Cleary Family Chiropractic: Blog

People who sit all day have high rates of back pain. This isn’t surprising, since not only is it hard to get enough exercise while working in an office, but many people also don’t understand how to properly support their backs. At Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, we relieve people’s back pain, but we want everyone to increase their overall wellness by taking better care of themselves. We thought we'd offer a few pointers regarding office ergonomics. While sitting at a computer, you want to avoid slouching forward or backward into your chair. Position your desk and chair height so that when your feet are flat on the floor and your back is straight, your monitor is directly at eye level. Your elbows should be at ninety degree angles when your hands are resting on the desktop. You should be able to sit all the way back in the chair, so your lower back is supported by the chair’s back cushion. Don’t have anything in your back pockets while you’re sitting, and place your armres...

Do you suffer from soreness in your upper back? You’re not alone; although the condition is not as common as lower back pain, it is still widespread. Upper back pain is usually a condition that builds up over time. We can treat it safely and quickly at Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, but we want our patients to understand why preventive care and lifestyle changes are so important for avoiding relapses. The twelve vertebrae of the thoracic region have less mobility than those in the neck or lumbar region. Their connection to the ribs makes them more stable, and the powerful muscles of the shoulder wrap around the upper thoracic vertebrae. Still, they may develop arthritis or degenerative disc disease, and irritation in the shoulder muscles may be felt in the upper back. People also commonly wear out the connective tissues in their upper backs by slouching in cars or office chairs and neglect to keep the muscles there strong. If a nerve root in the thoracic spine is compressed,...

A fall can permanently damage a senior’s joint health. Lower back pain is one of the most common ailments in the United States, and the fact that one fourth of Americans over the age of sixty-five suffer a fall each year is one of the major reasons why. As chiropractors who maintain long-term interest in our patients’ well-being, we at Cleary Family Chiropractic want the households we serve to understand how they can reduce environmental hazards and minimize risk. Good balance requires good posture and weight distribution on the feet. When a person has foot pain, they tend to compensate by leaning too far and putting strain on their back muscles. Seniors should wear supportive shoes as much as possible, including when they are inside the house. Their shoes should have soles with good grip and should stabilize their ankles. Walking areas should be kept clear of carpets that create uneven floor height and have upturned corners, and hallways should be well-lit.  A person will be at much ...

Our doctors at Cleary Family Chiropractic are experts in correcting biomechanical injuries. The rotator cuff, where the arm connects to the shoulder, is one of the most complex joints in the body. When people suffer shoulder injuries, we’re prepared to assist them with pain relief and rehabilitation so they recover their full function as quickly as possible. The rotator cuff is so called because it allows the arm to move in a full circle. It is comprised of several muscles and tendons that secure the humerus inside the shoulder socket. A bag of fluid called a bursa, located between the joint and the bone above it, called the clavicle, keeps the joint lubricated. If the shoulder is overused, the tendons may fray. This makes them weaker and can cause inflammation and pain, which the patient would probably experience as dull and throbbing. Older people are likelier to develop degenerative conditions in their rotator cuffs. Their shoulders tend not be as well-supplied with blood, so it tak...