At Barton Chiropractic Clinic sometimes we think it’s best to tell it like it is. 2020 has been a real mulligan of a year and as we take this roller coaster ride to its finale, it doesn’t seem like things are getting any less stressful. We’re in the middle of a very important election year and no matter on which side of the line you stand, you’re likely stressed about how things are going to go down.

However, we’d like to remind our patients and readership that there’s only ever been one thing you can control in this life, and that’s YOU. So, let’s take a moment to think about some healthy things we can all do for ourselves to get the most out of October, regardless of what’s going on in the world around us.

First, build a yoga practice, which will release tension in the body, not to mention help you get in tune with your mind/body/breathing connection. It’s therapeutic as all get out.

Next, try to meditate for a few minutes each day as a way to let your mind settle. Think of the inside of your head as a busy snow globe — all you’re doing is letting those little snowflakes (restless thoughts) settle. The more you do it the better you’ll get. Eventually, you’ll be able to sit for your allotted time without much thought interruption. Meditation will help build an inner calmness that you never thought was possible, not to mention help increase focus and mental clarity.

Lastly, chiropractic treatment is a great way to reduce anxiety, get a better night of sleep, not to mention get the drug-free pain relief you need — without prescription drug intervention, which is hugely important during our current opioid epidemic. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how our treatments make our patient’s lives better on a daily basis.

We know it’s Fall season and the weather is getting a little more chill. Seasons change and we tend to hibernate, or at the very least hunker down a little more, eating comfort food, and maybe binge-watching a few too many meaningless TV shows.

During the Fall season, there are a few rampant bad habits that Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to raise awareness about. If you can avoid these bad fall habits, you’ll likely have a more productive season and feel healthier through it all.

1.) Ditch PSL Lattes

We know that pumpkin spice is life during the Fall season, so maybe it’s a good idea to have one huge PSL latte at the beginning of fall, then pretty much write them off. Drinking sugary coffees in the morning loaded with high-fructose corn syrup is a horrible way to start the day. Cut out all processed sugars this Fall season for a boosted immune system and other health benefits.

2.) Have Active Recovery Days

Instead of sitting in front of the TV with a big bowl of mac and cheese every weekend, make it a point to get outdoors, whether you go on a nature hike or a simple neighborhood stroll. Take a yoga class, meditate, and get a full body massage. Find creative ways to be productive while giving your body the space it needs to recharge itself.

3.) Overworking

We know Fall season means winter (and the end of the year) are right around the corner. Many of us attempt to force a ton of things into the last quarter of our year, grasping for straws as a way to close out the year productively.

Instead, try to set one simple work goal that will carry you through the year and work diligently at that. When the new year starts, create a new simple goal that will carry you through the next quarter.

As Fall season commences, it’s natural that old aches and pains might start to show up. Give us a call at Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how our treatments can get the best out of you.

As of today, September 18th, the chiropractic profession turns 125 years old.

Back in 1895 D.D. Palmer performed the very first chiropractic adjustment for Harvey Lillard. Up until that point Palmer had specialized in alternative treatments and would eventually perfect The Palmer Method, which a majority of chiropractors incorporate into their practices to this day.

Palmer would start Palmer College of Chiropractic two years later in 1897, which also is still in operation today.

This means that chiropractic treatment has been serving patients who seek drug-free solutions to a variety of health conditions and maladies for one and a quarter-century. At Barton Chiropractic Clinic we’re so very proud to be a part of such a rich history of service.

And chiropractic treatment is only going to be more relevant and necessary in today’s opioid epidemic. We have a ton of drug-free options that will have you feeling happy and healthy on a daily basis, not to mention help you deal with any injuries and work out any kinks that show up along the way.

Contact us today to learn more about how our treatments can help get the best out of you and your entire family.

When it comes to your workouts, it’s important to prepare your body properly before you put it through a demanding routine, not to mention set your body up for success after your workouts. Failing to properly warm-up and cool down before and after a workout can result in a serious injury or at the very least an unnecessary amount of soreness after your workout.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over the importance of warming up and cooling down when it comes to your exercise routine. 

Warming up is important in order to get your body ready. Start with simple movements and start getting your body moving. Incorporate movements you’ll be doing during your actual workout and try to activate the muscles you know you’ll be working. When you’re warmed-up your body is more pliable, more flexible, and less likely to experience an injury.

Cooling down is just as important as warming up. If you simply stop right after your workout and lie down, your body will get tense as lactic acid gathers in the muscles, which can cause discomfort and soreness. Going on a walk or a quick nature hike is a great way to cool down. Follow that up with a little yoga routine for extra cool-down/active recovery points.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn about how our treatments pair extremely well with an active lifestyle.

Labor Day Weekend means for many days spent at the lake, the beach, the mountains — what have you. Many of us have huge barbecues and spend a significant amount of time around friends and loved ones.

That’s all great and we highly encourage safely stretching your legs this Labor Day. However, if you’re wondering how to get active during the weekend in order to earn that burger, hotdog, mac & cheese, and the other comfort foods you might be partaking in.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over a few ways that you can get your exercise in over Labor Day Weekend.

First, if the weather and air quality permits, it’s a great idea to go on a hike this weekend. Take a 5-10 mile trek in the wilderness to reboot your brain and get back in touch with nature.

Holiday weekends are also a great time to continue to build your meditation and yoga practice, both of which help harmonize the body, mind, and spirit. You’ll find yourself calm and having a new sort of inner peace if you faithfully build both practices, taking some time over Labor Day to work on your own self-care.

If you make it to the lake, instead of just sitting on the beach or on a boat, paddleboarding is a great exercise and you’d be far less likely to sustain an injury paddleboarding than you would, say, wakeboarding.

After you get active this Labor Day Weekend, we’ll be here if you need to relieve your body from any tension related to your Labor Day activities. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about who we are and how we can help optimize your health and wellness.

Hey, there! It’s Barton Chiropractic Clinic. Today we’re here to discuss nutrition as the Fall season kicks into gear. Diet fatigue is an actual thing… and the struggle is real. Below, we go over a few ways to mix up your diet with some Fall-friendly creations.

First, it’s time to attack the snack element of your diet. Instead of eating potato chips, opt for almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. Concoct a trail mix that you can enjoy throughout the day. Dried coconut, dark chocolate, nuts, granola, and any dehydrated fruit are all your friends. Pro Tip: use dried mango, which provides a low-sugar option.

Next, it’s time to get those greens. Utilize powder veggies if you have the resources — we know supplements can get pricey, but there are local and even online options available that will make your diet/nutrition budget really stretch. Get a nice veggie smoothie down before noon consistently for immense health benefits. Look for ingredients like wheatgrass and spirulina.

Make sure to eat at least one salad — preferably two — throughout the day. Dinner can often be a hearty salad with fall ingredients like squash and pumpkin seeds. Make some quinoa and toss it in there with some seasonal dressing for an added kick!

Chiropractic treatment is your friend during this time of year, as the weather gets colder; when our old aches and pains come back to haunt us — before Halloween even. 

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation. We’re here to create a custom-tailored drug-free treatment plan that will help you accomplish all your health and wellness goals at the end of the year.

As the world starts to open back up, it’s likely that you’ve gotten a little more diligent about exercise, whether you’ve taken to the outdoors, built up your home workout situation, or have gotten back to a gym somewhat regularly.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over how to get over exercise plateaus, which come about due to routine. When we do the same workouts and fitness activities, our bodies get used to those actions and motions. We begin to cheat, in a way, by optimizing and simplifying the process. What used to be challenging, at first, becomes simple, even effortless.

During these times it’s important to push past those exercise plateaus in order to gain new ground.

Switching Up Your Exercise Routine

First, try switching up the old routine. If you mostly get your exercise at an indoor gym, take your workout outdoors. If you normally run on the treadmill, run outside, which requires more leg power. It will actually feel like a totally different workout. You might find that what you can run on the treadmill with ease requires much more work, for instance.

If you play a certain sport, try implementing another into your schedule, which will end up working different muscles, both in your brain and in your body. You’ll learn new skills as a result!

Active Recovery

If you’ve been taking it a little too easy during your off days, or not taking enough time to rest after workouts, then it’s a good idea to devise a good active recovery plan. Hiking on your off days, taking a yoga class, and getting close to your local chiropractor are all excellent ways to engage in active recovery. You’ll find yourself being more effective in your workouts and recovering at a faster rate.

Explore Chiropractic Treatment!

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how our treatments can help you break through your exercise plateau today. We have a long track record of success.

For those of us who live more active lifestyles, it might seem like a challenge to eat nutritionally. Many folks equate eating healthy with shopping at the organic foods store, then having to go home and whip up nutritionally-sound creations with all the healthy ingredients we’ve just populated our refrigerator with.

It’s tempting to make excuses. “I don’t have time to cook! I’ll just go get fast food… again.”

Don’t fall into this trap. Instead, follow a few suggestions below when it comes to eating healthy when you don’t have a lot of time to spare.

Get Used to Grab-and-Go

Every grocery store and convenience store is going to have a grab-and-go. Organic foods companies have taken the initiative and have started to provide healthy grab-and-go options which often include healthy veggies, fruits, clean sources of protein, and more.

Meal Prep

Meal prepping is pretty much making your own grab-and-go situation at your home. Take one day out of the week to prepare your meals for the following week and keep them in air-tight storage containers to ensure they stay fresh throughout the week.

Go Raw

Eat and pack foods that you can just wash and eat — carrots, sugar snap peas, broccoli, kale (yes, you can just eat it as-is!), not to mention fruits like apples, oranges, blueberries, raspberries, and much, much more.

See, eating healthy isn’t so hard. And, after you start to eat healthy on a regular basis, you’ll find that your body will start to crave healthy foods and recoil from junk. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn about how our treatments can boost your health — chiropractic treatment is the PERFECT compliment to a healthy diet!

Many folks out there wait until they’re in an unbearable amount of pain before they see any sort of specialist for treatment, but, the truth is, when it comes to the chiropractor, the earlier you pursue treatment, the better.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over a few signs and symptoms that can occur in daily life where chiropractic may prove beneficial.

Headaches

When you experience spine misalignment one of the first symptoms that often occur are headaches of varying severity. If you’re experiencing headaches of any degree, visiting the chiropractor can be of major help.

Body Aches/Numbness

Body aches and numbness are two common symptoms for those with spine misalignment as well. One chiropractic adjustment can help with circulation, relieve body pain, and promote a better night of sleep, which is when your body does much of its important repair work.

Lack of Concentration/Lethargy

Lethargy and lack of concentration (both of which occur in a condition we like to call “dim bulb”) are two symptoms that occur quite commonly in those with alignment issues. Your local chiropractor provides treatment that will help promote healthy brain functionality and energize you for your daily duties.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how our treatments can help optimize your health!

As we move through our lives and start to get older, the things we do every day and the things we do in our spare time put a consistent toll on the body, which we begin to feel in the form of tension, aches, pains, or worse. When neck pain and neck tension begin to show up, whether you’re experiencing chronic or acute neck pain, it’s important to set in place some counter-measures that will help you increase your range of motion and reduce your overall pain in the area.

Look Upward!

Since it’s pretty likely you have a smartphone and spend some amount of time staring at screens, whether it’s a computer or television, chances are you spend some amount of time craning your neck. With our phones, many of us hold them at waist-level in order to ensure nobody else can view our information, however, this takes a serious toll on your neck. Spend a few minutes each day looking upward to counteract the awkward positioning your neck takes throughout the day.

Stretch it Out

Take a look at some yoga stretches that activate the muscles and tendons of your neck, not to mention round out your spine and stretch the rest of your body. Doing so will help reduce pain and increase flexibility and range of motion at the same time, not to mention builds strength in your neck.

Strengthen Your Neck

Utilize exercises that activate your neck. There are products on the market that make it easy to effectively work your neck, but always make sure that you go with lightweight (if you use any weight at all) in order to avoid further strain. Resistance training is recommended when it comes to an area as delicate as your neck.

If you have any questions about how you can take your neck pain treatment protocol to the next level, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more. We have a long track record of helping patients deal with various incarnations of neck pain.