Doctor’s Blog

Compression socks can be comfy

By Lisa Hastings, DC, Wed Feb 17, 2016

Sometimes a little compression goes a long way — especially for ankle swelling, weak veins, pregnancy, mild ankle sprains, tired legs, or air travel.

Many people don’t wear compression socks or leggings because they don’t like how they feel. Medical grade compression socks can also be pricey.

Now athletic socks are getting in the compression game to help reduce fatigue and improve performance. MDSOX graduated compression socks are made for the workout crowd. They are 50% cotton and still provide 20-30 mm hg of graduated pressure.

Its amazing how much more energy you can have when your stressed legs get a little happy compression support. Try them, you might be surprised how they make you feel.

Lisa Hastings, DC
Dr. of Chiropractic
Holistic care for complex health conditions

Your Physical Balance is Your Emotional Balance!

By Team Members Of Yore, Wed Aug 12, 2015

Have you ever seen a counselor or therapist? Did you ever try supplementing any of your talk therapy with other forms of touch and movement therapy like bodywork/massage or yoga? Touch and movement therapy can be a fantastic way to take your health and stability to the next level, physically and emotionally.

The New York Times recently reported on a study that examined study participants’ self-reflection of their love relationships while sitting in a wobbly chair or on 1 leg. The control group, who sat in stable chairs and stood with both feet on the ground, reported more positive reflections of their partner and their relationship than those who were not on stable ground.

When I help someone improve their biomechanics, how they approach stress and life is intrinsic to the work we do. Are you someone who braces every time a new task or responsibility arises or can you ground and feel stable to weather whatever happens? Many of my clients consider our work as an integral piece to the talk therapy with their counselor. Creating space and awareness in the body translates to greater flexibility not just getting off of the floor but in our interactions with others.  How can you move with more ease and stability in your life?

Shannon
Helping you find effort with ease…

Is a J Shaped Spine the Way out of Back Pain?

By Team Members Of Yore, Mon Aug 3, 2015

NPR recently featured the work of acupuncturist, Esther Gokhale, and her method to restore the spine to ‘primal posture’. Gokhale believes that the American S-shaped spine is what causes our back pain and that we should attempt to restore our bodies to a J-back posture where the back is flat and then the low back curves.

From my experience, both personal and in my work with clients, when we artificially modify our posture to what we think or someone says is correct, our bodies usually react with new pain. Our tissues calibrate to our alignment and movement, so when we abruptly shift that alignment, the body can get a testy about it.

An S-shaped spine isn’t a phenomenon confined to particular parts of the world, it is the spinal shape of homo sapiens. An exaggerated S encompasses what we all consider ‘poor posture’ with the forward head, slumped shoulders and pooched out belly. A naturally S-shaped spine looks more like a spring and acts as a shock absorber with every step we take. Back pain can come from a variety of issues all over the body, not just from the configuration of the spine. While good posture can help keep our bodies out of pain, it needs to arise organically over time through modified movement patterns and good alignment in order to stick around.

Some of my clients who forced a flat mid back because they thought it was proper posture, (think a ballet dancer or military posture), have suffered from neck and shoulder issues later in life. The thoracic spine of the mid back should be highly flexible not just front-to-back, but side-to-side and in rotation for healthy, pain-free movement. When people assume a flat mid back posture, the range of motion is often limited creating undue strain in places like the neck and shoulders as well as the lower back.

Regardless of your current back shape, be it an S, J or even an I, integrating new movement patterns with lots of side bending and twisting will help keep your back flexible and happy. Yoga incorporates these movements, but you can also explore this daily by side bending while in line at the grocery store or twisting to one side and then the other…I guarantee one way will be easier than the other and there’s a start to your personal path for spinal health.

Shannon
Helping you find effort with ease…