Electrical Muscle Stimulation Therapy

At Carolina Chiropractic Center, we utilize electrical muscle stimulation as an exceptional way to help the body in the healing process. If you have a spasm in your back or neck muscle, this type of therapy works well in relaxing the muscle and allowing it to return to its normal state rather quickly. Electrical muscle stimulation devices (EMS) have been shown to increase muscle strength, to decrease body weight and body fat, and to improve muscle firmness and tone in healthy individuals.

Short therapy sessions are excellent at facilitating healing from acute and chronic pain. This is accomplished by sending a very small electrical current into the affected soft tissue injury or muscle spasm. The therapy itself utilizes this current in an effort to help reduce swelling and release trigger points that may have tightened the muscle. It does this by guiding the body to release endorphins.

If you think you might benefit from electrical muscle stimulation, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.carolinachirocenter.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, SC, call 843-665-9192. 

Chiropractic Treatment for Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms are joint pain and stiffness, which is why the condition may benefit from chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. However, because in some conditions and circumstances, chiropractic techniques can actually worsen the symptoms of arthritis, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. of Carolina Chiropractic Center will need to perform a thorough examination before suggesting proper treatment.

The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life. There are several different types of arthritis and treatment will vary on the type that is diagnosed. Depending on the kind of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and a decreased range of motion. Specific chiropractic adjustments can take stress off your nervous system, allowing your body to rest relax and heal.

If you are suffering from arthritis pain, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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. 

Scoliosis Diagnosis

Scoliosis is a lateral (toward the side) curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. Scoliosis is usually mild and needs no treatment; however, for more severe cases treatments include a back brace or sometimes surgery to straighten the spine.  At Carolina Chiropractic Center, treatment of scoliosis is based on the severity of the curve and the chances of the curve getting worse.

Without an X-ray of the spine, there are several common physical symptoms that may indicate scoliosis. One of the most common tests for detecting scoliosis is called the Adam’s Forward Bend Test, in which the individual bends from the waist as if touching the toes. Dr. James Huggins, Jr. will then observe for one or more of the following signs of scoliosis:

• One shoulder is higher than the other


• One shoulder blade sticks out more than the other


• One side of the rib cage appears higher than the other


• One hip appears higher or more prominent than the other


• The waist appears uneven


• The body tilts to one side


• One leg may appear shorter than the other

If you have questions about scoliosis, please give us a call. 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. 

Chiropractic Relief for Shoulder Pain

Chiropractic care is commonly sought by people seeking relief from neck or back pain, but chiropractors are not limited to only care for the spine. At Carolina Chiropractic Center, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. is trained to adjust and treat extremities including knees, smaller joints such as the toes, and the shoulders. Sometimes shoulder pain is caused by joint irritation, which is why chiropractic relief for shoulder pain can often be achieved through manipulation and other treatments.

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body. It is surrounded by nerves, tendons, bursa and other tissues which can all be irritated and cause pain. Pain further up the body, for example, in the neck, can also refer pain into the shoulder joint as can trigger points in the muscle, or a “knot.” At Carolina Chiropractic Center, gentle adjustments can be performed to distract the joint or shift it forward or backward depending on symptoms. Massage therapy may also be administered depending on what the patient prefers.

If you have shoulder pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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. 

Sitting Too Long is Bad for You

When we sit for long periods of time, it takes a toll on our health in ways we may not realize. In fact, researchers have reported that sitting for long hours has been linked to a decreased state of mental health, a higher risk of death from heart disease, and a higher risk of disability. Additionally, these studies have proven that even if you exercise regularly, too much sitting is bad. This is why Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center encourages you to get up and get moving.

If you sit more than eight hours a day, it’s definitely not benefitting your health. You may think you’re confined to your cubical, (or your couch) but it doesn’t hurt to get up and take a stroll, even if it’s for just a few minutes. If you have a desk job, taking a quick walk can clear your mind and get the oxygen flowing to your brain. Here are some tips for doing so:

• Never take the elevator when you can take the stairs


• Plan more active things to do after work


• Instead of sending an email or picking up the phone, walk over and talk to that person.


• While enjoying your morning coffee, take a few laps around the office.

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. 

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis). It refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. The type of chiropractic therapy that Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center will provide depends on the cause of the patient’s sciatica.

Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, most cases may resolve with chiropractic treatments over a course of a few weeks. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Symptoms associated with this condition include burning, numbness and even tingling sensations. When it comes to treatment, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. may recommend ice/cold therapies, ultrasound, and/or spinal adjustments. 

If you are experiencing pain in your legs or lower back, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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. 

Cryotherapy: Icing an Injury

An injury benefits from ice days following the trauma. However, if your pain worsens, you should visit Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center immediately. The icing method – cryotherapy – is an essential management skill that is also a cheap, effective, and drugless method for relieving the pain of injuries. Safe application of ice to your skin can relieve symptoms from sprains, strains, bruises, and virtually any situation in which superficial tissues are inflamed by trauma.

Cryotherapy is an excellent way to heal muscle spasms in the body. The method of icing an injury is well known to help numb painful areas as well as provide a cooling relief to affected soft tissues. Applying cold compresses to the skin effectively reduces the temperature of the skin and constricts blood vessels in the area to promote healing. It can be done right at home, or we can offer the service to you right here in the office.

If you’ve recently suffered an injury, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.