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.

People spend a lot of time thinking about the specialists and physicians they allow into their lives. There’s a good reason to put a lot of thought into something like that. For one, you’re inviting someone else to know information that is every bit your right to keep private. You’re also trusting one person to oversee your care in their chosen field.

How Should I Choose a Chiropractor Near Me?

Good question! You can find some great resources online to start. You want your chiropractor to have favorable Yelp ratings, though you want to take those also with a grain of salt. It’s the sad reality that a chiropractor often sees patients when they’re in pain and angry, and that can add a certain amount of color to their experience and their review.

Check out a practice’s social media page, too. It will definitely give you an idea of how they approach their work. Here’s ours.

Great qualities a worthy doctor of chiropractic will have include:

• Good communication skills.
• A nice facility with good ambience.
• High-level training and education.
• A cohesive staff who makes you feel welcome and cared for.
• Top notch research, specialists, and technology.

Barton Chiropractic Clinic of Homewood, Illinois

We offer pain relief with non-invasive techniques, taking a homeopathic approach to human wellness. We have great empathy for each and every patient who walks through our doors, and we serve patients of a wide age range, from all walks of life. Though we are knowledgeable, we continue our journey by learning everything we can about chiropractic care, from time-honored traditions to innovative new approaches.

If you’re in pain, we’ll help put you at ease. Barton Chiropractic Clinic has all of the great qualities mentioned above and more. We’ll get you back to active on your terms, without the aid of risky surgeries that come with more than a few pitfalls. Call (708) 922-1400 today to schedule your consultation.

Read on for what might be an unpopular opinion, but what also might be the difference between having a healthy back or a shoddy spine for St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day is the day we all get to be a little bit Irish, right? Some of us might even plan a trip out to Ireland to visit The Blarney Stone (Irish: Cloch na Blarnan). This block of Carboniferous limestone was built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, which is about 8 kilometres (5 miles) away from Cork. Kiss the stone, gain the gift of gab, legend has it.

Bending Over Backwards

But did you know that you literally have to bend over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone? If you’re not properly used to doing that sort of motion — many of us aren’t, as a matter of fact — you could risk back injury.

Make sure you give yourself a good stretch before performing your Blarney Stone kiss, if you must. Before you venture out to Ireland, engage in some yoga classes, which will increase your flexibility. Incorporate some cardio and core training to make sure you’re travel-ready. It’s a hike up there, and you have to complete the act by ascending the castle’s peak to get to the stone, then bend over backwards over a railing while someone assists you. Proceed with caution.

What if You Hurt Your Back During Your Travels?

That’s okay. A UNC School of Medicine study found that 80% of people will suffer a back injury during their lifetime. But it’s important you call Barton Chiropractic Clinic immediately. We have treatments and can provide adjustments that will have you back in tip-top shape. Call (708) 922-1400 to schedule your initial consultation today.

Having trouble believing that Spring has sprung? As we continue to advance in years, it seems like the seasons come and go with breakneck speed. It’s important that as time winds up and lurches forward that your spine isn’t in a knot — it can cause all sorts of problems for you as you engage in those springtime activities, like camping, kayaking, kite-flying, beach-going, mini golfing, and more.

Stuff You Can Do to Protect Your Spine

Even something like Spring cleaning requires you stretching and putting your body in unusual positions that you’re not used to, which can incite injury quite easily. All it takes is a sneeze or a jerk while you’re in the wrong position and your back is done for, putting you out of commission for weeks.

Stay conditioned and make sure you stretch on a regular basis. This will keep your body strong and flexible, ready to endure any sort of pressure you put on it.

Taking your time as you go through your seasonal chores will go a long way, too. Don’t try to jam everything into one Saturday, or a weekend. Budget your chores out over the entire month of March to ease into things. The same goes for your fitness routine. The idea is to build a reliable, consistent practice, not burn yourself out.

Hit the Links Softly, Unless You Golf Year Round

If you’re getting back into the swing of things, you might want to practice your golf swing beforehand. It’s also a good idea to schedule an adjustment with Barton Chiropractic Clinic. Take gentle swings at first. Maybe start with a 9-hole before you play two rounds in a day. Invest time into making sure that your swing is smooth and even, and that your swing rotates and shares the load between your shoulder, pelvis and your thoracolumbar segments.

Travel Smart, Travel Light

When you travel, it puts a lot of pressure on your back and spine, especially if you carry large, cumbersome bags along with you. If you’re on a flight for long periods of time, it might be a good idea to incorporate a stretch routine with some Yoga-style moves, focusing on your hips and your lower back in the process.

We hope some of these tips help you as the seasons change. We’re all about keeping our patients and readers active year-round. If your back, spine, hips, or legs are feeling anything less than 100%, chiropractic care is an avenue worth pursuing. Schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Barton today at (708) 922-1400.

Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to remind our patients and readership that we also treat neck pain. We have some suggestions and ways that you can improve the way you move, the way you work, and the way you sustain and nourish your body that will go a long way towards spine health.

Stay Hydrated

We think about staying hydrated for the sake of our skin. Maintaining proper water levels helps maintain disc height and spinal alignment. This takes much needed pressure off of the spine. Drinking the proverbial 8 glasses daily or more will also prevent cervical disc degeneration, which also helps reduce neck pain over time.

Swim, Swim, Swim

Swimming is great because it’s low impact, but it also strengthens your muscles. We like it a lot because of its therapeutic effects for your back, neck, and spine. Reduce inflammation and ease neck stiffness by taking a dip 3 times a week or more. If you can use a heated pool, it’s ideal, because the heat makes your muscles and joints more pliable.

Don’t Just Think Back When it Comes to Your Work Chair

There are also neck-supporting chairs that do a good job of keeping neck pain at bay. A quality headrest will keep your cervical spine in a nice, neutral position.

Another fantastic move you can make in support of your neck would be to establish a relationship with a chiropractor near you. Barton Chiropractic Clinic specializes in ice therapy, heat therapy, spinal adjustments and more. We’re committed to ridding our patients of neck, back, and spine pain — that’s what we do. We’re here to get you active and healthy again. Call (708) 922-1400 to schedule your initial consultation. 

Often, when we think of celebrities, we think of dashing smiles, perfect skin, and fantastic hair styles. This is especially true of Hollywood’s most important night — The Oscars Ceremony. But did you know that many actors and actresses also keep their bodies finely tuned, which includes regularly-scheduled trips to the chiropractor?

Famous Names Taking Advantage of Chiropractic Care

Everybody does it. Leonardo DiCaprio. Cindy Crawford. Hugh Jackman. The Rock. Even high performance athletes like Tom Brady and Tiger Woods seek chiropractic care to take care of their bodies, which they push to the limit day in and day out.

Stunts Can Hurt Your Spine

Many actors and actresses perform their own stunts. Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Gina Carano, and Jennifer Lawrence are examples of women who go above and beyond their job description to make the movies they take part in seem as real as possible. That might involve taking a spill, throwing a kick, or engaging in a choreographed automobile crash, which can put some serious pressure on your spine and discs. 

Among Harvey Weinstein’s many horrific allegations include Uma Thurman’s, where she reported injuries sustained during a car crash scene in Kill Bill Vol. 2. Uma had to undergo months of physical therapy, which can often include chiropractic care, spine adjustments, heat therapy, cold therapy, and more — all services supplied by Barton Chiropractic Clinic.

Get Your Back Red Carpet Ready

Even if you’re not in front of the camera, it’s important to take care of your back. Barton Chiropractic Clinic provides treatments and services that keep our patients healthy, happy, and active.

Attention all runners and running enthusiasts. Are you looking to relieve spine and lower back pain you experience after clocking many miles during the week? Barton Chiropractic Clinic specializes in chiropractic care services, treatments that benefits high performance athletes and people looking to get a few runs in a week to boost their fitness alike.

We also provide preventive medicine, which involves educating our patients and readers about ways that they can avoid costly injuries down the road by getting some standard chiropractic treatments now.

Be Proactive Over Reactive

Elite runners have been using chiropractic care as a supplement to their vigorous training methods for decades. Even if you  just run a few miles a week to maintain health, hoofing it, whether you do it on the treadmill, on the hard pavement, or on uneven mountain trails — it’s all taking a toll on your back, neck, spine, and more. Scheduling an appointment with your chiropractor could save you thousands as a result.

Chiropractic Care Promotes Quicker Healing

But what happens if you did get injured? If you’re injured or just looking to give yourself the gift of concentrated chiropractic treatment, focusing on parts of the body, using manipulations and adjustments from other areas of the body will drive blood flow to sore or injured areas.

What could be better than stretching it out, getting a proper adjustment from a skilled physician? Couple chiropractic care with a professional massage here and there, and your body is going to feel like a million bucks, you’ll see.

Chiropractic Treatments Reduce the Risk of Getting Injured Again

Don’t be one of the millions of Americans curbed at home from back pain, sidelined from enjoying their favorite outdoor activities. Or, even worse, sidelined from work, which can affect your ability to earn and support yourself. By making sure your spine is aligned and your body is functioning at 100%, we’ll reduce your risk of injury in the future in addition to treating any injuries you have now — injuries you might not even know you have.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic if you’d like to start benefitting from our innovative treatments that will open up new doors to flexibility, fluidity, and comfort, unlocking new potential in you in the process. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Barton today to get started.

Whether you’re a licensed physical therapist or a student in PT, your background makes you quite an attractive candidate to practice chiropractic care. Surprised you didn’t know that.

Chiropractic Care and PT Both Have Similar Goals

If you’ve been studying or practicing physical therapy, then you’re already helping others improve their overall wellness. Both physical therapy and chiropractic care avoid risky surgeries and take holistic approaches toward getting patients active again. That’s the end goal of both practices.

You might have taken courses that actually meet many chiropractic school prerequisites, which makes it an easy and feasible transition.

Both Focus on the Body, Muscles, and Joints

Both PT people and chiropractors have a deep understanding of the human body. A chiropractor specializes in the back, neck, and spine, in addition to providing a wide range of services, like diet consultation and preventive medicine.

Physical therapy deals with musculoskeletal injuries, which might involve:

• Muscles

• Bones

• Tendons

• Fascias

• Ligaments

PT addresses and helps treat fractures, sprains, conditions like tendonitis, bursitis, as well as chronic medical conditions. Both PT and chiropractic caregivers have the end goal of rehabilitation or recovery from either surgery or injury.

If you’re wondering about a career in chiropractic care, it’s a rewarding field. Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today if you’re interested in learning more or feel that you’d benefit from chiropractic care. We’re always happy to answer any questions. Patients who often take an interest in our work. Heck, we might even give you a reference!

Of course if you do go to chiropractic school and the postgraduate workload or hauling around books all day gets your spine out of line, we provide treatments with little risks that gain fantastic results. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Diane Barton today.