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Why Does My Neck Hurt?
Bottom Line:
Your neck has a tough job. It has to hold, stabilize, and move the weight of your head… every day… for a lifetime. Holding up 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but the 7 bones and 20 muscles of your neck have to work together in perfect harmony to balance that weight so you to move your head around free of pain. Postural changes, sudden injuries, and arthritis are just a few of the primary causes of neck pain, and that pain can often be traced to a problem with either the muscles, bones, discs, or nerves in your neck, according to you Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractors.
Why it Matters:
If you’ve ever wondered “why does my neck hurt†and been unable to turn your head for a day or two, you know how life-changing neck pain can be. The sharp muscle spasms that restrict your ability to move often happen when your body is trying to protect a spinal joint that isn’t moving correctly. Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. If those joints become “stuck,” your body will try to compensate, but, over time, that compensation can cause a cascade of additional challenges.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Sudden injuries, arthritis, and postural issues can all contribute to neck pain.
- The small sliding joints of the neck can become “stuck,” leading to muscles spasms and pain.
- Gentle spinal adjustments combined with daily stretching can help restore proper motion in the joints of the neck and reduce pain.
Next Steps:
Pain in your neck is your body’s way of saying “pain attention”! Even if your neck pain often eases up by the end of the day, it’s a smart idea to have our chiropractic team evaluate how it’s moving. Movement assessments provide your Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractor with an incredible amount of information about your body. By taking a proactive approach to your health today, you may be able to prevent future episodes of neck pain and stiffness.
It all starts with a call. Our doors are open, and we’re here to help!
Little Rock: 501-313-2844
North Little Rock: 501-353-1781
Science Source(s):
Intervertebral Kinematics of the Cervical Spine. The Spine Journal. 2018
Healthy Spine For A Lifetime
Dr. Derek, your North Little Rock Chiropractor, teaches how to engage muscles that stabilize the pelvis and spine. This can help keep us pain free through whatever life throws at us.
https://youtu.be/WvaB5TnNeOM
West Little Rock: 501-313-2844
North Little Rock: 501-353-1781
Post: Balancing Strength and Flexibility
Bottom Line:
Both strength and flexibility play a significant role in how your posture develops in Little Rock and North Little Rock.
For instance, having both a strong and flexible core helps the body to dynamically adapt to every environment. The spine is not only supported but also moves well, reducing the possibility of injury or pain.
While it’s true that “perfect” postures may not exist, improving our strength, flexibility, and ergonomics goes a long way towards improvement.
Why it Matters:
Your body is dynamic, and it’s designed to move, but over time it may feel a bit less dynamic than it used to! Getting into a wellness routine that includes exercises that focus on strength and flexibility is a smart way to keep your body feeling young while promoting good posture – a true win-win.
Here’s why.
Strengthening exercises given to you by your Little Rock or North Little Rock Chiropractor can help develop proper support for your joints and decrease overall postural stress. Incorporating stretches and exercises that focus on flexibility then help your body maintain the ability to move through its full range of motion.
Did you know…
- When you focus on increasing muscular flexibility, your posture is likely to improve.
- Lifting weights strengthens your back, shoulder, and core muscles, which are all essential to
standing with proper posture and preventing lower back pain. - Stretching your muscles and joints also leads to a greater range of motion, improved balance,
and increased flexibility.
Next Steps:
Remember, postural stress can add up over time. Just because you’re not currently in pain doesn’t mean that everything is functioning at its highest level or that your daily wellness routine is as optimized as it could be.
Our Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractic teams specializes in all things posture and providing comprehensive individualized care plans – adjustments, stretches, exercises, and all!
Schedule an appointment with our Little Rock or North Little Rock Chiropractors today if you’d like to learn more about all the ways we’re helping the people in
your community achieve an ideal balance of strength and posture and flexibility.
Our doors are open, and we’re here for you.
Little Rock – 501-313-2844
North Little Rock – 501-353-1781
Science Source(s):
Why Being Flexible is Great for Your Health. Healthline. 2020.
How Your Smart Phone Impacts Your Posture
Bottom Line
Believe it or not, many of us spend 3 hours or more per day on our smartphones. That adds up to over 1,000 hours each year! And the positions we tend to hold our heads in while using our devices can be, well… damaging. Damaging to your posture and damaging to your spine. It’s not surprising that over the past few years, an uptick of these awkward positions has led to an uptick
in head and neck pain according to our Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractors.
Why It Matters
It’s estimated that tilting your head forward, even just 15 degrees, can triple the weight of your head on your neck. In fact, tilting your head forward 60 degrees can increase the stress and strain on your neck ten times over. Repeating this forward head posture again and again over time can result in pain, stiffness, dysfunction, headaches, and more. The good news about postural stress and “Tech Neck†is that a few simple changes to your routine can help you reduce your risk of experiencing pain.
- “Tech Neck†is the term used to describe the flexed head and neck position that occurs when
looking down at your smartphone. - Just 15 degrees of forward bending can increase the stress of your head on your neck three
times over. - Taking breaks every 15 minutes and looking up from your phone or tablet can help your body
reset
Next Steps
Know that reducing your “Tech Neck†symptoms involves more than just changing the angle you look at your phone.
Proper ergonomics and regular stretching and exercise all play significant roles in helping you continue to enjoy your favorite devices without those nagging pains.
If you’ve been living with “Tech Neck†and are ready to take action, you’ve come to the right place!
Chiropractors in Little Rock and North Little Rock
We are Omnis Rehab, a chiropractic and wellness team serving Little Rock, North Little Rock, and surrounding areas.
Our health professionals treat patients with more than just adjustments and massage. We develop individual treatment plans that offer patients the techniques and corrective movements or exercises to manage pain or discomfort over time and ultimately get you back to wellness.
Our goal is to give our patients the confidence and tools to manage their own health success while using our services for support as needed.
Request an appointment:
Click to call either location:
Science Source(s) & Additional Reading:
“Tech Neck” Taking a Toll on Posture. Columbia Spine. 2018.
How To Improve Your Posture
When discussing posture, we’re often referring to the overall position of your body as you stand, sit, or lie down. Most chiropractors in Little Rock and North Little Rock would agree that a “good” overall posture involves physical positions that reduce stress on the body by balancing the load placed on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. If you’ve looked in the mirror and noticed that your posture doesn’t look as balanced as you’d like – not to mention, doesn’t feel as balanced as you’d like – you may be wondering what you can do to improve it.
Why it Matters:
One of the best ways to improve your posture is through motion. Changing positions frequently during the day, stretching, and specific postural exercises are all ways to improve your posture.
Chiropractors agree good posture helps you keep your bones and joints in proper alignment, which helps reduce the wear and tear on your joints and decrease the strain on the ligaments that support your spine.
Here are some key takeaways:
ï‚· Good posture means keeping your spinal curves aligned and weight evenly distributed.
ï‚· Stretches and exercises can help improve your posture and reduce your risk of neck and back
pain.
ï‚· Standing desks have been shown to reduce back pain by over 30% when compared to sitting at a
desk.
Next Steps:
When creating a plan with you Little Rock or North Little Rock Chiropractor to improve your posture, remember that stretching and exercising are essential. Equally important is knowing where to start. Our North Little Rock and Little Rock chiropractic postural and movement assessments can help you determine the best strategy to help balance and improve your posture, especially if you’ve been living with pain.
It all starts with a phone call. We’re standing by and ready to help! Little Rock: 501-454-4528 North Little Rock: 501-353-1781
Science Source(s):
Back Health and Posture. Cleveland Clinic. 2020.
Breaking up Workplace Sitting Time. Occup Environ Med. 2014.
Perfect Posture is Dynamic
Perfect Posture in Little Rock and North Little Rock!!!
Is there such a thing as perfect posture Little Rock and North Little Rock? The latest research shows that your perfect posture is actually dynamic, or constantly changing, not static.
The latest research shows that it’s actually more beneficial to think about your posture as dynamic, not static. In other words, your ideal posture is constantly changing and evolving.
Think of your posture as a dynamic pattern of responses, reflexes, and habits – not just as a fixed position. Gravity, your work environment, and your body’s anatomy all play essential roles. For instance, sitting for hours at a time staring at a computer screen is a perfect example of a damaging static posture that over time can lead to the development of chronic forward head posture.
Forward head posture affects millions of people who spend their days using computers and has the potential to cause pain and degenerative changes in your spinal joints. It places stress on the neck and shoulders and weakens the supporting muscles.
ï‚· Forward head posture affects millions and results in neck pain for up to 75% of those affected.
ï‚· Neck pain, tension, stiffness, and tenderness are all signs of chronic forward head posture.
ï‚· Trapezius strengthening has been shown to provide clinically significant relief for those struggling
with neck pain as a result of forward head posture.
If you spend long hours each day in a single position – like sitting at a computer – it’s important to take the time to take periodic breaks to stretch and move your body. Remember, posture is dynamic, and stretching can help not only “reset” your posture, but also help keep your spine healthy and your energy levels up!
Scheduling a posture and movement assessment with your Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractor is also a smart idea to help ensure you remain as pain-free as possible no matter how you spend your days. Just give us a call!
Science Source(s):
Effects of Lower Trapezius Strengthening Posture. Med Sci Monit. 2020.
How to Power Your Child’s Brain with Movement
Years ago, researchers believed that the health benefits of exercise were limited to the body. However, recent research has indicated that regular physical activity and movement can benefit
both the body and brain. It’s time to power your child’s brain with movement in North Little Rock and Little Rock.
Bottom Line:
Years ago, many believed that the health benefits of exercise were limited to the body. However, research has demonstrated that regular physical activity and movement can benefit both the
body and the brain. Recent studies have highlighted that movement can improve the supply of oxygen to the brain and promote the production of new cells. In fact, it appears movement also aides in creating new connections in the brain!
Why it Matters:
Many schools have reduced physical education classes. Many more students have moved towards e-learning. For those reasons, it’s important to be mindful of our children’s physical activity and to encourage them to exercise more each day. And not just to benefit their physical health. In many ways, exercising each day is likely to make your child a better student! Movement triggers the release of chemical substances in the brain that enhance brain function. Here’s a quick snapshot of the benefits of movement:
ï‚· Better Brain Function – Movement may protect your brain against degenerative changes.
ï‚· Better Stress Reduction – Exercise and movement have been shown to have an antidepressant
effect that can help reduce overall stress.
ï‚· Better Memory – Regular exercise can help directly and indirectly improve recall and reasoning
skills.
Next Steps:
The research is clear. Daily movement and exercise are healthy for both your child’s body and their brain. And our posture and movement assessments with your Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractor are designed to help you identify any abnormal patterns, helping your child feel better and stay active so they can become the best student possible. So, if your child struggles to get enough exercise due to nagging aches and pains or less than ideal posture, we hope you’ll consider scheduling an appointment with Omnis Rehab today. Our doors are open, and our North Little Rock and Little Rock Chiropractors are here to help!
Science Source(s):
Learning Upregulates Neurotrophic Factor. Behavioral Neuroscience. 2019.
The Anti-Depressant effect of Running. Intl Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005.
Regular Exercise Changes the Brain. Harvard Health Publishing. 2014.
How Exercise Affects Your Brain. Scientific American. 2018
Be Smart with Your Smartphone and Look Up!
It’s time to be smart when using your smartphone Little Rock and North Little Rock. Here are the facts about the impact screens can have on our health and how to look up to find relief.
Bottom Line:
As students worldwide return to school, it’s likely many will be e-learning in some capacity for hours each day on their digital devices. While our devices can be fantastic tools for entertainment and education, the postural effects are something all parents should be aware of in Little Rock and North Little Rock. For many students, e-learning may increase neck, mid-back, and low back pain.
Why it Matters:
Spending 6 or more hours each day looking down at your digital devices can profoundly affect your mental, social, and physical health.
It can also lead to what Chiropractors and other medical professional term, “Tech Neck Syndrome.” This forward head posture often places tremendous stress on the neck (cervical spine) and can lead to an uptick in headaches, back and neck pain, and more.
Did you know…
ï‚· Low back pain is the 3rd most common form of pain interfering with schoolwork.
ï‚· It’s estimated that 50.3% of school-aged children present with posture disorders.
ï‚· In fact, approximately 41.6% of children experience back pain from prolonged sitting.
Next Steps:
Making it a habit to look up (literally!) throughout the day is a significant first step in reducing the effects of “Tech Neck.”
Try this.
Pull your chin back, stretch your arms out in front of you and open them wide, and look up to the ceiling and hold for 20-30 seconds. Try and repeat this stretch every 60 minutes to help reset your posture and body position. And if your child spends every day at their computer learning, be sure to teach them this stretch and then schedule a visit with our Little Rock or North Little Rock Chiropractic practice.
Our Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractors will provide you with a full postural and movement-based assessment to identify any potential issues to help reduce their chance of suffering from “Tech Neck Syndrome.”
Science Source(s):
Text Neck Syndrome. Intl Journal of Env Research and Public Health. 2021.
Back Pain in School Children. Dynamic Chiropractic. 1995.
School Children’s Backpacks, Back Pain and Back Pathologies. Arch Dis Child. 2012.
Staying Healthy as a Weekend Warrior
Do you love sports, fitness or just being overall active? Here are a few surprising facts and actionable tips from your Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractor to stay healthy as a weekend warrior.
Millions of people participate in sports and fitness activities each weekend as a way to stay active and stay connected to their friends… but, inevitably, as we age, the likelihood of an unexpected injury creeps up. So how can you stay healthy as a weekend warrior? Taking proactive steps during the week to stay well can directly impact your ability to keep enjoying your weekend sports.
Why it Matters:
Weekend sports activities like a softball game typically last a few hours. If you enjoy hiking or mountain biking, you’re probably looking at 4-6 hours of sports activities each weekend.
That may seem like alot, but it’s a short amount of time compared to the number of hours you spend working each week. That’s why taking daily proactive steps provided by your Little Rock and North Little Rock Chiropractor with your health are so important. Stretching to improve your mobility, strengthening to improve your support, and moving through your entire range of motion can all help you feel more energized each day and potentially reduce your risk of injury on the weekends.
Did you know…
ï‚· Regular exercise during the week may help reduce your risk of injury on the weekends.
ï‚· At least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise is recommended each week.
ï‚· Weekend warriors have a 40% lower risk of experiencing an adverse event as a result of cardiovascular disease.
Next Steps:
Getting older doesn’t mean you need to STOP playing sports – you just need to be smart about your approach. Building new healthy habits take time. Utilizing your smartwatch or other health apps is a great way to receive reminders to help you start making getting up, stretching, and moving your body more often part of your daily routine. For a detailed plan on how to do this for yourself please call you Omnis Rehab Chiropractors in North and West Little Rock. Small steps like these will help you to maintain a balance of strength and flexibility that will help you continue to enjoy your weekends week in and week out for years to come!
Science Source(s):
The Underappreciated Health Benefits of Being a Weekend Warrior. Harvard Health Publishing. 2017.
Finding Relief Without Opioids
Finding Relief Without Opioids
There is no question that opioids are powerful pain killers. The problem is… they are also highly addictive and don’t actually fix the cause of your pain. Here is how Little Rock and North Little Rock can start to find relief without opioids.
Bottom Line:
There is no question that opioids are powerful pain killers. The problem is… they are also highly addictive and don’t actually fix the cause of your pain.
If you’re struggling with chronic pain, you may be curious what your best options are for care. How can you fix the cause of your pain, find lasting relief, and avoid these harmful medications?
Keep reading.
Why it Matters:
You may be surprised to learn that people who saw their Little Rock or North Little Rock chiropractor for spine pain had half the risk of filling an opioid prescription when compared to those who didn’t undergo chiropractic care. Yes, chiropractors don’t prescribe these dangerous medications in the first place. But what we’ve seen is that, over time, people receiving chiropractic care were less likely to fill their opioid prescription. In other words, that indicates that the care provided by chiropractors helped people find enough relief that they no longer sought medications to find relief!
Here’s what you need to remember…
ï‚· Masking spine pain with medications can possibly increase your risk of further injury.
ï‚· Movement-based care helps your body heal and can improve your likelihood of finding long term relief.
ï‚· Choosing chiropractic for spinal pain can reduce your risk of filling an opioid prescription by over 50%.
Next Steps:
Opioids aren’t meant to treat chronic spinal pain. They don’t help your body heal and become less effective at stopping pain the longer you take them.
Instead of putting yourself at risk of developing a dependency, it’s a smart decision to explore other treatment options.
Start by calling Omnis Rehab today to schedule an evaluation.
Our Little Rock and North Little Rock chiropractic clinics are proud to help our community find relief from pain without the need for drugs. Together, we can create a personalized treatment plan for you!
        
Science Source(s):
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain. Pain Medicine.
Vol 21:12. 2020.