3 MORE Tips for Safe Snow Shoveling

Have you ever thrown your back out trying to clear your driveway or sidewalk?

Following our last blog, here are three MORE tips for keeping your body safe while shoveling!

1. Use Good Technique

Avoid bending at the waist — that’s a fast track to lower back pain. Instead:

• Bend at your knees and hips, keeping your back straight.
• Lift with your legs, not your back.
• Keep the shovel close to your body as you lift.
• Don’t overload the shovel — take smaller scoops.

This helps protect your spine and reduces the risk of muscle strains.

2. Pace Yourself and Take Breaks

Shoveling isn’t a race. Take frequent breaks, especially if the snow is heavy or wet. Working slowly and steadily gives your muscles a chance to recover and helps reduce fatigue — one of the biggest drivers of poor form and injury.

3. Watch Out for Ice and Slips

Ice hidden under the snow is a common hazard. Wear boots with good traction and consider sprinkling sand or salt for grip. Slipping and falling can lead to sprains, fractures, or worse, so take extra care when temperatures hover around freezing. 

Read more in our latest article.

Visit Your Local Ann Arbor Chiropractor; No Pressure, No Commitment

Dr. Gessert focuses on specific structural correction chiropractic care — meaning that adjustment don’t just mask symptoms, they help identify and correct the root causes of your pain with a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs. Whether it’s back pain, shoulder strain, or discomfort from overexertion on the job, our array of services can help you feel better and get back to your normal routine.

Contact your local Ann Arbor chiropractor here or call 734-221-0362 to set up your first appointment! Remember, you’re free to talk to Dr. Gessert without pressure or commitment. We look forward to helping you feel your best!

3 Tips for Safe Snow Shoveling

Did you know that it’s easy to hurt yourself while shoveling snow?

Here are three tips for keeping your body safe while shoveling:

1. Warm Up Like You Would Before a Workout

Shoveling snow is essentially a form of exercise — and just like you wouldn’t start lifting weights with cold muscles, you shouldn’t start shoveling without warming up. Spend a few minutes stretching your back, legs, arms, and shoulders to get your muscles ready for action. 

2. Dress in Layers and Stay Hydrated

Cold muscles are more prone to injury and tightness. Dress in warm, moisture-wicking layers so you can adjust your comfort level as you work. Staying hydrated is important too — even in winter, your body loses fluids through exertion. 

3. Choose the Right Shovel

Pick a shovel that matches your height and strength. A lightweight, ergonomic shovel can make the job much easier, especially if it allows you to push snow rather than lift it. Pushing snow reduces strain on your back and shoulders.

Read more in our latest article.

Visit Your Local Ann Arbor Chiropractor; No Pressure, No Commitment

Dr. Gessert focuses on specific structural correction chiropractic care — meaning that adjustment don’t just mask symptoms, they help identify and correct the root causes of your pain with a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs. Whether it’s back pain, shoulder strain, or discomfort from overexertion on the job, our array of services can help you feel better and get back to your normal routine.

Contact your local Ann Arbor chiropractor here or call 734-221-0362 to set up your first appointment! Remember, you’re free to talk to Dr. Gessert without pressure or commitment. We look forward to helping you feel your best!

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

What are the symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?

In our last blog, we discussed the characteristics of DDD. Now, here is a list of the symptoms that emerge from it:

• Chronic Pain: Prolonged pain in the lower back, neck, or buttocks is common. Pain may worsen with activities like bending, lifting, or twisting.

• Radiating Pain: Pain that radiates down the arms (cervical spine) or legs (lumbar spine), known as radiculopathy, if nerves are compressed.

• Numbness and Tingling: These sensations might occur in the extremities if nerve compression is involved.

• Muscle Weakness: Muscle weakness can develop in severe DDD cases, affecting mobility and strength in the arms or legs.

• Pain Relief with Movement: Interestingly, pain may decrease with certain movements, like walking or changing positions, as these activities relieve pressure on the affected discs.

Looking in Ann Arbor for Help with Back Pain?

Chiropractic work can help you manage degenerative disc disease, as well as many other secondary conditions. For help with back pain in Ann Arbor, schedule a no-commitment consultation by calling 734-221-0362 or submitting a contact form here.

Characteristics of Degenerative Disc Disease

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a condition where the discs in your spine start to break down. This process is a natural part of aging, but it can also be accelerated by things like injury, repeated stress, or genetics.

The following are characteristics of DDD:

• Disc Dehydration: As we age, our spinal discs lose water content, which makes them thinner and less flexible. This reduces their ability to absorb shocks.

• Disc Herniation: The disc’s outer layer may weaken, leading to bulging or herniation, where the inner gel-like core pushes out. Get more detail in our bulging disc/disc herniation article.

• Bone Spurs: As discs deteriorate, the body may produce bone spurs (osteophytes) to stabilize the spine, which can cause pain if they press on nerves.

Looking in Ann Arbor for Help with Back Pain?

Chiropractic work can help you manage degenerative disc disease, as well as many other secondary conditions. For help with back pain in Ann Arbor, schedule a no-commitment consultation by calling 734-221-0362 or submitting a contact form here.

Protect Your Back While Shoveling Snow This Winter

Whether we like it or not, winter in Michigan is here! With winter comes snow, and with snow comes the risk of hurting ourselves when we shovel.

Have you thrown out your back before? The pain can be intense, and even worse if you’re someone who suffers with chronic low back pain.

How can you prevent back pain and keep from throwing out your back?

Throwing out your back sounds sudden and violent, but it might not involve sharp pain or even a realization that you’ve done it until later. Symptoms of a thrown out back include:

• Back stiffness that limits your range of motion
• Intense low back pain
• Muscle spasms
• Problems standing up straight or maintaining good posture

Shoveling snow is one of the biggest reasons people in the Midwest throw out their back each year.

Read more about back pain relief in Ann Arbor on our website.

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic for Back Pain Relief!

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options to treat back pain in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us at 734-221-0362.
 

Seated Exercises to Relieve Back Pain

Need a solution to help with back pain you can start right now?

If back pain has you down, take a seat and listen up. You can start on the path to less pain right now from the comfort of your chair with these three simple exercises.

For these exercises, you can sit on the floor or a chair. Keep your core muscles tight throughout the movements to support your back.

1. Hamstring: Stretch one leg straight in front of you. With your back straight, reach for your foot and pull your belly toward your thigh. Stretch until you feel tension in your back and the back of your leg. If you can’t reach your foot, it’s okay to bend your knees a little as long as you still feel the stretch in your hamstring. Hold for ten seconds and repeat on the other side.
2. Rotational: Sit on the floor or in a chair. Cross your right leg over your left. Then place your left elbow against the outside of the right knee so your shoulders rotate away from your legs. Press against your knee gently to deepen the stretch. Hold for ten seconds and repeat on the other side.
3. Bracing: Keep your back straight with your hands resting on your lower abs. Tighten your core muscles to pull your belly button in towards your spine. Take three slow breaths while pulling your belly button in farther with each exhale. Relax and repeat at least ten times.

Read more about relieving everyday back pain on our website!

For better results, make the time to do these exercises twice a day every day. For best results, pair your workouts with a free consultation with us at Pivotal Chiropractic. There is no better way to beat back pain in Ann Arbor than by letting us build a custom plan for you. Give us a call today.
 

Lying Down Exercises for Back Pain

Dealing with back pain but don’t have a clue how to resolve it?

You’re not alone and you don’t have to take the pain lying down. Instead, start working on your pain lying down. Set aside a few minutes twice a day to complete these four lying down back exercises and you should start feeling some relief!

With each of these exercises, you’ll start in the same position, lying down on the floor with bent knees and feet flat on the floor. To support your spine throughout the exercises, keep your core muscles tight.

1. Knee to Chest: Slowly bring one knee up towards your chest and use your arms to pull the knee inward, or simply hold, for five seconds.
2. Rotational: Keeping your shoulders anchored to the floor, drop your knees in a controlled motion to one side of your body. Hold the stretch for ten seconds, then switch to the other side.  
3. Bridge: With your shoulders anchored on the floor, press with your feet to lift your hips skyward. Press until your body is a straight line from your knees to your shoulders and hold for five seconds. Repeat at least ten times.
4. Pelvic Tilt: Gently roll your pelvis to arch your back and push your stomach out. Hold for five seconds. Roll your pelvis in to press your lower back to the floor and tighten your ab muscles. Hold for five seconds. Repeat at least ten times.

Read more about relieving every day back pain on our website!

Once you’ve finished your first round with these exercises, don’t stop there. Take the next step to conquering your back pain in Ann Arbor and call the professionals. At Pivotal Chiropractic, we want to help you feel your best. Reach out today for a free consultation.

How to Treat the Root Cause of Back Pain

Do you have chronic back pain?

Are you tired of canceling plans and even having to call out of work because of pain? It’s time to start treating the root cause, rather than temporary pain relief. A specific structural correction chiropractor treats the root cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. Why is that so important?

If you pluck a dandelion flower from your garden, the weed seems to be gone for a few weeks, only to return again. However, if you dig up the dandelion’s root, it does not come back. It is the same for issues caused by an underlying structural problem.

If you’re tired of treating the same symptoms, give something new a try. Sit down with a professional at Pivotal Chiropractic and tell them about your conditions.

After an examination, you may learn that a real solution is not as far as you might think and chiropractic care could be what you’ve been looking for. 

Read more on our website!

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic in Ann Arbor for a Chiropractor Who Puts You First!

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us at 734-221-0362.

Tips for Managing Back Pain

Did you know back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor or miss work? It’s also a leading cause of disability worldwide. 

Back pain can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). It can either feel like a sudden, sharp pain, or a dull, constant ache. While acute back pain can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, chronic pain can last for months and often requires medical care to go away, while acute pain usually gets better on its own. 

If you suffer from back pain, you know how debilitating it can be. How can you prevent back pain? Going to a chiropractor regularly can help reduce your pain and even get to the root of your issues, but there are also things you can do in between adjustments to keep pain away. 

1. Do gentle muscle stretching exercises at least 2-3 days per week. 
2. Fix your office space ergonomics, this includes adjusting your computer monitor, keyboard, and chair height. 

Read the full article on our website! 

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic in Ann Arbor for a Chiropractor Who Puts You First! 

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, contact us at 734-221-0362.

Strength Training Workouts to Prevent Back Pain

Do you have lingering back pain that keeps you from doing activities you once enjoyed?

Most people think that strength training will only aggravate injuries, but did you know strength training exercises are a great way to stay fit generally, but also improve mobility, confidence and overall health, including back pain?

When done properly, strength exercises do exactly that – strengthen weak muscles in your legs, core, and back, which will give you more support over time and help reduce back pain.

Do you feel there is something preventing you from trying strength training? Remember, you don’t need a gym membership to lift weights.

Regular household items can work just fine. Water jugs, cans of food, bricks, boxes filled with books, and cheap resistance bands to name a few. Get creative and stick with the program to build strength.

Read the full article on our website about reducing back pain with strength training!

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic in Ann Arbor for a Chiropractor Who Puts You First!

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options for a chiropractor in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.

Reduce Back Pain with Chiropractic Care

Do you lead an active lifestyle, but prefer running or cardio workouts over strength training?

Do you have lingering back pain that keeps you from doing activities you once enjoyed? 

When done properly, strength exercises do exactly that – strengthen weak muscles in your legs, core, and back, which will give you more support over time and help reduce back pain.

Here are some other ways strength training can be beneficial:

1. Stronger heart: Strength training can burn the fat that surrounds your organ easier and more efficiently than simple cardio workouts. Burning that fat (visceral fat) can decrease stress on the heart and improve its capability to pump blood.
   
   
2. Better mental health: Exercise releases “feel good” hormones (dopamine) which act as a reward to your brain. Strength training in particular increases self-confidence, which is a great way to combat anxiety and depression.

Read the full article about how strength training can reduce back pain on our website!

What’s the Difference Between Structural Chiropractic Care and Conventional Chiropractic Care?

Most Chiropractors you’ll find on your typical Google search are conventional chiropractors. They focus on reducing pain, inflammation, muscle spasms and increasing range of motion in joints.

They manage these health concerns with the use of general manipulations of the neck and spine. This is what most chiropractors offer in the way of care, and we believe that most of them do a great job at it.

As a Specific Structural Corrective Chiropractor, Dr. Gessert is dedicated to diagnosing and correcting the underlying cause of your condition. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.

4 Stretches to Provide Pain Relief While Working at Home

If you’ve been working from home, think about how much movement you’re getting throughout the day. You wake up, walk from your bedroom to the kitchen, poor a cup of coffee, then head to your home office to begin the day. Lunchtime rolls around when you grab a bite to eat, then back to work. When the day finally ends, you probably go sit at the kitchen table, eat dinner, relax on the couch to unwind, and then off to bed … only to wake up the next day and do it all over again. This is a typical day for millions of Americans right now.

What’s the answer?

You have to get your body moving and out of the house! Take 30-45 minutes to work out in the morning or afternoon. This could be a walk or run around the neighborhood, or a series of body weight exercises. If you’re lucky enough to have a home gym, go ahead and pump some iron. Mobility is also important! Spend 2-3 minutes every hour stretching. That might seem like a lot, but its only 2-3 minutes, and in reality, if you mute yourself on those conference calls, so you can multitask.

Spending 2-3 minutes every hour to do some general maintenance on your body will help counteract a lot of the physical stress and achiness you experience while working from home.

Read the full article on our website to see the 4 stretches Dr. Gessert recommends to keep you active while working at home.

Getting Relief from Back Pain while Working from Home

Many folks have been working from home over the past month and a half, and many of our favorite businesses have shut down. Gyms, restaurants, movie theaters, schools, and daycares are the places we frequent the most.

Since we’re encouraged to leave our homes only for groceries and essential health services, most of us have been pretty sedentary.

Research shows that a sedentary lifestyle leads to a myriad of health problems. According to the World Health organization, a sedentary lifestyle leads to an increase in all causes of mortality. It also leads to double the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.

In addition to chronic conditions, being sedentary contributes to a number of musculoskeletal conditions including shoulder, hip, neck, mid-back and low back pain. It’s estimated that up to 80% of people experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Along with pain comes the psychological effects, like depression, grief, and discomfort. It’s easy to see that sitting around all day, even if you’re working, is not good for your health. How can you get back pain relief?

Read more on our website!