Well, here we are again. More and more businesses and schools are moving to either a fulltime or hybrid model for working from home. We’ve been there already. Some of us have been there since March. And a lot of us are feeling the strain, wondering if winter snow days will make this an even more regular occurrence.

While we’d never suggest changing out of your comfy clothes while working from home, we do have some tips for keeping your spine in check while adjusting to this new(ish) environment. It might be tempting to grab the laptop and curl up on the couch for the day’s work. It does seem to be the most comfortable option. But it could actually do more damage to your spinal alignment. Instead, Dr. Erin suggests working toward setting up a dedicated work space in your home with the following tips.

Tips for Protecting your Back While Working from Home:

Lumbar Support

Investing in a good quality office chair with lumbar support is ideal, but not always realistic, especially if multiple family members are working from home. Instead, you can use a small pillow or roll a towel and place it between your lower back and the chair to increase comfort and support your spinal alignment.

Check Those Elbows

With your shoulders relaxed, your elbows should be at 90 degrees to your workstation.

Laptop Placement

It seems counterintuitive, but if using a laptop, avoid working with it on your lap for long stretches of time. Instead, place your computer on a stand or pile of books, and if possible, use a separate keyboard and mouse to ensure they’re also at the correct height.

Set The Right Height

Set your computer station so that the top third of your screen is at eye level to ensure that your upper body is not hunched over.

Get Moving

Moving is just as important as the way you sit. Make sure you and the kids are getting up every half hour or so to stretch, walk around a bit and generally shake out the cobwebs.

 

Of course, even with the best workstation, a change in environment and an increased sedentary lifestyle can still leave your spine a bit out of whack. So make sure to keep up with your regular chiropractic adjustments and feel free to contact us for more tips and information.

Shop local and join Sheridan’s Creekside Chiropractic on Wednesday November 11, 2020 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. for our 10th Annual Holiday Open House. A few tweaks have been made to accommodate social distancing, while some vendors will provide virtual shopping. But not to worry, light refreshments and festive holiday snacks will still be on-hand. So make this your #supportlocal one stop shop this holiday season.

This fun-filled night of local artisan holiday shopping will include selections from local small businesses such as:

  • Heather’s Heavenly Hues
  • LinJen Creations
  • The Little Fleece Shop
  • Jill Creates Handcrafted Nests and Keepsakes
  • Zukes Cave
  • Chef Karyn
  • Crafty-ish Creations
  • On LindleyHill
  • Lady Mae’s Boutique
  • Bushels Blessings
  • Usborne Books & More
  • Young Living
  • Blackhawk Winery
  • Avon
  • Pampered Chef
  • Rustic Roots Artistry
  • LVLY Creations
  • Tupperware
  • Primarily Pallets
  • Bales Photography
  • Legacy Images
  • Nook Puzzles
  • Berg Woodworking
  • Macy Art
  • Vantel Pearls
  • Thirty-One
  • Redeemed Treasures
  • and more!

“I love being able to provide a fun space for our annual holiday shopping open house and support local female entrepreneurs in our community. Supporting each other and shopping local is so important in our local communities,” said Dr. Erin Merrill Macy.

Keep an eye on our facebook event for more details as they are released and feel free to DM us if your company is interested in participating.

What’s the Hype with Infrared Saunas?

Saunas and other heat therapies have been a part of maintaining health in many cultures for thousands of years. But when people typically think of saunas, they envision a steam room of sorts that creates a hot, sweaty experience. While these types of saunas are still popular, we’d like to introduce you to the newer guy in town… the infrared sauna.

Unlike your traditional steam room experience, the infrared sauna emits infrared light that is absorbed by the surface of the skin, heating the body directly and causing a rise in core temperature rather than overheating the room. This results in a deep, relaxing and detoxifying sweat.

What are the Benefits of Infrared Saunas Combined with Chiropractic Care?

1) Detoxification – As chiropractic therapy works to improve full body wellness, sweating is the body’s safest and most natural way to release toxins.

2) Relaxation and General Wellbeing – We know that Chiropractic Therapy can Help with Stress, Anxiety and Depression. But, researchers from Nishi Kyusyu University in Japan found that the relaxing benefits of heat treatment, such as infrared sauna, could actually work better when combined with other holistic treatments such as chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic massages and mental health counseling.

3) Treating Chronic Health Conditions – Chiropractic care works to bring the body into alignment so it can operate at its peak. By coupling that care with infrared sauna therapy, one can add an additional layer of attack against conditions such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, headache, type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic.

4) Weight Loss – As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate, causing the body to burn more calories, while providing the mental clarity one gains from a mild workout.

5) Pain Relief – Infrared sauna therapy works by penetrating tissue, joints, and muscles to increase circulation and decrease inflammation. Therefore, pain management professionals often rely on infrared sauna therapy to relieve anything from minor aches and pains to muscle spasms and chronic pain conditions.

Aside from being one of the safest and most effective healing methods, the benefits of infrared therapy can be felt in as little as 15-20 minutes, with little to no side effects. To learn more, contact us today or ask at your next visit to see how your wellness plan can be improved with infrared sauna therapy.

Chiropratic Care for Stress

Rona is wreaking havoc on our emotional wellbeing. Whether it’s the debates on whose information is more correct, the fear for our loved ones, or the continuous lifestyle changes we’ve been thrust into. Hey, a lot of us are still not used to all the roundabouts! We get it. And we want you to know how chiropractic therapy can help with stress, anxiety and depression.

Chiropractic Therapy for Improving Mental Health

When the body is in distress, the mind follows.

By addressing imbalances within the nervous system, personalized and targeted chiropractic therapy can help bring the body back into alignment for whole body healing.

Beat the cycle.

The symptoms of stress include muscle tension, headaches, digestive distress, insomnia and more. Then in an ironic twist, these same symptoms can exacerbate feelings of stress, depression and anxiety. Chiropractic care can help alleviate the physical symptoms, giving your body AND mind a sense of relief.

Speak to the heart.

According to a study in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, patients found a reduction in pulse rates and a balancing of blood pressure after receiving chiropractic therapy.

A little self care goes a long way.

Coupled with a therapeutic massage or a relaxing session in the infrared sauna, chiropractic therapy can help with the release of positive hormones and promote better sleep.

Chiropractors can work within a multidisciplinary approach.

Similar to Medical Doctors (MDs,) chiropractors spend at least four years earning their Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree and a state license. This is often followed by extensive continuing education, learning about subjects like anatomy, physiology, nutrition and holistic health. This knowledge and training allows chiropractors to work with an individual’s team of doctors and therapists to craft a specialized approach for the best possible results.

Coping with stress, anxiety and depression is hard; and there are a lot of opinions on the best courses of actions. At Creekside Chiropractic, we believe every person responds differently and aim to work alongside our contemporary and alternative colleagues to give our patients the best possible outcome.

 

When you’re ready, contact us to learn how we can help in a minimally invasive and effective way.

COVID-19 Update Creekside Chiropractic

Dear Creekside Chiropractic Families:

Re: COVID-19 Information/Update 3.12.2020

Like many of you, Creekside Chiropractic is concerned about the occurrence of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) and continues to monitor the recommendations and protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our local health department.

As we respond to the ever-changing environment, it is the safety of our patients and staff that remains our highest priority. Additionally, we remain committed to providing you convenient and affordable chiropractic care.

As a precautionary measure, we have implemented increased hygiene routines, monitoring protocols and are following procedures outlined by healthcare organizations and leading authorities within the chiropractic profession.

We recommend patients follow guidelines issued by the CDC, and if you are feeling unwell, please take steps to safeguard others and remain at home. You can follow this link for additional information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

And remember … when your spine is aligned, your immunity is boosted. Make sure to keep your routine chiropractic care appointments.

Sincerely,

The Creekside Chiropractic Team

How chiropractic care can treat ear infections

Curious How Chiropractic Care Can Treat Ear Infections?

A tale as old as time, your baby or child is inconsolable, tugging at their ear, and the symptoms are so distinct that you know exactly what is wrong before you even step foot in the pediatrician’s office. The dreaded ear infection.

Gentle and Effective Way to Treat Ear Infections

Ear infections are a very common ailment throughout childhood, with 80% of children experiencing this condition at one point or another.  Some children are even susceptible to chronic ear infections, which, as you can imagine, can be hard on both parents and kids alike.  What if we told you that chiropractic care is a gentle and effective way to treat ear infections and can even keep them from recurring? Read more

Chiropractic Care for Heartburn

Recent reports have indicated that common heartburn medicines like Ranitidine (name brand Zantac) are being discontinued or outright banned in some countries due to possible carcinogens. While it’s been reported that the levels of this component (NDMA) are low, there is still cause for concern as a more in-depth investigation is underway.

If you’re one of the more than 60 million Americans who experience acid reflux at least once a month, you’re probably wondering what to do. At Creekside, we favor chiropractic care and other natural remedies for heartburn, which are less invasive approaches that have far fewer chances for side effects.

What is heartburn?

Other terms for this condition include acid reflux, sour stomach, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease. Common symptoms include that tell-tale burning feeling behind the breastbone, but can also include bloat, burping or flatulence, acidic taste in the mouth, regurgitation, and more.

How can chiropractic care help with heartburn?

Generally speaking, a chiropractor will work to help you achieve optimum health by freeing you of the dysfunction and restriction that prevents your body from performing optimally. We work to bring the whole body into alignment to promote general wellbeing

More specifically, chiropractic therapy can help with heartburn by:

  • Realigning your spine to take stress off the nerves and allow them to once again function properly.
  • Strengthening the spinal muscles through adjustments to relieve pressure from the stomach.
  • Correcting joint dysfunctions or restrictions that can help ensure proper function of the whole body.
  • Reducing hiatal hernias, which are a leading cause of indigestion.

What are some other natural remedies for heartburn?

To avoid possible adverse effects or interactions with other medications and supplements, we recommend talking to your doctor before starting any new supplements. But, we have found that patients can often experience relief from the following remedies combined a comprehensive approach to wellness, including regular adjustments and a sensible diet.

  • Consider taking digestive enzymes before each meal.
  • Add fermented foods or probiotics to your daily routine.
  • Aloe juice has many medicinal benefits, including improved digestive health. Try drinking a little every day. But note that it can have a laxative effect, so start slowly.
  • Drink a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to alleviate the symptoms of heartburn and improve the acid levels in your stomach.
  • Ginger works as an anti-inflammatory, but also tightens your lower esophageal sphincter, thus preventing acid from refluxing. Sip on a cup of ginger tea at least 20 minutes before eating.

Ready to get a handle on your digestive issues? Give us a call to schedule an appointment and learn more about how Creekside Chiropractic can help.

How can chiropractic help with allergies

Got the seasonal sniffles?  Did you know chiropractic care for allergies can help?

Most people tend to think of chiropractic care as being a manipulation of the physical body, and therefore they associate a trip with only physical injuries or pain.  They may not know, however, that a skilled chiropractor is able to treat and regulate the nervous and immune systems as well.  Chiropractic care improves the connection between the brain and spinal cord, which can help to regulate the body’s overall communication, including your body’s reaction to allergens by way of the immune system.  This can provide significant relief to those who suffer seasonal and dietary allergies.

You may be thinking, “A drug-free approach to allergy relief?  Isn’t that too good to be true?”

First of all, let’s look at the facts.  Americans spend more than $3 billion dollars on allergy treatment every year.  Between sick days, doctor visits, and medications, this industry is truly a beast.  Most alternative treatments are not touted because of the large price tag attached to most over the counter medications. Not only that, but most people don’t have an understanding of how the body actually creates an allergic response.

Here is the short story:

An allergic response is created when the immune system recognizes a foreign object (a molecule of pollen, a particle of food, etc.) as harmful and goes haywire.  What comes next is a cascade of inflammatory substances (namely cortisol and histamine) that cause the symptoms of allergies that we know all too well.  Stress can also cause a similar onslaught of inflammation, creating an even more intense reaction.  In fact, according to the Palmer College of Chiropractic, excessive psychological stress and allergic disorder have been linked together in clinical practice for centuries.

At Sheridan’s Creekside Chiropractic, Dr. Erin Merrill-Macy D.C., C.M.E. performs adjustments that can not only calm the nervous system, but also the immune system, because they are intimately linked.  The body can function at its best to decrease reactions to allergens when alignment of the spinal cord and surrounding structures are achieved.  Creekside also offers spa services, a sauna, K-Laser pain relief and more to get you feeling like your best self.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, call today for an appointment and see what springtime feels like with proper alignment and ease in the body!