Track and Field: Stretches for Runners

With track and field starting up this month, many athletes are going to be pushing their bodies to do amazing things. With this, preparation is needed to avoid injury. Dr. Christopher Brill of Therapeutic Solutions, LLC in Newport News, VA is sharing some tips for stretching before and after those track meets.

Before Your Run

You want to be sure that you do a dynamic stretch before your run. This will loosen up your muscles and prepare them for extension. Try:

·        Walking lunges- Lunges while you walk! Alternate legs.

·        Leg swings- Hold onto a wall or a chair and swing your leg forward and back. Alternate legs.

These work to hit all of your leg muscles.

 

After Your Run

After your run, you want your muscles to heal with flexibility. Skipping stretching could lead to tightened muscles and tendons.

·        Quads: Standing up, bend one of your legs up so your heel is brought towards your butt. Press the top of your shoe into the palm of your hand. Alternate legs.

·        Hip Flexors and Hamstrings: Kneel down and put one foot in front of you, having your leg bent at a ninety-degree angle. Push your right hip forward. Alternate legs.

·        Calves: Sit on the floor with one foot stretched in front of you. Reach for your toes. Alternate legs.

Remember that static stretches should be held for about thirty seconds to get the benefit of the stretch. For more information, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com or feel free to contact Dr. Brill & staff at 757-873-4131.

Yours in Good Health,

Dr. Christopher Brill

Therapeutic Solutions LLC

Chiropractic & Wellness Center

716-A Thimble Shoals Blvd.

Newport News, VA 23606

Choosing a Pillow for a Healthy Sleep Position

Your whole day of hard work healing your spine can all be thrown away if you are sleeping in an improper position. Sleep posture is both necessary for a healthy spine and healthy sleep. Dr. Christopher Brill of Therapeutic Solutions, LLC in Newport News, VA is sharing tips for picking out the right pillow for you. The right pillow will hold your cervical spine in a neutral position and support a healthy position for the rest of the spine.

For Back and Side Sleepers:

Those who sleep on their back or on their side will benefit from a thicker pillow. You want to be sure that the pillow cushions the gap between your bed and your head comfortably. You do not want your head to hang down or be pushed forward. This can create a kink in the cervical spine; hindering nerve messages to and from the brain. It can also lead to spinal pain when you wake up.

For Stomach Sleepers:

Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position for your spine. However, some patients do prefer this way to sleep. If you are a stomach sleeper, make sure to use a very thin pillow or even no pillow at all. This keeps your head from being higher than the rest of your body and keeps your cervical spine in line with the rest of your body. To take pressure off the rest of your spine, place a pillow under your pelvis/ stomach area.

A good night’s sleep leads to a restored body and healthy spine. For more information, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com  or feel free to contact Dr. Brill & staff at 757-873-4131.

Yours in Good Health,

Dr. Christopher Brill

Therapeutic Solutions LLC

Chiropractic & Wellness Center

716-A Thimble Shoals Blvd.

Newport News, VA 23606

Questions to Ask Your Chiropractor

Asking questions is what allows people to continually grow their knowledge. This is important in life; especially when it comes to health. When you are new to chiropractic, it can be hard to know where to start. This is why at Therapeutic Solutions, LLC, we want to give our patients some key questions to prepare for your first appointment. Dr. Christopher Brill wants all of his patients here in our Newport News, VA office to be a partner in their health.

Knowing what your chiropractor’s technique is will help you prepare for appointments. Ask your chiropractor what steps are procedures are going to be part of your treatment. Also, ask how it will help treat your specific condition.

The second step is to find out what to expect after appointments. Will there be any pain? Will you feel relieved afterwards? This helps you get ready for the appointment and be able to plan your day after the appointment.

One more key question is to ask what you can do to continue progress at home. Whether it involves lifestyle changes or exercises, there will be something you can do at home to keep moving in the right direction.

To ask us more about the conditions we treat and chiropractic, feel free to contact us! For more information, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com  or feel free to contact Dr. Brill & staff at 757-873-4131. 

Yours in Good Health,

Dr. Christopher Brill

Therapeutic Solutions LLC

Chiropractic & Wellness Center

716-A Thimble Shoals Blvd.

Newport News, VA 23606

Spinal Degeneration

We all age, unfortunately, and as we get older our spines start to degenerate. Spinal discs are soft, compressible discs that separate the vertebrae that make up the spine. The discs act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing it to flex, bend, and twist. Spinal degenerative disease refers to any disease of the spinal column that results from the aging process and wear and tear that occurs to the bone and soft tissues of the spine. If you notice yourself losing a few inches in height, this may be the reason why. If suspect that’s the case, you should give Dr. Christopher Brill a call.

The term degenerative spine disease does not refer to any one condition of the spine. It is a general term that encompasses many types of disorders that can occur simultaneously in the same patient. Disc degeneration is actually a natural part of aging, and over time, all people will exhibit changes in their discs consistent with a greater or lesser degree of degeneration. However, not all people will develop symptoms. If you’re wondering what the symptoms are, these include lower back pain that is generally made worse with sitting, back pain intensified by bending and lifting, and a desire to change positions frequently to alleviate pain. Treatment for degenerative spine disease varies considerably depending on the specifics of each case.

To learn more about spinal degeneration and services we provide at the practice, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Brill at Therapeutic Solutions LLC in Newport News, VA, call 757-873-4131.

Ergonomic Principles

At Therapeutic Solutions LLC, we believe that ergonomics is important for your posture and your range of motion. Ergonomics looks at what kind of work you do, what tools you use and your whole job environment. In recent years, ergonomists have attempted to define postures which minimize unnecessary static work and reduce the forces acting on the body. In fact, all of us could significantly reduce our risk of injury if we could adhere to the following ergonomic principles:

• All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures.


• Where muscular force has to be exerted it should be done by the largest appropriate muscle groups available.


• Work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk, and upper limbs.

No matter what the job is, the goal is to make sure that you are safe, comfortable and less prone to work-related injuries.

To learn more about the services we provide, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Brill at Therapeutic Solutions LLC in Newport News, VA, call 757-873-4131.

Chiropractic Diagnosis for Back Pain

At Therapeutic Solutions LLC, it doesn’t matter if you’re suffering from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or have recently been injured in a car accident, because we are here to provide you with relief whatever the cause. Once you schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Brill, he will need to assess what is causing you strife. He does this by classifying your injury into one of three categories. These categories of chiropractic diagnosis include:  

• Potentially serious: tumor, infection, fracture, major neurological problem, local open wound or burn, prolonged bleeding, artificial joint implant problems, pacemaker problems, joint infection


• Nerve problem: when the nerve root in the low back is pinched or compressed, causing a radiculopathy (sciatica). Typical causes of nerve root pinching include a lumbar herniated disc, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis


• Non-specific: mechanical back pain in the lumbar spine. This type of lower back pain is the most common presentation, and includes pain for which there is no identifiable cause.

If you are suffering from pain of any kind, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Brill at Therapeutic Solutions LLC in Newport News, VA, call 757-873-4131.

Chiropractic Treatment for Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms are joint pain and stiffness, which is why the condition may benefit from chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments and tendons. However, because in some conditions and circumstances, chiropractic techniques can actually worsen the symptoms of arthritis, Dr. Christopher Brill will need to perform a thorough examination before suggesting proper treatment.

The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. There are several different types of arthritis and treatment will vary on the type that is diagnosed. Depending on the kind of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and decreased range of motion. Specific chiropractic adjustments can take stress off your nervous system, allowing your body to rest relax and heal.

If you are suffering from arthritis pain, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. For more information about the services we provide, visit our website at www.therapeutic-solutions-llc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Christopher Brill at Therapeutic Solutions LLC in Newport News, VA, call 757-873-4131.