A Closer Look: Sciatica
“Some things you have to do every day. Eating seven apples on a Saturday night instead of one a day just isn’t going to get the job done.” – Jim Rohn
We wish you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving holiday from EPIC Chiropractic!
In this month’s newsletter, we highlight Sciatica and some quick tips to help avoid that common discomfort. Before we get to that, you will see some of your questions answered by Dr. Morris, a motivational quote, and some fun ‘did you know’ facts to share around the office or Thanksgiving table this week. As always, we love to spread the word of health and wellness, so feel free to share our newsletter with anyone you think would enjoy!
Your Questions Answered by Dr. Morris:
Q: Do you recommend a multivitamin to everyone?
A: Yes, from the healthiest eater to the least. Why? Because our food and soil (for my organic eaters) are greatly depleted of nutrients and vitamins. So, even on the strictest and healthiest of diets it is virtually impossible to get all the daily essential nutrients and vitamins a multivitamin can help provide. I recommend Standard Process vitamins sold here at EPIC Chiropractic because they are derived directly from whole foods and not synthesized in a factory like many store bought brands.
Q: What are some fitness tips for the holidays to avoid putting on those extra pounds?
A: Holiday season is upon us and we all know good food is just around the corner. Throughout this holiday season here are couple of tips to keep those extra unwanted pounds off:
Plan walks after a big meal, this is a great time to visit with a family member or friend and you both get in some exercise post-feast.
Exercise with those whom you are spending the holidays. Invite them on a jog, bike ride or to the local gym for a quick work out session. This will keep your exercise regimen maintained and help ignite your mood and metabolism over the holidays!
The 2 P’s: (Portions and Pace). It is healthier to eat several smaller meals throughout the day versus one large meal; however, sometimes we cannot avoid the one large meal over the holidays; therefore, remember “pace”. Eating slower has been proven to help keep off those extra pounds and it also guards against overeating. So take a little extra time this holiday meal and you will notice you enjoy the food more and aren’t feeling the after effects of overeating!
A GLIMPSE AT SCIATICA:
Sciatica or sciatic nerve pain is any discomfort associated with the irritation of the sciatic nerve. Many of you have likely experienced some form of this discomfort before and know by pattern, this nerve travels from your lower back to your buttocks region and down your leg. The pain can occur due to a wide variety of reasons including: spinal subluxations, muscle imbalance, lifting injury, disc problem, poor posture, and the list goes on. The good news is that here at EPIC Chiropractic, we are great at pin-pointing what is causing your irritation and able to treat you for the root cause of the sciatic pain. We also give you unique structured stretching and exercise protocols to follow to help in the healing process and to keep your sciatica from flaring up.
Quick Tips to help avoid sciatic nerve pain:
Routine Chiropractic Adjustments. This ensures that your spinal and nerve health is functioning at it’s optimal capacity; therefore, minimizing risk of injury or pain occuring.
Proper Ergonomics and Posture. This is important to remember while sitting and standing because it helps maintain muscle balance and strength. The piriformis is a triangular muscle located on the lateral aspect of the buttocks region. The sciatic nerve, in the majority of people, passes right underneath this muscle; thus, any spasm or tightness in this muscle is directly related to sciatic nerve discomfort.
Exercise and Stretch. It is important to have an exercise regimine that is made a part of your daily routine; however, what is equally as important is an accompanying stretching regimine. I always recommend a 5-10 minute warm-up and cool down period for any workout. Also, on rest days, yoga and foam rolling are great alternatives versus doing nothing. They help target different muscle groups and help in the recovery process of your muscles that are resting.
These 3 I am going to group into one bullet point because they are important in every aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Get enough sleep, drink enough water (1/2 your body weight in ounces), and reduce your stress levels!
'DID YOU KNOW?'
Turns out, tryptophan is not the big reason people get sleepy Thanksgiving afternoon. It’s mostly due to overeating and your body using more energy in the digestion process!
The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.
The heaviest turkey on record to ever be raised was 86 pounds!
Thanks for reading our Newsletter and remember to #liveEPIC!
