Cleary Family Chiropractic: Blog

Do you suffer from back pain or neck pain? Do you often feel fatigued or weak? You may benefit from Electric Muscle Stimulation. Also known as EMS or e-stim, this is one of several complementary treatments we offer at Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock for soft tissue ailments. It can be used to loosen tight muscles, reduce inflammation, and speed workout recovery time. E-stim devices generate an electric pulse through mechanical vibration. The pulse is transmitted through wires ending in pads that are placed on the patient’s body. Muscles convulse rapidly when electric current enters them. This flushes out old blood, letting in new blood that is rich in nutrients. The nutrients allow the muscles to heal more quickly. Stimulation also releases endorphins, the pain relief hormone produced naturally by the body. A stronger current can be generated to reach deeper muscles. The process only takes ten to fifteen minutes, although injured patients may undergo it several times. Most peop

Spinal misalignments can occur for several reasons. Some do not always cause pain, but still have alarming implications for the body. We offer comprehensive treatments at Cleary Family Chiropractic, with each scientifically vetted as non-addictive and minimally invasive. Among the disorders we’ll check each patient for is spondylolisthesis, the slippage of one vertebra over another. The vertebrae are connected by facet joints. Slippage in a vertebra could be due to a small fracture in one of the joints, which is the most frequent cause of back pain in teenagers. Usually, it is one of the upper lumbar vertebrae that slips. Spondylolisthesis can also occur due to degenerative disc disease. As the discs separating the vertebral bodies dry out or become rigid, their shrinkage makes them less effective at keeping the adjoining bones in place. Older women are more at risk for the degenerative form of spondylolisthesis. Although spondylolisthesis can occur without the patient being aware of i

If you’ve ever had a bruised tailbone, you know it’s no fun. The body can usually heal damage in this area on its own, but Cleary Family Chiropractic is happy to provide patients with safe pain management. We can also provide diagnostics to better understand what is causing a patient’s discomfort. The tailbone is scientifically called the coccyx, and it’s made up of small, fused vertebrae that dangle from the end of the spine. It is anchored by the powerful muscles and ligaments of the pelvic region, which usually serve to shield it from blunt trauma. It is rare for the coccyx to crack, but the tissues surrounding it can bruise. Pain related to it is scientifically called “coccydynia.” People are particularly vulnerable to tailbone injuries during activities such as cycling and horseback riding, or while giving birth. Patients will have to rest while they recover, but we can provide them with chiropractic wedges to sit on without causing further pain. Manual adjustments, ultrasound, an

The alignment of the entire body depends on the integrity of our feet. When there is a problem with the feet, people may compensate by tilting their knees or hips, causing the spine to be out of alignment. Cleary Family Chiropractic provides spinal adjustments, but to prevent future problems, patients may need to get new pairs of shoes. Good posture depends on proper arch support. This means that a shoe must provide support both underneath and on the side of a foot’s arch. Supportive flip-flops, dress shoes, and sandals are becoming more widely available, but most of them should still be avoided. Sneakers generally provide good support, but they need to be replaced when they get worn down, which could happen to running shoes after just a few months. The best sneakers are ones with high, cushioned cuffs and tongues to support the ankle, but which are lightweight and have traction. When people buy shoes, they should wear the kind of socks they’ll normally wear with that type of shoe for