Cleary Family Chiropractic: Blog

When it comes to your spine’s long-term health, chiropractic care goes hand in hand with certain lifestyle decisions. Simple things like lifting properly or standing occasionally while working at a desk can make all the difference. Dr. Matthew Cleary at Cleary Family Chiropractic in Woodstock, GA, is dedicated to educating his patients about the importance of mindfulness when it comes to your spinal wellness.  Resting and Sleeping Neck and back strain are common during rest and sleep. Sometimes we fall asleep in strange positions or angles and wake up asking ourselves, “did I sleep the wrong way?” It’s important that your pillow supports your neck and head so that everything is neutral with your spine. Lifting Lifting objects improperly is the most common way to injure your spine. Always use your legs to lift, never your back! Keep your back straight and hold the object close to your body. Never twist while picking something up and always set the object down the same way you lifted it...

At Cleary Family Chiropractic, we see a lot of patients straining their back and neck by looking down at the screen on their device.  You may have even heard this being called “text neck”. The average adult head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds, and neck muscles are meant to support the weight of the head in a neutral position.  Looking down at a screen increases the strain on your neck, as if your neck is carrying a lot more weight.  Tilting your head forward just 15 degrees adds enough force to double the weight your neck is supporting, and the greater the angle, the greater strain.  Many people who text with their chin near the neck are tilting the head forward 60 degrees, which increases the load to about 60 pounds! The good news is we can make smarter choices about how to use devices every day to reduce strain on our bodies. Starting with good posture will always reduce strain on your neck.  Sit up straight with your shoulders lined up above your hips and your head upright. Hold yo...