If you work at a place that has you sitting for long periods of time, your posture may be in jeopardy. But, the truth is, everyday activities like driving, lifting weights and heavy objects, even exercises themselves can cause your posture to be out of whack.

Below are a few quick and easy tips to perfect your posture on your own. 

1.) Keep Your Alignment

Make sure that your ears are aligned over your shoulders, and make sure your shoulders are aligned over your hips — this is a good rule for both standing and sitting. When you lean or hunch forward you can cause misalignment in your spine, which will lead to back problems.

2.) Sit With Your Feet Flat on the Ground

Instead of sitting with your legs crossed, make sure you sit with your feet flat on the ground. If you’re able to, make sure you have a chair tall enough to leave your knees slightly lower than your hips when rested.

3.) Pull Back Those Shoulder Blades

Avoid getting rounded shoulders, which can lead to back and neck problems, by pulling your shoulders back (and down) while pushing your chest out (and up).

If you have back or neck pain that persists even in the face of taking the measures listed above, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

It’s doesn’t matter if you’re an ultra marathon runner or a server at a restaurant, choosing the right shoe is paramount to your back and your joint health.

There are certain qualities that you should look for in a shoe. You’ll want to consider what you’ll be doing in the shoe. For instance, if you’ll be working at a restaurant, you’ll want to get a slip-resistant shoe. If you’re going to be running 5 miles a day, you’ll want a lightweight shoe that provides the right amount of cushion for your needs, not to mention something that fits like a glove.

Below are 4 factors that go into choosing the right shoe.

1.) Comfort Level

You don’t want a shoe that is too stiff or too small for your foot. Sure, there will be a certain amount of “breaking in” that needs to be done, but, generally, when you choose a shoe, you should feel good about its level of comfort right off the bat.

2.) Cushion

You’ll want a shoe that helps reduce wear and tear on your joints. Make sure there is a good amount of cushion, but make sure to stay in moderation, because too much cushion can actually work to weaken your operating joints and muscles.

3.) Support

Pay attention to the level of support your shoe offers when you’re walking briskly and running. Your foot needs to stay in proper alignment and your shoe plays a big part in this.

4.) The Right Fit

Making sure your shoe is the right fit is hugely important. You don’t want something that your foot will be swimming around in, which can lead to blistering and discomfort. You want at least a centimeter or two between the tips of your toes and the end of your shoe.

At Barton Chiropractic Clinic we provide our patients with chiropractic treatments and educational materials that help them deal with injury and prevent future injuries. If you have any questions about choosing the proper shoe for you, or any other ways you can reduce back pain and stiffness, contact us today.

Chiropractic has gotten the unfortunate stigma of only being useful to those who experience injury. This is simply NOT TRUE!

Instead, think of chiropractic care as a way to prevent injuries down the road in addition to treating injuries that pop up suddenly and unexpectedly. Below are a few reasons why chiropractic care is great for athletes and can help those who are looking to unlock peak performance capabilities.

1.) Increase Your Range of Motion

Being flexible and having a broad range of motion is paramount for running, jumping, and engaging in most other physical activities. Increasing your range of motion will help you shave time off your mile, for instance. Chiropractic care is a great way to improve the function of your joints, not to mention your spine.

2.) Boost Your Awareness

Most sports require participants to have their “head on a swivel,” and chiropractic care is a great way to boost your awareness on the field, court, the ring, the octagon, or wherever else you engage in your sport of choice. A chiropractic adjustment will help improve communication between your brain and nervous system, which will not only improve your mental sharpness but will also give you more balance and hand-eye coordination.

3.) Enhance Your Performance

Regular chiropractic treatments can help improve your mobility, improve strength, and help you get more out of your training. You’ll also reduce your risk of experiencing injury.

If you’re wondering how chiropractic care can help you in your athletic performance, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We’ll schedule your consultation and show you the health benefits a full-service chiropractic care center has to offer you.

The Piriformis is one of your smaller muscles which is located deep in the buttocks — right behind the gluteus maximus. Your Piriformis runs from the lower spine to the upper femur in a diagonal fashion. Your sciatic nerve runs underneath (or through) the muscle. The piriformis muscle helps the hip rotate, turning the leg and foot outward. The Piriformis is the muscle responsible for hip rotation and gives you the ability to turn your foot and leg outward.

Being that the Piriformis is in close proximity to the sciatic nerve, trouble can arise. One such case is Piriformis Syndrome, which is a condition that causes pain due to the muscle tightening and intruding upon the sciatic nerve in the buttock area. Pain, numbness, tenderness, and other symptoms can occur, including radiating pain that can run down the leg, sometimes reaching down to the calf.

Piriformis Syndrome Has 2 Possible Causes

Piriformis Syndrome can arise from either sitting for long periods of time, or from an injury to the buttocks (usually a fall, an athletic injury, or something of the like). Trauma such as injury can cause the Piriformis to expand, swell, and irritate your sciatic nerve. Spasms are also another issue that can cause Piriformis Syndrome.

Chiropractic treatment offers a variety of options to treat and heal Piriformis Syndrome.

Treat Your Piriformis Syndrome with Chiropractic Care!

When it comes to chiropractors, they view the patient’s whole body in its entirety view the body in its entirety, which will often extend to the leg and buttocks areas.  Your chiropractor has the power to utilize a regimen of pelvic and spinal adjustments, or even joint manipulation or stretching which will end up loosening the muscle, helping to heal the affected area.

If you need help treating your Piriformis Syndrome, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We have a long, successful track record of treating pain and injury the drug-free way.

Have you ever heard that expression “you’re only as healthy as your spine?” No matter which way you slice it, spine health has a big impact on your overall health.

Below are a few ways to boost your spine health to make it a happy and healthy 2019.

Get Adjusted

The human nervous system is made up the brain and spinal cord, not to mention peripheral nerves — all of which come together to form the communication system of your body. Chiropractic adjustments optimize your nervous system and clear your neural pathways.

Make Sure to Stay Hydrated

Did you know that every cell in your body needs water to function properly? That also includes cells in your nervous system and your spinal discs (which are filled with fluid and need hydration to function properly). Drink half your body weight in ounces every day.

Cut Down on Stress

Stress can and will take a toll on your body. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, headaches, depression — not to mention spinal movement call all be negatively affected by stress. Taking a few new measures like mindful breathing, meditation, or other coping mechanisms or calming tools will improve your ability in dealing with daily stressors.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic if you’d like to know more about how to make spine health a priority. We have a long track record of keeping our patients healthy and well!

People might not think of golf first when they think of sports or activities that are hard on your body, but the repetitive motions of swinging a golf club alone can do some serious wear and tear to your back, neck, and spine.

Unless you have a caddy every time you golf, you’re likely carrying around a heavy golf bag, too. Putting, chipping, and driving all put strain on your back as well.

Below we’ll go over a few ways that chiropractic care is a nice countermeasure to take after a day at the links.

Chiropractic Improves Flexibility

Having good posture and good flexibility are both paramount to having a strong golf game. Your body has to be able to aptly bend and flex in order to drive, put, etc. Having enhanced flexibility will help you add some serious yardage.

Chiropractic adjustments can help restore your body’s functionality, especially as the effects of time take their toll. Chiropractic care will increase. your range of motion and reopen neural pathways to keep your game on point.

Improve Posture and Range of Motion

When you give yourself the gift of ongoing chiropractic care, you’ll help keep your spine in line and continue to improve your range of motion, which is key for correcting joint and muscle dysfunction. Your chiropractor can also prescribe exercises that are specially designed to correct your particular problems while helping to build postural strength.

If you have any additional questions about how chiropractic care can improve your golf game or improve your life in other ways, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We have a long track record of keeping our patients on top of their game.

At Barton Chiropractic Clinic we like to set our patients up for success when it comes to living happy, healthy lives. A big part of that involves patient education as well as setting goals that challenge our patients to reach peak wellness.

Below are a few goals you can set for yourself to make sure that your 2019 is a year of activity and pronounced health.

1.) Do Something New

Doesn’t matter if it’s that yoga class or a martial arts class you’ve been meaning to take, make 2019 the year you try something new!

2.) Build Strength

Cardio and flexibility are all the rage now, but there are also distinct benefits to weight training and strength training, which helps build muscle that supports your bones and joints.

3.) Eat Healthier

Start cutting out sugary foods and beverages, not to mention processed carbs. Eating clean, whole foods is a serious game changer when it comes to your overall health.

4.) Focus on Making Progress 

Instead of striving for perfection each day, just do what you can to make minor improvements in your life one day at a time. It will reduce your frustration and keep you focused for the long haul

5.) See Your Local Chiropractor

That’s right, seeing a chiropractor near you is a great way to stay well year round. Chiropractic adjustments can help manage and eliminate pain, reduce inflammation, boost neurological output, improve joint health, reduce or eliminate headaches, and more. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation if you’re in need of a chiropractor in Homewood, IL.

Chiropractic has become an increasingly popular option for drug-free pain relief. It’s well-known that chiropractors can help with neck, back, spine, and leg pain, but we’re only scratching the surface in figuring out the multitude of health benefits that chiropractic brings to the table when it comes to your brain and even your heart.

Chiropractic care has been shown to drive a heart-healthy lifestyle and has been utilized in the treatment of heart disease in a variety of patients.

Chiropractic Brings a Host of Health Benefits with It

Regular chiropractic adjustments have far wider-reaching benefits that just been good for your back, neck, and spine. Seeing a chiropractor regularly may prevent heart attacks and lower your blood pressure, reduce your overall heart rate, and relieve chest pain, not to mention support your cardiovascular system.

Consider One Case Study

A case study done with a male patient of 54 years of age yielded some promising results. The patient began getting regular chiropractic treatments as a means to his lipid panel back to a regular, healthy state of being. After just 6 months of chiropractic adjustments for subluxation reduced the patient’s lipid levels back down to normal levels — and no other lifestyle changes were made on the patients part regarding diet or exercise.

Chiropractic, A Drug-Free Solution 

Another staggering finding was that the man was on several heart medications before he received his chiropractic treatment. After only 6 months of chiropractic therapy the patient’s LD, , HDL and triglycerides levels were actually healthy and stable enough for him to get off his several heart medication prescriptions.

If you’d like to know more about the possibilities of chiropractic care, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.

At Barton Chiropractic Clinic we see a lot of patients throughout the year who suffer from back pain that results from the daily wear and tear and everyday living puts us through.

It doesn’t matter if you sit at a desk for 40 hours a week or spend your work week on your feet and on the move, your back, neck, and spine need a little TLC year-round. Read on for a few resolutions you can make that will also be good for your back.

1.) Take Up Yoga

Taking a yoga class will be one of the best things you ever did for yourself. Many yoga poses are designed to stretch and strengthen your spine, not to mention increase your range of motion and flexibility. If you live an active lifestyle, you can take a yoga class during one of your off days to engage in a little active recovery. You won’t be sorry!

2.) Strengthen Your Back and Your Core

At the gym it might be a popular choice to work on the arms or see how much you can do on the bench press, but investing some to strengthen your back and your core will help you avoid injury. Making sure to incorporate strength training will also help with posture and increase self-confidence.

3.) See Your Local Chiropractor Near You!

One common misconception is that one should only see a chiropractor after experiencing an injury, but chiropractic care also helps patients avoid injury and to relieve the wear and tear of daily life.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic if you’re experiencing neck or back pain. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2019!

As more and more of us spend significantly more amounts of time staring at computer screens as well as our smartphone screens, more and more people will suffer from what some people refer to as “tech neck,” but, also (for our intent and purpose) “text neck.”

First, text and tech neck are generally caused by poor posture and by staring at your computer or phone screen from an odd angle. You want to be staring straight forward, if not slightly upward while maintaining good posture in your back.

Looking down at your phone or your tablet or laptop also puts a significant amount of unnecessary pressure on your cervical spine, which promotes more wear and tear, which can cause costly problems down the road. Nerves also get compressed and misaligned as a result of staring at your phone or computer can be putting your head, neck, and spine at risk — all at once!

Keep in mind that text and tech neck is also being reported more and more among young people.

One way to reduce and diminish tech and text neck is to get up form your position every 15-30 minutes, if not at the very least once an hour and try to incorporate some stretches, maybe even a few yoga moves that remedy sitting in a chair or staring at a device.

Both tech and text neck and the lifestyle they promote cause a one-two punch that is bad for an active lifestyle. Minimizing your time on your devices is always a good choice. We know you have to do it for work, but you can try to do it less while you play.

Maintaining an active lifestyle will also help you avoid getting neck and back problems. If you have pain in your head, back, neck, spine, or even your legs, chiropractic care might be the drug-free solution for you. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule your consultation.