June 2024 Health Newsletter

As the sun shines brighter and the days get longer, summer beckons us outdoors. Whether you're hitting the trails, playing beach volleyball, or simply enjoying a leisurely stroll, your spine plays a crucial role in keeping you active and pain-free.

Here's how chiropractic care can enhance your summer experience:

1. Posture Matters: Lounging by the pool or sitting on picnic blankets can strain your back. Regular chiropractic adjustments ensure proper spinal alignment, reducing the risk of discomfort and muscle tension.
2. Gardening and Yard Work: Tending to your garden or mowing the lawn? These activities involve repetitive movements that can stress your spine. Chiropractors can address any misalignments caused by gardening tasks, allowing you to enjoy your green oasis without pain.
3. Traveling Smart: Road trips and flights can wreak havoc on your back. Chiropractic adjustments before and after travel help prevent stiffness and ensure you’re ready for your summer adventures.
4. Sports and Recreation: From beach volleyball to paddleboarding, summer sports put strain on your body. Chiropractic care optimizes joint function, enhances flexibility, and supports overall performance.

Also remember that hydration is essential during hot months. Proper hydration keeps your spinal discs pliable and helps maintain their shock-absorbing properties. Combine chiropractic adjustments with staying hydrated for optimal results.

Lastly, ensure you're practicing self-care and directly taking responsibility for your health and safety by doing the following:

1. Stretching: Incorporate gentle stretches into your daily routine. Chiropractors can guide you on effective stretches to keep your muscles limber.
2. Nutrition: Fresh fruits and veggies are abundant in summer. Nutrient-rich foods support overall health, including your spine.
3. Sunscreen: While chiropractors focus on your musculoskeletal health, don't forget to protect your skin. Apply sunscreen to prevent sunburns and skin damage.


Are you ready to embrace summer with a healthy spine and healthy you? Contact our office today and let us assist you in getting ready for the summer ahead!

Football season for high school and college students typically starts in September, one of the hottest months of the year around the US. A recent study conducted at the University of Georgia found that the likelihood of heat-related injury in athletes increased exponentially during this time of year. 

2 Times When the Risk of Sports Injuries Are the Highest

According to the study, researchers found that there were two times during training when athletes were at the highest risk for injuries.
 •  Within the first 3 to 14 days of practice, but the rate was much higher during the first three days
 •  On days seven and eight of pre-season training when athletes began practicing twice each day. 

Seventy-four percent of the college athletes evaluated suffered from heat cramps, while 26 percent suffered from a combination of heat syncope (fainting) and heat exhaustion. The highest risk came when outdoor temperatures were greater than 82 degrees. 

Common Symptoms of Heat-Related Sports Injuries

Coaches, trainers, parents and athletes should all be on the lookout for injuries related to higher temperatures. Symptoms include: 
 •  Heat Cramps: Involuntary spasms within the larger muscle groups. 
 •  Heat Exhaustion: Heat cramps, copious sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache and weakness. 
 •  Heat Stroke: Headache, rapid heart rate and breathing, nausea, vomiting, and altered behavior or mental state. 

Chiropractors: Helping Prevent Heat-Related Injury in Athletes

Chiropractors, as well as sports trainers, play an important role in preventing sports injuries during the summer training period. They can educate athletes on the importance of adequate hydration and rest. Additionally, they can demonstrate relaxation and flexibility techniques that can be used to relieve muscle spasms. When athletes and their sports medicine team, including chiropractors, work together they can prevent injuries and have a productive and healthy football season.

New research in Australia confirms the advice of many dermatologists to their patients - to avoid the aging effects of the sun on your skin, use sunscreen. While the benefits of sunscreen are well known when it comes to preventing sunburns and lowering the risk of skin cancer, researchers said rigorous studies were previously lacking on how sunscreen use affects the signs of skin aging, or photoaging. Photoaging happens after long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which penetrates the skin and can cause collagen to break down and DNA to mutate. Long term effects of photoaging include wrinkles, leathery skin tone, loss of the skin's elasticity and spider veins. The new study, conducted at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research analyzed data from 903 adults younger than 55 who were followed between 1992 and 1996. Half of the participants were instructed to put sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater on their head, neck, arms and hands every morning, and to reapply when necessary. The other half used sunscreen according to their own discretion. At the start and end of the study, the researchers measured photoaging using the skin on the back of each person's left hand. The researchers found that over four years, the skin condition of people who were told to use sunscreen daily evidenced no detectable changes, once other sun-related factors were taken into account. Beta carotene, which was also given to some of the participants, did not seem to have any protective effect on skin aging, however.