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While they are less common a sight as the weather gets colder, motorcycles are still on the road. It is important to remember that you should always keep an eye out on the road for people on bikes. After all, they don’t have quite as much protection against a collision as those of us in cars do. While there are pros and cons to riding a motorcycle, you should always make an informed decision about whether or not you want to ride. Getting on a bike is just as much of a responsibility as getting into a car is, so let’s talk about riding.

You probably know that to ride a motorcycle, you need a special license to operate a motorcycle in the state of North Carolina. To get the learners permit, you must have a full provisional, regular, or commercial driver license. You must also first pass a motorcycle knowledge test, a road sign identification test, and a vision test. If you are 16-18, you must also have parental permission and pass a motorcycle safety course. To get an endorsement to ride you must pass a motorcycle knowledge test and an off-street motorcycle skills test. These extra requirements are because it is a very different experience between driving a car and riding a motorcycle.

While it takes extra testing to ride a motorcycle, driving with bikes on the road only takes a regular license. While it is important for the person operating the motorcycle to know how to do so safely, it is also important that the other drivers on the road keep their eyes open and actively pay attention to who they are sharing the road with. This is especially true if the driving conditions are less than ideal, such as nighttime or in inclement weather.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident, whether you were on the bike or in another kind of vehicle, calling DiBella Chiropractic should always be at the top of your To-Do list. We can help you get back to how you felt before the crash without invasive procedures or the use of medications. Our methods are time tested and proven and with years of experience, you can rest assured that you are in good hands when you walk through our doors. Come in and see how much we can help you no matter how bad your motorcycle accident was.

Scoliosis is one of the most common spine disorders with more than three million cases in the United States alone each year according to the Mayo Clinic. It is believed that at any given point, around three percent of adolescents have a form of scoliosis. However, just because it is common doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. Scoliosis is something that you should always watch out for in your children and even yourself if possible. Most cases develop around the time of puberty in the growth spurt that directly precedes it. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t double check for it at any age, however, especially if you are experiencing back pain without any obvious reason.

Scoliosis is defined as a sideways curvature of the spine. Except for a few situations, the majority of scoliosis cases do not have a specific known cause. While there does seem to be evidence that there may be a genetic connection, it has not been proven one way or the other. Thankfully, most cases of scoliosis are mild and may even go undiagnosed throughout the person’s entire life. In this situation, the scoliosis is normally monitored through x-rays to make sure the curvature doesn’t get worse. If it does, however, a back brace may be needed to try and correct the deformity. If the curve is severe enough, surgery may be entertained. This normally occurs only in extreme circumstances where the scoliosis is causing pain and possibly even breathing and cardiovascular issues due to the rib cage pressing against the lungs and heart because of a severe curve and/or twist in the spine.

If you think you may have scoliosis or are concerned about your child developing the disorder, call DiBella Chiropractic today. It is important to catch an issue like this early, so if you have children living with you that are around the age that puberty begins, be sure to bring them in to be monitored. We can check the spine regularly to see if any change occurs. If you have a mild case that develops, you want to make sure that it doesn’t progress further. If it does, we can talk about your options to help mitigate any damage that may be done to the spine for the future. Set up an appointment with us so that you can put your mind at rest. You can never be too careful when it comes to your back!

Many people have a misconception that chiropractors only crack joints but nothing can be farther from the truth. As chiropractors, yes, we do pop a lot of joints. However, there are dozens of other services we can (and do) provide as well! You need to remember that a chiropractor is a licensed doctor just like anyone else who graduated from medical school.This means that we are certified to do a bunch of things that extend beyond what you may think of when you hear the word chiropractor.

For example, your chiropractor can give you guidance about your dietary habits. If you come to us stating that you want to lose weight, we can give you some ideas of how to eat healthier to accomplish your goal weight and measurements. Although we may not have the word “dietician” on our degrees, we are still fully capable of letting you know what you should keep doing and what you should change when it comes to food.

Another thing that we are can do is create a personalized workout plan for you. One main cause of pain in your joints, especially the hips, knees, and ankles, is extra weight. While there may be other factors such as arthritis, old injuries, or nerve disorders, reducing your weight may also help to reduce the pressure that is placed upon your joints. It is true that muscle weighs more than fat, but the thing that really matters is your personal fat percentage and the measurements of your body. If you feel like you are at an unhealthy weight or have been told by your doctors that you need to lose weight, we can help you work out a system that will help you get down to a weight that you are comfortable with and that is appropriate for your height and age.

While it is true that your general practitioner can help you with your diet and exercise as well, we can also help you deal with any aches and pains that you may be having. We do this without medication or surgery, so we are the ideal people if you are uncomfortable around things like opioid painkillers. We are like the one stop shopping center of doctors if you need help with multiple things. Come into DiBella Chiropractic today and see how much of a difference we can make in your life!

I don’t know about you, but a lot of the times when I see a sticker that denotes a student driver I tend to try and stay away from them. I will either stay farther back than I usually would or I pass them as quickly as the opportunity arises. Student drivers are not used to being on the road and therefore are more likely to become overwhelmed or make devastating mistakes. After all, how many people do you know who hit their parent’s garbage cans or something similar while learning how to drive? I know I can name quite a few people in my family that didn’t exactly get off to a great start when they were first starting out.

One of the biggest issues with student drivers is that not all states require you to denote when someone is first learning. This means that people will tend to get annoyed easier and possibly even drive aggressively around the person just trying to learn how to navigate around a road. While aggressive driving is always dangerous, it is definitely worse with someone who doesn’t have the experience to counter the outburst safely. You obviously never want to have to use an evasive tactic while on the road, but it does happen. This is something you learn from years of practice, though. If you have a driver that doesn’t have a lot of experience, the result can be devastating all because someone else couldn’t have some patience for someone else on the road.

We always suggest having a sticker or magnet on your car if you have someone learning to drive in it. It might seem embarrassing, but it is better than having someone get aggressive because the person driving is a little shaky. You never know how someone else on the road is going to react, but it is better to cover all of your bases and make sure that you and those you love are protected and safe.

If you were injured in an accident that dealt with a student driver, give DiBella Chiropractic a call. While we cannot help with any legal action, we can definitely help with any pain that you might have. Car accidents are never comfortable, but we will do everything we can to help make it a little easier on you. Come in today and see how much better you'll feel!