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This week, I wanted to focus on pain that could have occurred during winter. Unfortunately, there are a lot of different ways that winter can be harmful, despite the beauty that many associate with this season. Here are some pain relieving tips that you can use to combat the wintertime blues and welcome in the spring.

1. Stretching. Yes, I am still suggesting stretching. I will never stop suggesting stretching. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles and helps to create a better range of motion for you. This means you are less likely to fall, more likely to stay warm and alert, and you will be more flexible. There is literally no downside to stretching that I have ever experienced as long as you respect your own limits.

2. Dress Appropriately. If it is cold out, please do your best to stay warm. Use layers and make sure that you don’t go outside without gloves, hats, scarves, or the like on. Even if you are female and like to wear dresses (or need to for some reason), you can either wear leggings with some kind of insulation underneath or change when you get to your destination.

3. Stay Hydrated. Because it is cold out, many of us forget to keep drinking as much as we would during the hot days of summer. However, you still need to stay hydrated to keep your muscles from cramping and to keep your body running how it should.

4. Take A Warm Bath. If you don’t like or can’t take a bath, a shower will work as well. Letting warm water soothe your muscles can help relieve pain and loosen up any knots or muscle cramps that you may be experiencing. If you’re feeling a little stressed, you may want to look into aromatherapy as well, as many scents can help to relax you even while you’re bathing.

5. Take Vitamin D. In the winter, we are less likely to get the appropriate amount of vitamin D from the sun, so talk to your doctor and see if a supplement is the right choice for you.

Winter can be a brutal time when it comes to pain and our mental health. Always speak to your family doctor about any concerns you may have. You are always welcome at DiBella Chiropractic as well, so come on in and see how much an adjustment can help!

Being in a car accident is something that none of us ever want to experience. Unfortunately, it is believed that the average driver will be in at least three accidents during their driving lifetime. While most of these accidents will be small so called “fender benders”, sometimes the crash can leave lasting damage. While it is scary to think about, these lasting problems can change your life. Some of the possibilities are explained below, because it never hurts to be prepared for what the future may hold.

Head injuries are unfortunately common in the result of a car accident. These can range anywhere from a minor headache to severe swelling of the brain which can lead to coma or death. Very often, the jarring or jerking sensation that is felt from the impact will cause the driver’s head (along with the heads of any passengers) to quickly move forward and back again. This can cause anyone involved to strike their heads on the steering wheel, the dashboard, and the head rest. This can lead to concussions, and in more severe cases, vision or hearing loss and more extreme medical conditions.

Neck injuries are also rather common when a person is in a car crash. These happen for many of the same reasons that head injuries do. The sudden and harsh motion of quickly having your neck thrust forward and then back into its natural position can cause the most common injury after a car accident. This is known as whiplash. This can cause muscular damage as well as tendon and ligament swelling. Naturally, the extent of the severity of whiplash depends on both the intensity of the crash and the health of the person involved before the accident. General pain and swelling around the neck is also common after a car crash. It has been reported that vocal cord paralysis can occur as well, however some doctors believe that this can be a psychosomatic, or psychogenic, response to the physical trauma.

While a chiropractor cannot help all of these issues, people have reported that seeking chiropractic help after a car crash can help significantly with the pain. If you have recently been in an accident and are cleared to do so by your main doctor, come into DiBella Chiropractic and see just how much we can help you recover.

One of the biggest reasons we all hear, or give as the case may be, for not exercising or eating healthy is a lack of time. We all lead such busy lives and hardly seem to have a minute to ourselves between work, home, and whatever else may be needed of us. If you have a full time job, you understand how difficult it may be to get in some daily exercise. Here are some quick tips you may be able to use to help yourself stay healthy at work.

1. Smoke Breaks. We all know that smoking is bad for us. Unfortunately, it is an addiction and so simply quitting isn’t as much of an option as some think it is. If you are trying to quit, there are numbers you can call or programs you can work with to help you along. We highly recommend you trying to quit. Now what do you do with your smoke break time? Instead of having a cigarette, try standing outside and simply breathing the fresh air. Perhaps take a walk around the block if possible and safe. If you are already working to quit or have quit, good for you! We are proud of your hard work!

2. Stretch. Even if you sit at a desk all day, there are some things you can do to help keep yourself in shape. Leg exercises such as raising and holding them for a certain amount of time can help. If you are on the phone often, you can stand and do certain exercises as well. This may include standing on your toes for a short time and lowering back to your heels again. Find a couple of stretches that work for you and your location while you are working.

3. Workplace Wellness Groups. Some of us don’t really want to have groups of people all working out together, and that’s fine. Just because you have a group at work doesn’t mean you have to work together. Perhaps have small contests throughout the month either in a group or just individuals as to who works out the most. For example, most of us have pedometers on our phones, or can easily get them. Maybe offer a free lunch for whoever walks the most in a month.

There are hundreds of ways to keep yourself healthy at work. These are only a few. Find what works best for your work environment and stick to it. Come on in and tell us here at Dibella Chiropractic what you find most effective.

Now that we are in a new year, many of us have taken to hitting the gym. New year, new me, right? Quite a few of the members of my family have done so and boy am I hearing about it on Facebook! Now don’t get me wrong, I love seeing that so many of my loved ones are attempting to get healthier. I think it’s wonderful and wish I could join them. However, I am also seeing with every post they make how much they’re hurting from their new exercise regimens. Believe me, that I do not envy them.

If you are finding yourself in quite a bit of pain due to gym activity, remember rice. Now while rice may be yummy, I don’t mean to eat. As an acronym, it is a quick way to remember how to help minor aches and pains, such as those you may feel from pushing yourself a little too hard on that bench press. It also works very well in an old (clean!) sock if you put uncooked rice in the microwave to make a hot pack. The acronym is as follows:

R Rest. You need to let your body recuperate before plunging back into working out. This is why many people have “leg day” and “arm day”. It’s a chance to let other body parts rest.

I Ice. Any swelling that you may have should be iced to bring down the inflammation.

C Compress. If there is a great deal of swelling or pain, you may want to use an ace bandage or a brace to bring down the inflammation.

E Elevate. If there is a certain part of the body that hurts and is swollen, by elevating the area you can reduce the amount of blood flow and therefore bring down the swelling. It’s good to do this while you watch an episode of your favorite show on Netflix as a reward for working so hard.

The other wonderful thing you can do to help relieve your pain is come on into DiBella Chiropractic! We specialize in pain relief with no needles or pills. We use good, old-fashioned joint cracking to help release those air pockets that might be causing you discomfort. We can also help to get you on a good exercise program and the right food. We love to help, so come in and let us do what we do best!