Bellevue Chiropractor Recommends Stretching for Computer Workers

For 23 years I have treated people working 8 hours per day sitting at a computer. The problems are fairly common due to common poor posture at the work station. Slouching, sitting crooked and leaning forward are common postures. It is easy to just say- Sit Up Straight… Usually after you try to sit straight, your mind goes into automoatic mode and your posture returns to its normal slouch. If it is that hard to correct a poor posture, the next best thing is to manage it the best you can. Both neck and back stretches are recommended. While sitting and looking forward, bend your head to the side and lean the neck forward at the same time. (about a 45 degree lean forward) hold the position for 20 seconds and repeat on the other side. This stretch needs to be done about 10 times per day. The other stretch is for the low back. Also while sitting at your desk, place your right knee over the left. Pull the right knee to the side with the left hand and twist your body to the right. HOld for about 20 seconds. Repeat on the other side. These two stretches are very simple. The hard part is to be consistent every day. 7 days per week. Other good ideas are to get up every hour and walk around. Shake and stretch your hands every hour. Call Dr. Kaplan if you have any questions or wish a complimentary consultation. 425-746-7841

Dr. Steven W. Kaplan of Crossroads Chiropractic Center has helped many patiens with migrane symptoms. Pain in the back of the head, temples and behind the eyes are all common. Visual disturbances, light and sound sensitivity are also common. Nausea and dizziness can also occur. The upper cervical regions has a lot to do with headaches and migranes. The first cervical nerve innervates the neck, scalp, forehead and some eye function. The same vertebra and nerve can affect equilibrium and cause nausea. Many patients experience immediate relief with their first adjustment. There is usually inflammation in the area, so ice is recommended to manage the inflammation. It usually takes a few adjustments to stabize the area and exercises are necessary to help keep the neck stable. Chronic cases may take longer. A simple thing to try is when you have a migrane, lie down with an ice pack under your skull and neck. Make sure there is a towel between the ice and skin. Lie there for 15 minutes and see if the symptoms subside. This will prove that there is inflammation in the upper neck. The ice will be a short term fix. Chiropractic adjustments will restore proper mechanics to th region and take away the stress and inflammation. Please call for a complimentary evaluation.

Carpal Tunnel has obviously increased in incidence over the years especially with the increased use of computers. If you have numbness and/or tingling in your fingers, you may have Carpal Tunnel. This needs to be differentiated from cervical-brachial radiculitis which is a pinched nerve in the neck. This can also cause numbness in the fingers. There are a few simple tests Dr. Kaplan will do to differentiate between the two possible causes. If it is Carpal Tunnel, it means that the space that the nerve travels to the wrist is being compressed. Specific adjustments to the Carpal Bones in the wrist can open up this space and relieve the compression. Usually within a few treatments, you can see progress. Most patients we see are helped with this procedure and do not need surgery. The patient will need to do daily exercises to help maintain stability. Please call Dr. Kaplan if you have any questions or wish to make an appointment. Consultations are complimentary.

Most people come to see us for neck or back pain. We get many positive comments from our patients but some of the most common are. I can breathe easier after my treatments. My sinuses cleared up after the last adjustment. My stomach is not upset any more. These comments verify the connection of the spine, nervous system and the rest of the body. With this in mind, you might be able to draw conclusions between Chiropractic care and your immune system. or any organ system in your body. Everything in your body needs a nerve supply and proper nutrition to function well. Although people come in to take the pressure off the nerve that is causing them pain, we find that same nerve will function better and promote good health throughout the body.

About 10 years ago I started putting all of my low back injury patients on a routine of daily stretches and core exercises. The stretches included hip rotator, hamstrings, quads and calf. Prior to this I had my patients doing core exercises 3 times per week, but the patients still had aggravations. Changing this to every day made all the difference in the world. The core stabilizes the pelvis and takes direct pressure off the low back. Doing this every day, in the mornings if you can, will help stabilize the low back and avoid injury. Daily core exercises can include, crunches, planks, leg lifts with low back support etc. It only takes about 3-5 minutes of core work to get the tone required. If you are not doing this on a daily basis, add it to your morning stretches. Any questions or for a complimentary evaluation, please call 425-746-7841.

Just think about it. When you are stressed, you are feeling overloaded. Your muscles are probably tight and you are fatigued. These symptoms are all signs that your nervous system is not functioning well. If you are feeling overloaded, you have so many things going on, that your brain can’t process them all. When your muscles tighten up, they are getting a signal from the brain to try to “secure” your body to handle the stress. Many patients say after their Chiropractic adjustment that the muscle just automatically relaxed or the pressure just went away. When the spine is misaligned, it will “choke” on spinal nerves that transmit signals to the brain, muscles and organs. If the nerve is choked, it is like turning on a light switch and the electrical cord is frayed. The light will not be as bright and the cord will get hot. This is the same stress your body goes through when the spine is misaligned. Come in for a complimentary consultation to see if we can help.

Dr. Steven Kaplan, a Bellevue, Chiropractor educates all his patients to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle. This includes staying active, eating correctly, drinking lots of water, keeping a positive attitute and maintenance chiropractic care. Activity is hugh. Keeping your joints moving, muscles in good tone and bones strong is of utmost importance. Eating fresh vegetables and fruits, good sources of protein and not overeating are essential. 80% of people are dehydrated. Most people need at least eight- 8 oz glasses of water per day. If you do not have the proper water intake, your body goes into a stress mode at the cellular level causing many problems. Chiropractic care ties many thing together. Helping keep joints moving, muscles in balance, discs healthy and nerves functioning are key to health.

I have helped many patients with low back pain and sciatica throughout the years. For the past 5-6 years we have added spinal decompression. This therapy helps us isolate the disc involved and help “plump” it up and take pressure off the nerve. This therapy along with Chiropractic adjustments seems to be a big key in helping patients with low back pain with sciatica. The patients seem to have longer lasting results since it helps the disc heal. The patient still needs to do daily stretching and strengthening exercises to keep stable. Please call if you have any questions or want a complimentary evaluation.

A patient presented to Dr. Kaplans office in Bellevue with Headaches above the eye. The patient also complained of neck stiffness and just feeling out of it. A physical examination revealed that the first cervical vertebra was rotated to the left. X-ray confirmed the misalignment with no sign of fracture or pathology. Dr. Kaplan explained to the patient that the first cervical vertebra can pinch on the nerve that goes to the neck muscles, scalp and forehead. When the nerve is pinched, it can commonly cause headaches. The vertebrae was adjusted so the pressure would be taken off the nerve. The patient experienced immediate relief and the vertebrae was stable in a few treatments.

Dr. Steven Kaplan D.C. has been helping people heal from auto injuries for 27 years. The injuries are a combination of injuries to the soft tissues including muscles, ligaments and joint capsules. The biomechanical integrity of the spine is also altered. Vertebral motor units are misaligned causing pressure on joints and discs while also causing muscle spasm. Treatment must be multidisplinary to heal the best. Chiropractic works well to realign the spine. Massage works well to reduce spasm and deter scar tissue. Stretching and strentchening exercises must be specific to heal properly. With proper care, we can help the patient heal close to 100%. Complimentary consultations are available. Call 425-746-7841 for information.

For the past year we have had much success with the HCG diet. HCG is a natural substance called Human Corionic Gonadotropin. HCG acts upon the Hypothalamus in the brain. The Hypothalamus is the “food center” which controls cortisol production. Cortisol tells your body to burn fat. My wife is proof the diet works. She lost more than 20 lbs. in a month and the weight is staying off. The HCG is not expensive and does not have any side effects. Call our office if you want to see if this is for you. 425-746-7841