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.

 

Wellness Tips

The motions of daily life, if done incorrectly, can result in injury to the spine. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) wellness is defined as “an active process that promotes health and enhances your quality of life.” We all stand, sit, lift, sleep, talk on the phone and partake in some sort of physical activity on a daily basis and at Carolina Chiropractic Center Dr. James Huggins Jr. wants his patients to utilize wellness tips so that they can add potential to their everyday lives.

When sitting, choose a chair that is firm enough to support you comfortably, and don’t slouch. When standing, stand with your head level. When you have to stand in one place for long periods of time, put one foot on a 4-6-inch stool to help keep pressure off your spine. If you work at a desk, be sure to take frequent stretch breaks if you have to sit for a long time. When lifting an object, plant your feet about 12-18 inches apart, kneel or squat in front of the object, and lift as you straighten up. Be sure to lift with the big muscles of your thighs, arms, and shoulders, not with your back. When using the telephone, avoid cradling the receiver between your neck and shoulder. Hold the phone in your hand or use speakerphone instead. Be sure to get plenty of sleep every day to allow your body to rest and recuperate.

To learn more about the services we provide at our office, 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. 

Spend Time with Yourself

Most of us advise that self-care is essential for happiness, but many of us don’t practice what we preach. At Carolina Chiropractic Center, we understand that you’re busy and finding the time to take proper care of yourself can be hard. However, Dr. James Huggins Jr., encourages you to spend a few moments to concentrate on your own health and wellness so that you can reap the benefits of alone time.

Alone time has the ability to reboot our brains, help us unwind, and make us more productive overall. It also allows time for deep thinking, gives space for self-discovery and improves our concentration. It’s true that reserving time for yourself is good every now and then, but it’s the constant repetition of this habit which soothes you and makes sure that you’re functioning at your optimum – mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you can’t visit us for a massage or some form of chiropractic treatment, at least do us the favor of activating your own self-soothing system by utilizing time for yourself.

To learn more about the services we provide at our office, 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.