Nashville Chiropractic will be open tomorrow, July 3rd from 8am to 2pm. Come get a good 'ole fashion American adjustment on your day off! Let's celebrate independence from the British by working towards independence from pain.
Hudson's Day of Kindness
Recently, a dear friend lost her nephew, Hudson, to a heart condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Kids with HLHS are born with a severely underdeveloped left side of the heart. This left side of the heart is what is responsible for pumping blood to the body. When it is critically underdeveloped, the right side of the heart has to take up the slack and work double time.
Today is Hudson's birthday. Let's give back in his honor and show that all lives, no matter how short, can make a positive impact on the world. Do something nice for a friend, loved one, or even a stranger, and let's spread joy in his memory.
Here is a quote from Hudson's family:
Hudson was a warrior and a miracle from the very beginning, and he lived an incredible life. He never let his circumstances define him. Hudson loved trains, animals, and dancing and singing at the top of his lungs. Since Hudson will be spending his birthday in Heaven, we are asking that you bring a little of that celebration to Earth by performing random acts of kindness in honor of Hudson.
You can learn more about Hudson's life and legacy at choosingtriumphovertragedy.blogspot.com
I Was in a Car Accident, Now What?
We've been seeing a lot of new patients who have been involved in recent car accidents. Here are a few things to consider if you become one of the unlucky ones and get hit:
Some of the most common injuries we see with car accidents involve the neck and upper back. Probably the most prevalent is whiplash. The Mayo Clinic defines whiplash as "a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip." This doesn't only occur with car accidents, but when it does it is usually the result of a rear-end collision. Whiplash causes straightening of the cervical spine which can lead to pain and stiffness in the mid back. It also stretches muscles which can cause them to tighten up.
Whiplash is dangerous because the symptoms can sometimes take a while to show up. It may be weeks or even months sometimes before you really see the effects. That is why it is very important to get checked out immediately after an accident. You wouldn't want to settle the auto claim and then realize you have chronic neck pain and degeneration from the accident after its over.
If you are in an accident, make sure you come see us at Nashville Chiropractic. Through a detailed history, examination, and X-rays (if needed) we can treat your current complaints and assess your risk of future issues.
What Causes Achilles Tendinitis, And What Can You Do About It?
Achilles tendinopathy is usually a gradual-onset injury most often caused by overuse. It is a common injury for runners, soccer players, basketball players, and any other athlete that spends a lot of time in forward motion. Overuse occurs when the Achilles tendon undergoes excessive stresses without enough time to adjust to those stress levels between occurrences. Excessive stress can be the result of poor foot mechanics, increased conditioning sessions, improper playing or running surfaces, improper footwear, muscle weakness, inflexibility, or a combination of all of the above.
Let's focus on poor foot mechanics and footwear. Excessive pronation (leaning of your foot towards your big toe) when running increases stress to the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon naturally has a spiral formation; thus, when the foot is pronated it adds extra stress and tightness to the tendon. This, coupled with then tendon's poor blood supply, can lead to injury that can be a real "pain" to get over.
So what can be done to treat Achilles tendinitis? First and foremost, a gait analysis should be performed to see if the athlete is a pronator. If so, proper footwear and taping techniques can help limit the amount of pronation while running and ultimately decrease the stress on the Achilles tendon. Further, a qualified healthcare provider can provide myofascial release to help break up any adhesions found in the tendon. Stretching of the whole leg region can help increase achilles flexibility, i.e. calves, hamstrings, hip flexors, and glutes. Your healthcare provider can then prescribe exercises to help control and strengthen the area.
It is best to seek help sooner rather than later regarding Achilles issues. The longer one goes trying to fight it on their own without treatment or rest, the more likely more damage may occur. If you or someone you know are having these issues then we would be happy to help you here at Nashville Chiropractic!
Music City Distance Carnival
Nashville Chiropractic will be on site at the Music City Distance Carnival (MCDC) on June 6th. The MCDC is a distance-centered elite track meet held at Vanderbilt University's track. Over the years this meet has seen 19 sub-4 minute miles, 23 countries represented, and 13 olympians compete. We are very excited to be teaming up with the MCDC this year. We'll be on site providing stretching and muscle work for the athletes. The meet will be held Saturday night, June 6th, and will surely be a blast. Come check it out and stop by to say hey.