Shopping for Shoes

The balance of your feet can determine the balance of the rest of your body. We at the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence hope that our patients are keeping their lower backs in alignment. That’s a lot harder to do while wearing poorly-fitted shoes that encourage slouching or overcompensating by tensing up one side of the body, so we thought we’d provide some tips for when you go shopping.

Your feet need support under and on the sides of their arches. While high heels are terrible for your feet, flats—including most dress shoes and flip-flops—don’t help them, either. The best shoes are sneakers made of breathable material with a padded collar that will stabilize the ankle without restricting it. The bottoms should have a firm grip but not add a lot of weight to the shoe.

Shopping should be done late in the day, when the feet have flattened out slightly from bearing the shopper’s weight for hours. But shoppers should also give themselves lots of time to browse because shoes that still need to be broken in after being worn for ten minutes are probably not the right size. The toe box needs to be large enough that the toes won’t bunch up on each other and won’t be at risk of developing ingrown toenails. Shoppers should wear the socks they plan to pair with the shoes (and it is recommended that runners wear socks to wick away sweat). Shoes should be replaced when the treads wear out, which could occur after a few months if they are being worn during daily exercise. Although sneakers are the kind of shoe most often built for support, orthopedically-friendly sandals and dress shoes are becoming more popular. We can also provide patients with customized 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 Carolina Chiro Center and fill out a contact form.

 

Neck Stretches

Neck pain can often be treated through safe, minimally invasive means. At the Carolina Chiropractic Center in Florence, our treatments for cervical misalignments and the headaches and shoulder pain they cause include spinal adjustments, spinal decompression, and ultrasound therapy. But therapeutic exercise will likely be crucial to a patient’s recovery and continued well-being.

We don’t recommend that injured patients attempt to create their own workout routines, but it can be helpful for them to know what to expect from a visit to our office. Neck pain is often due to strain in the neck’s soft tissues as a result of an injury or overuse. We try to restore the neck’s flexibility through strengthening exercises and stretches. Some examples are slowly bending the neck forward or backward, rotating the head ninety degrees each way, and pressing the ear against the shoulder. The patient would need to hold the pose for a few seconds, with the length of time and the number of stretches gradually increasing.

Neck stretches should be a part of ordinary warm-up and cool-down routines. While it remains unclear whether stronger neck muscles can guard against concussions, they do help to take weight off the cervical spine and combat degenerative disease. Of course, there are other potential causes of neck pain, which is another reason why it is important for people to come in for a diagnosis as early as possible.

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.

 

Excess Weight and Joint Pain

Are you putting off exercise because you’re under the impression that it needs to be rigorous? According to recent studies, even the slightest bit of physical activity, combined with less time sitting, can improve cardiovascular health. The idea of losing weight can be exhausting, but not losing those extra pounds will have a negative effect on your overall health in addition to your joint health. If excess weight is causing you pain and discomfort, schedule a consultation with Dr. James Huggins, Jr. at Carolina Chiropractic Center.

To keep it simple, by reducing your weight, you can reduce and eliminate joint pain. Osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent conditions resulting from obesity. Years of carrying around excess weight can cause achy, swollen, and stiff joints. The more weight that is placed on the joint, such as the hips, knees, and lower extremities, the more wear and tear will occur on the cartilage. If you have weight-induced joint pain, replacing sedentary time with light physical activity may prevent further damage.

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. 

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.

Diapulse Therapy

At Carolina Chiropractic Center, Dr. James Huggins, Jr. has a pain solution for everyone, and diapulse therapy could be the one that’s right for you.  Diapulse is a device that directs pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) to an area of injury.  Injuries interrupt a body’s natural electric current, and this treatment substitutes the electrical component a body needs to function at its best. The treatment improves blood flow, reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes overall healing.

Diapulse is recommended to treat soft tissue injuries because the short intense electromagnetic pulses penetrate into deep tissues.  We also use this therapy for postoperative edema and pain in superficial soft tissue and chronic wounds.  Diapulse is used after spinal cord injuries to enhance blood flow and promote expedited healing.  For each patient, the reason diapulse is recommended may be different.  We understand that even patients with the same condition respond differently to treatments, which is why a plan of care will always be tailored to meet your needs, goals, and your medical and physical condition.

To learn more about diapulse therapy and all the services we provide 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. 

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.