Spring is here and it’s time to get outside to play – and do yard work. Many of us who have been “dormant” all winter will start planting flowers, lifting heavy bags of mulch and taking part in other outdoor pursuits.
We asked Dr. Kelley Hensley of Pinnacle Chiropractic and Family Wellness to answer a few questions about the “weekend warriors” who have started making appointments at her clinic.
Q: Dr. Kelley, what’ the most common injury you’re seeing right now along these lines? The most common injury right now seems to be low back pain from lifting heavy bags of potting soil or mulch and from bending down gardening for long periods of time. We are also seeing an increase in sports related injuries since the weather has been so nice, more people are getting out running and playing spring sports.
Q: What are some preventative measures people can take when they’re working out in the yard or flower garden? Of course we all know to lift with our knees, don’t twist when lifting heavy bags and keep them close to your body. I think the most important thing is to listen to our bodies and not push too hard or try to “push through the pain”. The pain is there for a reason, it is letting your body know there is a problem and you need to address it sooner rather than later. Take a break and rest. The garden will wait for you!
Q: What about activities like water sports and baseball? Any good advice for avoiding injuries? Definitely stretching before any activity is always a good thing, start off nice and easy and don’t overdo it. Again, listen to your body!
Q: What about for kids? Thankfully kids are very resilient and they don’t feel the pain as much as an adult, but they still need to be checked out, especially after hard falls. Injuries, even minor ones, can affect the spine and start a cumulative effect that can lead to degenerative processes and chronic pain later in life. Kids are very intuitive about their bodies also and respond very well and quickly to treatment. I have several kids in the office that after just a few visits are feeling great and then they can let their parents know when they need another visit!
Q: Allergies are also a part of spring. We understand you have a new allergy elimination specialist practicing there now. What’s her background? Jennifer Young, RN, NAET Practitioner, has been a wonderful addition to our family. She is one of only 3 NAET certified practitioners in Arkansas. She is a mother of 3 young girls with a boy on the way.
Jennifer discovered this technique when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with severe allergies to almost everything. She decided to become certified herself and her daughter is doing great and doesn’t suffer from allergies any longer! So she decided to share this with other families in NWA and so far the results have been amazing. It can help with most allergies, including seasonal, food, and she has seen some autistic children that are benefiting tremendously!
Q: What are some of the techniques she uses? The best way to find out about it would be to attend one of the free monthly information classes we have. The first class is at 6 p.m. tonight (April 15) at 6 p.m. Contact Dr. Kelley’s office for future class dates and times.
Q: What are the benefits of this route versus medication? This is a natural non-invasive technique that has a proven track record and the results speak for themselves.
Q:Who’s a good candidate? Anyone with a known allergy or sometimes there are hidden allergies that can manifest as other problems.
Q: Are there any new methods in chiropractic care you’re using now? We are Webster technique certified, which is a very safe, non-invasive chiropractic analysis and adjustment that removes uterine constraint in the mama so the baby can assume the best possible position for birth (helps with breech babies).
We are also doing some more nutritional consults involving getting lab work done and going over the results to find a natural nutritional medicine to help with common problems, to reduce the side effects of traditional medication.
Of course, we specialize in kids and expectant women. There is a lot of research out about how chiropractic can help with colic, ear infections, sleeping issues, strengthen immune systems in kids, help with back labor and shorten labor times. We love our pregnant mamas and babies!
To learn more about chiropractic, nutrition or allergy care, contact Dr. Kelley’s office at 479-715-6772.
