Cleary Family Chiropractic: Blog

We talk a lot about preventing overuse injuries, but exercise is essential for a healthy body. You need a strong core to support your back and flexible hips to avoid pulling on your lumbar spine. So how do you minimize the risk of strain? Every exercise has its proper form, and we at Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock want everyone experiencing back pain to get the approval of one of our biomechanical experts before engaging in a work-out. But one feature every routine has in common is properly warming up and cooling down. When your muscles have blood pumping through them, they are less likely to be strained or frayed. But stretching a muscle while it’s still cold puts it at much greater risk. Warm up stretches should be dynamic, meaning they should increase blood flow to a muscle while loosening it. Part of the reason for yoga’s popularity is that there are a lot of poses that do this. Other dynamic stretches include arm and hip circles, butt kicks, lunges, and leg swings. It wi...

Neck pain happens, but that doesn’t mean it has to. With some lifestyle adjustments, you can prevent neck pain altogether. We at Cleary Family Chiropractic take pride in educating our patients about good spinal health. Since many of our patients experience neck pain, it's important to take a step back and see what is causing it. Only then can you take the necessary steps to prevent it!   Tips to prevent neck pain:   - Sleep on your back - Drink plenty of water - Make sure you are using a comfortable and supported pillow - Make sure your computer monitor is at eye level - When using your mobile phone for texting, keep it at eye level, take breaks, or use talk-text - When using your mobile phone for making calls, use a headset or earpiece - Stretch, exercise, and strengthen your neck muscles - Carry weight on your person so that it is evenly distributed - Practice a supportive posture (no slumping or hunching!) - Hold your phone at a distance rather than right in front of you   It’s...

Back pain. Maybe you’re lucky enough to not have experienced it. It’s no secret that as we age, we become more susceptible to certain ailments. But did you know that back pain can affect even the fittest person? Sometimes all it takes to injure your back is an honest mistake, other times it’s out of our control and comes down to genetics. We at Cleary Family Chiropractic recognize that back pain is common, but it doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. Dr. Matthew Cleary specializes in chiropractic care and pain management and can help get you back on the road to a pain-free life.    Some common causes of back pain include:   - Lack of exercise - Arthritis - Improper lifting - Excess weight - Skeletal irregularities - Muscle or ligament strain - Osteoporosis - Bulging or ruptured discs - Age   There are other risk factors associated with back pain, such as certain diseases, psychological conditions, and smoking. In some cases, back pain can be severe enough that only a chiropract...