Improving Spinal Health for Optimal Well-Being
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By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

Beyond your back: Five reasons to call your chiropractor

What comes to mind when thinking of chiropractic care? Back and neck pain? Whiplash? If so, you’re not alone. These are the top reasons for most patient visits. But, beyond your back, regular chiropractic care can also help improve your emotional and physical wellbeing. Below are five reasons to help determine if you should make that call:

  1. You suffer from chronic headaches and migraines
    If you’re struggling with regular headaches and migraines, consider calling your chiropractor. Most times, muscle tension in the neck and spine misalignment can cause this pain. A chiropractor helps alleviate your symptoms by enhancing blood flow and increasing the oxygen supply to the brain.
  2. You have Plantar Fasciitis
    Plantar fasciitis, a common and painful foot condition, responds very well to chiropractic care. A chiropractor can help you perform specific stretches, exercises, and movements that not only alleviate aches and pains, but can reduce inflammation, ultimately helping to treat the condition.
  3. You have insomnia or trouble sleeping
    Sleep issues is one of the biggest epidemics in America. Studies show that chiropractic manipulation can improve your sleeping patterns, reducing all the tossing and turning throughout the night. Also, regular chiropractic adjustments to your neck may decrease chances of ever developing sleep apnea.
  4. You are struggling to get pregnant
    Dealing with infertility? Consider calling your chiropractor for a safe and natural solution. Research shows that chiropractic care is a way for women to enhance the way their body functions and performs. Proper treatment and adjustment can help align the spin and clear excessive interference from the nervous system, which may help increase fertility.
  5. You have sinus congestion
    If you dread certain seasons due to sinus problems, don’t reach for the medicine. Instead, consider calling your chiropractor. Sinus pressure or related issues are often caused by inflammation in the sinus cavities. Proper chiropractic care can reduce inflammation and create a better immune response.

    So, is it time to make that call? If so, Dr. Anane of Spine Wellness Center in Clinton, MD can help you on your journey to wellness and pain relief.

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

After an Auto Accident, Timing is Everything

Life can change in an instant. One moment you’re driving down the road and the next thing you know, you’re in an auto accident. If this happens, do you know how soon you should contact a chiropractor?  Timing is everything when it comes to injuries. If not addressed soon enough, a split-second collision can lead to long-term injuries with lasting effects.

The Critical First 72 Hours
Seeing a chiropractor within 72 hours is critical to ensure there’s no damage. Even if you aren’t experiencing symptoms, proper chiropractic care can assess and identify injuries that may go unnoticed. This critical step helps ensure that there are no permanent consequences from your accident.

Types of Hidden Injuries
Auto accident injuries can be hidden, not revealing pain or limited mobility until months or years later. For example, the symptoms of whiplash – soreness, body aches, headaches, and dizziness – may not show up for several days and can last for weeks. Chiropractors can perform orthopedic and neurological tests to assess signs of injury, such as: soft tissue damage, structural damage, muscle strength, range of motion, joint and nerve function. 

Immediate Chiropractic Care is Key
In addition to diagnosing hidden injuries, there are other reasons why the timing of chiropractic treatment is important after an auto accident. 

  • Avoid additional damage: The longer you wait, the more damage or injury can be caused to the affected area 
  • Faster recovery: Seeing a chiropractor within 72 hours after an accident can greatly improve your chances of having a quick, easy recovery from any injuries
  • Legal documentation: In some auto accidents, victims pursue a personal injury case in court, which requires documentation of all injuries. Your chiropractor can provide the required medical documents in a timely manner
  • Insurance claims: Receiving care immediately after an auto accident can strengthen your insurance claim. If you wait too long to receive treatment, an insurance company may not cover injuries reported after a long delay

Dr. Anane of Spine Wellness Center in Clinton, MD helps assess and treat injuries caused from auto accidents. Visit us for a chiropractic evaluation.

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

The importance of Chiropractic Care in Sports

Chiropractic care is beneficial to those with an active lifestyle.  Whether you are a professional athlete or weekend warrior, regular visits to a licensed chiropractor can help maximize performance or prevent and treat injuries without reliance on drugs or surgeries.

Injuries are an unfortunate side effect of strenuous activity.  Non-existent warm-up routines, ineffective stretching and poor performance techniques can lead to pain that puts you on the sideline.  It is never a good idea to ignore this pain as it is your body’s way of indicating an injury has occurred.  If not treated properly or in a timely fashion, an injury can evolve into something more significant and even permanent.  Prescription drugs only dull the pain but do not address the injury and can be addictive, while surgery is invasive and has significant recovery times.  In many instances, chiropractic care at the onset of an injury can be effective in addressing the problem and preventing further damage.  The spine can be knocked out of alignment in common injuries, resulting in stress on joints, muscles, nerves and ligaments.  A chiropractor is trained in realigning the spine, which may alleviate this stress and the pain of these injuries with reduced recovery times.  Furthermore, having a properly aligned spine may even prevent injuries from occurring in the first place.  Proper spine alignment has also been linked to improvement in overall performance and can allow athletes to train more effectively.  Because of this, the use of chiropractic care has gained popularity among professional teams and athletic trainers.

Athletes and active individuals of all levels can benefit from chiropractic care.  If you are in the Clinton, MD area, make an appointment with Dr. Hayford Anane to help you stay off the sidelines and at peak performance.

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

Chiropractic Care for Senior Citizens

By 2030, nearly 20% of the US population will be 65 years or older. As the population ages, chiropractic care has gained popularity for complementary or alternative treatment with minimal side effects. Currently, an estimated 14% of patients being treated by chiropractors are in this age group.  Conditions being treated include pain in the neck, back and/or extremities.   

As we age, our bones and muscles weaken and routine activities such as lifting and carrying can cause pain and stiffness that limits movement and can affect routine tasks and even sleep. Enjoyable activities such as playing with grandchildren or gardening become more of a chore as pain and stiffness increases. Chiropractic care can address these issues and do much more. Common techniques used include spinal manipulation and/or mobilization, physical activity, fall prevention and nutrition counseling with the goal of increasing mobility, activity tolerance and quality of life.  In addition, chiropractic care can also help prevent future injuries.  This type of treatment has been proven safe and effective for elderly patients.

During the initial visit, a licensed chiropractor will take a full medical history including in history of injuries or pain and do a full examination that includes feeling for muscle tightness, tenderness and range of spinal motion of the neck, back and extremities. More extensive tests such as x-rays may also be needed. The chiropractor will then provide a course of treatment to address current issues, maintain overall health and prevention of illness and injury. Routine spinal alignments, massages and stretching, among other techniques, may be included in the treatment plan.  

Whether you are in the 65+ age group, or approaching it, chiropractic care can be a valuable part of maintaining your lifestyle and health. Dr. Hayford Anane is a licensed chiropractor who is experienced in treating elderly patients. If you are in the Clinton, MD area make an appointment with him to start your chiropractic care journey.     

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

Do Spine Wellness Center Patients Receive Individual Chiropractic Care?

Each patient is an individual and should be treated as such.  That is the expectation people have for their other health care providers and it should be the same for their chiropractors.  Here, at the Spine Wellness Center, Dr. Anane treats each patient based on their unique needs and no two adjustments are the same. The first visit starts with a physical evaluation along with an oral history of potential problem areas. This evaluation may include range of motion, joint movement and posture inspection.  If needed, more extensive tests such as neurological evaluations and even x-rays and MRIs may be included. Based on all observations and test results, Dr. Anane will then develop an individual plan of care. From there, each visit will build on the last with the goal of addressing each particular need. 

Chiropractic adjustments are used to treat a multitude of problems, including back and neck pain, headaches, sports injuries, and other issues involving muscles, joints, and ligaments. Therefore, the type of adjustment is based the location and type of discomfort the patient is experiencing, as well as the unique structure of their spine. Adjustments are also adapted to the patient’s age, height, weight and severity of injury. Chiropractors are trained in different techniques, sometimes using specially designed tables and instruments. Although adjustments may look the same, each patient of Dr. Anane can be confident that the care they receive is specifically tailored to fit them and only them. 

If you are experiencing health concerns that you feel can be addressed with chiropractic care, and you live in the Clinton, MD area, call the Spine Wellness Center to book an evaluation today.  

By Danielle Quarles Uncategorized

Spine Wellness Center Discusses Proper Child Backpacks

Does your child struggle to carry their backpack?  Do they bend forward to carry it or complain of tingling and numbness after putting it down?  It could be that the backpack is too heavy.  Most parents don’t list back pain as a top concern for their children, but the improper use of backpacks can cause back, neck and shoulder pain as well as bad posture.  If not properly addressed, these problems can continue through adulthood.  According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), a child should not carry more than 5% to 10% of their body weight in a backpack, although it is common for some children to carry up to 25% of their weight. And with more and more school districts eliminating lockers from campuses and forcing students to carry their belongings with them all day long, the result is an increasing number of children experiencing back pain.   

The ACA offers tips to prevent the development of pain and poor posture of repeated backpack use, starting with the use of ergonomically correct backpacks that hang no more than four inches below the waistline.  It should have padded, adjustable straps to help minimize shoulder discomfort and distribute weight evenly along the back.  Both straps should be worn and adjusted to fit your child’s body, and a backpack that has a waist strap is recommended for extra support. A backpack with Individualized compartments makes it easier to distribute the weight of items inside and sharp or bulky items should be placed away from the spine.  A bigger backpack is not always better, the size should be proportionate to the size of the child and if too much is being carried, talk to the teacher about leaving heavier books at school.  The ACA encourages the use of backpacks on wheels only by students who are not physically able to carry a backpack due to the increased clutter they cause in hallways, resulting in potentially dangerous trips and falls.    

Following the advice of the ACA will help prevent pain and injury to your child’s spine.  However, if your child is already experiencing neck, shoulder and/or back pain from improper backpack use, Dr. Anane of Spine Wellness Center can help.  Chiropractic care can alleviate discomfort and provide additional tips to help your child develop strong muscles and good posture.

Backpack Safety Tips – American Chiropractic Association

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

Herniated Disc Relief with Chiropractic Care

Have you ever felt a sharp pain in your spine that leaves you disoriented, breathing hard and finding it hard to move around? If so, then the possible cause could be a herniated, sometimes called a ruptured or slipped, disc. A herniated disc occurs when a rubbery cushion that sits between the individual bones of your spine, shifts from its initial position. Risk factors for this condition include age, occupation and/or genetics. It usually happens gradually over time and can be caused by a traumatic event such a fall. 

While some people never experience any symptoms from a herniated disc, others report pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness. If these symptoms are felt in the arms or shoulders, the herniated disc may be located in the neck; symptoms felt in the leg and/or foot may indicate a herniated disc in the back.  The most accurate way to diagnose this condition and its exact location is with a MRI scan. 

Having a herniated disc can be painful if the shift in your spine irritates nearby nerves, which can make moving around challenging. There are various ways to treat this pain, from over-the-counter medications, to conservative treatments, to surgery and injections. All of these methods may help ease the pain caused by the herniated disc; however, studies have suggested the benefits of chiropractic care as an alternative treatment.  While many people are skeptical that this form of treatment works, chiropractic care is a proven method to improve spinal health and provide relief for many conditions, including herniated discs. 

Are you or someone you know suffering with pain from a herniated disc? Do you work or live in Clinton, MD? If yes, you should give Dr. Hayford Anane a call. As one of the top chiropractors in Clinton, MD, Dr. Anane is happy to provide the relief and care you seek.

Spine Wellness Center Clinton NC migraine and headache relief
By Danielle Quarles Uncategorized

Headache Relief With Chiropractic Care

Are you constantly looking down at your cell phone, working on your laptop all day, or clinching your jaw at night or during the day? These repetitive activities, combined with poor posture and/or stress, can lead to the most common type of headache: tension headaches. The pain of a tension headache is caused by muscle contractions that typically start in the neck and shoulders, travel up towards the base of the neck and eventually wraps around the head. When your headache is accompanied by additional symptoms such as nausea and/or vomiting, sensitivity to light and/or sound, seeing spots or flashing lights, and temporary vision loss, you may be experiencing a migraine. The causes of migraine headaches vary, but include anxiety or hormonal changes, to name a few. The other common types of headaches include cluster headaches, characterized by pain on one side of the head and come in clusters, and sinus headaches that occur in the sinus cavities and are accompanied by symptoms of a sinus infection like fever, stuffy nose, facial pressure, cough and congestion.  

According to the Migraine Research Foundation, every 10 seconds, someone in the U.S. goes to the emergency room complaining of head pain, and approximately 1.2 million visits are for acute migraine attacks. According to the Center for Disease Control, women are twice as likely as men to report having serious headaches, and the percentage of those who report headaches decreases with age. With the climate of the COVID-19 pandemic we are currently experiencing, the stress and anxiety that can contribute to tension and migraine headaches are at an all-time high. 

The good news is, there are things you can do to lessen the severity and frequency of headaches. Of course, there are over the counter and prescription strength medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen, but long-term use of these medications can cause other health issues. Therefore, complementary treatment should be considered, including chiropractic care.  The spinal adjustments offered by chiropractors provide gentle, non-invasive and non-addictive therapy that can help manage and relieve the pain of tension and migraine headaches.  These adjustments are intended to align the spine and other joints in the body, which can lead to reduced inflammation, improved joint mobility and nervous system function, and relief from stress and anxiety. If you are experiencing frequent headaches, in addition to consulting your primary care physician, seek the advice of a chiropractic practitioner.  Dr. Anane of Spine Wellness Center in Clinton, MD you may be able to help provide relief in a safe and healthy manner. Give us a call!        

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness , ,

Visiting the Chiropractor While Pregnant

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through countless physical and hormonal changes that are needed to provide a healthy environment for a growing baby. The changes not only cause discomfort, such as pain and nausea, but in some cases, lead to protracted labors and difficult deliveries.  The good news is that regular visits to the chiropractor can bring relief to the discomfort of pregnancy and potential difficulties of the birthing process.   

There is no need to stop seeing a chiropractor once you become pregnant, in fact, if you are not getting regular adjustments from a licensed chiropractor, during pregnancy is a great time to start. A trained practitioner may use tables that adjust to a pregnant woman’s growing belly and techniques that avoid putting unneeded pressure on the abdomen, which will allow you to experience the benefits of spinal adjustments during all three trimesters.   

As your baby progresses and becomes heavier, your center of gravity shifts, leading to changes in your posture. These changes are attributed to the aches and pains commonly felt by expectant mothers. Adjustments by a chiropractor may help manage pain in your back, hips and joints by re-establishing balance and alignment to your pelvis and spine. This will not only help you feel better, but can have benefits for your baby as well. When your pelvis is balanced and aligned, your baby will have less intrauterine constraint and make it easier for him or her to move into the best position for birth, which is rear-facing with head down. This may lead to a faster, easier labor and delivery.

Another benefit a chiropractor can provide is to help alleviate nausea, one of the most common pregnancy symptoms, especially in the first trimester. A spinal alignment can improve nervous system functions, leading to a healthier hormone balance that can lessen or eliminate nausea. If your nausea is being caused by heartburn and indigestion, a chiropractor can use techniques to help improve digestive issues. Not only may your nausea lessen, but improved nervous and digestive systems will lead to an overall healthier pregnancy. 

It is always recommended that you consult with your doctor before receiving chiropractic treatment. If you are experiencing placenta previa or placenta abruption, an ectopic pregnancy, or have moderate to severe toxemia, chiropractic treatment is not typically recommended.  While all chiropractors are trained on how to treat pregnant woman, there are some who specialize in the practice. Ask your practitioner for more details.   

At Spine Wellness Center, we strive to provide the highest level of chiropractic and care for the entire family. If you’re interested in a prenatal or postnatal chiropractic exam or want to learn more about our Clinton, MD practice, now is the perfect time to give us a call and learn more about the pros and cons of chiropractic services while pregnant.

By Danielle Quarles spine wellness

Her Fight Is Our Fight – Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is the perfect month to share my story to promote the value of screening mammography.
 
During my routine screening mammography in May 2015, the radiologist noticed changes in my left breast when compared to my previous images; some calcifications, which were not visible on prior mammograms. I was asked to return to the radiology center for a diagnostic mammogram to get a better view of the changes. The changes were not significant enough to warrant further testing at the time but the radiologist designated me for short term surveillance which meant I should return in 6 months for a diagnostic mammogram instead of waiting 1 year for my next routine screening.
 
When I received a diagnostic mammogram in November 2015, the calcifications were larger and the formation of the cells were more suspicious. I was scheduled for a biopsy to determine the nature of these calcifications, since certain breast cancers begin as calcifications. I had a biopsy in mid-December 2015. Three days before Christmas 2015, I received a call from the radiologist advising that I was diagnosed with DCIS – ductal carcinoma in situ. The calcifications were malignant. It is important to be aware that I did not have a tumor; no lumps were detected during self-breast exam nor physical breast exam by my physician.
 
My cancer was found extremely early because of a routine screening mammogram. Because my cancer was found early, I had time to undergo genetic testing to determine the best course of treatment, just not for now but for the future. I have a strong family history of breast cancer: my mother survived breast cancer twice and both of her sisters (my aunts) survived breast cancer. Fortunately, I did not inherit the breast cancer gene. In consultation with my doctor, I was able to make an informed decision about my treatment, based on science, not fear. My treatment consisted of a lumpectomy in February 2016 to remove the cancerous tissue and accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), a 5 day – 2x per day course of internal radiation targeted to the specific area of where the cancerous cells were removed to destroy any residual cancerous cells that may still be present, but undetectable.
 
Thus far, treatment has been successful. There has not been any indication of malignancy on any of my mammograms since December 2015. Early detection through a routine mammogram saved my life and spared me from having invasive, challenging, life-altering treatments. I strongly encourage women to prioritize preventive care by getting their mammograms as recommended by their personal physician. Don’t just save the ta-tas; save your life. If you face cancer, stay faithful and hopeful.
 
~Lauren Bennett