health

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What You Need to Know About Sitting While Working and in School

It’s no big secret that exercise is good for you. Many articles and books have been written and studies completed on the subject of physical fitness. However, lately it’s been discussed as to whether that five mile run or spin class is really enough. Is our work or school environment undoing any positive effort we put into staying healthy?

The short answer is YES. Human bodies were not built to sit for long periods of time. Our twenty-first century workplace — working behind a desk, typing on the computer, endless video conferences — unfortunately stacks against us to keep us on our… well, not our feet.

There are four harmful results on a person’s body that stem from sitting at work or in school all day.

Sitting for many hours each day takes a toll on our backs.

Working at a desk for many hours a day causes employees and students to stay in one position for an extended length of time. This puts a great deal of pressure on their backs. Over time, painful back and neck problems can develop and, if left untreated, continue to worsen.

Sitting also takes a toll on our waistline.

Obesity is at an all time high in the United States, and at least a good chunk of the reason is our sedentary lifestyle. Sitting for a long period (8 or more hours a day) decreases our metabolism, causing us to burn fewer calories. Excessive time at our desks can end up packing on the pounds.

Sitting can increase the chance of developing a life-threatening disease.

Studies show individuals with sedentary jobs have more health problems than their active counterparts. Cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes are both examples of health issues that arise more often in people who regularly sit down most of the day.

Sitting can cause premature death.

This may sound melodramatic, but it’s true. As we talked about above, sitting for prolonged periods of time puts you at greater risk of diseases that may end up killing you. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “found people who sat for over 11 hours a day had a 40% greater risk of dying within three years from any cause than people who sat less than 4 hours a day.”

So, what should a sedentary office person do to improve their health and decrease the risk many hours of daily sitting causes?

  • Get on your feet! Schedule times during the day to stand up and walk around. If you can’t remember to do it, add an alarm on your cell phone. Even a couple minutes on your feet every hour will help balance prolonged sitting.  Dr. Ness recommends getting up to stretch for 1 minute 1-2 times per hour.  It is impossible to undo 8 hours of sitting by stretching 1-2 times per day.
  • Learn to sit correctly. When you must sit, make certain your chair isn’t causing more damage. Select a chair that is height and angle adjustable. The seat should support your lower body, and the back should fit the curves of your spine. Special bonus points go to chairs with lumbar support and that rock.

What else can I you do to reduce back and neck pain?

  • Visit your chiropractor. Back problems brought on by a job behind a desk are not going to magically go away, and can get worse over time. Make a chiropractor appointment, get examined, and work to correct the issue.
  • Invest in a standing desk. A growing trend is to turn a sitting job into a standing job. Desks that are taller have the ability to keep you on your feet longer, which will provide many health benefits in the long run.

Good health is one of our greatest assets, and it pays to protect it. By understanding the risks of a sedentary working environment, we can be proactive in increasing activity and promoting our individual fitness.

When you or a loved one needs more insight on how chiropractic can guide you toward a healthier lifestyle, give Dr. Ness a call. We’re here to help!

Dr. David Ness is a certified sports chiropractor practicing in NY since 1988. Dr. Ness is the official chiropractor for the football team at United States Military Academy at West Point since 2015.

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What Chiropractic Patients Need To Know About Low Back Pain

Closeup of male with lower back pain. Red spot emphasizing sore area.

Although chiropractic is dedicated to finding and correcting vertebral subluxations (also known as spinal misalignments), many patients seek chiropractic care to alleviate pain and other health-related symptoms. One condition that chiropractic patients seek relief from is consistent low back pain.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience low back pain at any give time. Even though low back pain plagues many people, finding the exact cause can be a challenge. However, chiropractors are spinal specialists that are trained extremely well to not only help alleviate your pain but also find the cause of the problem.

As you seek help from your local chiropractor, you’ll want to keep the following things in mind:

Prevention Is Key

Prevention is often the best cure for low back pain. When a patient sees a chiropractor, they’ll not only find relief for the low back pain they’re experiencing, but they’ll also learn ways to prevent such pain in the future. By using proper exercise and ergonomic techniques, they can ease their pain before it even starts. Amazing results are easily obtained simply by patients listening to the instructions given by their chiropractic doctor.

Treatment Options Are Available

Fortunately, there are many treatment options for low back pain. Based off of the diagnosis provided by your Doctor of Chiropractic, he or she will be able to suggest the ones that will benefit you the most. These treatments may include one or more of the following:

  • Spinal adjustments delivered either by hand or instrument like an Activator
  • Hot or cold compresses
  • Physical therapy modalities like Interferential Therapy or TENS
  • Active Release Techniques, Massage Therapy or some other form of soft tissue work
  • Spinal decompression therapy and cold laser

Getting Relief From Your Pain

If you were prescribed pain medication by a medical doctor before seeing your chiropractor, it may still be required to help reduce your pain levels. However, the good news is that you may be able to decrease your pain medication quicker than usual as spinal misalignments are corrected, nerve compression is alleviated and inflammation is reduced. That alone is well worth the investment of time and money to see your local chiropractor.

Rehab Through Exercise

As your care progresses from pain relief to rehabilitation of the spine, your chiropractor will recommend certain exercises to help strengthen your core muscles which, in return, will help stabilize and protect your lower back. Typically, these exercises are performed at the chiropractic office to make sure you understand how to do them without re-aggravating your original complaint. Once you’ve been educated on their purpose and know how to perform them correctly without supervision, you’ll be able to continue them at home in conjunction with the spinal adjustments you receive at the office during maintenance care.

Surgery May Be Avoided

Depending on your condition, you may be able to avoid surgery if you choose to see a chiropractor before your injuries or pain become worse. In some instances, a chiropractor can help you to avoid surgery entirely by helping correct the problem instead of just masking it through pain relief.

The key is to make sure you follow the recommendations of your chiropractor after a thorough consultation and examination are performed. Part of the examination procedures may require X-rays or MRIs. These not only benefit the chiropractor when he or she is developing your treatment plan but will also give you the peace of mind that the problem will be found.

The bottom line is that a chiropractor is the ideal professional to consult with for any unexplained pain in the musculoskeletal system. They’re not only well-qualified to treat conditions like low back pain but also achieve great results in a very affordable and effective manner. If you or a loved one are suffering from low back pain, gives Dr. Ness a call. We’re here to help!

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How Chiropractors Help People Who Suffer From Headaches

If you are among the 45 million Americans who suffer headaches regularly, you are undoubtedly familiar with the traditional methods that people use to treat them, including taking some type of over the counter medication that is supposed to eliminate the pain and reduce any associated swelling. There are many other types of treatment that you may have attempted as well, including taking pharmaceutical concoctions designed to treat pain. However, none of these solutions provide permanent relief that addresses the problem at the core.

In the past few decades, there have been an increasing number of patients throughout the country that have begun to seek alternative forms of therapy for all types of conditions, including headaches. One form of treatment that is very promising for physical as well as other types of pain is chiropractic.

This form of alternative care has been used successfully for over a hundred years and has become a regular part of the American healthcare delivery system. In fact, there are an increasing number of insurance providers that are willing to pay for chiropractic because of its effectiveness.

When a person goes to school to learn about chiropractic, they begin by studying the human anatomy in great detail, just like other medical professionals. However, in addition to looking at how all of the parts work together physically, their training primarily revolves around the diagnosis and treatment of misalignments in the spine known as subluxations.

Theses subluxations compress nerve tissue that affects organ function, soft tissue like muscle, ligaments and tendons and can eventually manifest as other health problems if not treated.

Once the nerves are disrupted pain will result. While it usually manifests itself as physical pain, this is not always the case. In some instances, the person may experience difficulties with sleep or other routine habits.

On the first visit with a chiropractor, a review of previous health issues will be completed, including x-rays (if needed) to determine what types of nerve blockage may be occurring. They will listen to the patient attentively and make an assessment, including determining what types of treatment will best suit the patient.

In the case of headaches, the patient usually has misalignment (subluxations) in the cervical spine. This may be accompanied by muscles that are unduly tight in the neck, shoulders and nearby areas. Pressure on the nerves may cause sharp stabbing pains or there may be a continual dull throb in the region.

The chiropractor will assess the area and then move forward with treatment known as a chiropractic adjustment in order to relieve the pressure and pain. The relief is usually instantaneous, with an increase in positive symptoms for the following few hours.

However, chiropractors don’t just focus on relieving symptoms but rather correcting the problem; therefore, additional treatments will follow to help correct the cause. In addition, the chiropractor will take the time to educate you on the importance of chiropractic, especially if you’ve never been to one before.

If you need further help with your headaches or are ready to see how beneficial chiropractic care can be to your overall health, please give us a call so that you can schedule an appointment with Dr. David Ness

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5 Exercise Tips For Chiropractic Patients To Speed Healing And Maintain Health

Chiropractic care is designed to alleviate pain and restore the body to its natural balance. For chiropractors, injury prevention is key for a healthy body. Good practices combined with solid exercises creates toned muscles that protect the body and spine from harm. While each patient receives exercise instructions for their specific condition, the following exercise tips for chiropractic patients apply to everyone.

Do Take Time To Warm Up Before Exercising

Before starting any exercises, it’s important to warm up. A series of dynamic moves will boost your heart rate and heat up the muscles that you will be using during your work out.

Select whole body movements such as leg lunges paired with arm motion or walk in place while raising and lowering your arms. Once you’ve warmed up, you can safely stretch without risk of injury.

Introduce Ergonomics Into Your Home And Work Space

One of the most important exercise tips for chiropractic patients is to take steps to keep your body in alignment as you move through your day. In the workplace, check with an ergonomics consultant to ensure proper positioning, especially if you spend most of the day seated or doing repetitive tasks, and make sure you get up frequently at work to stretch.

A comfortable chair reduces muscle strain and prevents injury. Make sure that your feet sit firmly on the floor and that lumbar support is in place. At home, you should have a good mattress and supportive furniture.

Choose The Right Shoes

Before you buy your next pair of shoes, check for proper arch support, stability, flexibility, and comfort. During your test drive, make sure that the shoes feel firmly in place as you move through your entire range of motion for a stable gait during wear.

Footwear should be flexible enough to give easily at the base of the toe for a smooth gait, and there should be cushioning at all the right places with plenty of room for the toes to move, and proper arch support. Shoes that properly fit your feet means that your walk will be more natural and healthy during exercise and in daily motion.

Sit And Stand With Posture In Mind

Perhaps the biggest reason that these exercise tips for chiropractic patients are so important is that strong and flexible muscles will help you have good posture. Be mindful of the following as you move through your day:

  • When sitting, your feet should be on the floor, your shoulders should be relaxed, and your forearms should remain parallel with the ground.
  • If you will be standing for a time, make sure that you maintain posture by tucking your stomach muscles in.
  • When standing for an especially long period of time, be sure to shift your weight from one foot to the other and from the heels to the toes and back again.

These simple tips for maintaining good posture will passively work your muscles and result in a healthier spine.

Passive Stretches For Large Muscles

Finally, it is important to target large muscle groups with passive exercises. Use your weight to slowly stretch your hamstrings, your piriformis, and your entire back. Passive stretching is gentle and relieves stress points that cause back pain. These gentle exercises provide a great deal of relief and are easily adjusted to suit your current ability.

Your chiropractor will work with you to design an exercise program that is optimal for you. Be sure to follow through with the plan and include these tips in your regular work out to experience the joy of healing from chiropractic care.

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You Tube Channel started

Dr. Ness has started uploading exercise videos and stretches to his youtube channel.  Our first video is on foam rolling for the lower extremities and spine. Please check it out, leave a comment, like our video, and subscribe to Dr. David Ness to get the latest videos on maintaining your health and wellness.

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New Testimonials for Bill Weinstein

I was a smoker struggling to quit smoking when I went to see Bill Weinstein.  At each treatment session Bill made it a very calming and peaceful experience. He guided me through the difficult process and I am happy to say that I have been smoke free for 6 months!  Even after quitting, Bill has continued to give support and guidance when I’ve needed it.  I highly recommend Bill as an acupuncturist.

-Addie Z. (New York, NY) November 2012

The professional treatments and advice I have received from Bill have noticeably and remarkably enhanced the state of my health and well-being in a very short period of time.  From my first phone call, I’ve found Bill to be an intelligent, pleasant, caring individual with a good sense of humour. He has always strived to ensure good communication during and after treatments and takes the time to answer my questions.    In the time I have known Bill, he has impressed me with his strong desire to help and assist his clients in reaching their health goals. My experience has revealed that he will go out of his way to assist his clients.

 Angela Speziale,Wallkill Novermber 2012