Chiropractic Health & Wellness Blog

Sleeping is very important since you should be sleeping at least eight hours a night.  Sleeping on a soft bed or couch can strain your neck and back muscles during the 8 hours you should be sleeping. Your spine is not adequately supported. Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended since it can cause additional strain on your neck and back. Make sure you have a mid to firm mattress that keeps the spine supported and helps maintain your spinal curvatures. 

 The best sleeping positions are on your back or side.  A pillow can be placed under the knees when lying on your back to take pressure off of the lower back. A good pillow that supports the curve of your neck is almost if not more important, if you sleeping on your side make sure the pillow is keeping your neck supported.

We get patients coming with neck pain and Quick read more or view full article back pain after sleeping, one of the first few questions we ask is what type of mattress they sleep on and what about the pillow.  It’s amazing how many people tells us they know they need a new bed or pillow but after we get them out of pain and correct the spine we try to help them decide what is a good supportive bed for them and what type of pillow will work best for everyone.  Regards to pillows, start slow - we don’t think you need to go out a buy an expensive pillow with all the bells and whistles, but a pillow you feel is right for you. 

We would be glad to have you come and we can help you figure out what type of bed or pillow you might or should have. Remeber regular chiropractic care is always very important to take care of your spine.

Remember To Lyn Lake Chiropractic Regularly-Especially if you are ill, under a lot of stress, pregnant or in an accident or trauma. Remember, it is much easier to prevent having an injury or a problem than it is to correct or fix the issue.

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Here at Lyn Lake Chiropractic, a good portion of our Minneapolis chiropractic patients are 65-years-old or older. Additionally, that number is expected to grow quite a bit over the next few years. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging reports that this portion of the population will almost double by the year 2040, increasing from 14.1 percent to 21.7 percent. 

Whether you’re in this age bracket now or soon will be, chiropractic care can help you grow older with less pain and, ultimately, more grace. How?

Chiropractic for Back Pain Among the Elderly
As one report published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies points out, “the most common reason for an older adult to see a DC is musculoskeletal pain, most often lower back pain.” Fortunately, chiropractic is an effective option for this problem which is all too prevalent in aging individuals. 

For instance, a case study involving an 83-year-old Quick read more or view full article man found that after just eight chiropractic treatments, his spasms and tenderness was gone, his pain dropped from a 10 out of 10 to a 4 out of 10 on a pain scale, and he was able to better care of his disabled wife. Additionally, he still reported enjoying these same benefits four months after the study concluded.

A Lower Risk of Falling
Another issue that some seniors struggle with is dizziness. Unfortunately, this contributes greatly to the high number of falls reported by members in this age range, a problem which the Vestibular Disorders Association states applies to somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of our nation’s elderly. 

Chiropractic can oftentimes help as, in one case, researchers studied 14 people aged 65 and older, assessing the results of eight weeks of chiropractic care (which consisted of two visits per week) on the participants’ dizziness. One-half of the individuals who had this problem prior to the chiropractic sessions reported that this issue resolved completely by the end of the study. Some participants also reported experiencing better balance, another factor that is partially responsible for this group falling.

Although there are more benefits of chiropractic, these are the main two which affect people 65 and older. Therefore, if you fall into this age range and live in the Minneapolis  55408 area, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic and schedule an appointment today. We’re here to help you age as gracefully as we can! 612-879-8000 Minneapolis Chiropractor. Read Less

Chiropractic Great for Expectant Mothers

 

Pregnancy is definitely a memorable time in a woman’s life. When you’re getting ready to welcome your precious little one into the world, feeling his or her tiny body growing inside of you, it can bring about excitement about the new life that is about to come. One way to make it even better is to come into our Minneapolis chiropractic office for regular spinal manipulations.

Research Confirms Chiropractic Benefits During Labor and Delivery

Various research studies have found that chiropractic care offers a lot of benefits for expectant mothers. Perhaps the most common one is relief from back pain often caused by the structural shifts in your body during pregnancy. In fact, approximately three-quarters of the expectant mothers who engage in chiropractic care during their pregnancy report experiencing relief after just a few treatment sessions.

Not only is this important for Quick read more or view full article a more pleasurable pregnancy, but relieving back pain is critical when you’re in labor as well. How? Women who have back pain during their pregnancy are three times more likely to have back labor, which refers to the intense back pain that some feel when giving birth. Thus, avoiding the pain while you’re carrying your child increases the likelihood that you will avoid it when delivering too.

Chiropractic Deemed Safe During Pregnancy

Of course, one of the top questions that a lot of pregnant women have when it comes to receiving chiropractic care, or any type of care for that matter, while expecting is whether or not it is safe. After all, it needs to be harmless for mother and baby alike. The good news is that it is.

Even the American Pregnancy Association endorses chiropractic for expectant mothers to help deal with common pregnancy issues such as increased back curvature, changes to the structure of the pelvis and posture, and sometimes nausea. Plus, since spinal manipulations open up the nerves to let the brain communicate effectively with the rest of the body, it allows all of your systems to function maximally, which means a healthier pregnancy and birth.

If you’re currently pregnant and want to make this time in your life as healthful and pain-free as possible, call Lyn Lake Chiropractic in Minneapolis and schedule a visit. Both you and your baby are our priorities!

 

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Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they come to a chiropractic clinic for the first time, second only to lower back pain. Neck pain affects all of us at some point in life.

Some patients come in and tell us they just woke up with neck pain. If you wake up with neck pain with very limited range of motion, this may be due to torticollis, or Wry Neck. Feels like muscle spasms in your neck. Torticollis (I just woke up with neck pain.) can be caused by exposure to a draft, changes in weather, trauma, stress, hard work out or after a cold or flu. When in doubt, seek chiropractic care to speed up your healing and get rid of the neck pain. 

Chiropractic care can help reduce the pain quickly, it's better than just thinking I'll just wait for a Quick read more or view full article couple of days, the sooner you get in the faster you'll heal. Why not is my thought, if you're in pain why not try chiropractic.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Lyn Lake Chiropractic and just speak to one of our chiropractors or make an appointment and see if we can help.

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We've had a many new patients calling asking if Lyn lake Chiropractic can treat and adjust pregnant mothers that are having low back pain and hip pain. I thought this would be a good blog topic.

Being a Chiropractor and father of 3 healthy young girls and all three girls births were awesome, no problems. My wife is a R.N. with Minneapolis Childrens Hospital and with her medical background we had a few issues at first. The medical model vs. chiropractic approach. Our children are now 6 yrs old, 9 yrs old and 10 yrs old and all very healthy. The issue we had was Ketrah my wife had the worst morning sickness from day one when she was pregnant to the great day of giving birth. She had symptoms of feeling sick all the time, bad headaches, low back pain and her hips were always sore. Quick read more or view full article We are avid runners meaning we would run everyday if she felt she could.

We had questions.
Is it okay to keep running during her pregnancy?
Should she get Adjusted during pregnancy?
What to do with low back pain while being pregnant?
Can getting adjusted help her from feeling so sick all the time?

The answers are yes you can run if your able to, yes you can get adjusted and, yes getting adjusted can help with that bad morning sickness of feeling weak and sick all day.

While she was pregant with the first child her O.B. Doctor was concerned with Ketrah's small frame and being 5'5" she could have issues with giving birth, they discussed a C-Section. We decided to try keeping her hips, sacrum and low back pain free and subluxation free as much as possible. Subluxation free means - Keeping all her joints, vertabrae in top notch biomechanically moving ( Not stuck ). We decided to start adjusting her until she was in her 3rd month esp. with her low back - just to be safe. As she gained weight and with the changing of her body she started to have increased low back pain and hip pain daily. With some light easy muscle work (massage) and light adjustments we had 3 perfect natural births with no issues to the mother or child. 

The answer to:  Can we at Lyn Lake Chiropractic adjust and treat pregnant women? I'd have to say I can say yes with my own personal experience as a father of 3 little girls I can tell you how important it is to give yourself the chance to have less pain if it only takes some light adjustments.

Please call us at Lyn Lake Chiropractic at 612-879-8000 for a free consult anytime or if you have more questions.

Expectant mothers will develop lower back pain some time during their pregnancy. With the average weight gain of 25 to 30lbs, you will find your center of gravity shifting and causing additional stress on your lower back. Many women have found relief to their lower back pain and have had easier deliveries by receiving chiropractic care throughout their pregnancy. Scientific studies have found that spinal manipulation carries no increased risk to the mother or baby. Chiropractic care is also helpful after delivery as your body starts to tighten up those loose ligaments that developed during your pregnancy. It is important to make sure your joints are aligned before your muscles return back to their pre-pregnancy state. Call your local chiropractor and when your looking for a chiropractor that adjust preganant mothers, make sure they have children of their own!  Practice does make you good at what you do! Read Less

 A new study reveals that sitting in a chair can actually increase a person's risk of dying.  While previous studies have linked sedentary behavior with chronic diseases such as heat disease, breast and colon cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, and anxiety/depression, researchers from the American Cancer society recently focused on the activity of sitting.  They found that, over a 14-year period, women who sat six (or more) hours per day had a 37% increased risk of dying compared with women who sat three hours or less.  One explanation is that prolonged sitting relaxes the largest muscles, and muscle contraction is needed to increase glucose uptake and stimulate the release of an enzyme (lipoprotein lipase) that metabolizes triglycerides and manufactures HDL (good cholesterol.)

If you have any questions, please call us anytime- Lyn Lake Chiropractic at 612-879-8000

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 It is often pointed out that up to 80% of adults experience back pain during the course of their lives. While this statistic may cause many to think that the problem is largely age-related, the fact is that children suffer from low back pain as well. According to epidemiological studies, about one-third of children and adolescents experience low back pain at some point in their young lives. However, a recent study involving nearly 3,000 patients reveals that, in the case of three-quarters of adolescents with mechanical low back pain, the source is non-specific and self-resolving. This finding argues for a minimalist approach, which chiropractic care can provide. Even in 7% of cases involving spondylosis (spinal osteoarthritis), the conservative approach is preferred.

Come experience precise, safe, gentle, and effective relief form the pain and discomfort of lower back. Call our Lyn Lake Chiropractic,
612-879-8000. Most insurance accepted. Our mission Quick read more or view full article is to improve the quality of you an your family's health an well-being. The answers you need. The care you deserve.

P.S. When back pain experienced by children is sports-related, the chiropractor can check the youngster's bio-mechanics in hopes of isolating the cause and determining effective treatment.

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 A new study reveals that sitting in a chair can actually increase a person's risk of dying.  While previous studies have linked sedentary behavior with chronic diseases such as heat disease, breast and colon cancers, diabetes, osteoporosis, and anxiety/depression, researchers from the American Cancer society recently focused on the activity of sitting.  They found that, over a 14-year period, women who sat six (or more) hours per day had a 37% increased risk of dying compared with women who sat three hours or less.  One explanation is that prolonged sitting relaxes the largest muscles, and muscle contraction is needed to increase glucose uptake and stimulate the release of an enzyme (lipoprotein lipase) that metabolizes triglycerides and manufactures HDL (good cholesterol.)

If you have any questions, please call us anytime- Lyn Lake Chiropractic at 612-879-8000

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Try LynLake Chiropractic!!!

by PeaceLily03 at Citysearch      10/21/2011

I highly recommend Lyn Lake Chiropractic. I got into an automobile accident in late August. The aftermath of the accident left me with neck pain, lower back pain, and knee pain -  injuries. I have been receiving phenomenal care from the Team at Lyn Lake Chiropractic. They are highly skilled, knowledgeable about the latest in treatment options, and genuinely care about each individuals recovery. It is an upbeat environment. From the moment I called to book an appointment I was impressed with the sincere and friendly service on the other end of the line. Also, after my initial visit I received a hand written thank you card, which really impressed me. Lyn Lake Chiropractic goes the extra mile to making you feel special! Dr. Kevin Schreifels is very personable and has a lot of energy himself. Like I said, it's positive Quick read more or view full article environment, with a lot of positive energy flowing...and that goes to say for the positive healing, too! Try Lyn Lake Chiropractic and I guarantee you will notice the difference!


 

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My Back Hurt?!?

 

Did you know that back pain will affect 80-90% of every single one of us in our lifetime? That is a staggering number if you think about it. Why is this? There happened to be many reasons. One is the simple fact that we carry two thirds of our weight above her waist. Many studies have shown that degeneration or arthritis can occur much sooner in two legged mammals versus four-legged mammals. A man who weighs 180 pounds carries roughly 120 pounds above his belt line.

 

 

So, every time he bends over, and then straightens up, he lifts 120 pounds plus whatever it is he is lifting. This is the reason why most back injuries occur by simply bending over to pick up a pencil. It doesn’t seem possible that a pencil could injure your back or cause low back pain, but Quick read more or view full article in reality it’s a pencil +120 pounds.

 

 

 

Next lets do a little physics. If you are to take a 5 pound weight and stretches out in front of your body with your arms the force of that 5 pounds is now equal to 50 pounds. Now let’s assume that you are picking up that 5 pound weight up off the ground. Now that 5 pounds is equal to lifting 170 pounds in the example used before. If you add a bend in a twist in the waist your complicating the problem tenfold. That’s actually quite amazing that we don’t injure our backs more and have more lower back pain. The mother lifting the bag groceries out of the trunk while holding her child is a recipe for disaster for having lower back pain or even upper back pain.

 

 

 

As if these two factors worked enough the majority of you reading this live and work in Minneapolis and have jobs we sit for long periods of time at a computer or a desk. Being in the seated position leaves the low back in a very vulnerable position creating even more problems when you become active. Sitting puts the back in a flexed position, or a slouch position, and is one of the worst possible postures we can put our bodies into, and we do it for hours upon hours.

 

 

 

In order to further appreciate why the low back is so vulnerable to injury, some basic understanding of anatomy is needed. When a human being is born the spine is made up of 33 individual bones. At the age of 18 five of those bones fuse to make up bone called the sacrum, which becomes the base of the spine and 4 of them for fuse to make up the coccyx, or the tailbone. This leaves five lumbar, or low back, 12 thoracic, or mid back, and seven cervical, or neck vertebrae. These are stacked up on top of each other like building blocks and are connected to each other by a shock absorbing disk in the front and two smaller facet joints in the back, acting like a tripod.

 

 

 

If we look at what normal should be the low back should carry roughly 80% of our weight in the front and 20% in the back. If our abdominal muscles are a bit out of shape and the pelvis rotates forwards, the curve in the low back increases and overloads the back of the vertebra (facets) making them vulnerable to injury. The shock absorbing pads called disks become injured when we do combinations of bending, lifting, and twisting. This can tear the outer tough fibers of the disk, allowing the central more liquid-like material to leak out. If this happens, the leaking or “herniated” disk can put pressure on the nerve that exits the spine and travels down our leg.

 

 

 

Now that we’ve given you an anatomy lesson let’s talk about some of the things that you can do to reduce the chances of entering your low back. Probably the most important thing that you can do to protect your low back is to keep yourself in shape. There are certain muscles that must maintain their strength to keep the low back and it proper position. The muscles not only need to be strong but they also need to be flexible, and therefore stretching is very important.

 

 

 

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services. If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

 

Are you searching for chiropractic care for your spine? Call Lyn Lake Chiropractic today at 612-879-8000 to set up an appointment.

 

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Snow Shoveling Is Leading Cause Of Their Winter Back Pain

A majority of physicians say that back pain is a year-round phenomenon. However, nearly half (45 percent) of primary care physicians, who report seeing more back pain sufferers during winter than any other time of the year, say patients cite snow shoveling as the primary cause of their winter back woes.

One quarter (27 percent) of primary care physicians note that patients frequently point to lifting, bending/leaning or twisting - activities generally associated with snow shoveling - as the causes of their back pain or muscle spasm.

Shoveling snow need not result in back pain and sore muscles, according to Lyn Lake Chiropractic Minneapolis Chiropractors.

Many people will likely be out shoveling in the next few days, if the forecast for heavy snow today and Saturday is correct. Even people with snow blowers might need to shovel some areas if more than Quick read more or view full article a foot of snowfalls.

"The first thing is to get the right shovel," said Dr. Kevin Schreifels, a chiropractor with Lyn Lake Chiropractic Clinic. Most hardware stores and home improvement stores sell ergonomically correct snow shovels.

"The equipment that you use is just as important as your body," he said. The old metal shovels are stiff, heavy and uncomfortable.

He recommended that the shovel have a handle that can extend to different lengths, to accommodate people of different sizes. Most new shovels are made of lightweight plastic that curves to hold the snow.

For the actual shoveling, Lyn Lake Chiropractic recommends pacing. "Take frequent breaks, and drink plenty of water to hydrate."

Eating and smoking before shoveling is not wise. Caffeine or other stimulants can also endanger the heart, when combined with strenuous shoveling. Lyn Lake Chiropractic suggests waiting until after you shovel to drink any caffeinated beverage.

They recommend holding the shovel in both hands with some distance between the hands to get leverage. When shoveling, maintain a good posture, allowing for the natural curve of the spine. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart.

"Shovel close to the body, bend at the knees and lift with your legs," Schreifels said. He also recommended tightening the abdominal muscles to engage the body's strong core, which will keep the weight of the snow off the weaker back muscles.

"Dump the snow in front of you," he said. "Don't twist. Move your feet if you have to move the snow to the side. Scoop small amounts."

Keep up with the snow, he said. Don't wait until the snowfall has ended to start shoveling. "It's better to get out there as it comes," he said. Fresh snow is lighter.

Even people with snow blowers can be injured. "They push it too hard," he said. "They try to push it to go faster." They end up with acute low back pain.

After a big snowfall, he said, patients often come into their office with back and shoulder injuries.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, “If you must lift the snow, lift it properly. Squat with your legs apart, knees bent and back straight. Lift with your legs. Do not bend at the waist. Scoop small amounts of snow into the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine. Never remove deep snow all at once; do it piecemeal. Shovel and inch or two; then take another inch off. Rest and repeat if necessary.”

Lyn Lake Chiropractic wants you to be safe this winter and take your time shoveling since Minneapolis has been getting a great deal of snow so far this year. The last 17 inch snow fall Lyn Lake Chiropractic seen many lower back pain injuries from snow removal and would just like to remind you to take your time. If you have any chest pain, please stop immediately and call 911, better safe than sorry!

If you want to learn more healthy living tips, you can visit the Lyn Lake Chiropractic Website at www.lynlakechiropractic.com

Comment: James W. - December 11th, 2010

Great information! My dad injured his lower back shoveling snow about 15 years ago. He tried pain pills for a month (marginal improvement) before going to see the Chiropractor. After just a few adjustments, his low back pain went away completely! He now uses Chiropractic on a regular basis to prevent future injuries! Read Less

Back Pain-Lower – Can we help!

Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor's office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. In fact, it is estimated that low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year and more than 10% of all people experience frequent bouts of low back pain.

The susceptibility of the low back to injury and pain is due to the fact that the low back, like the neck, is a very unstable part of the spine. Unlike the thoracic spine, which is supported and stabilized by the rib cage. This instability allows us to have a great deal of mobility to touch our toes, tie our shoes or pick something up from the ground, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.

As long as it Quick read more or view full article is healthy and functioning correctly, the low back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. Professional power-lifters can pick up several hundred pounds off the floor without injuring their low back. However, if the low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as taking a bag of groceries out of the trunk of their car, picking something up off the floor, or even simply bending down to pet the cat can cause a low back injury.

Until recently, researchers believed that back pain would heal on its own. We have learned, however, that this is not true. Recent studies showed that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily, but will most likely return. It is important to take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with pain that recurs over and over again. Contact our chiropractor at Lyn Lake Chiropractic... we can help!

The Causes of Low Back Pain -
There are many different conditions that can result in low back pain, including: sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured disks, trigger points and inflamed joints. While sports injuries or accidents can lead to injury and pain, sometimes even the simplest movements, like picking up a pencil from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, conditions such as arthritis, poor posture, obesity, psychological stress and even kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss can lead to pain.

Due to the fact that there are a whole lot of things that can cause low back pain, and some of those things can be quite serious if left untreated, it is important to seek professional help. Chiropractors and Medical Doctors are the experts at diagnosing the cause and determining the proper treatment for low back pain. Here are some of the most common causes:

Subluxations -
Whenever there is a disruption in the normal movement or position of the vertebrae, the result is pain and inflammation. In the lumbar spine, these usually occur at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum. Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain. Fortunately, subluxations are easily treatable and often times a significant reduction in pain is experienced almost immediately after treatment.

Disc Herniations -
Contrary to popular belief, a herniated disc does not automatically mean that you are going to suffer from low back pain. In fact, one study found that almost half of all adults had at least one bulging or herniated disc, even though they did not suffer any back pain from it. On the other hand, herniated discs can be a source of intense and debilitating pain that frequently radiates to other areas of the body. Unfortunately, once a disc herniates, they rarely, if ever, completely heal. Further deterioration can often be avoided through regular chiropractic care, but a complete recovery is much less common.

Sprains, Strains and Spasms -
This is commonly the source of low back pain among the weekend warriors. You know, the type who have very little physical activity during the week, but once the weekend arrives, they push themselves way too much. By the end of the weekend, they are lying flat on their back counting down the hours before they can get in to see their chiropractor. Overworking the muscles or ligaments of the low back can lead to small tears in the tissues, which then become painful, swollen and tight.

Stress -
Whenever you become stressed, your body responds by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate, flooding your body with stress hormones and tightening up your muscles. When you are stressed all the time, the chronic tension causes your muscles to become sore, weak and loaded with trigger points. If you are stressed out all of the time and you have low back pain, it is important to do some relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, as well as to get regular exercise.

Treating Low Back Pain With Chiropractic -
Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is usually pretty straightforward. Most commonly, it's simply a matter of adjusting the lower lumbar vertebrae and pelvis to re-establish normal motion and position of your bones and joints.

Chiropractic for the low back has been repeatedly shown to be the most effective treatment for low back pain. In fact, major studies have shown that chiropractic care is more effective, cheaper and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment.

This makes sense because chiropractic care is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine. All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.

If we can help, please call Lyn Lake Chiropractic to see one of our Minneapolis Chiropractors. Please call 612-879-8000 Read Less