Carpal tunnel is a fairly common wrist/hand injury. It is usually associated with typing but you can get it from almost any overuse of the hand and forearm. My mom got it from knitting. Your Woodbridge, Dale City VA Chiropractor has some information to help you avoid this common injury.
The forearm and digit energizer series is a great way to manage that fatigue and pain you are feeling creep into your hands and wrists from excessive typing, gripping, or handstand walking.
This series is challenging and can place your hands into a position that they may not be comfortable being in to start, so exercise restraint on your first time. If you find your hands, wrists, or fingers are tender in any of these stretches, try first to reduce the pressure applied, and then slowly and progressively increase that pressure over time until you gain a full range of motion. We encourage you to challenge yourself with the finger flexing and neuromuscular components shown as well. You will be surprised at how much dexterity you gain from just a few round of this series, and the fatigue you feel when you first begin is expected. However, in time, when your fingers are dancing across your keyboard pain free and you suddenly are able to shuffle a deck of cards like a riverboat gambler, you will understand why we call it the energizer series!
A couple things to remember:
Complete 5-10 good reps of all the exercises shown, and take the time to slow down the movement and get a good amount of time under tension for these small endurance muscles.
Spend more time, 60-90 seconds, in the stretching ranges that are especially difficult or hard to stretch.
Sciatica is one of those terms I hear from patients all the time as your Woodbridge, Dale City VA Chiropractor. It is fairly generic for any pain into the leg. Dr Google has helped with that overuse of the term. To help you better understand sciatica and what it is here is some information. Unfortunately, I am only helping Dr Google but these are the facts.
Sciatica describes persistent pain felt along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back, down through the buttock, and into the lower leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body, running from the lower back through the buttocks and down the back of each leg. It controls the muscles of the lower leg and provides sensation to the thighs, legs, and the soles of the feet.
Although sciatica is a relatively common form of low-back and leg pain, the true meaning of the term is often misunderstood. Sciatica is actually a set of symptoms—not a diagnosis for what is irritating the nerve root and causing the pain.
Sciatica occurs most frequently in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Most often, it tends to develop as a result of general wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine, not as a result of injury.
What are the symptoms of sciatica?
The most common symptom associated with sciatica is pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the lower back and down one leg; however, symptoms can vary widely depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected. Some may experience a mild tingling, a dull ache, or even a burning sensation, typically on one side of the body.
Some patients also report:
A pins-and-needles sensation, most often in the toes or foot
Numbness or muscle weakness in the affected leg or foot
Pain from sciatica often begins slowly, gradually intensifying over time. In addition, the pain can worsen after prolonged sitting, sneezing, coughing, bending, or other sudden movements.
Your doctor of chiropractic will begin by taking a complete patient history. You’ll be asked to describe your pain and to explain when the pain began, and what activities lessen or intensify the pain. Forming a diagnosis will also require a physical and neurological exam, in which the doctor will pay special attention to your spine and legs. You may be asked to perform some basic activities that will test your sensory and muscle strength, as well as your reflexes. For example, you may be asked to lie on an examination table and lift your legs straight in the air, one at a time.
In some cases, your doctor of chiropractic may recommend diagnostic imaging, such as x-ray, MRI, or CT scan. Diagnostic imaging may be used to rule out a more serious condition, such as a tumor or infection, and can be used when patients with severe symptoms fail to respond to six to eight weeks of conservative treatment.
What are my treatment options?
For most people, sciatica responds very well to conservative care, including chiropractic. Keeping in mind that sciatica is a symptom and not a stand-alone medical condition, treatment plans will often vary depending on the underlying cause of the problem.
Chiropractic offers a non-invasive (non-surgical), drug-free treatment option. The goal of chiropractic care is to restore spinal movement, thereby improving function while decreasing pain and inflammation. Depending on the cause of the sciatica, a chiropractic treatment plan may cover several different treatment methods, including but not limited to spinal adjustments, ice/heat therapy, ultrasound, TENS, and rehabilitative exercises.
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
While it’s not always possible to prevent sciatica, consider these suggestions to help protect your back and improve your spinal health.
