve to be pinched. A chiropractic clinic is most likely to treat it with a chiropractic adjustment or massage therapy.

Lower Back Strain

Unlike slipped and bulging discs, lower back strain comes from problems with muscles. These muscles are damaged with they are stretched or torn in an abnormal way. Chiropractors and their staff will treat muscles strains with massage, cold-laser therapy, or ultrasound.

Scoliosis

When a skeleton is viewed from the side, there should be curvature. But when viewed from behind, it’s best if the spine is straight up and down. Scoliosis is defined as a spine that has a lateral curvature of more than 10%.

Many people have mild cases of scoliosis, but when it gets too severe it can cause pain, discomfort, and problems with movement. Symptoms can be one hip higher than the other, uneven shoulders, or one shoulder blade that’s higher than the other. The cause of most scoliosis is unknown, but it most often occurs during puberty.

How can a chiropractor help? Most often they will make a diagnosis based on the factors mentioned above, as well as a visual and manual confirmation. X-rays might also be taken so that there is a baseline to see the changes that occur thanks to treatment. Spinal manipulation is often employed, as well as exercises that can strengthen certain muscles and encourage them to pull on the spine in a new manner.

Pregnancy- and Childbirth-related Pain

Pregnancy and childbirth can put a lot of stress on the body. While most people think about the physical changes in a woman’s body that can be seen, there are many hidden pains that can be experienced.

One of the most common problems that pregnant women experience is low back pain and pelvic pain. In fact, nearly half of them experience considerable pain in either of those areas. It makes sense, since the spine and pelvis are carrying around considerably more weight than usual. Common chiropractic practices include adjustments of the back and pelvis. Chiropractors can also suggest exercises that can help alleviate some of these pains.

Bursitis

Everyone has heard of the discs in the spinal column that reduce friction and cushion the vertebrae, but not many people have heard of bursas. Bursas as small sacs filled with lubricating fluid throughout the body. Bursas don’t just help lubricate the space between bones but also help whenever bones, tendons, skin, and muscles interact. The irritation or inflammation of any bursa in the body is known as bursitis.

Unfortunately, as bursas help reduce impact, they’re taking a lot of the friction upon themselves. In the chiropractic world, we deal most often with bursae (the plural of bursa) found at bone joints. The most common places we’ll treat include the hip, knee, shoulder, heal, ankle, and elbow.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Thanks to changes in office ergonomics, many cases of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) have been avoided. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a serious problem. It is most often described as a numbness or tingling in the hand (and/or arm) caused by pinched nerves in the wrist. Chiropractors can begin by making adjustments and then ordering specific exercises and stretching of the wrist.

While the above is far from the only problems we treat, they are some of the most common. We’d love to see you if you are having any of those problems so that we can treat you non-invasively. Contact Flex Chiropractic today!

In the days of phone books, how did you know that you could trust someone? In the days before people typed “chiropractor near me” into a search engine, how did people decided that a chiropractic clinic was the right one for them and that others were actually finding relief from the chiropractic care they received?

The fact is, you couldn’t make a good decision based on a phone book ad. At most you could think to yourself “that company has the biggest and flashiest ad, so people must be supporting them enough to pay for it.” Not exactly a reliable way to choose someone who’s treating your health.

Luckily, today there are ways to verify that you’ll almost certainly get an excellent experience at a local chiropractor. While there are problems with some review platforms (ahem, Yelp), Google reviews and Top Rated Local are some of the most trustworthy out there. We’re proud to say that we have extremely high ratings on both platforms, and that’s certainly no accident. We work hard every day to ensure we treat each of our clients with the utmost respect. Today we’re going to take a look at what people are saying after they visit our family chiropractic office.

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Let’s start with Generosa Tummond.

“I have been a patient for many years. Despite having many patients to see, Dr. Larson never rushes through my appointments. She answers any questions I have. She genuinely wants to educate her patients to optimize their success in getting better. The Flex staff and other doctors are always friendly and helpful. Keep up the great work!”

— Generosa Tummond

Thanks for writing in, and we’re glad you keep coming back to us for your chiropractic needs. Repeat business is the primary way that businesses survive, so it’s always good to see a familiar face walk through the door.

You’re right in saying that we have many patients to see, but we make sure to leave enough time so that we properly care for each one. There’s the occasional time when we get behind, but in general we’re able to stay on top of the situation thanks to the excellent chiropractic clinic staff we’ve hired. (As you’ve noticed, our staff isn’t just good at their jobs but are also “friendly and helpful.”)

Thanks for noticing how devoted our chiropractors are to educating our patients. The fact is, we know how important education is when it comes to health. We want our patients to ask questions, because the more information we can relay, the healthier they’ll be.

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Okay, let’s take a look at what  JaQuan Riley has to say.

“I had my first appointment yesterday and from the time I signed in, til the time I left, I received 100% satisfaction! Those ladies took care of me, and ordered what I needed before I left. I’m looking forward to my future visits, and will keep you all updated on the results. Great Job so far Flex Chiropractic!”

— JaQuan Riley

When we heard from Generosa up above, we were hearing from someone who’s been coming for years. Now we hear from JaQuan who just had her first appointment. And they both seem equally happy!

JaQuan, we’re very glad you mentioned that it was your first time in. We treat everyone who walks through our doors with respects, and we know that those who come to our chiropractic clinic are trusting us with some aspect of their help. We’re deeply honored when they do, so no matter whether you’re a customer who’s been coming to us for years or if it’s your first time in, we’ll treat you well.

Finally, you mention that you’re looking forward to future visits. That’s not something you hear about most health visits, is it? Not many people say “I’m so happy to go to the dentist today” or “I can’t wait to get my flu shot.” The fact that you were so happy with your care that you’re looking forward to coming back is certainly a ringing endorsement.

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Finally, let’s hear from Amanda.

“Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. Holistic and compassionate approach to chiropractic care. Have been a client for several years and have worked through many issues including back, hip, and knees. Clinician has collaborated with other professionals to provide best treatment possible.”

— Amanda Nemenz

Thanks for telling us how you feel, Amanda. We’re glad you noticed how knowledgeable our staff is. Because we’re so respected, we’re able to draw some of the best staff in the area to work for our chiropractic office, which only increases the level of care that we deliver.

You use the word holistic, and we’re glad you did. All to often the medical community will be very myopic when it comes to looking at problems, when in fact the body is so interconnected that fixing one problem can end up fixing others. We want to treat your health as a whole, not just throw medicine at the symptoms.

Contact Flex Chiropractic Today!

If our client’s own words have convinced you that chiropractic care at our office is right for you, we look forward to hearing from you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

We’d like to thank you for stopping by our new and improved website for Flex Chiropractic’s offices in Lexington and Columbia. For over two decades our doctors have been serving the people of South Carolina, helping them with a variety of ailments, including lower back pain, treatments for neck pain relief, and joint stiffness.

We’re very proud of our chiropractic clinic, and perhaps we’re most proud of the continuing education we seek out as new and effective treatments continue to be developed. Let’s take a look at the many types of services we offer.

Diagnosing

You can’t treat a problem until more is known about it. We’ll perform an examination that’s specifically tailored to each individual. After all, someone might come in thinking that they’ve cracked a vertebra when in fact they have a bulging disk. Both are obviously problems that are of considerable concern, but they must be treated in very different ways.

We’ll start off by talking with you to discover how and when the pains occurs. Is it chronic, or was it triggered by a very specific act? By finding out more about your medical history (and any family history that could inform the situation), we’ll be that much closer to finding out what’s wrong.

Of course, there’s also the physical examination that can be very informative. We’ll perform a visual and manual examination of the affected area. By having you move in certain ways — or discovering that you are not able to move in certain ways — we can discover your range of motion and what maladies might be plaguing you. We can help you determine whether you are suffering from slipped discs, pinched nerves, disc bulges, and more. If the problem isn’t obvious, we can also employ the use of CT scans, MRIs, or x-rays to help diagnose the problem. We can also compare them to previous diagnostic imaging scans you’ve had to see where changes might have occurred.

Chiropractic Care

You won’t be surprised to learn that chiropractic care is our primary form of treating people. It’s in our name and is one of the most common types of treatments used to treat problems such as lower back pain and neck pain. Chiropractic care has been around for over a hundred years and has helped millions of people, and we’re proud to be a part of such an important part of our patients’ lives.

If you’ve had chiropractic treatments before, you’re aware of the wonders that it can perform when it comes to neck and back relief. If you’ve never experienced it and are a bit trepidatious, you can put your mind at ease; it’s not as traumatic as you might think! We can help you reduce the amount of pain in your life.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression involves a patient lying on a special table in an effort to relieve pressure on the spine. By slightly stretching the back and the spine, decompression works much in the same way as another type of medical procedure you might have heard about called traction.

Decompression can serve many purposes in your quest for feeling better. First of all, it can give disks the space to return to a more normal position. Second, it can help to increase blood flow, which brings nutrients and your body’s healing processes to the area. Finally, taking pressure off the spine can reduce pain, an effect that just about everyone is looking for when they visit their local chiropractor

Pregnancy Adjustments

Did you know that pregnancy is one of the most common times for a woman’s spine to get out of alignment? Much of this is due to the new ways in which a woman must stand as her weight increases, and the many different ways in which she might try to sleep that don’t feel quite normal. Over the nine months, a lot can get misaligned in the spine.

The good news is that pregnant women don’t have to suffer. We have extensive experience helping pregnant and new mothers get their spines and other joints back into alignment so that they can feel as good as possible.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is often used in conjunction with other chiropractic methods to help patients relieve pain and increase mobility. It uses a small wand and conductive jelly to send the ultrasonic waves through the skin and into a disc or muscle. The purpose is to reduce swelling and increase blood flow to the affected area. There’s no pain or discomfort associated with the procedure.

The word ultrasound might sound familiar because of the type of medical imaging that sees inside the body, but this type of ultrasound is different. There’s no image because it uses a different frequency and has no receiver head.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation involves having adhesive pads placed on the body and mild electrical impulses are delivered to the area in which you are feeling pain, whether it’s the legs, neck, back, shoulder, or knee. The typical goal of electrical simulation is to increase blood flow and reduce swelling in the area that ails you.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a new and promising method of helping to reduce inflammation in the body. As you might know, reducing inflammation can not only help parts of your body that are hurting but also your internal organs.

The idea of cryotherapy is to reduce the temperature of the skin very quickly. When this happens, the skin sends signals to the brain that it’s getting very cold very quickly. The brain responds by pumping the blood with more oxygen, nutrients, and enzymes. Endorphins are released as well. When the cryotherapy ends, this “super blood” is then pumped throughout the body via a process called vasodilation, reducing pain and inflammation.

Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy is a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) that works along the same lines as an ultrasound but uses a specific bandwidth of light instead. It’s called cold laser therapy because it uses non-thermal photons that are associated with the lasers you might be familiar with. These light waves interact directly with the cells, stimulating them. Many of our patients have experienced a reduction in pain, inflammation, and edema in the treated area.

Everyone in our chiropractic clinic is dedicated to helping you get the most from your time with us. After we deduce what’s bothering you, we’re ready to employ every method at our disposal to give you the relief you need, both immediate and long-term. We’ve helped thousands of clients during our decades in business, and we’re proud to say that we’re able to offer more relief than ever before. If you’re suffering, we’re ready to help. Contact our Lexington office or Columbia office today!

Chances are, you or someone you know has received chiropractic treatments to treat back and neck pain. Some people even visit a chiropractor regularly to help with chronic pain issues.
A chiropractor’s primary method for treatment is based on spinal manipulation to realign the spine. This will, in turn, promote self-healing of muscles, joints, and tissues. If you are lucky enough to not suffer from any back or neck ailments, visiting a chiropractor may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, chiropractors can do more than you think. There are several reported benefits of spinal manipulation that support overall health and wellness. Read our blog to learn more. Most likely, there’s at least one benefit that will be surprising to you.

Improved Sleep

When your spine is out of alignment, it can cause tension and swelling. It’s also possible that you have a mild headache or sore neck from the misalignment and don’t even realize it. Regular chiropractic adjustments can promote relaxation, less pain, and therefore promote better quality sleep.

Reduces Stress

There are so many ways that our bodies can feel stress. Stress can be felt through tension, a need for rest, aches, pain, and just a general sense of feeling run down. Fortunately, proper spine alignment can help with all of these issues. People get used to living with pain and feeling tired all of the time, but there are ways to get relief. Chiropractic treatments can be part of your plan to reduce stress and achieve better overall health.

Boosts Immunity

You might be surprised to hear that chiropractic treatments can boost your immune system. How is this possible? How can cells, bacteria, and organs be influenced by a spine that is out of place? Some people don’t realize the body consists of several very complex, interdependent systems. Each one of those systems can be influenced by another. In simple terms, if everything isn’t working together in harmony, the result can be pain or sickness.

Chiropractic treatments can help to align the spine and keep pathways clear for your internal organs to function properly. When everything is functioning as it should, your body can use its powerful immune system to stay healthy and promote healing.

Improves Digestion

This is another benefit that is a surprise to most people. On the surface, it doesn’t make sense that your spine and stomach would be interrelated. This is another example of how one system not functioning optimally can influence another. It’s helpful to know that the nerves that run through the spine also control acid production in your stomach. If a misaligned spine creates impacts the nerves running through it, then your stomach will be affected also.

Make You a Better Athlete

Getting a spinal adjustment isn’t going to make you an instant athlete, but it can help to improve your range of motion, which is very important for most athletes. Most people know that stretching and staying flexible is critical whether you’re a runner, a weight-lifter or an amateur golfer. If your spine is out of alignment, it can limit your flexibility, cause inflammation and make it harder to move with a full range of motion.

Learn How Flex Chiropractic Can Help

Whether you have nagging back problems or you’d like to explore the benefits of chiropractic care beyond pain treatment, Flex Chiropractic is here to help you. With over 22 years in the industry, our experienced chiropractic team is here to share their passion for healing and provide you with the best possible care. Contact us today to set up your appointment!

This year has been an unusual one for most people. The worldwide pandemic has surely changed the way many people work, travel, and go to school. With a continued focus on social distancing, many businesses are allowing their employees to work from the safety of their own homes. While this is a good idea for helping to prevent the spread of the virus, working in a different environment that may not be set up for ergonomics is taking a toll on many people’s backs. 

In today’s blog from Flex Chiropractic, we want to help those of you who are working from home by giving you some tips to help prevent and manage back pain. Keep reading, and if you’re in need of a chiropractic adjustment, contact Flex Chiropractic in Columbia.

Tip #1: Avoid sitting for long periods

If you were lucky enough to have a standing desk at work, then you’re probably missing it now that you’re working from home. When you sit for extended periods at your desk, it constricts the blood flow in your legs and puts pressure on your spine. Experts even say that sitting for too long too often can be bad for your heart and brain. Long story short, feel better, and stay healthy by setting a reminder to get up every half hour or as often as possible.

Tip #2: Move around at least once an hour

It’s not enough to just stand up every so often, your body needs to move to really get the blood pumping. Although you might not be able to take a 10-minute break every hour, try to at least do some stretches at your desk or even do a few jumping jacks. If you have a conference call, consider using a wireless headset so you can walk during your meeting. And, when you can get away from your desk don’t just go to another room and sit down — walk up and down the stairs a few times, take a walk down to the mailbox, or take your dog for a stroll around the block.

Tip#3: Invest in a good chair

When you do sit down, having a good chair can make all the difference in how your back feels. Look for a chair with the right combination of cushion and support and then make sure it’s the right height for your desk. If you’re short, you may have to use a lumbar support cushion and use a footrest to help keep your feet securely planted. If you’re hunched over, have to reach for your keyboard, or are sitting on the edge of your seat, you’ll need to make adjustments or find a better fitting chair.  

Tip #4: Make sure your computer monitor is at the right height

Many people experience back and neck pain because their computer monitor isn’t at the right height. Oftentimes, people will be sitting at a level that requires them to look down at their monitor. This puts great stress on your neck muscles and can cause your back to get out of alignment. 

The next time you’re at your desk, look at your monitor — is your head completely straight and level? If not, you’ll want to invest in a stand that can put your screen at the right height.

Tip #5: Avoid working from the couch or in bed

Have you always wished you didn’t have to get up and get ready for work each morning? Now that you have that option, you might be tempted just to reach for your laptop and work in your PJs without even getting out of bed. As comfy as it sounds, working from your bed or even a couch can wreak havoc on your back. You won’t have support where you need it, plus sitting hunched over restricts your breathing, reduces circulation, and is just plain bad for you. 

Visit Flex Chiropractic in Columbia

If you’re struggling to adjust to working from home and you’re experiencing more aches and pains than usual, it might be time to come into Flex for a chiropractic adjustment. With an aligned spine you’ll likely experience less pain and tension in your back and neck and you’ll be ready to take on whatever the remainder of 2020 throws your way. Call us today at 803-262-0034 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.