Celebrating Earth Day might mean planting a tree to some, but to others, Earth Day might mean a recently-made obligation to experience nature and all of the good that this planet we occupy has to offer.

Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to go over some ways that our patients and readership can experience the great outdoors without experiencing spine or back pain.

After all, as far as movement and overall activity are concerned, your back and spine are really at the center of it all.

Outdoor Yoga

You can park yourself at your favorite clearing (or your go-to spot at the beach) and stretch it out for any amount of time you please — 20-50 minutes would be the optimum timeframe to achieve maximum effect.

Jogging / Hiking

Jogging might not be the best for your back, but hiking is a viable alternative. And, if you must engage in running and cross-training, please make sure that you supplement your program with yoga or an alternative form of stretching.

Climbing

Make sure that you have a friend and the right equipment to pull this one off. Taking the time to practice at an indoor facility might not be a bad idea.

What Do I Do if I Need a Chiropractor Near Me?

If you experience any sort of discomfort this Earth Day or during the Spring and Summer seasons, do not hesitate to call Barton Chiropractic Clinic. We’ll get you back to active in no time.

Most of the time when a person carries a child, the main focus is on the child, and that’s completely right and well. Obviously, you want to hold onto that sweet little one — we’re not going to fault you for that. However, at the same time, you can be friendly to your back while looking out for the young.

Read on for a few ways you can be spine-friendly with the munchkins around. So many of us either have kids, have family members or friends with kids, or come into contact with kids in our daily lives. If you’re going to pick one up (make sure you have permission, of course), you should lift with your legs. Don’t bend downwards and put awkward pressure on your spine and lower back.

For Those Who Have Kids and Those Who Are Expecting

Don’t hold a baby outward as it also puts undue stress on your back — the spine, the muscles, everything really. Hold the baby close to your body with a wrap-around. That way your muscles and back don’t strain. Go one step further and get a fabric wrap or a back-friendly carrier to make sure you’re not putting stress on your spine on a daily basis.

Engage Your Core

You’ve heard trainers say this before, but it doesn’t make them any less right.

If you exercise your core — your hips, abdomen, and lower back (the internal and external obliques, the rotatores, and the transversus abdominis) — you’re less likely to sustain an injury. Strengthening your core will end up strenghening your back in the process.

If you experience pain or stain in the back, the spine, the legs, or even any sort of persistent headache that you might think comes along with parenting or pregnancy, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today for a consultation. There’s a lot we can do the all-natural way, without prescription meds or cumbersomle surgery.

It’s Friday the 13th, which generally is a day most consider somewhat high risk, due to superstitions. It is today that we are also reminding our client base and readership that we’ve been practicing chiropratic care over here at Barton Chiropractic Clinic for the last 30 years!

Yes, that’s right, our practice is turning 30 this month!

To celebrate this milestone, we’d just like to go over what we do and why we do it.

Experienced Chiropractic Care — Three Decades and Counting

Our philosophy of chiropractic care is to get to the root of the true source of pain. It’s by finding the real problem or source of dysfunction that we aim to fix it in the most efficient and holistic way possible. We never use unnecessary instrumentation and we never sacrifice giving optimum patient care.

For our patients, we always work within the regulations of care to achieve the best treatment possible. We use a wide range of effective and natural chiropractic manipulation treatment techniques (also referred to as CMTs) instead of pursuing over-the-counter and prescription medications that will only alleviate symptoms. We’re not here to simply mask the pain. We’re here to correct the root of it.

For 30 Years We’ve Helped People in Need of Chiropractic Care

As an experienced chiropractor in Homewood, IL, Dr. Barton helps many individuals who are experiencing the following health issues:

• Chiropractic Pain (Commonly Due to Generative Disks)
• Headaches and Migraines
• Hip Pain / Hip Misalignment
• Lower Back Pain
• Immobility
• Neck Pain / Neck Stiffness
• Pinched Nerves
• Static nerve pain
• Spinal Misalignment Corrections
• Adjustments

But Where Do I Find a Chiropractor Near Me?

If you think you can benefit from our services, you’re not alone. People have been exploring the benefits of chiropractic care through our practice for 30 years and counting. And we hope to serve you for many more. Call (708) 922-1400 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Barton today.

Now that spring has sprung, we thought it’d be a nice change of pace to discuss some outdoor spine-friendly activities for you to engage in during the warm season. We decided to focus on low risk but high fun!

Read on to learn how to stay fit this spring and summer without compromising your spine.

Paddle Boarding

You probably hear a lot of trainers or gym enthusiasts telling people to engage their core. They’re not wrong. If you head to a lake, the ocean, or a reservoir, standup paddleboarding is a fun activity — and it eliminates Lower Back Pain. This activity also forces you to engage your core (which isn’t just your abs, but also your hips, your lower back, buttocks — the mid-section of your body).

Rock Climbing

If you do this outdoors, please please please practice the utmost precaution. We won’t fault you for heading to an indoor facility if you’re hesitant to scale the high peaks. Rock climbing strengthens your back, and it’s also considered low-to-no impact, as long as you’re practicing good form. Again, make sure you use good judgment and safe practices.

Cycling

We like cycling because it’s another non-weight bearing exercise for your spine and back. If you’re on the roads, you don’t have to worry about too many shocks to the spine. Use the stationary bike if you don’t like the idea of sharing the roads. Make sure your seat and handlebars are adjusted properly and that you use the right footwear.

If you’d like to know more activities that will make your spring and summertime memorable without putting your back and spine at risk, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic at (708) 922-1400 today. During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss preventive measures you can take, as well as answer any questions you may have about our services and treatments that will help you stay active and optimized.

It’s an unfortunate reality that some folks are under the impression that — should they experience back pain, neck discomfort, or spine irregularities and pursue chiropractic treatment — once their back pain is gone, there is no further treatment necessary. This is simply untrue.

Just like you keep up your cardio to support a healthy heart, respiratory system, and an in-shape body, the spine and back need to be tended to on a regular basis. This might entail a combination of activities and treatments, including yoga, various back and spine-friendly workouts, and regular visits to Barton Chiropractic Clinic, if you’re focused on keeping your body feeling good and being active for the long haul. We’re here to serve established patients and new patients alike as chiropractic specialists in Homewood, IL.

Back pain (whether it shows up as a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis, or even strained muscles, among other conditions) can put a real curb on your everyday life — and that isn’t just limited to working out or being physically active. Back pain and spine problems can affect your job and force you to have to spend your time dealing with the trecherous waters of health insurance, stressed family life, and worrying how you’re going to get back to work.

If you have back pain, do something about it. If you don’t have back pain just yet, it’s still a good idea to establish a relationship with a spine specialist.

But Where Do I Find a Chiropractic Care Specialist Near Me?

Great question! Barton Chiropractic Clinic is here to help you deal with neck pain, back pain, and even leg pain. We can also help fortify your spine and enhance your daily life — setting you up for an adventurous life, even into your twilight years. If you need a doctor of chiropractic in Homewood, IL, or even the surrounding communities of Chicago Heights, Oak Forest, Park Forest, Markham, Harvey, South Holland, Lansing, or anywhere else near the area, we’re here to help keep your spine aligned.

Call Barton Chiropractic Clinic today at (708) 922-1400. 

The American Chiropractic Association asserts that 31 million Americans acquire low-back pain at any given time in their lives. Read on for some important facts and statistics regarding lower back pain.

Lower Back Pain by the Numbers

• Low back pain happens to be the leading cause of disability in the world (that’s according to the Global Burden of Disease back in 2010).
• As a result, back pain is the most common excuse people use when they miss work.
• Back pain is also the 2nd leading reason for doctor visits (beat out only by infections of the upper respiratory system).
• 50% of working Americans have back pain symptoms over the course of the year.
• Medical specialists and experts assert that nearly 80% of the population will have back problems at some point in their lifespan.

Lastly, Americans end up spending over $50 billion every year treating their back pain.

Don’t Let LBP Go Untreated

Understanding what type of back pain you’re experiencing is essential and your back pain should be addressed by a medical professional immediately so your condition can be diagnosed and managed appropriately.

Living with back pain won’t make it disappear. Delaying an accurate diagnosis can lead to additional problems, or, at the very least aggravate problems you already have. You also run the risk of creating long-term damage, or even permanent damage beyond the pain that will certainly influence your day to day activities.

What Do I Do If I Have LBP and Need a Chiropractor Near me?

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today. We offer homeopathic remedies and services that work without resorting to surgery. We’re committed to getting you back up and active again. Call (708) 922-1400 to schedule your one-on-one consultation today.

The American Chiropractic Association reports that 9 out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. That might mean an occasional headache or frequent headaches. Some headaches you experience might be light and dull, others might be more serious, pounding headaches.

What Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to do is let our patients know about how minor adjustments and spinal manipulation can help alleviate headaches in today’s blog. Too often people in this country will seek out medication and pop a pill to alleviate a symptom when a homeopathic remedy is ready and available.

Convincing research has shown that spinal manipulation, which is a primary treatment offered at Barton Chiropractic Clinic, may be an effective treatment that alleviates tension headaches and pain in the head that originates in the neck. We have a lot more information about studies that show the benefits of chiropractic care when it comes to various types of headaches here.

What Might Be Causing Your Headache

Headaches can happen due to a number of variables (or triggers), including:

• Certain Foods
• Environmental Toxins
• External Stimuli (Noises, Lights, Commotion)
• Internal Stimuli (Anxiety, Lack of Sleep / Insomnia)
• Behaviors (Insomnia, Excessive Exercise, Caffeine Consumption, Blood Sugar Changes, and More)

What Can Barton Chiropractic Clinic Do For Your Headache?

We perform spinal manipulations as well as chiropractic adjustments, which will help improve spinal functionality, alleviating stress in the process.
We’ll also provide nutritional counseling and recommend lifestyle changes that will help you. We can also provide tips on how to keep good posture, how to stay active without compromising your back, neck, and spine, as well as provide relaxation techniques.

If you live with headaches, you don’t have to suffer any longer. Call Barton Chiropractic Clinic to schedule your initial consultation today at (708) 922-1400.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who suffer from back pain, we’d like to go over some common sources that could be contributing to that pain and uncomfortableness. 

Barton Chiropractic Clinic would also like to remind patients and readers that back pain is not something to resign yourself to. If your back or spine is anything less than 100%, there are treatments and services we provide that can help reduce and even eliminate back pain, spine problems, and even neck and leg pain.

There’s a lot we can do to make your life more tolerable and enjoyable. Our mission is to get every patient back to being active and healthy.

Common Contributors to Back and Spine Pain

Injury — this is a common source of back pain. You can sprain and strain ligaments that support your spine. This includes the facet joints. You might fall or use poor mechanics/form that lands you a back injury that can take you out of everyday activities, even work.

Bulging Disc / Herniated Lumbar — this is when the contents of the disc (called nucleus pulposus) spill through its outer layer (also called annulus fibrosus), which compresses the spinal nerve root. This can often cause pain, which can spread to the buttocks, the thighs, and other parts of the leg.

Degenerative Disc Disease — this generally is considered an age-related problem of the spine. As the aging process goes on, discs begin to lose water and dehydrate. Changes in shape might compromise the distance between vertebral bodies, which makes the nerve’s passageways narrow. The body tries to correct abnormal movement and cartilage on the facet joints can start to degenerate, developing bone spurs.

Less Common Causes of Back and Spine Pain

Spinal infections and both benign and malignant spinal tumors can also be the source of back pain, both tending to be less common than those mentioned above.

To avoid back and spine injury, it’s best to take care of your body and your mind through safe exercise, healthy eating, meditation, yoga, and by forming a great relationship with a chiropractor near you.

To schedule your next appointment with Barton Chiropractic Clinic, call (708) 922-1400 today.

Many of us sit for long hours on end, for extended periods of time, whether it be at work sitting at a desk, lounging on the couch in the midst of a Netflix binge, or even while standing.

Hidden Benefits of Good Posture

Good posture isn’t just something taught at charm schools in the past, it can actually enhance your life in many ways. Good posture can actually make you appear taller, it can enhance slimness, and can also make a person come across more confident. There are hidden health benefits behind having great posture, too. You can prevent back, neck, knee, and hip pain while also expanding your rib cage and diaphragm, giving your body more room to breathe and take in oxygen.

Good Posture While Sitting

We know it’s tempting, but you have to uncross your legs while sitting — it’s bad for your spine. Keep both feet evenly planted on the floor.

Adjust your chair hight so that your knees are a little bit lower than your hips. This will create a downward slope for your thighs. What we’re aiming for here is even weight distribution between your lower back, thighs, hips, and feet while you’re in the chair.

Keep your shoulders relaxed and open. Keep your abdominal muscles firm, but not tight. See if you can bring your navel in toward your spine, creating a fantastic foundation for you to keep throughout the day.

Try to keep your work at eye level. Too many of us have laptops that make us angle our head and neck downward, which compromises our posture. It’s also bad for the eyes, too. It’s a great way to make both your experienced chiropractor in Homewood, IL and your optometrist upset in one fell swoop.

If you can, try to stand up and move around for a couple of minutes every hour while you’re at work. There are even some Yoga Chair Exercises you can practice to break the monotony and reduce spine and lower back stress. If your boss gives you a hard time about it, maybe it’s a good time to dust off your resume.

What if I need a Chiropractor Near Me?

Don’t sweat it. Even if you keep good posture, certain activities and propensities will make you susceptible to back pain, neck pain, or even leg pain. We can help you with all three of those and more at Barton Chiropractic Clinic. Call (708) 922-1400 to make an appointment today.

You may or may not have heard the idea of “dim bulb” (or subluxation) is when there’s a slight misalignment of the vertebrae. Many experts consider it the source of more than a few health problems. 

When you suffer from dim bulb, it means your light isn’t shining as bright as it could be. Another way of putting it is that your engines aren’t firing on all cylinders.

How to Fight the Fading of the Light without Surgery

But there’s a safe and effective solution without opening the hood, without changing the bulb, so to speak. It’s widely available today, developed by Ancient Egyptian and Chinese cultures, then perfected in America today. Guess what it is.

We’ll wait…

Chiropractic care. Yes, it’s true that this age-old wisdom masters the best and most effective ways to harness the power the body and its contents. A simple adjustment can keep the nervous system free from these blockages that hold you back and affect how you see and approach the world. It’s fountain of youth technology.

What Causes Subluxation?

Great question! Subluxation is caused by spinal bones that move improperly or position in a way that disrupts nerve communications between the mind and body. It can cause a lot of problems in the body, even in the stomach.

Just like when there’s a kinked wire, your light bulb can go out from lack of power. Connected organs can suffer from the same thing. That’s why in some circles vertebral subluxation is called the silent killer.

Consult with Barton Chiropractic Clinic

To fight subluxation, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic. We offer non-invasive, holistic treatment that will get your body up to par and your light shining brightly. Call Dr. Barton at (708) 922-1400 to schedule your initial consultation today.