Archives for November 2017

Healthy Tips for Pain Management

Posted on 11.30.17 |

Pain comes in a variety of ways. It may be a dull ache, sharp shooting, radiating, chronic, or acute. No matter the level, it is uncomfortable and can negatively affect your quality of life. But depending on the severity, it may even be debilitating and keep you from performing basic daily tasks. Have you recently been injured in an accident at work, home, or on the road and are experiencing ongoing pain? Did you overwork a muscle at the gym but haven’t been able to get back to normal? Or perhaps there’s no rhyme or reason to your pain, you just know it started and it’s keeping you from enjoying a happy and fulfilling life.

Whatever the reason, you don’t have to live in pain for forever. Keller chiropractor Dr. Doyle offers a variety of alternative treatment methods at his practice to help patients manage their pain. He also discusses certain tips below to get you back to a healthier and pain-free lifestyle. Continue reading to find out more. We also invite you to schedule a consultation by calling (817) 767-5430 or contacting us online.

Reduce Stress

Stress can actually exacerbate pain because it increases the level of inflammation in your body. If you have a high stress job or hectic lifestyle, stop and assess your situation and see where you can cut back on stress in your life. You may also start implementing meditation or deep breathing exercises to help you relax and control stressful situations.

Boost Endorphins

Endorphins are chemicals in the brain that are instant mood boosters. But they can also block pain signals. How do you get them? Exercise. Even the lightest physical activity can release endorphins into the body. Not only will you start to feel better emotionally by exercising, but as the muscles strengthen, pain will start to reduce. Strong muscles can help prevent re-injury and additional pain. If your weight plays a role in your pain, exercise can also help you lose excess weight, as well as control blood sugar levels and reduce risk of heart disease. Ask your Keller chiropractor for an exercise routine that is right for you.

Try Acupuncture

Founded in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture stimulates the nerves, muscles, and tissues in your body to address neck and back pain, extremity pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Your body is intended to function with certain energy patterns to function effectively. When these energy patterns are disrupted, it can result in pain, disease, and inflammation. Your body also has musculoskeletal acu-points along the surface of the skin. To help correct the disrupted energy flow, Keller chiropractor Dr. Doyle will strategically insert sterilized stainless steel needles in varying lengths into these acu-points to stimulate the underlying tissues and muscles.

It is important to note that Dr. Doyle is not directly treating any specific condition with acupuncture, but treating dysfunction in very specific points within your musculoskeletal system. Treating theses dysfunctional musculoskeletal points has been shown to have a wide range of health benefits, including pain management.

Undergo Routine Chiropractic Adjustments

Your spine hosts your central nervous system, which is responsible for sending messages from your brain to other organs in the body. When the vertebrae in your neck and back are out of alignment, it can cause mixed signals, resulting in pain, inflammation, and disease. By keeping your spine in proper position, you can reduce pain. It’s really quite simple: A healthy spine equals a healthy body. Keller chiropractor Dr. Doyle will fashion a treatment plan unique to your needs.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

What you consume can affect your body’s ability to function. Filling it with wholesome foods gives it better fuel for functioning properly. But a healthy lifestyle doesn’t just mean eating healthy foods. It also means reducing alcohol consumption and avoiding smoking as both of these can exacerbate pain in the body.

Get a Massage

Getting a massage has double benefits. Not only will it help you reduce stress and relax – but it can also alleviate tight muscles often associated with chronic pain. People who receive a massage once a month have statistically been shown to have better health physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Meet With Your Keller Chiropractor

Dr. Doyle would love to meet you and help you manage your pain so you can boost your quality of life. Please contact our office today online or by calling (817) 767-5430.

What Chiropractic Really Is…and Isn’t

Posted on 11.22.17 |

Is someone else’s negative view of chiropractic care keeping you from learning more about it? While chiropractic care has been around for decades and is a proven systemic method for improving health, it is not always viewed with an open mind as a viable treatment solution.

Your spine houses your central nervous system and is responsible for sending messages back and forth from your brain to other organs in your body to instruct how to function. If signals are interrupted, it could lead to pain, dysfunctional organs, and the development of certain medical conditions. With chiropractic care, a licensed chiropractor can adjust the vertebrae in your spine to help keep it properly aligned. Although chiropractic care is not considered a cure for a specific malady or disease, scientific and medical evidence have indicated that spinal adjustments can reduce pain and improve quality of life.

To learn more about Justin chiropractic care, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Cody Doyle. You can reach us by filling out our online form or calling 817-767-5430. We proudly serve clients living in the Roanoke, Keller, Argyle, and Southlake area. In this blog, we will discuss the common myths and realities about what chiropractic care is and isn’t.

Myth: Chiropractic must be harmful since popping your joints is bad for you.

Although it’s true that popping your knuckles is bad for you, when joints are correctly adjusted, it can increase range of motion and relieve pain and stiffness. Chiropractic adjustments are only performed on joints that are functioning improperly. You should never attempt to pop your back or neck on your own, this can lead to serious complications, such as hypermobility or looseness in the spine. If you have an urge to crack your knuckles or pop your neck, this is usually a sign that the spine is misaligned.

Myth: Chiropractic is unsafe.

Whether taking medication, undergoing surgery, or seeking chiropractic care, there is always the risk for adverse side effects or complications. However, the malpractice rates associated with chiropractic are low, which indicate it is a remarkably safe treatment. Before undergoing treatment, it is important that you seek treatment from a licensed and qualified chiropractor with a high level of experience.

Myth: Chiropractic care is only for those with back pain.

The benefits of Justin chiropractic go beyond relief of back pain. In fact, not everyone who sees a chiropractor has back pain. You can read more about that in the next section. Chiropractic care can improve overall body function. Patients who suffer from allergies, arthritis, migraines, and obesity have seen improvements by correcting back and neck misalignment.

Myth: I’d have to get my back cracked if I went to the chiropractor.

When meeting with the chiropractor for the first time, discuss your fears and concerns. Many who have a fear of their neck or back being manually adjusted can undergo alternative treatments in-office that will have the same effect. Chiropractors can use a wide variety of techniques, including light force and soft tissue manipulation that produce effective results with no popping sounds. Techniques are intended to meet the patient’s age, comfort level, and unique condition.

Learn More About Chiropractic Care

We encourage anyone interested in learning more about Justin chiropractic care to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Doyle. He will sit down and discuss the treatment in detail and answer any questions you may have to ensure you are comfortable. Please contact our office today online or call 817-767-5430.

Common Ways to Wreck Your Back

Posted on 11.19.17 |

Back pain may seem inevitable, especially if you have a preexisting condition or family history of back problems. Many consider it a normal part of their daily life and have grown accustomed to adjusting their life and activities as needed. However, you may have more control than you think to eliminating back pain and improving your quality of life.

There are certain bad habits and techniques, such as a weak core and poor posture that could make your back vulnerable to injury. By making a few simple adjustments and visiting your local Keller pain management chiropractor, you could get back to enjoying life as you knew it before back pain.

Please read on to learn the common ways to wreck your back and the simple tips to implement to keep injury from occurring. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with a Keller pain management professional, please contact Doyle Chiropractic & Acupuncture today online or by calling 817-767-5430.

Poor Posture

Sitting at your desk or in your car for long periods of time with shoulders hunched over, or your neck bent over a computer screen can do serious long-term damage to the natural curvature of your spine. Although your job may involve a lengthy commute and long days at the office, it’s important to practice good posture and proper ergonomics when sitting to help your spine stay healthy. Every 20 minutes, change your position, or get up and walk around and stretch your body.

The discs between your vertebrae are spongy and filled with fluid, specifically designed to cushion your spine during activity. However, when you are immobile for prolonged periods, the fluid in your disc drains and increases your risk for injury. Discs in your spine rely on motion to keep the fluid properly functioning.

Improper Exercise Techniques

Although exercise is good for your body and emotional health, if you are lifting weights or performing exercises incorrectly, it can wreck your back. If something hurts out of the ordinary while you are working out, stop and make the necessary adjustments. It may be beneficial to have a spotter at the gym to make sure you are lined up correctly so you don’t cause severe injury. Even low impact exercises, such as yoga can cause injury if you do not have your spine lined up correctly. While it may not hurt initially, if performed incorrectly, you will slowly cause problems. Working out in front of mirror will help you make the necessary adjustments to avoid injuring yourself. Focusing on building up your core strength and keeping it engaged during activity will also help alleviate the pressure on back.

Lifting Incorrectly

Many people lift objects or bend over incorrectly and unknowingly cause stress to their backs. If your job requires strenuous lifting or activity, there are a few tips to follow to keep your back healthy:

Do not lift or move something that weighs 20 percent more than you.
Keep your back straight and bend with your knees, not at your waist.
Hold the heavy object close to you and not away from you.
Do not hold the object lower than your knees or higher than your armpits.
When lifting, do not twist or turn your back – keep the object and your feet always pointing in the same direction.

Don’t Ignore Back Pain

If you are currently experiencing back pain and need pain relievers to make it through the day, it may be time to consider meeting with a Keller pain management professional to find the root of the issue. Dr. Doyle provides chiropractic care, acupuncture, physical therapy, and other techniques to address back pain and improve the health of your spine.

To schedule your consultation with Keller pain management chiropractor Dr. Doyle, please contact our office today online or by calling 817-767-5430.