Shoulder Pain

Many people seek out chiropractic care because of back pain, but at Carolina Chiropractic Center we are also skilled in treating extremities like the knees, elbows, and the shoulders. The shoulder joint is the body’s most mobile joint. It is surrounded by nerves, tendons, bursa, and other tissues which can all experience irritation and cause pain. This complex structure means that shoulder pain can have many causes and may require your chiropractor to assess your overall health and condition to target the root of the problem. 

Whether pain began after an injury or has increased over time, chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective way to treat damage to both hard and soft tissue.  When shoulder pain is caused by joint irritation, relief can often be achieved through an adjustment.  Pain in the muscles can be addressed by massage or stimulation therapy, and your chiropractor will recommend exercise and stretches if needed.  If you are suffering from pain in the shoulder, don’t wait any longer to come see us!

To learn more about all the treatments available 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. 

Drug-Free Approach to Pain Management

As the opioid epidemic continues to rise, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. of Carolina Chiropractic Center continues to offer a drug-free approach to pain management. Depending on your condition, we offer alternative therapies that include physical therapy, hand manipulation, and spinal decompression. Those who participate in these methods are less likely to reach for a pill bottle to manage pain. If your body is in discomfort, schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options.

If you experience tight muscles, joint or back pain, and find yourself with a limited range of motion, we can work with you to create individualized exercises, stretches, and body alignment positions to strengthen these areas. Pain can interfere with any aspect of life, including making you less active and interfering with your quality of sleep. Dr. James Huggins, Jr. wants patients to perform at their highest peak and feel their absolute best. If you feel anything but the sort, we can help you improve your overall wellness.

If you have questions or concerns about chiropractic treatment or pain management, 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. 

Bad for Your Back Workout Mistakes

Exercising is important for your health, and at Carolina Chiropractic Center we encourage all our patients to be active.  There are simple mistakes we can make exercising that cause more pain, so keep these in mind while exercising so your workout truly benefits you!  Not warming up, or replacing a warm up with a lot of stretching, is not the right way to start exercising. Light warm-up exercises will raise your heart rate and increase circulation, providing better blood flow to muscles.  Even five minutes of light cardio exercise and some easy stretching can have this effect.  It is most important to stretch after a workout.  When muscles have been warmed up and worked out, stretching will feel easier and can prevent soreness by releasing lactic acid built up in the muscles.

Even people who exercise regularly can experience strain if they don’t train their core.  Core and abdominal strength is essential for supporting the spine, and abdominal muscles should be trained with every workout.  No matter which muscle group is being exercised, proper form and good posture are important to avoid injury.  The most common mistake people make working out sounds very simple but is critical: going too far.  This includes pushing the limits in term of any weights you lift, too much twisting of the spine, and exercising excessively.  Listen to your body’s response and build up strength rather than pushing yourself over the limit. Come see us for help correcting your workout routine to make sure you are helping, not hurting yourself with exercise.

To learn more about all the services provided at the 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. 

Hip Pain

If you experience pain in your hips, chiropractic treatment can help.  Come to Carolina Chiropractic Center for evaluation and treatment. Hip joints are our largest, and are intertwined with muscles, ligaments and nerves that control most of the body.  Because the hip is a complex joint and connects so much of our anatomy together, assessment from a chiropractor is important for diagnosis.  What someone perceive to be hip pain can easily be caused by or linked to an issue in the lower back, legs, or butt.

At your examination, tell your chiropractor what your discomfort feels like and when it occurs.  Describe if it is painful, feels stiff, or you feel a decrease in the range of motion.  Also note if your hip is mainly sore after waking up, or becomes more painful at certain times.  When the source of your pain is determined we can determine the best treatment.  In addition to adjustments your chiropractor will assign exercises and stretching to do on your own, which is important for a joint responsible for almost all of our movement.  Whatever may be causing your hip pain, you don’t have to suffer with it.  Come see us for an assessment and get back in motion!

To learn more about all the services provided at the 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. 

Cell Phone Usage and Neck Pain

Dr. James Huggins, Jr. of Carolina Chiropractic Center sees a lot of patients straining their back and neck by looking down at the screen on their devices.  You may have even heard this being called “text neck”. The average adult head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds, and neck muscles are meant to support the weight of the head in a neutral position.  Looking down at a screen increases the strain on your neck as if your neck is carrying a lot more weight.  Tilting your head forward just 15 degrees adds enough force to double the weight your neck is supporting, and the greater the angle, the greater strain.  Many people who text with their chin near the neck are tilting the head forward 60 degrees, which increases the load to about 60 pounds! The good news is we can make smarter choices about how to use devices every day to reduce strain on our bodies.

Starting with good posture will always reduce strain on your neck.  Sit up straight with your shoulders lined up above your hips and your head upright. Hold your phone or device up higher rather than looking further down to see what is on your screen.  If you work on a computer a lot, position your monitor at eye level to avoid looking up or down too much. Stretching your neck is also important to reduce the risk of painful strain.  When your neck muscles are strong and flexible, it is less likely to have a spasm.  There are mobile apps available that can alert you when your phone is being held at a bad angle for your neck, and you can also set reminders on your device to take breaks from looking at the screen and to stretch throughout the day. Remember these tips when using your devices!

To learn about all the services we offer, 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 Kids

Carolina Chiropractic Center offers chiropractic care to patients of all ages, and there is no age recommendation for beginning chiropractic care.  Even infants who have suffered trauma to the spine during a natural or C-section birth can receive a minor adjustment.  Chronic ear infections in a small child can feel like a vicious cycle, but this irritation is often related to misalignment in the neck.  Restoring that balance can improve middle ear drainage and prevent further infections. Allergies and asthma also start to surface in young children, and the two are closely linked to the respiratory system. A misalignment in the spine can confuse a body’s immune system and cause a reaction with respiratory symptoms, so children should be seen by a chiropractor before being treated for allergies. 

Regular adjustments are healthy for the growth and development of a child’s nervous system and strengthen immunity.  Chiropractors use the body’s ability to heal itself in their approach to treatment and kids are especially resilient, making them great candidates for chiropractic care.  Keeping a body’s systems functioning at their best helps to heal injury and fight infection in your child without drugs or procedures.

To learn more about all the services provided at the 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. 

Raking Safety

It’s the time of year to enjoy fall foliage, which means it’s also time for raking. At the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, we highly value patient safety. People who are at risk for herniated discs or muscle spasms could injure themselves if they don’t rake properly, so we thought we’d pass along a few tips.

People commonly wear sweats or denim while doing yard work, and for good reason. The safest clothing is that which is form-fitting, yet breathable. You don’t want to be wearing anything that dangles or could get caught, such as large loops on the pant legs, and if you have long hair, you’ll need to tie it back. Pick shoes that have slip-resistant soles and that give you good arch support. They’ll need to be close-toed. Select a rake that has a long enough handle to be used without you needing to bend down.

Pick a time to rake when you anticipate the leaves will be dry; they’ll be too heavy to pick up otherwise. Prior to raking, do a five-minute warm-up that incorporates dynamic stretches to get blood flowing faster through your arms. Stand with your knees unlocked and your legs in a scissor position next to the leaf pile. Alternate which hand is higher on the rake about every five minutes, and if you have to turn, move your entire body instead of twisting your torso. While filling the leaf bag, test to see if you can lift it before it’s full. You’ll also need to do a cool-down after you’ve finished.

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 Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.