If you’re using a smartphone or a smart device for an extended amount of time during work or at home — or while working from home for that matter — then you’ve likely experienced some side effects that have to do with tech neck, symptoms that you may or may not even be aware of.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over tech neck as well as a few ways to counteract the effects that staring at smart devices has on our neck, spine, and posture.

First, try stretching throughout the day. At the top or bottom of every hour, try to take about 5 minutes to get out of your seat and stretch your body. Your neck and spine will thank you for it!

Next, try to limit screen time. Try to only be on your computer for x amount of time each day and counteract that time with good old fashioned exercise.

Instead of craning your neck to look down at your phone to text and surf the web, hold your phone slightly above your eye line and keep your chin slightly raised — we know this may look strange, but it’s best to stop looking down at your phone now to avoid having some serious neck and spine problems down the road.

Visiting your local chiropractic care specialist is another great way to release tension related to tech neck, helping your spine and other essential bodily systems function at optimum capacity. We’re only as healthy as our spines, after all. Contact Barton Chiropractic today to schedule your consultation if you’d like to learn more.

Now that we’re starting to see the COVID-19 curve begin to flatten out, it’s okay to start thinking about your own wellness protocol, since your immune system is now likely compromised by months spent in self-quarantine.

Those of us who are still wearing masks everywhere can begin to calm down a little bit. The people who should be wearing masks outside are now the sick and those who have a propensity to be affected by Coronavirus. It’s probably also okay to start meeting with someone you haven’t seen in awhile, as long as they’re low risk and have not been exposed to COVID-19. Human contact is essential in many ways, including the biological informational exchange that occurs. When we come into contact with people we help build each other’s biome, so our immune systems can be in great shape to ward off infection.

Start building your cardiovascular system again and get outdoors so you can get some Vitamin D, which you need in order to keep your body and immune system working properly.

If you have any questions about how our essential treatments can help facilitate your new wellness protocol and build your immune system at the same time, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

As most people in this great country of ours have been observing social distancing and shelter in place regulations, it’s likely that many of us might have put our own health protocols on the backburner, especially those of us who undergo physical therapy or visit a specialist on anything close to a normal basis.

If your neck, your back, your legs, or even your sinuses are out of whack, chiropractic treatment is considered essential during these times. As more businesses start opening up, it’s okay to start thinking about continuing with your wellness protocol if you’ve put it on hold.

If you have any questions about how you can safely get back to your normal chiropractic treatment, we’re here to help. Contact Barton Chiropractic today to learn more. Our treatments have been shown to help boost your immune system, promote a good night of sleep, reduce anxiety, and much, much more. Chiropractic treatment offers a plethora of great benefits during these uncertain times.

Now that we’re starting to see some lightening up when it comes to restrictions as well as a limited amount of non-essential businesses set to open up in larger and more liberal counties like Los Angeles, it’s pretty safe to say that we can get out of crisis mode and start to focus a little…

Stiffness in the neck can come about from our extracurricular activities as well as our vocations, not to mention from our at-home routines. Whether you’re spending a significant amount of time sitting in the car or at the desk for your job, it’s likely that you’ll contend with neck stiffness at some point, especially with how preoccupied so many of us are with our smartphones and electronic devices. 

Neck stiffness can be treated in a variety of ways and should never be dealt with in terms of quick fixes. At Barton Chiropractic Clinic we help patients dealing with neck pain to regain mobility and range of motion pain-free, so they can go about their lives happily and in good health.

There’s a few things you can do at home to treat your neck stiffness, one of which includes yoga and practicing neck stretches and motions that will build strength and improve mobility. Hot and cold therapy can also be used to reduce pain you experience while working through your neck stiffness.

Things might even get a little worse before they get better, but with commitment, you’ll notice pain decrease and range of motion increase in your neck. It’s well-worth the investment. If you have neck pain that persists strength training, stretching, and PT, contact Barton Chiropractic today to schedule a consultation. We’re here to provide essential treatments for neck and back pain during this time.

Stress is something that plagues humanity even when we think that things are operating on some sort of “normal” level. When it comes down to it, stress and anxiety can come from a variety of factors, whether it’s external factors, like your job, your spouse, your friends, or something else happening in your life. Stress can also come from internal factors, like lack of sleep, muscle tension, and more. Anxiety and stress can also be the byproduct of making unhealthy choices, like loafing on the couch all day instead of being productive.

Chiropractic adjustments happen to be a viable option for stress and anxiety relief, not to mention an alternative to surgeries and prescription medication.

First, chiropractic adjustments influence just about every area of the body. A significant amount of health studies have shown that spinal manipulation triggers an increase in healthy hormones released in the body (cortisol, neurotensin, and oxytocin), which helps boost neuro communication, provides drug-free pain relief, especially pain that comes along from inflammation.

At Barton Chiropractic, our treatments also help relieve tension in the body, especially the neck and spine, which helps reduce headaches and promotes a better night of sleep, which will reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

If you have any questions about how we’re providing our essential treatments in a safe and regulated environment, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We have a long track record of keeping our patients happy, healthy, and stress-free.

One great way to come out of this whole self-quarantine business a better person is to double-down on your fitness efforts. Since millions of Americans are staying at home for the greater good, millions of Americans now have that extra free time — so there really isn’t much of an excuse not to get in shape.

Our back muscles are important because they help minimize and absorb wear and tear, not to mention protect and cushion your spine.

Working out your back on a weekly basis (when done properly) will help you feel great and avoid future injury, too.

Below, Barton Chiropractic Clinic goes over a few ways to build that back.

First, invest in some kettlebells if you can. Kettlebell windmills are great for your back, not to mention lightweight good morning presses.

Squatting will also help build your back and your legs at the time — it’s a double-whammy. Just make sure you’re not using too much weight. Make sure you’re also practicing PERFECT form to avoid any strain or injury — it’s easy to develop bad habits when working out on your own. Squatting your body weight for higher reps is a good way to make sure you don’t injure yourself.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic. We’re doing everything in our power to provide essential services and assist our medical community during this time. Call today to learn more about who we are and what we do.

As more and more people continue to hunker down in their homes to self-quarantine, it’s a good idea to start putting some restrictions on your screen time, which is bad for your eyes and can also lead to headaches and neck pain.

We spend a lot of time on our phones and on the computer while at home. And what do we do when we’re not looking at those two screens? We stare at the television! That’s a whole lot of screen time when it comes down to it.

Instead, try to give yourself a break by reading hard copies of books if you have them. Listen to podcasts and audiobooks to expand your horizon a bit and give your eyes and necks a rest while your ears pick up a bit of the slack.

Exercising is always a good excuse to get off the computer and off the couch, but we know that can be a challenge when gyms are closed and we don’t have a whole lot of mobility.

If you must stare at your computer or smartphone screen, try to keep your neck straight. Stop craning your neck down to look at your smartphone — it’s really detrimental for your spine and your posture.

If you have head or neck pain that persists, even in the face of limiting your screen time, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more about how our treatments can get you back to 100% well. We’re still here to provide essential drug-free services to those who need — all while keeping the highest standards of cleanliness and safety. Call today to learn more. 

In this day and age, many of us are hard-pressed to identify a time in our recent lives where we took a day away from screens — whether it be the computer, TV, or our smartphones. As a result, many people out there suffer from neck tension, neck pain, and some even tendonitis in the neck.

Tendonitis has to due with tendons suffering from inflammation which generally comes about from overuse and failing to practice good posture.

Many athletes experience neck tendonitis, especially MMA fighters, who often spend time “in the clinch,” which really does a number on the neck. That’s probably why many professional MMA fighters have close relationships with their local chiropractors.

The good news is that there are things you can do at home to help treat neck pain and tendonitis. For one, start stretching in the morning and in the evening — even just 10 minutes each time will do your neck a tremendous amount of good. 

Next, make sure that you limit excessive neck movement while you perform your own PT. Give yourself a week or two of limiting extraneous movement. Make sure you practice perfect posture and try to limit the amount of time you spend sitting during the day by standing.

Do minimal resistance exercises with your neck — make sure not to overdo it, because you’ll end up doing more harm than good. Slowly building your surrounding neck muscles will give you more support and provide pain relief.

Massage your neck — do it with your own hands, if you have to. There are tons of good products on the market, but make sure you consult with a professional to make some recommendations.

Chiropractic treatment is also a drug-free alternative to medication and surgery that will help treat your neck pain the all-natural way. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to learn more.

When it comes to diets and individual’s bodies, not all are created equal. Some diets get good results for certain types of people, and certain people’s bodies respond better to certain types of food than others.

During this time of Coronavirus pandemic and paranoia, it’s important to dial in your nutrition regiment so it gets the results you’re looking for during this time.

First, you want to eat plenty of foods that will boost your immune system. Red peppers have even more Vitamin C than oranges if you can believe it, and none of the sugar.

You’ll want to stay away from foods with processed sugar, which will drive inflammation, which will actually compromise your immune system.

If you’re going to drink caffeine, try to stick with black coffee — and only drink one or two cups daily. Over-caffeinating will mess with your sleep and increase your anxiety — which is a horrible recipe during this time.

Ginger and turmeric root are two amazing ingredients to any diet that will improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Put them both in a veggie smoothie for a green rush of energy each morning. 

Try to limit your cheat days to once per week, and have it come well-earned at the end of a week of making good choices for yourself, that way it comes with zero guilt.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today if you have any questions about how to boost your health during this trying time. We’re here for anything you need.