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.

It’s the dead of winter, so maybe the last thing you’re thinking is what to do for less obvious forms of exercise that get you outdoors. Or, maybe you’re an outdoor enthusiast who doesn’t let the fickle seasons dictate whether or not you get your daily dose of mother nature.

Get Outside While Being Good to Your Back

If you engage in certain activities safely, you can benefit your spine and back at the same time. We’re not talking about bungee jumping or hang-gliding when we say outdoor activities, either (neither of which are good for your spine).

Here are some activities that incorporate spine health into your routine.

Cycling

Cycling is a great activity, as long as you’re not riding on uneven or rocky surfaces. Notice how we didn’t say mountain biking, which will often put a lot of undue stress on your back and your discs. Keep your back straight and make sure your seat is at the proper level.

Swimming

Swimming we highly recommend because there is no impact whatsoever. Sure, there will be a little bit of pressure on your bones, joints, and muscles, but your movements underwater will help build muscle and increase flexibility. There’s a reason why many physical therapists have their patients swim during recovery.

Hiking

Stay mindful of rocky surfaces. Make sure you get a good stretch in before you hit the trails. Use a backpack that is designed for support, wear the right hiking boots, and incorporate any protective equipment you might need (walking poles, gloves, etc.).

Stay mindful of rocky surfaces. Make sure you get a good stretch in before you hit the trails. Use a backpack that is designed for support, wear the right hiking boots, and incorporate any protective equipment you might need (walking poles, gloves, etc.).

These are 3 great ways to stay active, to avoid the humdrum of the gym, and to set your spine up for success. We’d like to give an honorable mention to paddle boarding, which is great for your back and core, and low-impact at that! 

If you’re ever having trouble with your back, or if your spine is keeping you anything less than active, contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic today.

Chiropractic care and pregnancy go hand in hand.

One of the strongest connections that chiropractic care has with health maintenance during pregnancy is the fact that it relieves conditions of the spinal column and treats compromised discs, related nerves, and bone geometry — all without drugs or surgery.

Of course while we’re pregnant we want to stay away from drugs and toxins for the sake of the baby, so it makes sense that if you experience leg, back, or neck pain due to pregnancy that you would seek the care of a doctor of chiropractic.

All Chiropractors Are Trained to Work with Pregnant Women

Any chiropractor worth their salt has experience working with women in every stage of pregnancy. Some chiropractors will even take a special interest in prenatal and postnatal care, seeking additional training whenever possible. Investing time into infusing pregnancy wellness into our practice has served our patients well at Barton Chiropractic Clinic.

Look for your doctor chiropractic to have certifications and designations. Here’s a few:

• DACCP

• CACCP
• Member of ICPA reflecting a special interest in pregnancy wellness
• (special training to work with pelvic balance during various stages of pregnancy)

Benefits of Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy

So now that we know chiropractors can work with you during pregnancy, what benefits do you stand to gain?

You’ll be able to maintain a healthier pregnancy You’ll feel better knowing you have an experienced ally on your side. We can help you control symptoms of nausea; we can help you relieve back, neck, and joint pain, as well as prevent potential cesarean deliveries.

Contact Barton Chiropractic Clinic to schedule your consultation today. If you’re pregnant and feeling less than 100%, we can help.

When it comes to chiropractic care, most people have their own set of preconceived notions. The thing about preconceived notions is that they aren’t reliable, because they are not founded on empirical data. Today, Barton Chiropractic Clinic would like to shed some light on a few myths about the chiropractor near you that you might be harboring, to put any misgivings you might have to rest.

Myth #1: Chiropractic care is expensive.

More than one study has proven this false. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics actually asserts that back pain treated by a doctor of chiropractic is actually 20% cheaper than the same treatment initiated by a medical doctor. Seeing a chiropractor also serves as preventive medicine, helping you avoid costly spine surgeries down the road.

Myth #2: Children shouldn’t get chiropractic care.

This myth is especially heartbreaking, should parents subscribe to it, because this means a child is experiencing unnecessary pain that can be avoided. Growing pains are one reason a child can benefit from a visit with the chiropractor. Not only that, kids are just as susceptible in this life to injury as adolescents and adults, perhaps even more so.

Myth #3: Chiropractors don’t have the same level of schooling as other doctors.

This is fervently untrue. The average chiropractor has 4 years of pre-med college education, then 4-5 years of study at an accredited college of chiropractic care. This includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of study.

It’s time to learn for yourself the benefits of chiropractic care in Homewood, IL.

We could spend all day going over unfortunate myths that stigmatize the chiropractic trade and craft therein. The honest truth is, chiropractic care is good for your back and so much more. Seeing the right chiropractor can help you relieve a wide range of symptoms and conditions, like headaches, leg pain, neck pain, and compromised hearing and vision.

We don’t just stop with your back, either.

Barton Chiropractic Clinic offers a wide range of treatment programs suited to each patient’s unique needs. We provide chiropractic care, taking a holistic approach to human physiology and lifestyle, helping our patients live active, healthy, optimized lives.