#1-Spinal Subluxations

Your 24 spinal bones should have a proper amount of mobility.  Sedentary living, injuries, and other causes can make individual joints to lock up. These subluxations can eventually decay the spine within as little as 2-3 weeks.  The primary focus of care in the office is restoring healthy mobility to subluxated spinal joints.

#2-Pre-Existing Spinal Decay

Every injury that we have had throughout our lives, if not properly rehabilitated, causes subtle damage to the spine.  The extent of the injury, the number of injuries, and how old the injury is all determine the current state of spinal decay.  Somebody with a lot of uncorrected spinal injuries will typically have a poorer quality of life, require more rehabilitation, and need more care to keep their spine healthy.  Moral of the story- care for your spine as soon as it is injured (regardless of pain).

#3- Spinal Hygiene

Living in industrial society is as hard on the spine as it is on the teeth.  Thankfully, our dental profession recognizes this and provides the public with the knowledge to take care of their own teeth by brushing and flossing.  Dr. Craig employs a spinal hygiene routine with his patients which allows them to "brush" and "floss" their spines and undo many of the stressors that industrial life puts on the spine.  Spinal hygiene exercises are still beneficial even in the absence of chiropractic care. 

 If you are the owner of a business or organization that would like to have Dr. Craig teach spinal hygiene, please contact him at (224)484-8426. 

#4- Omega 3 Supplementation

The widespread feeding of grains to all our meat sources has led to large deficiencies in a type of fat called omega-3's like  EPA and DHA.  Deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids contribute to chronic chemical inflammation.  Typically, you cannot have pain without inflammation.   Proper supplementation with high quality fish oils will provide your body with these needed nutrients and can reduce inflammation.  Consult Dr. Craig for proper dosage, type of supplementation, or to see if supplementation is necessary. 

#5- Vitamin D Supplementation

We live in a society that too often avoids adequate sun exposure.  This leads to vitamin D deficiency which can cause chemical inflammation.  Typically, you cannot have pain without inflammation.  Proper supplementation, when necessary, will provide your body with adequate vitamin D which has been shown to reduce inflammation.  Consult Dr. Craig for proper dosage, type of supplementation, or to see if supplementation is necessary.

#6- Smoking

People who smoke are more likely to have spinal disc height loss than those that don't smoke.  Some risk factors, such as smoking, people may not be willing to change.  That's ok!  If they address the other risk factors, their spinal health will still improve.  A decade of practice has taught Dr. Stear to meet people where they are, allowing them to make incremental change to their spinal health on their own terms. 

#7- Sitting

Sitting to the spine is like sugar to the teeth.  As a rule of thumb, keep sitting under 3 hours a day.  If that's not possible, we have a solution for that.  

If you own a business that requires your employees to sit and you want to keep healthcare costs down, employees healthy, productivity high, and reduce workers compensation cases, please contact our office at (224)484-8426.

#8- Emotional Stress

Although it sounds odd, when a patient is under a high amount of emotional stress, it can complicate their chiropractic case.  Emotional stress turns on parts of the brain that activate the "fight or flight" response, this can trigger muscle spasms. These muscle spasms then lead to a restriction in the range of motion. 

#9- Aerobic Exercise

Daily practice of aerobic exercise improves the endurance of spinal muscles.  The better the endurance of the surrounding musculature, the more activities one will be able to do without downticks in health.  Please note that performing exercise is safer and more effective when the joints of your spine move well.  Contact Spinal Health Center for an evaluation for spinal subluxations so that you can receive the full benefit of aerobic exercise.

#10- Resistance Training

When performed properly, resistance training can provide many spinal health improvements.  It can improve strength, limit bone density loss, and reverse insulin resistance among other things.  Contact Spinal Health Center to evaluate if your spinal health is ready to add resistance training to your routine and for tips how to perform resistance training properly.