Chiropractor Minnetonka MN

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Are You Adaptable?

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Your ability to adapt has been tested over and over in the past year.  We’ve all learned that those who can adapt (in work, school, families, exercise, sports, clubs, etc.) WIN! Our ability to respond to changes effectively is what counts.

While these external tests and changes seem to have been accentuated over the last year, this is going on in our bodies CONSTANTLY!  The body can adapt to its chemical, physical and mental environment.  Because the external and internal environments are always changing, your body has to respond to maintain a stable physiological state.  Your body’s ability to do this well is what causes you to be healthy.  The better you can adapt, the healthier you are.  

 

The good news for those of you under chiropractic care is that chiropractic helps the body adapt to both internal and external environments by taking pressure off of the nervous system.  The nervous system is called the “master controller” system.  It allows the brain to coordinate and communicate with every organ, tissue, and cell in your body.  A healthy body and nervous system will respond to stressors and efficiently return to homeostasis.  Chiropractic allows the nervous system to work better by decreasing interference in the pathway between brain and body.  The example I often give to athletes is that if your muscle is about to tear, the golgi tendon organ that sits on your muscle has to deliver a message up to the brain to tell it that the muscle is about to tear.  The brain will then send a message back down to the muscle to tell it to relax so that it does not get injured.  An open communication pathway will relay the messages easier and decrease the chances of injury.   

 

The goal and intent of chiropractic care is to achieve and maintain optimal nervous system function.  Chiropractic puts you in a balanced state that increases the body’s ability to adapt, so the result of chiropractic care is the improved ability to adapt to the ever changing environment.  

Chiropractic – a Natural Necessity in Today’s World

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Our bodies have an amazing healing and adapting intelligence that we were each born with.  Chiropractic care offers a way to unlock much of that innate potential!  This innate intelligence is like a super power that enables our bodies to heal when we are injured and to adapt when environmental circumstances require it to do so.  Our bodies know what they are doing –we just have to stay out of its way. In the modern world, however, this isn’t so easy.  It is much easier to eat an inflammatory diet, live a sedentary lifestyle, constantly stare at electronic devices throughout the day, and lose touch with our sense of community.  All of these endeavors, however, can be detrimental to our health.  These days, we must actively work to stay plugged into our innate intelligence to stay our absolute healthiest.

 

This is why Chiropractic care is essential for most people and can help improve our health.  It works without the risks associated with drugs or surgeries by utilizing the body’s own ability to heal itself.  Chiropractors focus on the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves) to restore optimal health by working to align the vertebral joints in the spine.

A chiropractor usually uses his/her hands or an instrument to identify any misalignments in the spine and realign those joints.  Chiropractic care can reduce inflammation in muscles and in the nervous system, and can increase range of motion throughout the body. This improved movement not only feels great, but, more importantly, enables optimal function through better nervous system communication.

Most people start Chiropractic care when they need pain relief, whether from a chronic condition or from a recent injury such as an auto accident..   Popping an over the counter pain medication can provide temporary relief in some cases. Many people, however, are tired of using pills to mask symptoms and would rather get to the root cause of their pain.  Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of pain and can obviate the need to take pain pills.

When the spine is in alignment, we have better communication from the brain to the body and vice versa.  This improved communication between brain and body enables us to function, move, and feel better, so that we can live our healthiest lives.

Natural Remedies for a Herniated Disc

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When working to keep your spine healthy, we want to address the discs, or the cushion between each vertebrae.  Sometimes the disc can bulge from too much pressure or even spill out in which case it is considered a herniated disc.

A herniated disc may also be referred to as a slipped disc or a ruptured disc.  This can be caused by wear and tear or an injury.

An MRI can confirm a herniated disc.  However, many people will recognize the symptoms of back pain or shooting pain, but symptoms can vary from person to person.  Regardless, it is always better to be proactive when it comes to your health.  The spine is degenerative in nature, so taking action as early as possible is wise.

 

Nutrition
Collagen is required to repair and restore damaged soft tissues such as the disc and surrounding ligaments.  You can find collagen in bone broth which is very easy to make and inexpensive!  Throw some bones in a slow cooker.  Add water and a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.  Keep in on low for 24 hours and you’re good to go.  It’s easy and freezable!  You could also use supplemental form.  I use one from Great Lakes Gelatin Co. that’s hot or cold liquid soluble.  For a herniated disc, two to three servings a day are typically recommended.

Foods rich with antioxidants are also recommended for herniated discs.  Examples of these foods are blueberries, blackberries, and artichokes.  Anti-inflammatory foods and/or supplements also will speed the healing process for herniated discs.  Examples of these include turmeric, omega-3 fish oil, and an overall whole-food diet.

Exercise and Movement
With a herniated disc, it is critical that posture is addressed.  Herniated discs can stem from a loss of normal curvature in the spine.  For example, a forward head posture can lead to loss of the normal curve and make you prone to a herniated disc in the neck.  Specific exercises can be prescribed for the area of the spine in trouble.  At Relief Plus Chiropractic, we can also work to incorporate traction to the spine along with therapies to help hydrate the discs.

Get Corrective Chiropractic Care
Of course corrective chiropractic care can be highly beneficial to a herniated disc.  Corrective care, or a series of adjustments to help retrain the spine and its movement can help get the pressure off of the disc and facilitate healing.

A herniated disc may touch neighboring nerves which can cause pain and symptoms.  A chiropractic adjustment will help allow the nerves to transmit without interference.

 

Natural Herniated Disc Remedies

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9 Ways to Take Your Workout to the Next Level

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If you’ve found yourself part of the growing trend of hitting the gym HARD, here are reasons your chiropractic adjustments might be a game changer in helping to avoid the dreaded plateau:

  1. Lower incidence of injury – Many patients note better balance while under chiropractic care.  This means not only a lower risk of falling, but an increase in stability at the gym which is important in most high power exercises.  In addition greater communication between the brain and the body means the brain can more effectively tell the muscles to relax before they start to strain.
  2. Be Stronger –   When your nerve flow shuts down, you become weaker.  Chiropractic adjustments increase the nerve power to the muscles so that they work and develop properly.
  3. More Energy  – Adjustments allow for your body to work with greater efficiency, leaving you with more energy!
  4.  Better Results – If your goal is weight loss, chiropractic has been reported to improve metabolism.  Your overall athletic performance improves when your body has better electricity (Nerve Flow) running through it.
  5. Improved Coordination – Certain adjustments improve the nerve flow to your eyes.  Better vision will allow for improved hand-eye coordination which is important for all athletes, in the gym or while participating in a sport.
  6. Boosts the immune system –   When you’re feeling under the weather, the last thing you want to do is hit the gym for a tough workout.  This causes setbacks that are not welcome by hardcore gym fanatics.  A stronger immune system means you get sick less often, and if you do get sick, you’re recovery is much quicker and easier.
  7. Enhances pulmonary function for better endurance!
  8. Increased Flexibility.  Adjustments help restore proper motion to the joint which of course allows you to bend and twist with greater ease!
  9. Relieves muscle tension.  Adjustments reduce inflammatory cytokines.  Working out hard leaves you sore.  Chiropractic care speeds your recovery so you can feel strong again faster

At Relief Plus Chiropractic in Minnetonka MN, our professional athletes get adjusted to have the winning edge and optimize performance. To see how we can help you perform better, please contact us for your free consultation at 952-681-2863.

When you feel Numbness or Tingling

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At some point you’ve probably had the sensation of numbness or tingling. It could be your foot that “fell asleep” or you might experience the feeling of “pins and needles.” Occasionally a person can have a momentary tingly elbow from hitting it at just the right spot or tingly feet from sitting on them. However reoccurring symptoms of tingling or numbness is not normal and should be checked by your chiropractic doctor.

Numbness and tingling is your body’s way of communicating that there is a nerve problem! It is commonly felt in the hands and fingers but can be also be felt in the feet, legs, elbow, or throughout the body. Regardless of location the sensation occurs when a sensory nerve becomes impinged and therefore there is reduced input from that nerve to the brain. Normal sensation returns in most cases upon removing the impingement.

Long lasting or severe impingements can lead to nerve damage and possibly permanent numbness so removing the insult is critical. Once it is removed, typically by chiropractic adjustments, the nerve undergoes a repair process. Commonly nerve impingements occur in the spine due to subluxation (when a bone out of place impinges on a nerve) or herniated discs. When the numbness or tingling is felt in the shoulders, arms, wrists, or fingers the nerve pressure is typically occurring the cervical spine (neck). Nerve sensations in the legs or feet are usually coming from pressure on the lumbar (low back) spinal nerves.

Chiropractic Helps with Numbness and Tingling

Chiropractors remove nerve interference without the use of drugs, needles, or surgery. It is completely natural and non-invasive. Removing nerve irritation results in a better feeling and a better functioning body.

At Relief Plus Chiropractic in Minnetonka MN, we are here to remove any nerve interference so that your body can innately heal.  We want to get to the cause of the problem and provide a care plan to get you results that keep you feeling and functioning at your absolute best!  Call Today to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION to see how we can improve your health! (952) 681-2863

Massage Therapist in Minnetonka

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A growing number of people consider massage a part of their regimen to recover or maintain health. Massage therapists can not only be found in spas, but in chiropractic offices, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, cancer care centers and nursing homes. A massage therapist’s clientele can range from infants to the elderly.

Include massage in your health and wellness routine and combine it with your chiropractic care!

Many referrals to massage therapists come from Chiropractors as they see the benefits of massage on its own as well as the great compliment it is to chiropractic care. Receiving massage along with your regular chiropractic appointments may aid in easier adjustments post massage, help the adjustment last longer than if no massage was given and provide an additional proactive benefit for your overall health.

Massage goes hand in hand with chiropractic care because it breaks up scar tissue, reduces stress, decrease swelling, and improve range of motion.

Some other benefits of massage include:

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Reduces chronic pain
  • Boosts immune system
  • Reduces post-operative pain
  • Decreases tension headache frequency and help with prevention of headaches
  • Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation
  • Reduces levels of anxiety and fosters peace of mind
  • Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness
  • Reduces swelling
  • Reduces the formation and excessive presence of scar tissue
  • Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion
  • Enhances athletic performance
  • Improves posture
  • Promotes deeper and easier breathing
  • Reduces cancer-related fatigue and pain

At Relief Plus Chiropractic we want you feeling your best! Our massage therapist at Relief Plus Chiropractic is trained in managing whiplash, prenatal massages, sports injuries, and auto accident injury. To schedule a massage, call 952-681-2863.

Why it is Important to See a Chiropractor after a Car Accident – Minnetonka

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Chances are you’ve been in a car accident or know someone who has.  Accidents happen all the time whether you hit a deer, run into a sign, hit another vehicle or someone hits you. Chiropractors are trained in checking for whiplash and injuries after someone has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. You may wonder why you should you get your spine checked following an accident?

If the car needs repair chances are good that you need repair as well. If the force at impact was great enough to smash metal, then I’m sure you would agree with me that the same force could have potentially shifted the joints in your spine. A car can be smashed in but still drive okay.  Similarly, your spine can have resulting damage from an auto accident but you can still feel okay. Regardless of how you feel, a chiropractic evaluation will reveal any spinal damage caused by the accident.

Often times the car is the first priority of the accident victim. It can be overwhelming to try to get everything back to normal following an accident.  Of course it is a good idea to get repairs made to your car. But as I tell many patients, we typically go through multiple cars in our lifetime but only get one body to live in.

Like many health problems, the damage from whiplash can set in silently where consciously you are unaware that the problem is developing. We see this often as many times patients come in months after the impact with terrible shoulder tension or headaches. At this point scar tissue has set in and it is much more difficult to get the patient to where s/he wants to be in regards to health.

The sooner an injury patient gets checked following the accident the better the resulting health! It is so important to get checked to avoid chronic pain in the future or permanent damage. The longer you wait after the accident means you will have a higher chance of experiencing irreversible spinal damage.

At Relief Plus Chiropractic we specialize in chiropractic and massage to get you feeling good and give you maximum opportunity to avoid chronic pain. A car accident, can result in soreness or experiencing symptoms such as:

  • Neck pain
  • Headaches
  • Poor Sleep
  • Feeling Dizzy
  • Back Pain
  • Numbness
  • Anxiety
  • Joint Stiffness
  • Loss of Range of Motion
  • Knee Pain
  • Numbness
  • Tingling

Degeneration in the joints begins in as little as two weeks.  Unfortunately this damage is irreversible.  This is why it is critical to get evaluated immediately by a chiropractor.

At Relief Plus Chiropractic, we have had the opportunity to help a variety of patients involved in auto accidents.  We want to be sure that you can have your life back and enjoy life into the future!  Please visit www.releifplusmn.com to learn more or give us a call (952) 681-2863.

Lose Weight to Lose Pain!

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This time of year many are striving to get their bodies back in shape after the holidays. New Year’s resolutions can be a good tool to get you on track to reaching your target weight. We all know that there are so many health benefits to losing weight, not to mention the satisfaction of looking and feeling better!

From a chiropractor’s prospective, shedding extra pounds can also help you ditch the back and joint pain you might be experiencing and here’s why:

One study by Kapandji in The Physiology of the Joints, found that every extra pound of weight a person carries equates to 10 pounds of extra pressure on the discs in the lower lumbar spine! This explains why individuals that are overweight commonly experience lower back pain.

This means that carrying 20 extra pounds is the equivalent of 200 extra pounds of pressure on the discs in the lower spine. This is dangerous for the spinal disc and also slows recovery.

This added pressure on the spine is harmful to your overall health. The spinal cord connecting your brain to your body runs through your spine. This added pressure chokes off nerve supply, meaning organs and tissues aren’t getting their full nerve supply from the brain and therefore not functioning at their full potential.

Losing weight decreases pressure on the nerve system which controls all other body systems. Reducing stress on the nerves improves your body’s function, allows you to heal better, and decreases pain.

Of course exercise and nutrition must be addressed when it comes to weight loss. Chiropractic is important too as it allows the joints to move properly.  This is important for a safe and sustainable workout regimen.  In addition, chiropractic adjustments improve energy, immune system, sleep, metabolism, and organ function.

While chiropractic care is extremely effective in alleviating low back pain, losing any necessary weight will accelerate your results. If you or someone you know is experiencing low back pain, give our office a call today –  (952) 681-2863 for your FREE consultation!  At Relief Plus Chiropractic, we look forward to helping you achieve all of your health goals!

Shoulder Pain

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Shoulder problems can come in many forms. Some suffer from persistent pain while others have recurring pain or the inability to carry items or use the arm. As frustrating as it may be, you are smart to look to chiropractic as a means to helping your shoulder problem naturally.

Problems in the shoulder can arise from a variety of reasons; of course trauma and commonly from overuse. Repetitive motion or overuse causes inflammation of the tendons and the bursa that lie between the ball and socket of the shoulder.

In addition, the arm being a large lever on the body can pry at the spine. This force can cause vertebral subluxations by pulling at the vertebrae, especially in the neck and upper back.  When these vertebrae get stuck out of their normal position, it leads to pressure on the nerves that go to the shoulder region. This not only can cause pain but may also result in other symptoms such as lack of range of motion, inability to lift the arm, numbness, or tingling within the shoulder or even into the elbow and hand.

Forward head posture is also a culprit to shoulder pain. When the head is carried forward rather than in line with the shoulders, a person’s relaxed posture becomes one in which the shoulders are rolled inward. This places abnormal strain on the muscle groups in the shoulder area.

Impingement Syndrome is one of the most common shoulder problems. The pain is usually felt deep within the joint in the front of the shoulder and worse with overhead activities.  In these cases, when the soft tissues of the shoulder are repetitively used, it can lead to inflammation.  Increased inflammation, or swelling leads to the impingement in the shoulder and the sensation of pinching when the arm is lifted.

Inflammation of the tendons and bursa, if left untreated can progress to chronic scarring and permanent thickening of the involved soft tissue.  This makes healing more difficult and the permanent damage in severe cases can lead to tears that could potentially require surgery.

Chiropractic Treatment of the Shoulder

Before treatment can begin for any condition it is of most importance to perform a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of the problem and its severity.

Treatment and rehabilitation of the shoulder can help to restore normal biomechanics of the shoulder and prevent future injuries to the area. Flexibility and strengthening are emphasized to support the joint. Also, massage therapy helps to break down and remodel the scar tissue that has formed. When all of the joints involved are functioning properly, there is less stress on the pulling soft tissues!

To figure out the cause of your shoulder problem, contact our chiropractic office today at (952) 681-2863. At Relief Plus Chiropractic, we want to get you out of pain as quickly as possible, but also get you on the road to long-term correction!  Consultations are always free, and we look forward to helping you!

Minnetonka Chiropractor Helps Sinus Congestion Naturally

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By this point, we’re all very familiar with the pharmaceutical drug ads on TV that list off a number of potential side effects – many of them dangerous and life changing. With chiropractic, we could do the same thing  -only the “side effects” are the benefits!

Everyone knows that chiropractic helps with neck pain, back pain, and headaches, but most people don’t know that one of the benefits of chiropractic adjustments is the relief from sinus congestion. Many of our patients report sinus drainage after an adjustment many of them almost immediately!

In our experience, people with sinus issues also have neck pain, neck stiffness, and/or headaches.  This makes sense anatomically speaking.  The neck is where the spinal nerves that control your eyes, ears, nose, throat, and sinuses exit.  The neck also houses the nerves that go to the muscles in the head and neck as well as the nerves that control your immune system.

In addition, if the joints of the neck are not moving properly, the neck muscles can get tight and stiff.  This constricts the drainage ducts that run from the sinuses down the neck muscles.  This makes it difficult for the sinuses to drain properly, which can also contribute to chronic sinus congestion.

If the vertebrae in this region are not moving properly, have degenerated, or are out of alignment, there is pressure on the spinal cord and local nerves.  This added pressure hinders the ability of the body to properly communicate with the brain which in turn decreases your body’s function.

The tricky thing is our senses don’t have the ability to always know when this is happening.  In the case of the sinuses, most people don’t recognize that the problem is coming from the spine because the symptom or pain is felt in the sinuses.

While most people turn to a drug or pill for sinus relief, we all know that no pill or drug will ever move the bone.  If subluxation, or pressure on the nerve is causing your sinus issues, drugs will only at best provide temporary relief.

At Relief Plus Chiropractic, we look to the cause of the problem and work to correct the problem which ultimately leads to better health and a better life for you and everyone else.

As one of Minnetonka’s top chiropractors, we look to the cause of your problem with an examination and any necessary x-rays.  Once we better understand your condition, we get great results helping people of all ages with sinus congestion.

For more information you can visit us on the web at www.reliefplusmn.com.

Give us a call at 952-681-2863 to schedule your FREE CONSULTATION and to see if chiropractic is right for you!