​Wellness encompasses more than promoting a physically healthy body. What are the seven dimensions of wellness and how does each play a role in supporting our natural vitality?
​

Nurturing a generous spirit and embracing a strong belief system are indicators of spiritual wellness. We practice our spirituality in many different ways.

​Spiritual wellness contributes to the understanding of ourselves and our community. Embracing the belief that life has a meaningful purpose enhances our inner peace, provides personal direction, and influences our society for the greater good.
​

True healing is experienced when all dimensions of life are in healthy balance. The next step on your path to wellness may be to find a chiropractor who understands the complex and interdependent nature of whole body health.

Keeping our bodies well-hydrated supports immune system function, heart health, urinary tract wellness, and healthy digestion. Most of us need at least 30-50 fluid ounces of water per day to prevent dehydration,1 but exercise, weather, and other factors may increase our daily requirement for water.
 
Let's explore the importance of hydration in maintaining the optimal function and balance of the body's systems.

The positive effects of drinking generous amounts of water span all of the body's systems, including the:

• Musculoskeletal System

Water provides proper blood volume to support muscle function and waste product removal, encouraging faster muscle growth and repair. Proper hydration also provides the ideal level of synovial fluid, which lubricates and protects the joints.

• Nervous System

Water allows for effective nutrient absorption and chemical reactions, which provide healthy brain chemical balance and support cognitive function. It also transports nutrients along the length of nerve fibers and enables nerve impulses to travel effectively.

• Urinary Tract

The renal system filters toxins and flushes them from the body using water. When there is adequate water for optimal kidney function, waste products are efficiently removed and the likelihood of kidney stones is reduced.

• Immune System

If toxins and waste products begin to build up in the body the immune system is weakened. Proper immune system function also depends on adequate water to maintain lymphatic fluids. These fluids remove toxins and circulate chemical messages to fight infection.

The importance of hydration is just one part of the picture. Our approach to wellness at McCann Family Chiropractic is centered on treating the whole person and restoring peak system function. Dr. Matt uses gentle chiropractic treatments and dietary guidance to bring you back into perfect balance. He also recommends massage therapy to aid in this process. Call us today and start experiencing whole-body wellness for yourself.
 

Sources:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-staying-hydrated
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2908954/

Chiropractic realignment of the spine not only treats lower back pain but creates a healthy environment for nerves and soft tissues to heal. These gentle exercises will help maintain the benefits of regular adjustments, improve range of motion, and help eliminate neck and back pain.

Proper posture opens up our airways, allowing maximum airflow to our lungs. Taking deep breaths also relaxes tense neck and diaphragm muscles. This posture awareness exercise can be done many times a day for a few minutes. It may seem simple, but the benefits of proper posture and breathing cannot be ignored!

• Sit upright at the edge of your chair, with feet firmly planted. Your knees should be lower than your hips.
• Put your hands on your belly, close your eyes, and feel the belly rise and fall against your hands as you breathe deeply.
• Let your deep breathing lift up your chest and collarbones, while dropping your shoulders back loosely.
• Feel the top of your head lifting upward, bringing your posture into comfortable, open, and vertical alignment.

​

​Rather than stretching through applying force, these poses will stretch muscles and connective tissues as you fully relax into them. Be careful to avoid any which cause straining or pain.
​

Begin by lying on the floor with your legs supported by a chair or another soft object, with knees and hips at right angles. Your arms can be at shoulder level or slightly lower, palms up. Adjust until you are comfortable, then relax deeply and let your shoulders and lower back settle to the floor. Stay in this position for a few minutes to release lower back pain and stiffness.

​Remaining on the floor, put the soles of your feet together and let your knees naturally fall apart. With your arms palms up and at an open angle from your hips, relax for two or three minutes. Now your lower back will naturally arch off the floor, releasing muscles of the groin and thighs. Let your neck, jaw, and upper back relax into the position.

​Kneel down and touch your toes together behind you, letting your knees be a comfortable distance apart. Bend forward and let your forehead touch the floor as your rear rises up. Extend your arms over your head, or, if this is uncomfortable, let them lie naturally by your sides. Remain here at least a minute or two and, as you relax, your rear will sink back onto your heels, arching your spine into its natural curves. Allow your neck and face to fully relax, and breathe deeply.

​Sit on your heels with your knees bent and place your hands on the floor behind you, shoulder distance apart. You may point your fingers towards or away from you, whatever is most comfortable, arch your spine upward. Put pressure on your hands as you lower your head behind you, keeping your rear on your heels. Your chest should feel open and your throat relaxed. After thirty seconds in this pose, lift your head first and rest in the kneeling position for a moment before standing.

​At McCann Family Chiropractic, Dr. Matt will select the right treatments to restore your spinal alignment and all the systems that depend on it.  We have a number of home care exercises that we will recommend based on your specific needs and circumstances.  Additionally, in the office, we have two Pettibon Rehabilitation therapies we recommend most patients utilize prior to their adjustments. 
 
Your individualized treatment plan will bring your whole body to a new state of balance and wellness. Schedule an appointment today to start your journey to true vitality and well-being.

Chronic lower back pain causes physical and mental stress. This irritation in turn produces increased oxidative stress.  And that?  Well, it reduces our ability to heal and increases joint pain—allowing a vicious cycle to begin.
 
Unless you stop breathing, you won’t be able to avoid oxidative stress (and we certainly don’t recommend attempting that!). As we breathe in oxygen and our cells produce energy, free radicals are created. Antioxidants and exercise play a key role in removing free radicals from our body, helping to maintain a healthy balance.

When too many free radicals build up they prevent healing, damage cells, and even harm our DNA. The good news is we can use exercise as well as nutritional and chiropractic treatments to reduce oxidative stress and the associated symptoms like joint inflammation and body aches.
 
Let's explore the symptoms of oxidative stress and how chiropractic therapy brings long-term relief from chronic back pain by directly reducing oxidative stress.
 
What Are the Symptoms of Oxidative Stress?
 
The symptoms of oxidative stress usually build up slowly over time. When we ignore early discomfort and develop a higher pain threshold without seeking back pain treatment, the damage continues until we experience symptoms throughout the body. Some of these include:

• Joint pain and sore muscles
• Headaches, mental fog, and memory loss
• Exhaustion and fatigue
• Vision loss
• Higher susceptibility to infection
  
• Gray hair and wrinkles

How Does Chiropractic Treatment Reduce Oxidative Stress?
 
Chiropractic adjustments have been proven to reduce the key chemical markers of oxidative stress and relieve the pain associated with it.1 Chiropractic  back pain treatment corrects the causative misalignments and related muscle pain, . The good news? The research showed that with twice weekly adjustments over a 5-week period, measurable increases in a key antioxidant level are achieved. 
 
The great news? Patients under wellness care in the longer term (one year and more) showed a statistically significant increase in another key antioxidant.  This antioxidant, called serum thiol, plays an important role in cellular and DNA repair. By increasing serum thiol and keeping it at optimal levels, regular chiropractic care can help reverse some of the DNA damage caused by oxidative stress.
 
Chiropractic Care Promotes Whole Body Wellness
 
A holistic approach to wellness includes regular chiropractic care. At McCann Family Chiropractic we understand the relationship between chronic lower back pain and oxidative stress.
 
With a wide array of chiropractic techniques at his fingertips, Dr. Matt can provide the right type of adjustment to correct your alignment and begin the care that will help increase your antioxidant levels and reverse the effects of oxidative stress.
 
Your optimal wellness is the best prevention for stress-related diseases. By reducing your physical, chemical, and mental stress levels you can experience true vitality and well-being every day. We can provide recommendations for nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and other steps you can take alongside your chiropractic treatments to promote whole body wellness and healing.
 
Sources:
 
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475414002449
2. https://www.vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2017/09/06/surrogate-indication-of-dna-repair-in-serum-after-long-term-chiropractic-intervention-a-retrospective-study/

​After a car accident or other sudden impact injury, the symptoms of whiplash might appear immediately, or they may develop in the days or weeks following the trauma. Understanding the symptoms and chiropractic treatment options available will help you to recover quickly and completely.
 
Taking a “wait and see” approach to the early signs of whiplash might allow your neck and spine to remain out of alignment, causing more pain and damage to surrounding muscles and tissues. Delaying treatment may also put insurance compensation at risk. If you have the symptoms, it might be time to find a chiropractor with experience in accident recovery to evaluate your injuries and recommend a treatment plan.

What Is Whiplash?
 
Whiplash is more than a strained neck. In the most common scenario, a rear-impact car accident causes high-speed forced movement of the head forward and a resulting rebound backward.1 The force applied by the sudden whipping motion damages the tissues of the neck and shocks the nervous system. Severe whiplash might also cause head injury or damage to other joints and muscles.
 
What Are the Symptoms of Whiplash?
 
While severe neck pain is typical of the injury, the symptoms of whiplash cover a wide range of physical and neurological effects, including:
 

• Recurring headaches
• Low back pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Nausea and dizziness
• Arm pain, heaviness, or pins-and-needles
• Referred pain elsewhere in the body
• Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
• Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety or PTSD

 
Chiropractic Treatment for Whiplash
 
Chiropractic therapy is one of the most effective ways to heal from an accident. Chiropractors have a wide range of techniques to bring the neck and spine back to proper function while reducing pain during the healing process.
 

• Neck Adjustments

Also called cervical manipulation, this pressure technique aligns the neck to improve mobility and restore range of motion.
 

• Full Spine Adjustments

Also called spinal manipulation, these adjustments will restore the proper spinal alignment and prevent the vertebrae and joints from returning to the accident-forced positioning.  While you may the feel the majority of the pain in your neck, your whole body was in the vehicle and we will treat your whole spine and any affected extremities such as shoulders, knees, and wrists. 
 

• Therapeutic Massage

Massage will reduce soreness and encourage damaged muscles to heal properly.
 

• Therapeutic Exercises

These at-home stretches and resistance techniques might be recommended between chiropractic care visits.

Returning to Wellness
 
Healing after an auto accident without a chiropractor's help can be a long and painful process. The results of untreated muscle and nerve damage might impact your quality of life for years to come.
 
If you are suffering from whiplash or other traumatic injury we encourage you to find a chiropractor with the expertise to effectively support the healing process. At McCann Family Chiropractic in Maryville, WA, our staff is trained in the best treatments to get you back to optimal health. Call us for an initial exam and get back on the road to wellness today!
 
Sources:

1. https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Health-Wellness-Information/Neck-Pain-and-Chiropractic

​Most people consider posture in relation to sitting for long periods, often at a desk. Laptops are well known for causing significant postural problems as the viewing angle forces you to look down. While this is one situation where posture is important, other types of jobs and situations also require using the proper posture, such as:

• Truck Drivers: Truck drivers sit for long hours each day and are often bounced and jostled while on the road.
• Delivery Drivers: Aside from sitting for many hours, this job requires a significant amount of lifting and carrying of large and bulky items.
• Construction Workers: Obviously, this is a very physical job.  It is critical to use proper posture to prevent injuries while working, lifting, bending, and standing on the job.
• Retail/Restaurant Workers: Working long hours on your feet can lead to poor posture, slouching, and craning your neck forward. 

Bad posture is the result of our bodies attempting to adapt to various situations we put ourselves in. Slouching our shoulders forward, leaning hunched over a desk, leaning on a counter while standing, and not lifting an object correctly are all everyday examples of how we can develop bad posture. And bad posture? It leads to a variety of symptoms which can include tension headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, and back pain.
Your upper back and shoulders might feel tense and tight or ache. You could notice a sharpness in your lower back. Poor posture often leads to spinal misalignment and over time can stress and/or pinch nerves. All of this means that bad posture can lead to an increase in general symptoms you may feel including headaches, body aches, and muscle tension. Additionally, poor posture will lead to an increased risk for injuries.

Can you fix bad posture?
Of course! The first step in any retraining process is to understand where you are now.  Being aware of our habits will help us to form better ones. Some questions you might ask yourself:

• Am I sitting in my chair correctly?

 Your back should be upright with your feet firmly planted on the floor and your shoulders           
 relaxed. You may need a lumbar support if your low back isn’t sufficiently supported. 

• Am I looking down for long periods of time?

 Your line of vision should be forward. Ensure that your working area does not require you to look
​down for long periods of time.  You might place your monitor on a book or use other simple solutions to resolve any issues. Also, be sure you take 20 seconds every 20 minutes to look up and away. 

• Is my body balanced when I’m standing?

Your hips should be square and not leaning to one side or the other. Be sure you are not locking out your knees.  Be in a relaxed, neutral, upright position as much as possible.

• Am I using proper technique when lifting?

Make sure you are following the suggestions for standing. When you need to lift something, ensure you have squared up with the item being lifted. Bend at the knees and use your legs for power, not your back. You should always avoid twisting when lifting. 
​
Exercises to Improve Posture
After discovering what you are doing wrong and taking steps to correct poor posture, your next objective is to implement exercises to strengthen the shoulders, neck, and back. These exercises don’t require a gym membership and can easily be done at home or in the office. At McCann Family Chiropractic, we call these “Spinal Hygiene” exercises. Your teeth require good hygiene to keep in top shape, and your spine does too! 

• Range of Motion Exercises: Hold each motion for 15 seconds.  Look down, look up, side bend to both sides, rotate neck (look over your shoulder) to both sides.  You should go to your end range of motion, without causing pain.
• Shoulder Rolls: Keep your hands down at your side and roll your shoulders backwards in a circular motion.
• Crescent Shaped Neck Roll: Start looking down and roll your neck to one shoulder and then back to the other shoulder.  This is not a full rotation and you should be looking down the entire time. 
• Abdominal Crunches and other core strengthening exercises.
• General Stretching of the major muscle groups will help keep your body in balance.

​Chiropractic Can Help with Posture Problems
Chiropractic care can provide the education, support, and knowledge you require to improve poor posture. We focus on the health and wellness of the entire body, which involves ensuring the spine is properly aligned and the nervous system is functioning optimally.
When these two areas are working properly, people often notice a reduction in back, neck, and shoulder pain; tension, stress, anxiety, and more. Our office is happy to incorporate a computerized posture scan into your new patient exam.  Let us know if this is something you are interested in. To learn more about how to improve your posture and develop good posture habits, please contact McCann Family Chiropractic at (360) 657-7183 today!

It's been a decade.  A whole 10 years that you have supported us, and I have been privileged to walk alongside so many patients.  Last week, I was able to share a dinner table with 19 great friends. These friends are patients who have stayed with our practice from the first year we opened.  What a tremendous blessing!  I was blown away by the stories my patients shared, and humbled that I have been a part of their life story.  

When I started my practice, I knew this was my calling.  I am so very blessed to be walking this journey with you.  Thank you, friends.  There are many, many more good years to come!