Why Buy a Good Pillow

What are pillows?

 pil·low
noun: a bag filled with soft material that is used as a cushion usually for the head of a person who is lying down.

Full Definition of PILLOW

1a: a support for the head of a reclining person; especially :  one consisting of a cloth bag filled with feathers, down, sponge rubber, or plastic fiber

b: something resembling a pillow especially in form 

2: a cushion or pad tightly stuffed and used as a support for the design and tools in making lace with a bobbin.

Well, that is a really simple explanation.

This blog is about sleep pillows and not decorative pillows.

Pillows really are more than a bag filled with fiber. They hold the key to good rest, and keeping the body aligned.

Pillows do make a difference. Pay a few dollars for a cheap pillow and you get exactly that...cheap.

Do your research, buy a good pillow and you get a good investment in years of a restful nights sleep and more.

The wrong pillow may worsen headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm numbness, discomfort, sneezing, and wheezing.

• If you sleep on your back: Back sleepers need thinner pillows, so their head is not thrown too far forward. Also look for a pillow with extra loft in the bottom third of the pillow to cradle your neck.
• If you sleep on your side: Side sleepers need a firmer pillow to fill in the distance between the ear and outside shoulder.
• If you're a stomach sleeper: Look for a very thin, almost flat pillow. You may not even need a pillow for your head, but consider tucking one under your stomach to avoid lower back pain.

Main Benefits of Pillows
Use of a pillow while sleeping has two main functions:

• Support: From a physical perspective, pillows prop up the head, neck and shoulders - keeping them in alignment, relieving pressure and counterbalancing the points in the body.
• Comfort: From a more subjective perspective, pillows create a feeling of comfort, which aids in getting a good night’s sleep and feeling well rested.

A Pillow should be adjustable
To help the pillow conform to various sleep positions, it is best if the pillow can be adjusted to fit the unique shape and curves and sleeping position of the user. A pillow should mold to one’s individual shape and alleviate any pressure points.

A ChiroFlow Pillow is one pillow that meets all of the needs. It's adjustable, comfortable, supportive and has top reviews.

When you are done spending money on cheap pillows, and are ready for a GOOD nights rest. Call your Chiropractor and ask for the ChiroFlow pillow.

No reason for PAIN

Do any of these statements apply to you?

1. I stand or walk on hard surfaces for more than four hours a day.

2. I do a lot of physical activities that put stress on my body.

3. I have had injuries to my back/knee/neck.

4. I have joint pain while standing, walking or running.

5. I experience pain that makes me uncomfortable doing my daily activities.

Do you ever say or think:

WHY AM I IN PAIN?

WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?

I LIVE WITH PAIN EVERYDAY.

PAIN IS JUST A SIGN OF GETTING OLDER.

I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PAIN.

If the answer is Yes....We understand

Being uncomfortable everyday is miserable. 

Are you ready to figure out where your pain is starting?

Surprisingly enough, your feet are often the starting point of your pain.

Your feet don't have to hurt for them to be the cause of your pain somewhere else in your body.

That Pain in your:

 Neck

Back

Hips

or

 Knees

can be from having an unbalanced foundation.

Your feet are your foundation for your entire body.

If your feet are out of balance, the rest of your body is compensating, and suffering because of it.

River City Chiropractic can help you. Give us a call. Ask Dr. Scott Malwhiney to scan your feet to assess your weaknesses and imbalances.You may find that a pair of orthotics could be the answer to your pain.

Diminish your pain.

                                                     "Pain is not a Lifestyle"

Call today and start living pain free. 252-335-7709. See what we are doing to keep you healthy here in Elizabeth City, NC.
Our office hours: Mon. 7:30 - 12:00/2:00 - 6:00 Tues. 2:00 - 6:00 Wed. 7:30 - 12:00/2:00 - 6:00 Thurs. 10:00 - 1:00/3:00 - 6:00 Fri. 7:00 - 12:00.
Insurance accepted, CareCredit Payment Plans, Visa, MC and Discover. Custom made Orthotics and more.

Our Feet | Our Health

They are so essential to our movement. We stand on them, tip toe, jump, pound, stomp. They are celebrated and decorated, abused, massaged, rubbed, dipped, scrunched and stuffed, squeezed, painted, jeweled, and tattooed.

The most important aspect of our feet is this.. They are the bases of how we stand, how we are aligned and truly effect our health and well being. If we do not stand tall, straight and strong, it effects our whole body. If our feet are not healthy, our body stands to be weaker. Our spine stops at our tailbone, yet it is effected by how we stand on our feet.
Did you know that there are 26 bones and 100 muscles in one foot?
They are our foundation. If the foundation is weak, so is the structure..same as a house.
 If our feet are not in balance it can cause a mulittude of problems .. Fatique, foot pain, neck pain, knee problems, and we can have hip and spine alignment problems. All of that because our feet are not properly balanced.

 All is not lost.

Would you wear eyeglasses that weren’t prescribed for you? Or take an over-the-counter drug for a problem that requires a prescription drug? - See more at: http://www.footlevelers.com/about#sthash.47UTWaUE.dpuf

We could go buy a one size fits all style of shoe inserts..spending money on many until we either find one that kind of works or until we just give up on the idea.

Would you wear eyeglasses that weren’t prescribed for you? Or take an over-the-counter drug for a problem that requires a prescription drug?

Here is a better solution.
Have your feet scanned and analyzed to get a true picture of where the pressure points are and see what alignments issues there may be; then getting a custom made pair of Orthotics

• Giving strength to support the weight of the entire body

• Permitting sufficient flexibility to accommodate changes in terrain

• Providing momentum for movement

For more information on Orthotics and what they can do for you click here: http://www.footlevelers.com/about

Your best Chiropractor is equipped to do this for you.

"Better Health For a Better Life" Dr. Scott Mawhiney is your go to back doctor.

River City Chiropractic (252) 335-7709

224 N. Poindexter St. Elizabeth City, NC 27909

Call today and start living pain free. 252-335-7709. See what we are doing to keep you healthy here in Elizabeth City, NC. Our office hours: Mon. 7:30 - 12:00/2:00 - 6:00 Tues. 2:00 - 6:00 Wed. 7:30 - 12:00/2:00 - 6:00 Thurs. 10:00 - 1:00/3:00 - 6:00 Fri. 7:00 - 12:00. Insurance accepted, CareCredit Payment Plans, Visa, MC and Discover. Custom made Orthotics and more.

Technology and Posture | Bad Laptop

Is Technology affecting your posture?

Are you getting neck pains, shoulder, knee or elbow pains, what about pain in your wrist?

Are you on the computer, laptop, tablet, game console or mobile phone for a significant amount of time each day? Sitting in front of a computer hour after hour can and will take a toll on your health.

What you may think is a short time looking over information a lot of times becomes much more, and before you are aware after time, you are in pain, and you are not aware of the cause of this pain.

Ninety percent of the population has some degree of forward head posture. Did you Know? Forward head posture can cause a host of issues including mid-back and low-back complications as well as head, neck and TMJ problems.

It has been estimated to shave as many as ten years off your life. 10 years!

When you are on your computer or laptop next time, pay attention to how you have yourself set up.

Is your equipment placed correctly?

Are you sitting up straight? 

Once you sit up straight you may find that other elements are out of balance.

Is your neck bent over to see the screen? Raise the sight level.

Is the screen to far away to see well?  Pull it closer to you.

Viewing Angle - you should NOT being looking down at your screen. You should be looking straight ahead at it.

Typing Height - Keep arms level when typing. Maintain at least an arm's length distance between yourself and the keyboard, making

sure your arms are level. You'll have more energy to keep things moving with ease at this distance.

Chair Height -  is it at the right level for you. 

Does the back offer sufficient support for you?

 

Seating Posture - Make sure that your back is straight. Sit in an upright, position and your lower back should be supported by your chair.(proper lumbar support is crucial)
or Use a small pillow for extra back support: tuck a pillow near the small of
your back, and you'll instantly sit up straighter.

Take a Break -  every thirty minutes. Your spine is made for motion not sitting in a chair for prolonged periods of time. Get up and take a walk.

Stretch - and recharge your stiff muscles. It will help relieve the stress in your muscles and joints and will increase your flexibility and range of motion.

Look in a Mirror - A small or medium sized mirror propped up in your office
can do wonders for your improvement efforts.Sometimes it helps to see your posture, so you can see how much of an effect it might be having on your body.

Learn to Identify - back pain. You may have had back pain for a long time and have simply adjusted to it, it's a good idea to get a massage or Chiropractic consultation to find out where pain may just be stored or coming from.

Minor adjustments can have a huge impact on how you feel at the end of a long day.

With just a few simple strategies, improve your posture and computer habits significantly. You'll find yourself at ease, more productive, and enjoying extra energy from your new focus on health, and

You will feel better for it. 

Do you have any great suggestions for helping to maintain good posture?

Let us know in the comment section below.

River City Chiropractic | Changing Lives in Elizabeth City, NC

5 Reasons to Stretch

Stretching is important - Many exercise-related injuries occur because muscles and tendons have become tight and joints such as the shoulder and knee have lost their full mobility.

Have you ever looked at an infant in awe of their ability to move in ways most of us would give
anything to be able to do? Grabbing hold of their little feet and stretching them to their mouth just to nibble on those toes.

Did you know...that stretching is a natural activity. How often have you woken up out of bed and stretched instinctively or after traveling long distances in the car?
Most people do not even realize that stretching is actually a form of exercise.
Stretching involves elongating a specific muscle or muscle group to its fullest potential.

Some of the benefits of stretching include:
#1 - To alleviate lower back pain.
Stretching your back muscles will alleviate pain.
Stiff and tight muscles in the lower back, hamstrings, hips and buttocks is one of the more common causes of lower back pain.

#2 – Improve cardiovascular health.
Recent studies have found that stretching can improve artery function and lower blood pressure. Imagine something as simple as stretching can improve your heart health.

#3 – Definitely increases flexibility.
Flexibility is the degree to which an individual muscle will lengthen, but be careful, don’t overdo it. Trying to do too much can result in muscle strains or tears. This must be done slowly and correctly. Lack of flexibility causes your movement to become slower and less fluid and makes you more susceptible to muscle strains, ligament sprains and other soft tissue injuries.

#4 - Improves circulation.
Stretching will increase blood flow to the muscles. This increased blood flow brings more nourishment to the muscles and removes more waste byproducts from the muscles. Increased blood flow can also help speed up recovery from muscle and joint injuries.

#5 -  Improves balance and coordination.

Stretching improves balance and coordination and improved balance and coordination lowers your risk for falls.
Don't overlook the benefits of stretching. 

Make sure that stretching is a regular part of your fitness program.

Dr. Scott Mawhiney can give you specific exercise routines to help you. Give the staff at River City Chiropractic a call today. They will be glad to get you on the path to a healthier pain free lifestyle..River City Chiropractic - 224 N. Poindexter Rd. Elizabeth City, NC  27909  

(252) 335.7709

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