Chiropractic

Avoid Pain While Working From Home

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With the ongoing shut-down, many people are now working from home.  Moving your office to your home might bring with it some unexpected pain.

If possible, take the time to set up a proper work station.  Answering emails from your couch may seem tempting, but you might be setting yourself up for some unnecessary pain.

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Here are some tips for avoiding pain in your home workspace.

Sit at a table or desk while you work.  Try to minimize the time you spend working on your couch or bed.

Sit with your feet on the floor.  Support your arms on a table or armrests.   Try to bend your wrists as little as possible.

Take breaks from sitting.  A good rule is to stand and move around every twenty-five minutes, if possible.

Work with your computer monitor at eye level.

Use the best chair that you have, if possible, with a backrest and armrests.

If you’re experiencing pain and would like to speak with Dr. Sciullo, please give us a call at 412-343-2006.

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

 

 

 

The Importance of Vitamin D

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I’ve been getting a lot of questions from my patients about how they can boost their immune system.  So, I’m going to focus on a few posts around this subject.

Boost Your Immune System with Vitamin D

One of the best ways that you can boost your immune system is with Vitamin D.  The best way to get it is from natural sunlight.  Now, coincidentally, it is a beautiful sunny day here in Pittsburgh, and I’ve been making a point to step outside myself today to get some rays.  Even if you can only grab ten minutes at a time, it can help.

One of the challenges of living in Pennsylvania is that we don’t have daily access to natural sunlight.  Here is a good overview of the importance of and how to get Vitamin D into your system in other ways as well, from an article published in the Washington Post back in January. 

Since we are heading into spring, and hopefully there will be more sunny days, take advantage when you can of that natural sunlight.

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Eight Tips to Be More Active in 2020

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bemoreactive(1)With every new year, it’s common to want to attempt to improve your health. While your mind is motivated, it’s a perfect time to take steps to improve personal health and fitness.  

We are well into January, and if you haven’t already done so, it’s time to make sure you are focusing on some positive new habits. For many, physical activity is a great place to work towards new and improved habits. 

Being physically active is vital to your health, especially for adults. Physically active adults are less likely to develop certain chronic diseases than inactive adults.

 Here are eight tips to be more active. 

1. Start activities slowly and build up over time

If you are new to exercise, build up slowly to help prevent injury. After a few weeks, increase the frequency and duration of your activity.

2. Get your heart pumping with some cardiovascular exercise.

For health benefits, shoot for at least 2½ hours of moderate activity each week. Good options are brisk walking, biking, swimming, or cycling. It’s ok to start small and add time every week incrementally. You can also increase your time by spreading activities over the week, but doing them for shorter amounts. 

3. Strength-train for healthy muscles and bones twice a week.

Good options include lifting weights, doing push-ups and sit-ups, or working with resistance bands. Again, start small and build from there. Find a supervised class to attend to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly. 

4. Make active choices throughout the day.

Every little bit of activity can add up, and doing something is better than nothing. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a 10-minute walk on your lunch break, or park further away from work and walk.

5. Do something that you enjoy.

To avoid boredom, mix it up with a variety of activities. Ideas could include dancing, biking, or martial arts.

6. Exercise with a friend.

It will be more enjoyable than doing it alone. Join a walking group, attend fitness classes at a gym, or play with the kids outside. Build a support network — your network will encourage you to keep being active.

7. Have a system.

Set goals and track your progress. Schedule your activity as an appointment.

 8. Have fun.

Find things that you enjoy, and the exercise won’t be a chore. 

Take steps to make a positive difference in your own health in 2020!

Photo by Geert Pieters on Unsplash

Recognize and Treat Plantar Fasciitis

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Plantar Fasciitis is an injury common to runners, but non-runners can also be affected by it. Plantar fascia is the thick band of tissues that runs under the arch of your foot. Frequent over-stretching of the plantar fascia causes the condition. This overuse leases to inflammation of the tissue, which causes the pain. Inflammation can also be due to tight muscles in the foot and legs, causing an imbalance in the lower part of the legs.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

Symptoms include a gradual onset of pain under the heel, which can then radiate forward into the arch of the foot. You may feel tenderness, and it can be hard to walk or run. The pain is usually worse in the morning and can ease up during the day.

The pain tends to be particularly bad in the morning, easing slightly throughout the day.

How do you treat plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can be treated with rest, stretching, and rolling. In some cases, chiropractic treatments can help with this condition. If you’d like to consult with Dr. Sciullo about your plantar fasciitis, please give the office a call to set up an appointment at 412-343-2006.

Try dōTERRA with an Introductory Kit

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intro-kitredIf you have been curious or are new to essential oils, The doTerra Introductory Kit is a great starting point.  The Kit includes 5 ml bottle of dōTERRA’s CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oils.

Lavender helps to calm and relax.

Lemon is for cleansing and also helps to uplift.

Peppermint can be used for a variety of aches and pains from stomach upset to muscle tensions.

Trios are available for purchase in the office or online here. 

 

Athletes and Chiropractic

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Swimmer (1)Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, and Usain Bolt – these are just a few names of professional athletes who have used chiropractic to enhance their athletic performance.

Chiropractic can help both the professional and amateur athlete.

Dr. Sciullo has treated many different types of athletes, such as swimmers, football players, competitive weight lifters, wrestlers and gymnasts.

Here are some ways that an athlete can benefit from chiropractic.

  • Prevent wear and tear on the body. Strenuous activity can lead to spinal misalignment. Reduce the effect with adjustments.
  • Treat injuries naturally, without drugs. Avoid treatment that could lead to a risk of dependency or side effects.
  • Improve performance with preventative treatment. By keeping your body in alignment, you can avoid some minor injuries that could hamper your performance.
  • Reduce joint pain and muscle soreness post-activity. Spinal adjustments can increase your flexibility, which also helps to reduce injury.

Whether you’re competing at a professional level or a weekend warrior, chiropractic may be a positive addition to your sports performance strategy.

Photo by Gentrit Sylejmani on Unsplash

Office Happenings. Welcome, doTERRA!

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Our family learned about doTERRA products about five years ago.  If you’re not familiar with them, they are  CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils and essential oil products.

When we first started using them, we thought we would experiment with some cheaper brands as well.  How much difference could there be?  After much trial and error, we found the doTERRA line to be superior in many ways and we are back to using them on a regular basis.

Because we love them so much, we decided to make them available through the office.  You will soon notice some new displays the next time you are in the office and some blog posts here about how we use them.  We will be rotating different samples for you to try as well.  If you don’t see something, but would like information or try a sample, just ask!

 

 

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Shovel Snow the Right Way.

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It’s that time of year again.   Snow shoveling the wrong way can lead to muscle strain and back injury.    If you don’t have a snow blower or someone else to do it for you, take some time to review these tips to make sure you don’t hurt your back.

 

 

  • Keep your chin up while shoveling and use your lower body muscles to pick up the snow.
  • Avoid arching your back.
  • Avoid twisting to throw the snow off of your shovel, especially if the snow is heavy.
  • Try pushing or sweeping the snow away instead of lifting it up, if at all possible.

Additionally, this article from CBS News provides good advice on avoiding other health issues from shoveling.

Hopefully, these tips will help to keep you pain-free and healthy when shoveling snow this year.

Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash

Therapy or Surgery for Carpal Tunnel?

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Therapy Vs. Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a repetitive motion disorder causing pain, numbness and weakness in the wrist and hand.  Common treatment for this disorder is surgery.  However, recent studies show that therapy may be a better first line solution than the typically prescribed surgery for this condition.

Dr. Sciullo has great success treating patients with Carpal Tunnel.  Many experience positive results after their first treatment.  Give the office a call today at 412-343-2006 to make an appointment.  

Photo by Thomas Lefebvre on Unsplash