Tips for Proper Posture

Sit up straight! Don’t slouch! If your mother ever shouted these commands at you, they probably didn’t stick, but they should have. Posture refers to the body’s alignment and positioning with the respect to the ever-present force of gravity. Good posture not only affects your physical body, it provides a boost for your emotional and mental well-being. By positioning the body correctly while sitting and standing, there is even pressure on the spine, its muscles and ligaments, leaving you to feel more pain-free. To help you stand tall and maintain good posture, our staff at Health 1^st of the Triad thought we would share the following tips with you.

• Imagine that a string is attached to the top of your head and pulling you upwards. The idea is to keep your body in perfect alignment, maintaining the spine’s natural curvature, neck straight and shoulders parallel with the hips.


• To stand correctly, you should always keep your shoulders back and relaxed while pulling in your abdomen and keeping your feet about hip distance apart.


• Balance your weight evenly on both feet and try not to tilt your head forward, backwards or sideways. Finally, you should always keep your legs straight, but your feet relaxed.

If you have questions about correct posture, please give us a call. To learn about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at the office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Treatment

The temporomandibular joints, called TMJ, are the joints and jaw muscles that make it possible to open and close your mouth. You have two temporomandibular joints which work together as a pair, one in front of each ear to help you eat, yawn, and speak. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a complex and poorly understood set of conditions characterized by pain in the jaw joint and surrounding tissues and limitation in jaw movements. If you have been diagnosed with TMD, our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad can correct the problem.  

Although there is no documented reason that TMJ disorders occur, scientists have found that most patients with TMD also experience painful conditions in other parts of the body. These comorbid conditions include chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headache, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, low back pain, and sleep disorders. Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include pain or tenderness in your jaw, discomfort while chewing, aching facial pain, or locking of the joint, making it difficult to open and close your mouth.

If you experience any of these symptoms, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at our office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.

7 Tips For A Healthier Spring

We've put together 7 tips to enjoying a happy and healthy spring.  Check it out...

1. Revamp Your Exercise Routine

Your exercise routine has most likely probably decreased while you could lose yourself under layers of winter clothes, so now is the time to revamp it! Concentrate on your arms, legs and abs, and if you have a gym membership, schedule some time to use it! If not, make a time to go for a walk or a jog, and check out the outdoors as it changes from winter to spring...

2. Plan an Outdoor Excursion

Plan a date to go for a picnic with your mom, your best friend or your boyfriend, and find a proper picnic basket. Then start stocking up on exciting spring foods like strawberries and lemonade, and enjoying the outdoors - while getting a little Vitamin D in the process.  Getting healthier couldn't be more enjoyable! 

3.  Get Ready To Get Away

Book your vacation! Whether you can take an actual vacation, or just enjoy a few days off work, go ahead and plan some events, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the start of spring. What better things to plan a trip to the beach or to a water park or even the zoo...

4. Update the Wardrobe!

Pack away your winter clothes, and dig out the spring ones! Find items you can layer for the cooler days, and pretty spring dresses for the warmer ones... and make sure you check what still fits, and consign anything that doesn’t. That way you can get some spring spending money!

5.  Watch The Diet

Spring offers great choices for healthier food intake.  Remember that it also brings about the quick fast foods as well.  Skip the hot dog at the ballpark and enjoy some grilled chicken instead!

6. Try Something New

Spring is a time of new grow - so it's a great time for new experiences as well.  Try something you've been putting off over the winter.  Take the yoga class or try the hiking club - enjoy something new this spring!

7. Yes - Spring Clean!

Now it’s time to give the house a good Spring Cleaning! Go ahead and donate things you don’t need, put away the winter clothes, clean the windows, tidy the bedrooms... set aside a day to clean the house and your car as well. Not only is it good for the house, it can be good exercise too!

Thank You for Your Testimonials!

Here at Health 1^st of the Triad, we appreciate feedback from our customers because it teaches us how to improve. Our doctors at Health 1^st not only treat everyday aches and pains, they assist patients who participate in active sports as well, including black belts! We’d like to not only thank Daniel Garcia for reviewing us but we’d like to encourage the rest of our customers to do the same.  

"Prior to my visit to North Carolina, I suffered an injury to my shoulder that was interfering with my training. I went to see Dr. Mays at Health 1st to help eliminate some of this pain and resolve other issues I developed from grappling. It is very important for me to continue my high volume of training in order to stay prepared for upcoming competitions.

Regular visits with Dr. Mays made it possible for me to stay in the gym and continue preparing for my next event. I travel around the world, and within the U.S., competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. The professionalism, knowledge, and kind staff are amongst the best I have ever seen. I highly recommend any athlete to see Dr. Mays, at Health 1st, on a regular basis for injury prevention and healing. To stay on top of your sport, you should add these visits into your training regime."

- Daniel Garcia Black Belt
Team Nova Uniao Brazilian National Champion Maringa, Brazil

Your opinion is important to us, so please let us know about your visit. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at our office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.

Stimulate Your Muscles with Electricity

At Health 1^st of the Triad, our staff provides patients with Inferential Electro-Therapy to help the body deal with spasms, sprains, and issues related to soft tissues. Inferential Electro-Therapy involves a process through which low-level electrical currents are used to stimulate muscles, forcing them to contract. It is typically used in the early stages of physical rehabilitation following an injury that has left certain muscles unused for a long period of time.

This type of electrical therapy has been advertised to increase muscle strength, to decrease body weight and body fat, and to improve muscle firmness and tone in healthy individuals. The feeling of this therapy is very gentle and most patients feel extremely comfortable during the treatment. In addition, this method of treatment stimulates the body’s natural healing method by helping it to produce natural pain killing endorphins.

If you think you may benefit from electric muscle stimulation treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at our office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, High Point, Winston Salem, Burlington, NC, call 336-543-2231.

Allergies and Your Health

Are you frustrated with Allergies and no one seems to understand? Maybe it's time to take a fresh approach to allergies, their causes and treatments.  Over the past week, our doctors spent time with some of the leading experts in the fields of allergies and food.

It is often stated that when an animal is "sick", we turn and ask "I wonder what that animal ate that made it sick?"  But when it comes to people, we seldom look to food and the allergies related to food that could be leading to our sickness as well.  Not only can the food we eat be part of the issue, but the way we store the food could be part of the problem.

We know that our bodies are teeming with chemical reactions every day of our lives.  We take food, break it down into tiny molecules, then turn it into things we need to function.  These chemical reactions occur millions of times per day in our body and we don't even think about them until something goes wrong.

The difficult part of this concept is that it's not only dependent on the foods we eat, but the chemicals we take as well.  This does not just mean drugs or other chemicals.  Our storage containers can leech chemicals into our foods and even the "healthy" supplements that we take can contain fillers or other chemicals that can cause havoc on our bodies.

So if you are suffering with allergies or allergy symptoms, it's time to take a second look at the issue.  Talk to one of our doctors today and find out how you can live better today!

Ultrasound Therapy

 

While it shares the same name, the type of ultrasound you are going to receive at Health 1st of the Triad is not in any relation to the type of ultrasound expectant mothers receive. Ultrasound therapy is the use of sound waves above the range of human hearing to treat soft tissue injuries, muscle spasms and strains, and additional joint injuries. In fact, these sound waves do an excellent job in excelling the body’s healing process in addition to decreasing scar tissue formation.

There are many different types of therapeutic ultrasound that use different intensities and frequencies of sound, but all share the basic principle of “stimulating” or even provoking tissue with sound waves. Certain ultrasounds even create a heating effect to help relax the muscles or tightness in the body. The heat combined with the overall features of the ultrasound jumpstart the healing process, reducing the length of your road to recovery. 

If you think you may benefit from ultrasound therapy, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at our office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.

While it shares the same name, the type of ultrasound you are going to receive at Health 1^st of the Triad is not in any relation to the type of ultrasound expectant mothers receive. Ultrasound therapy is the use of sound waves above the range of human hearing to treat soft tissue injuries, muscle spasms and strains, and additional joint injuries. In fact, these sound waves do an excellent job in excelling the body’s healing process in addition to decreasing scar tissue formation.

There are many different types of therapeutic ultrasound that use different intensities and frequencies of sound, but all share the basic principle of “stimulating” or even provoking tissue with sound waves. Certain ultrasounds even create a heating effect to help relax the muscles or tightness in the body. The heat combined with the overall features of the ultrasound jumpstart the healing process, reducing the length of your road to recovery.

If you think you may benefit from ultrasound therapy, please give us a call. To learn more about the conditions we treat and the services we provide at our office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.

 

Star Wars and Chiro

Since many of you are around the same generation, I found this funny.  One of our patient's gave me this cartoon and I wanted to share it with you.

It reminds us to stay young at heart, but make sure our body is ready for the "fun" we put it through.  If it's been a while since your last visit, maybe it's time - before you get a new Star Wars T-Shirt!!!

Why is Acupuncture Done?

You may have heard of people turning to acupuncture to quit smoking, or to assist in their weight loss journey, but it does much more than those two things. Acupuncture can be used to treat headaches, bursitis, low back pain, asthma, Fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain to name a few more. Acupuncture is based on a theory that energy, called chi (say “chee”), flows through and around your body along pathways called meridians. To begin the acupuncture process here at Health 1^st of the Triad, our doctors will give you an exam and ask questions about your pain and range of mobility.

Acupuncturists believe that illness occurs when something blocks or unbalances your chi. The technique itself is done by placing very thin needles into your skin at certain points on your body. This is done to influence the energy flow. Not everyone is a good candidate for acupuncture, which is why it is important to schedule a consultation first.

If you think you may benefit from acupuncture, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231. 

What Is Trigger Point Therapy?

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. A trigger point in the back, for example, may produce referral pain in the neck. At Health 1^st of the Triad, we offer trigger point massage therapy which is specifically designed to alleviate the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release. In this type of massage for trigger point therapy, the recipient actively participates through deep breathing as well as identifying the exact location and intensity of the discomfort.

After forming, trigger points have two phases, active and latent (dormant). The active phase is the most painful and is the one which produces the unrelenting symptoms. This is the stage that motivates people to seek relief because the active trigger point hurts when pressed with a finger and causes pain around it and in other areas. Since a trigger point is an abnormal biochemical and mechanical area in contracted muscle tissue, the number and exact location on each person can vary. Since a trigger point is the contraction mechanism of the muscle locked into a shortened position, the trigger point therapy involves unlocking that contraction, leaving you pain-free.

If you think you may benefit from trigger point therapy, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231. 

Benefits of Custom Foot Orthotics

If you’re someone who is on their feet all day, aches and pains in your lower body are likely common. This is because the shock of your feet hitting the ground travels up your leg causing lower back pain and uneven hip alignment/posture. If your feet aren’t properly supported, moving can cause stress and strain on these parts. To support them, our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad can prescribe custom foot orthotics that are specially made and designed to support and comfort your feet and your feet only.

Heel pain sufferers, arch pain sufferers, and senior citizens are all types of people who may benefit from custom foot orthotics, but naturally, this depends on the individual patient. Orthotics are helpful in various ways because they help restore your ability to walk, run, and jump by reducing pain and swelling. They also increase the stability of unstable joints and provide better arch and back support. Selecting a shoe insert can be overwhelming, so why not have one that’s tailored to your needs?

If you think you may benefit from custom foot orthotics, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231. 

Simple Tips for Taking Care of You

Most of us don’t give ourselves the well-deserved break we need to keep our mental health stable. Whether it be putting our phones down, or planning a weekend trip, it’s important to “shut-down” every now and then. At Health 1^st of the Triad, our staff takes pride in putting patients first. This is why we suggest utilizing some or all of these tips to treat you to a little rest and relaxation.

• Indulge in a massage – set aside some time to experience the complete and total bliss of a massage. It soothes both the mind and muscles, improves sleep quality, and reduces stress.


• Unplug – these days it seems like we’re all glued to our phones, laptops, or even both at the same time. Taking a break from social media, email, blogging, and so on can help us recharge and gives our brain the downtime it needs to work at an optimal level.


• Get outside – Yes we are aware that it’s winter, but ditching the comfort of your home is a great way to improve mental and physical health.

To learn more about the services we provide at the office, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1^st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.

 

Many people understand that their brain controls and coordinates the body.  They may not understand that the brain is part of a complex system better known as the nervous system.  The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body. You can divide the nervous system into different parts better known as the central and peripheral nervous system.  The Central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord and The Peripheral nervous system is made up of the Somatic and the Autonomic nervous systems. At the most basic level, the function of the nervous system is to send signals from one cell to other cells, or from one part of the body to other parts.  This in a nutshell is the premise behind one of the largest health care fields on the planet.  Chiropractic health care looks at the functioning of the nervous system and chiropractic is a complete system of healthcare focused on restoring, preserving, and optimizing health by natural hands-on care. A basic philosophy of chiropractic is that the body naturally seeks the proper balance among all the systems of the body, and that these systems are meant to work together.  When the systems are out of balance or there are errors in communication, then the body begins to break down and a variety of symptoms can ensue.  Although chiropractors don’t treat body symptoms, a vast majority of patients notice significant changes in their overall health as a result of chiropractic care.  Since chiropractors focus on the nervous system and the nervous system coordinates all other systems it only goes to reason that if the nervous systems is working properly – there is a better chance for the rest of the systems to be working better as well.
Throughout the Triad, Health 1st has been dedicated to helping restore the nervous system function of thousands of patients.  If you or your family are looking for a chiropractor in High Point, Greensboro, Burlington or Winston Salem, then Health 1st is for you.  Find out if your nervous system is performing at it’s optimal level – we can help!

Increase Performance

Health 1st Chiropractic and Rehabilitation - Greensboro, North Carolina

If you're looking for ways to "fine-tune" your body - then look no further! At Health 1st Chiropractic and Rehabilitation - we've taken increasing performance to an entirely new level!

From Athletes to Weekend Warriors - our patients have come to expect a level of experience that is unrivaled in the Triad! So what are you waiting for? Learn how to increase your performance today!

Whiplash Causes and Treatment

Being in a car accident is a very difficult situation on a number of levels. You are worried about your car, worried about taking time off work, but the truth of the matter is, you are least likely to worry about yourself. Neck strain is often just called whiplash and although it’s usually associated with car accidents, any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward can cause tendon and muscle tears in your neck. A car accident is a major event, so please contact our doctors at Health of the 1^st Triad before any trauma becomes significant.

Sometimes, the pain of whiplash is immediate. In other cases, it can take several hours or a day before your neck begins to hurt. The blow that causes neck strains can sometimes cause a concussion, too. This is why it’s important to seek medical care after a serious accident. Treatment of whiplash depends on the wide variety of symptoms present. Some symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, headache, shoulder pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and/or back pain.

If you’ve recently been injured in a car accident, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about whiplash as well as other services we provide at the practice, visit www.hstriad.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Health 1st of the Triad in Greensboro, NC, call 336-543-2231.