Noah Enteen, LMFT

I Have Back and Neck Pain. Can I Adjust Myself?

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We’ve all seen those videos of people locked at home due to the pandemic, forced to give themselves and family members a haircut. While some of the results have been surprisingly not terrible looking, other hairdos would definitely be required to be categorized as hair-don’ts. But at least no one was harmed during the making of those bad haircuts.

But the same can’t be said for people who try and give themselves a quick CRACK of the neck or back. Most people, at some point in their life, will experience neck or back pain to some degree and it can be tempting trying to alleviate this discomfort yourself. But while someone can twist their back in a certain way and jerk their neck around, causing a loud POP or CRACKing sound, these attempts to adjust are very counterproductive and can make an already unstable joint more mobile.

How Do Chiropractic Adjustments Work?

Chiropractic adjustments work on treating issues in our joints and spine. By using a precise and special kind of force and manipulation, a chiropractor can realign misaligned joints, relieving pressure on the nerves and help surround tissue relax and become less inflamed. Chiropractic care can alleviate pain while helping to improve posture and mobility.

It takes years of training for a chiropractor to be able to safely and effectively adjust someone’s joints. They must learn how to use their hands and other specially designed instruments to apply just the right amount of pressure and movement to the joint.

So, to answer the question “Can I adjust my own neck or spine myself?” once and for all, the answer is a very loud NO! If you are suffering from neck or back pain, it is in your best interest to seek professional help. Don’t put it off because the longer you allow joint problems to fester, the more pain and inflammation you can and will develop.

If you live in the area and would like to get some help with your back or neck, please either call our office or stop by for a free consultation. We’d love to help you become pain-free as quickly as possible.

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Filed Under: Chiropractic

Sit/Stand Desks – Are They Good Or Bad?

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You have probably noticed over the last few years that the popularity of sitting/standing desks has really taken off. In fact, sales of standing desks have soared in recent years, and in many cases their sales have far outpaced those of conventional desks.

You may have even read an article or two outlining the benefits of standing more. But is there any truth to these claims? Are sit/stand desks worth it or just hype?

First, if you’re new to this topic, let’s briefly talk about what a sit/stand desk is. It’s pretty self-explanatory actually, these desks are adjustable so the person can sit at them when needed and raise them so they may stand and continue to work.

What are the Benefits – If Any – To Standing More?

The claim is that sitting all day is harmful to our health, certainly harmful to our waistlines. A good majority of people who purchase these sit/stand desks do so in the hopes it will help them lose weight.

But does standing really help you burn significantly more calories? Research published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health sought to answer this very question. So the researchers fitted 74 healthy people with masks that measured oxygen consumption (which would reflect how many calories were being burned) while doing computer work, watching TV, standing or walking on a treadmill.

The results? Sitting burned 80 calories an hour, about the same as typing and watching TV, standing burned 88 calories an hour, while walking burned 210 calories an hour. So standing for 3 hours would burn roughly 24 calories, which are the number of calories in a small carrot.

So when it comes to calorie burning and weight loss, a standing desk isn’t going to help you get the results you are hoping for.

So Are There Any benefits to Standing More?

While a standing desks won’t help you burn more calories, there may be some benefits to standing more throughout your day:

  • Some studies have shown that after a meal, blood sugar levels return to normal faster on those days the person spends more time standing.
  • Standing more will help reduce back and shoulder pain, and help keep hamstrings loose. (Sitting too much causes our soft tissues to tighten).

So are stand/sit desks really worth it? Probably not. You’d get just as much benefit making sure you get up and walk around the office or your home every hour. If you do want to stand more when you work, you can simply place a small shelving unit on top of your desk, or even place your laptop on a stack of books. It’ll save you a lot of money!

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Filed Under: Chiropractic, Sports / Exercise