Frozen Shoulder

Carolina Chiropractic Center treats numerous musculoskeletal problems, such as “frozen shoulder.” Also known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a condition that involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. This happens when the tissue around the shoulder joint loses its synovial fluid and causes limited mobility. If you have significant shoulder pain, we recommend that you come in for a visit so that the root of the problem can be diagnosed and we can get you on a treatment plan.

Symptoms of frozen shoulder:

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  Stiffness

  
  


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  Very limited mobility

  
  


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  Dull or achy pain

  
  


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  Difficulty doing daily activities

  
  


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  Increase in these symptoms over time

  
  

Women are more susceptible to this condition than men, and especially affects people who have had a stroke or mastectomy. We at Carolina Chiropractic Center are committed to helping our patients reach the full extent of their mobility and live pain-free lives. We treat frozen shoulder with a variety of exercises that help with range-of-motion, joint manipulation, and chiropractic adjustments.

Carolina Chiropractic Center is located at 1627 S Irby Suite C, in Florence, SC 29505. For more information on treatment for frozen shoulder, or to schedule an appointment, visit carolinachirocenter.com or call 843-665-9192.

 

Chiropractic Care for Personal Injury

When bodily harm occurs from being involved in any type of accident, specifically outside of your workplace, it is considered personal injury. We at Carolina Chiropractic Center recommend coming in for a visit so that we can assess the damage and get you on the road to recovery. Whether it be a single or series of adjustments, your chiropractor is one of the best options for uncovering underlying issues from your accident.

Examples of personal injuries:

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  Auto accidents

  
  


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  Motorcycle accidents

  
  


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  Bicycle accidents

  
  


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  A slip, trip, or fall

  
  

While a doctor treats symptoms with prescriptions, a chiropractor works to correct the problem with focused stretching of the affected muscles and careful adjustments. We recommend against letting your injury go untreated since this can cause more problems down the line, and affect your quality of life even more than the accident already has. If you find that everyday tasks cannot be done without significant pain, it may be time to schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins Jr.

Carolina Chiropractic Center is located at 1627 S Irby Suite C, in Florence, SC 29505. For more information on chiropractic adjustments or to schedule an appointment, visit carolinachirocenter.com or call 843-665-9192.

 

Cupping Therapy

The cupping technique has actually been around for quite a while. However, its popularity skyrocketed in 2016 when Michael Phelps showed off five gold medals and the circular, purple welts on his body. Carolina Chiropractic Center is excited to offer cupping therapy to patients in combination with chiropractic care.

There are three popular methods of cupping:

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  Dry cupping, which involves warming the cup and creating suction against the skin as it gradually cools down.

  
  

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  Air cupping, which involves a pump that pulls oxygen out of a plastic or silicone cup to create suction against the skin.

  
  

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  Massage cupping is used after the cups have been suctioned to the skin for some time. Then they are moved in a gliding motion across the skin, creating a form of massage.

  
  

Like acupuncture or normal massages, cupping is a natural way to reduce pain. The method draws toxins in the body to the surface, breaking up obstructions and allowing for better blood flow. However, cupping only offers temporary relief in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments. While chiropractic care works to correct your musculoskeletal problem, cupping allows relief from the pain.

Carolina Chiropractic Center is located at 1627 S Irby Suite C, in Florence, SC 29505. For more information on cupping therapy or to schedule an appointment, visit carolinachirocenter.com or call 843-665-9192.

 

 

4 Tips for a Healthy Spine

Chiropractic care goes hand in hand with lifestyle changes when it comes to your spine’s long-term health. Simple things like lifting properly or standing ocassionally while working at a desk can make a big difference. We at Carolina Chiropractic Center are dedicated to educating patients about how to be mindful when it comes to 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 a 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 down the object down the same way you lifted it.

Talking and Texting on the Phone

If you need to speak on the phone for an extended period of time, using a speaker or headset is recommended to keep your neck aligned with your spine. Tilting your head towards your shoulder can damage muscles and vertebrae. Similarly, when you’re texting, keep your neck and back straight with the device at chest or eye level. Never hunch!

Working at a Desk

Make sure that you’re getting up every thirty minutes to stretch out your body. Also be sure that when you’re sitting, your feet are flat on the floor with your knees at a ninety-degree angle. Your computer screen should always be at eye-level.

Carolina Chiropractic Center is located at 1627 S Irby Suite C, in Florence, SC 29505. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit carolinachirocenter.com or call 843-665-9192.

 

Sports Injury and Prevention

Every athlete should consider seeing a chiropractor. Chiropractors are best equipped to handle injuries to athletes and prevent them before they happen. Unlike medical doctors who target a specific area, chiropractors treat the entire musculoskeletal system. Dr. James Huggins at Carolina Chiropractic Center recommends athletes come to see him for any sports-related injuries and prevention. If not treated properly, a specific injury could lead to multiple injuries and never heal properly.

Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and manage sports-related injuries as part of their core competencies. Paying close attention to joint manipulation, soft tissue therapy, and specific customized exercises are what chiropractors are trained to do. Treating sports injuries without medical assistance will lead to fewer injuries in the future and better performance.

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.

Foot Orthotics

A lot of times foot issues can be resolved simply by having foot orthotics. Orthotics is small and goes on the bottom your shoe to help with ankle and feet problems. Conditions such as plantar fasciitis, bursitis, tendinitis, diabetic foot ulcers, and foot, ankle, and heel pain all can be helped with the use of orthotics.

The first kind of orthotics is simply an insert you buy at sporting goods stores and shoe stores. They are usually made with gel, plastic or foam and you can simply put them in your shoe although they won’t be a perfect fit. Those kinds of insets can help with comfort in a shoe but are not a solution to foot issues.

Orthotics, are medical prescribed devices specially designed to fit your feet and fix a medical condition with patients feet. At Carolina Chiropractic Center, Dr. James Huggins Jr. can diagnose any feet issues patients have and design the right orthotic for them. Medical orthotics are a great investment and can last well over a year well preserving your feet and curing any pain patients may be experiencing.

If you think you could benefit from foot orthotics, 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.

Plantar Fasciitis

As specialists in the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are interested in the relationship between gait and overall health. When people have foot pain, they tend to walk in a manner that is not optimal for spinal alignment. Fortunately, the Carolina Chiropractic Center has a number of ways to help.

The most common form of foot pain is plantar fasciitis. It is the inflammation of the connective tissue on the bottom of the feet which stretches from the heel to the toes. Plantar fasciitis is the kind of wear-and-tear injury which builds up over years but which causes sudden pain, usually located in the heel. Patients most commonly feel it after they have been still for a long time.

People who have put an unusual amount of stress on their heels are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis, but most people’s feet will wear down over time. Plantar fasciitis is one of the ailments which responds best to electric muscle stimulation. To reduce their discomfort outside the office, patients can be fitted for custom orthotics.

Dr. James Huggins operates 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 CarolinaChiroCenter.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Spinal Stenosis

If you understand the principles of chiropractic, it will come as no surprise to you that at the Carolina Chiropractic Center, the narrowing of patients’ spinal channels is one of our top concerns. Scientifically, compression of the spinal cord is called spinal stenosis, and it is a cause of many of the conditions we provide treatments for.

Spinal stenosis is usually caused by bony spurs growing in the spaces through which the spinal nerves and cord travel. This most commonly occurs in the lower (lumbar) region, in which case the patient may feel leg pain, numbness, or tingling. It can also occur in the neck (cervical) region and cause weakness and tingling in the hands.

The growth of bone spurs is a slow process usually associated with arthritis. Chiropractic therapies are usually aimed at relieving pressure on the spinal column through methods such as manipulations and use of decompression machines. However, other conditions, such as a herniated disc, can also cause similar symptoms to spinal stenosis induced by bone spurs, so Dr. Huggins will need to do diagnostics before determining the best course of action.

Dr. James Huggins operates 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 CarolinaChiroCenter.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Healthy Sleeping Positions

If sitting for too long is bad for you, is holding the same position during sleep even worse? It depends on your sleeping posture. We at the Carolina Chiropractic Center treat lots of people who have unwittingly strained their back and neck muscles by maintaining a strenuous posture for hours, and we want to teach people to sleep in a way that will actually help them rest.

The most dangerous position to sleep in is on your stomach. Doing this puts your back out of alignment, forces your head to turn away from your torso, and pushes the neck backward. It also puts pressure on the front of the body, which is not built to support the rest.

The best position to sleep in for spinal health is on your back. Doing this keep the entire spine in alignment and minimizes pressure on the body. However, it also creates a risk of sagging throat tissue blocking your airways. Snoring and sleep apnea are most common in people who sleep on their backs, though they are the least likely to suffer back pain.

Sleeping on your side may be a good compromise position. The main thing you need to be cautious of is not to curl up too much. Ideally, the neck should hardly bend forward at all. Many people also hold a pillow between their knees to maintain skeletal alignment.

Dr. James Huggins operates 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 CarolinaChiroCenter.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Cervicogenic Headaches

There are many different kinds of headaches, and some of them are caused by problems in the spine. At the Carolina Chiropractic Center, we want our patients to know it is possible for them to find relief through safe, noninvasive means such as those we provide to people suffering from cervicogenic headaches.

“Cervicogenic” refers to something which originates in the neck. When the nerves in the neck vertebrae are pinched or the soft tissue surrounding them is put under too much pressure, pain can radiate upwards into the back of the head. From there, it can spread to other parts of the patient’s craniofacial structure, but a cervicogenic headache should not be confused with a migraine.

If we suspect a patient is suffering from a cervicogenic headache, we will investigate with an x-ray or MRI. When the cause of the patient’s pain is confirmed, we can treat it with adjustments, electric muscle stimulation, and cold lasers.

Dr. James Huggins operates 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 CarolinaChiroCenter.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

One of the common ailments we treat at the Carolina Chiropractic Center is carpal tunnel syndrome. Highly debilitating if left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome requires lots of rest to heal from, but people who work with their hands are often in need of pain relief and therapy to regain function and feeling in their fingers.

The carpal tunnel is a passage in the wrist through which the nerves, tendons, and ligaments connecting to the thumb and first three fingers pass. Though these nerves branch out into the separate fingers, they bundle together before separating again in the neck. A pinch on these nerves can result in pain, tingling, numbness, and shocks along the arm.

Inflammation is usually to blame for pressure on the carpal tunnel nerves. Dr. Huggins uses ultrasounds, electric muscle stimulation, and cold lasers to reduce inflammation and help patients manage their pain while healing. However, diagnostics are still necessary to confirm that carpal tunnel syndrome is indeed the cause of a patient’s symptoms, and patients may have to make changes in their lifestyle, or at least, their posture while doing certain tasks, to prevent a relapse.

Dr. James Huggins operates 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 CarolinaChiroCenter.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Pinched Nerves

While people commonly think of chiropractors as specialists of the spine, it is more accurate to say chiropractors are concerned with the nervous system, and the spine is a location which affects nerves throughout the body. At the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, we have a number of therapies available for relieving pain from pinched nerves and helping the body rebuild itself.

A pinched nerve is quite simply a nerve which is being pressured by other parts of the body. This could be the result of inflammation or of soft tissues wearing away and allowing bones to push against nerves. Though pinched nerves are sometimes painful, they can also be numb or tingly, and often interfere with the functioning of whichever part of the body branches away from them. Sciatica is one example of a pinched nerve which people are commonly familiar with.

Which treatment Dr. Huggins will use depends on the cause of the pinch. To reduce inflammation, our office utilizes cold lasers, ultrasounds, and electrical muscle stimulation. For cases of wear, rest is essential, but patients still commonly benefit from EMT as a form of pain relief.

Dr. James Huggins operates 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 CarolinaChiroCenter.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Tips for a Healthy Spine

Your spine keeps everything in your body aligned including both your frame and your health. This is why it is important to keep your spine in good shape. Here at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, we want our patients to know how to take good care of their spine at home.

Sleep Posture

Sleeping with the right posture allows your body to heal and rest properly while you sleep. This greatly depends on the type of pillow you have. Side and back sleepers will want a thicker pillow. Stomach sleepers should use a thin pillow or no pillow at all. Extra support may be needed in other areas of the body for each position, so make sure you do your homework and place the pillows accordingly.

A Strong Core

Add a few abdominal exercises to your routine a couple times per week. Having a strong core will help you keep good posture and good balance. This is not only healthy for your spine, but it also reduces the risk of injury.

Heavy Lifting

Lifting large or heavy objects is a very common way to injure your back. Make sure you are lifting with your legs while keeping a straight back. Also, never twist your body while picking up an object.

Sitting Posture

When sitting for a long period of time, make sure your feet are flat on the floor and your legs are bent at a ninety-degree angle. Give yourself good lumbar support and keep your computer monitor at eye-level. Sit up straight and keep your shoulders rolled back.

To learn more about good spine health, be sure to contact Carolina Chiropractic Center for an appointment. Our Florence, SC office can be reached by phone at (843) 665-9192 or through our website, www.carolinachirocenter.com. 

Auto Injury

Auto accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. Once you realize that you are not seriously injured, your mind starts thinking about all the hassle you will have to deal with like insurances and getting your car repaired. What we want you to know here at Carolina Chiropractic Center is that the spine is very sensitive to abrupt movements. Here in our Florence, SC office, we encourage you to come in for an evaluation as soon as possible following an auto accident. Even if it seems like you are okay, there could be hidden injuries.

Whiplash is a common injury that happens during auto accidents. This occurs when the spine is thrust forward and then whipped back quickly. The cervical spine and the surrounding structures can become sprained, strained, or even misplaced. Sometimes a whiplash injury is felt right away in the form of pain and stiffness. Other times, they pain may be hidden for a few days, weeks, or even months. The injury may be hidden by another more apparent injury or by the endorphins your body releases when it goes through trauma.

The potential for hidden injuries is why it is so important for patients who have been in an auto accident to see their chiropractor as soon as possible. To set up an appointment with Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call our office at (843) 665-9192 or visit our website, www.carolinachirocenter.com. 

Chiropractic Care for Sports Injury

An injury during the game is an athlete’s worst nightmare. No one wants to be on the sidelines when their team needs them. At Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, we help athletes heal from injuries to get them back in the game quicker.

Chiropractic care is usually only associated with spinal care; however, chiropractors work with the joints, nerves, soft tissues, and hard tissues along with the spine. Understanding that the whole body works together as a whole, we treat the body as a whole.

Treating a sports injury is not what it used to be. Here at Carolina Chiropractic Center, we utilize advanced technology to speed up recovery. Some of these technologies include cold laser therapy, electrical muscle stimulation, and ultrasound. We can also perform adjustments and create a unique therapeutic exercise program.

Chiropractic care does not just treat the symptoms of an injury; it treats the injury from the source. If you have been recently injured or if you are an athlete, it is good to have an experienced chiropractic team on your sideline. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call our office at (843) 665-9192 or visit our website, www.carolinachirocenter.com. 

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Probably the most well-known treatment in chiropractic is adjustments. At Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, we perform adjustments, or manipulation as it is sometimes called, for our patients. An inline spine allows the whole body to run at peak functionality.

Adjustments are very minor movements to the spine and joints. The adjustment is quick and moves the spine or joint back into its correct position. When the spine or a joint is out of line, called a subluxation, the surrounding nerves can be pinched or otherwise hindered. These nerves are then not able to carry messages to and from the brain properly. Depending on where in the body the subluxation is, the nerves in that area will cause the body system they are connected with to function at a lesser level.

Your chiropractor will use their hands or a chiropractic instrument to move the spine or joint back into place quickly. There may be a cracking sound when it happens, which is just gas leaving the joint. There is often no discomfort and many patients experience a sense of relief afterwards.

Chiropractic adjustments can improve a number of different body ailments, however if you are experiencing frequent pain, numbness, or tingling to a limb or joint, you should not wait to come in for an evaluation. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Chiropractic Center of Florence, SC, call our office at (843) 665-9192 or visit our website, www.carolinachirocenter.com. 

Spinal Decompression for Herniated Discs

Herniated or bulging discs can cause real pain that slows you down or even stops you from living your life the way you want to live it. Here at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, we offer spinal decompression to relieve pain and pressure and get our patients living their lives again.

Spinal decompression involves applying negative pressure on the disc that is herniated. This is performed by stretching the spine and relaxing it in a controlled manner. It is performed with through a computer-controlled machine which is programmed by one of our trained professionals. In our Florence, SC office, we use the DRX9000 and the ABS Spinal Decompression Machine. Depending on your condition, we will decide which machine and treatment plan will work best for you. Treatment plans are usually around 5 weeks long with varying frequency. The treatment is aiming at pulling the herniated disc material back into the disc.

Instead of turning to risky surgery or pain medication that just covers up the pain, why not seek to treat and eliminate the problem? That is exactly what spinal decompression is about.  To schedule your appointment with us at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call us at (843) 665-9192 or visit our website, www.carolinachirocenter.com. 

Cold Laser Therapy in Florence, SC

Is pain keeping you from doing the things you like such as participating in sports or picking up your kids? It’s time to find a solution that works to relieve your pain and heal your body. At Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, we utilize cold laser therapy to relieve our patients’ acute and chronic conditions.

Cold laser therapy can relieve pain, promote faster healing for injuries, reduce swelling and spasms, and increase functionality. This procedure involves emitting non-thermal light through the skin and into the tissue that is affected. The cold laser can react with all types of cells. The light reacts with elements in the cells and creates a photosynthesis-like reaction. It creates energy and events in the cells that lead to faster healing, reduced pain, and reduced inflammation.

There are many different types of conditions that can benefit from cold laser therapy including arthritis, tendonitis, neck pain, and back pain. In addition, soft tissue injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia are also able to be treated.

If you are living in pain, it is time to do something about it. To schedule an appointment in our Florence, SC chiropractic office, call us at (843) 665-9192 or visit our Carolina Chiropractic Center website, www.carolinachirocenter.com. 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Electrical muscle stimulation is an increasingly popular method of treatment. It is even being used to help athletes recover more quickly. Here at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, we use electrical muscle stimulation to treat patients with muscle spasms in their neck or back.

Muscle spasms can make muscles feel tight, swollen, and locked up. This can lead to a lot of back or neck pain, along with stiffness. This pain can occur all of a sudden or chronically. Electrical muscle stimulation works by transmitting an electrical current into the soft tissue muscle that is injured or in spasm. We do this by placing electrodes onto the skin in the affected area. During the treatment, the patient may feel tingling or muscle twitching, however, these feelings will subside when the machine is turned off or shortly afterward. Each treatment will vary depending on the location and severity of the patient’s injury or spasm. Electrical muscle stimulation helps the body release endorphins, our natural pain reliever.

If electrical muscle stimulation sounds like it may benefit you, be sure to schedule a consultation with us. To schedule in our Florence, SC office, call Carolina Chiropractic Center at (843) 665-9192 or visit our website, www.carolinachirocenter.com.