Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck. Whiplash is a common injury during a rear-end auto accident but can also occur during physical activity and playing sports. After the accident occurs, it is common to experience severe pain in your neck, head, and shoulders. At Carolina Chiropractic Center, we advise our patients who have been in an accident to seek chiropractic care.

When possible, we encourage our patients to seek chiropractic care after auto accidents for treatment. Symptoms of whiplash can include neck pain/stiffness, lower back pain, and blurred vision, ringing in the ears, headache, shoulder pain, and nausea. Our doctors are trained to diagnose and treat whiplash.

Our doctors use all natural chiropractic techniques to help your body recover from whiplash. Treating whiplash with painkillers and other medication puts a Band-Aid on the injury instead of fixing it by treating the entire body as one and not one specific area.

If you are suffering from whiplash after an auto-accident, come see Dr. James Huggins Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.carolinachirocenter.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call 843-665-9192.

Managing Osteoarthritis

Arthritis can mean several different things. The most common form, osteoarthritis, results from the breakdown of cartilage, a slippery substance that cushions and lubricates the bones where they form joints. At the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, we have several safe, complementary means of providing patients with relief from this condition. Although osteoarthritis cannot be reversed, it can be managed.

It was formerly believed that osteoarthritis was purely the result of wear and tear to the joints over time. Recent evidence suggests that another factor is the body losing the ability to produce new collagen, which is the protein that comprises cartilage. As bones rub against each other, they may flake off, and the free-floating chips could trigger the body’s inflammatory response. But inflammation is not always triggered (the condition is sometimes called “degenerative joint disease”), and other possible consequences include the growth of bony spurs and painful stiffness.

People who are older are at greater risk for osteoarthritis, and joints that have previously been injured have a greater risk of developing it. Adjustments can help realign joints that are not currently inflamed. During outbreaks, our options for reducing inflammation include therapeutic ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, and low level laser therapy. Therapeutic exercise can also keep the muscles surrounding arthritis joints strong and flexible, helping them to retain their shape and relieving cartilage from stress.

Dr. James Huggins runs the Carolina Chiropractic Center at 1627 Suite C, South Irby, Florence, South Carolina, 29505. To set up an appointment, call 843-665-9192 or visit Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.

 

Importance of Vitamin D

During the summer, we have more opportunities to produce Vitamin D. This hormone plays a crucial role in bone strength by facilitating the body’s absorption of calcium. But although sunlight is necessary for its production, many people may still not get enough, which is why we at the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence want the public to understand its importance.

Calcium is the mineral that strengthens bones. It is not produced in our bodies, but absorbed in our intestines when the cells there are made active by Vitamin D. (It is possible to absorb too much, which is why they can be deactivated.) Vitamin D is produced in cholesterol when skin is exposed to sunlight, but it can also be consumed from certain sources. Among the best dietary sources are fatty fish, eggs, beef liver, dairy, and green leafy vegetables. Orange juice and cereal are also commonly fortified with Vitamin D and calcium.

Deficiencies in Vitamin D are not always apparent, but over time, they can cause a person to have difficulty growing bone tissue. This may cause them to develop osteoporosis, which will cause them to stoop forward as they age. Besides increasing their sun exposure and improving their nutrient intake, people can also prevent bone fragility by strengthening their muscles.

Dr. James Huggins runs the Carolina Chiropractic Center at 1627 Suite C, South Irby, Florence, South Carolina, 29505. To set up an appointment, call 843-665-9192 or visit Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.

 

Back Tips for Long Trips

Many people will be driving or riding in planes or trains over the summer. You probably know about the toll prolonged sitting takes on office workers, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that travel can be rough on a person’s back, too. We hope that all our patients at the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence will exercise preventive measures, so we thought we’d share a few tips.

You don’t want to have to stretch your spine to reach the steering wheel or pedels. Scoot your chair up as close to the wheel as you comfortably can. It’s also a good idea to change your position on the steering wheel sometimes to prevent shoulder freeze. Office workers are advised to get out of their chairs and stretch about every half hour. This is good advice for people sitting in vehicles, as well, but at minimum, they should try to make sure they flex their legs and ankles that often. If your car seat doesn’t have lower back support, you can provide some by putting a small cylindrical pillow in the curve of your lower spine. A rolled up blanket or soft piece of clothing may serve, if necessary. Specialized cushions may be available for people with particular problems, such as sciatica.

Generally, anything that is causing you discomfort at the start of your trip will only get worse. Don’t sit with objects in your back pockets and if you’re not driving, keep your feet on a flat surface. Also, remember to keep your head upright and facing forward instead of at a mobile device in your lap.

Dr. James Huggins runs the Carolina Chiropractic Center at 1627 Suite C, South Irby, Florence, South Carolina, 29505. To set up an appointment, call 843-665-9192 or visit Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.