Avoid Back Pain by Gardening the Right Way
- Wednesday, 16 May 2012 16:32
The most important thing to remember is to use your hips to bend, and not your back. What do I mean by this? Well check out the following pictures!
Wrong way to pull weeds! Great posture! Nice Squat!
5 Secrets to Improve Your Health
- Monday, 16 April 2012 00:01
Nutrition has recently become a huge concern of mine. Until recently, I didn't realize the direct relationship between what we eat, and conditions including arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes, acne, allergies, cancer, autism, ADHD, headaches, irritable bowel, heart burn, overall fatigue, general aches and pains, and many more that affect virtually everyone in our country.
Do You Have TMJ Disorder?
- Sunday, 15 April 2012 22:20
Do you have trouble opening your mouth through your whole dentist appointment?
Does your jaw make popping and clicking noises when you open or close it?
Do you get headaches in a regular basis?
Foot Pain: Could it be Plantar Fasciitis?
- Sunday, 15 April 2012 22:09
Do you have a nagging pain on the bottoms your feet? Is it worst when you take your first steps in the morning, or after sitting for a long period of time? You may have plantar fasciitis. This is a painful condition in which the fascia or other structures on the bottom of the foot become inflamed. It is a common condition that many people just deal with and don’t realize that something can be done for it!
Kinesio Tape Speeds Healing: The Proof is in the Pictures
- Friday, 23 September 2011 14:48
Have you ever seen sand volleyball or track athletes in the Olympics with long strips of blue, black, or pink tape down their arms or legs and wondered what this was? It is called Kinesio Tape and it is used to help heal many different conditions. The tape mimics the skin, and microscopically lifts the skin to improve blood flow and lymph drainage. Because it is made of cotton, it is comfortable, breathable, and can be left on for 3-5 days. It is water resistant, so it can survive showering and swimming.
Some conditions that can benefit from the use of Kinesio Tape are:- Sports injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shoulder pain
- Knee pain
- Foot pain
- Back pain
- Bruises
Dr. Tripp was hit with a line drive while pitching in a coed softball game. After 2 days of limping around she put Kinesio Tape over her large bruise. Not only did the area under the tape heal more quickly than the rest of the bruise, but the overall pain decreased dramatically once it was taped.
If you are having pain and are wondering if Kinesio Tape could help, call us today at (630) 448-0255.
Shin Splints: A Pain in the Leg that You Shouldn't Have to Live With
- Thursday, 04 August 2011 22:49
Shin splints is a general term to describe the pain that many runners and other athletes get in the front or even backs of their lower legs. This pain is often brought on by increases in training, long periods or standing, or beginning an activity after being sedentary. The actual pain of shin splints, otherwise known as medial tibial stress syndrome, is an irritation of the periosteum (outer layer of bone) on the tibia. This typically occurs because of fatigue or trauma of the muscles and tendons that attach to the bone.
There are a few reasons that some athletes may be more prone to having this painful condition.
- Flat feet and over pronation (rolling feet inward) when walking
- Wearing old/worn out shoes
- Running on uneven surfaces
- Increasing training regimen too quickly
- Athletes who are fatigued after a long season of running (i.e. soccer, cross country)
Many people think that having pain in their shins is just a necessary evil that goes along with running, but it is important to have looked at, and there is a lot that can be done to treat and prevent it. Shin pain with running should not be ignored, because if it continues to progress it can lead to stress fractures.
A few things that can be done to treat and prevent shin splints:
- Get new running shoes every 300-400 miles
- Take some time off running, or spend more time cross training to allow inflammation a chance to settle down (biking and swimming are great options)
- Use a bag of ice or an ice cup massage after running (to do an ice cup massage, just freeze water into a 3 oz Dixie cup, and rub over shins after workout)
- Perform stretches of the shin and calf
- Come into the office for an Active Release technique treatment. This will reduce tension and scar tissue.
With the Chicago marathon, cross country season, and many other races quickly approaching, runners are putting in more miles than ever. If you or someone you know is experiencing shin pain, or has any questions feel free to give Dr. Tripp a call at (630) 448-0255.
Helping Pregnant Women with Back Pain
- Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:38
It has been found that about 50-70% of women experience back pain at some point during their pregnancy. It is easy to see understand how this would happen since the average weight gain is 25-35 pounds. As the woman’s center of gravity moves forward, the curve in her low back increases. This in addition to hormonal changes can cause severe back pain.
Many women have no idea what to do in this situation because they don’t want to take medicine that can be harmful to the baby. Chiropractors can offer all natural relief to back pain in this situation. According to the American Pregnancy Association, seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy can help with
- Maintaining a healthier pregnancy
- Controlling symptoms of nausea
- Reducing the time of labor and delivery
- Relieving back, neck or joint pain
- Prevent a potential cesarean delivery
How often should I see a chiropractor during pregnancy?
Obviously every patient is different, but Dr. Tripp typically recommends coming about as often as a woman sees her OB. This would mean approximately once a month during the first trimester, twice a month during the second trimester, and weekly during the third trimester.
What else can I do?
- Get regular low impact exercise such as walking or swimming at least 3 times a week
- Avoid high heels, instead wear flat comfortable shoes with good arch support
- Use a pregnancy or body pillow when sleeping, and try to sleep on left side
- Wear a support belt under lower abdomen
5 of the Most Common Types of Headaches- and What to Do About Them!
- Tuesday, 24 May 2011 18:57
Almost everyone out there has had a headache at some point in their life. For some of us, it’s once in a blue moon, but for others it’s something we experience on a weekly or even daily basis. Some people have gotten so used to getting a headache around 4:00 every afternoon, they have just accepted this as normal! Headaches come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, such as migraines, tension headaches, chemical induced (aka hangover), cluster headaches, etc. My job as a chiropractor is to figure out when it comes to these headaches, is what is causing the problem, and if anything can be done to fix it! Sure taking medication or an anti-inflammatory might temporarily help with the pain, but is a lack of medicine what was really causing your symptoms in the first place?
Sorting Through the Types of Headaches
Tension Headache- These are the most common type of headache. They often start in the back of the head at the base of the skull, and work their way around in a hatband type of distribution. Tension headaches are often related to trigger points in neck, posture, or TMJ dysfunction.
Migraine- a true migraine often begins with an aura, or visual changes like tunnel vision. They can be on one of both sides of the head. They typically last from 4-72 hours, and are often associated with visual and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Cluster Headache- an abrupt and severe, but short lived headache that usually happens between 1-3 times a day over a 4-8 week period. It usually feels like a severe stabbing pain over one eye.
Hypertensive Headache- a pulsating headache that typically begins in the morning and subsides over the course of the day. It is associated with high blood pressure, obesity, stress, lack or exercise, and a high salt diet.
Sinus Headache- Usually felt over forehead and cheeks, and comes from swollen sinuses and increased pressure.
Now the big question, what can I do if I’m suffering from one or more of these? Obviously, it depends on which type of headache you’re suffering from. Of the 5 types listed above, the tension headache responds best to chiropractic care. In our office, we use spinal manipulation in combination with Active Release Techniques (ART) to quickly treat both the joints and the muscles involved in the problem. These same techniques in addition to dietary and lifestyle changes are also very helpful in treating the other headaches listed above.
If you or someone you love is suffering from headaches, let them know that this isn't something they should have to live with. Call (630) 448-0255 with any questions or to schedule a consultation.