Wellness Advice

Lifestyle Advice

We often find it helpful to “coach” our patients on certain activities they should avoid or do differently to avoid aggravating their particular health challenge. Our goal is to help every patient achieve a fulfilling and happy lifestyle full of the activities they enjoy most. We recognize that each our patient is a whole person, and help them reach true health and wellness is a collaborate effort between our professionals and our patients. Specific exercises can help your body stay in balance and in health.

Whole Body Wellness Nutritional Counseling

We provide specific recommendations on nutritional supplements and healthy food choices to enhance our patient’s return to optimal health. Do you know which supplements and vitamins are good for you? Do you know how these supplements and vitamins interact with one another? Dr. Janice Cruz can provide a structured nutritional program based on your individual needs.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the applied science of designing and developing equipment, workstation layout and work strategies to best suit and protect the human body. The goal of ergonomics is to minimize fatigue, discomfort, injury and emotional stress.
It’s important to recognize that even the most ergonomically correct environment will not prevent repetitive stress injuries if the body is simply overworked. The body has limitations with what it can withstand. Surpassing those limitations will most definitely result in injury.

Posture

Proper posture simply refers to maintaining the body in a position which protects against excessive stresses which cause injury, while requiring a minimal amount of muscular effort to maintain. In other words, a comfortable position which will not irritate your spinal tissues.

Posture plays a significant role in the development of chronic conditions such as chronic back and neck pain. Poor posture is responsible for overstretching ligaments and other supportive spinal structures as well as exhausting spinal musculature, all of which quickly leads to the development of chronic spinal pain.

Learning and practicing proper postural habits will help reduce the likelihood of acquiring back and neck injuries, reduce spinal degeneration, and help keep your spine and body happy and healthy.

The Spine

Understanding the spine is the key to understanding why chiropractic doctors do what they do and why they obtain extraordinary results with a variety of different conditions.

The spine is a complex structure containing a number of associated muscles, ligaments, joints and nerves which commonly become irritated and injured. Extended sitting, repetitive motions, bad postural habits, mental stress, lack of exercise and inadequate nutritional intake are just some of the everyday stresses which accumulate to produce devastating effects on the spinal components.

Doctors of chiropractic are the health care leaders in providing safe, fast and effective relief for most spinal problems.

Fitness and Exercise Programs

Participating in regular physical activities is a must for all individuals, of all ages. Unfortunately, approximately 60% of all Americans fail to meet their recommended levels of physical activity. Worse yet, 25% of Americans fail to participate in any sort of physical activity. Many studies have shown exercise can significantly increase energy levels. Ironically, the number one excuse for not exercising is a lack of energy or the person being too tired.

Resistance training involves the use of resistance, such as through the use of free weights or nautilus equipment, to increase the strength, tone and sometimes size of a muscle. Resistance training is not just for bodybuilders who wish to increase their muscles’ size, but rather, is for anyone wishing to keep their body strong, healthy and fit. In addition, resistance training can simultaneously provide a cardiovascular workout. By keeping the rest-time between the sets of exercises minimal, a moderate heart rate can be achieved and maintained throughout the entire workout. This extends the benefits of your exercise training program to the most important muscle of all, the heart.

Note: Please check with us or other health care provider prior to initiating any fitness or exercise routine, especially if you have a pre-existing health condition that you’re aware of.

Studies conducted on exercise have shown the following benefits:

▪ cardiovascular health
▪ reduction in LDL (“bad” cholesterol)
▪ increase in HDL (“good” cholesterol)
▪ increased heart strength and health
▪ increases V02 max (maximum oxygen uptake)
▪ emotional health and quality of life
▪ anxiety reduction
▪ stress lowering
▪ increased sense of well being
▪ increase in self confidence
▪ disease prevention
▪ reduced disease and sickness
▪ reduction of fall injuries in seniors
▪ diabetes prevention in the aging
▪ weight management
▪ reduction of body fat
▪ prevention of obesity
▪ size and strength gains
▪ increased physical performance
▪ increased strength
▪ increased speed
▪ increased muscle tone
▪ functioning and quality of life in the elderly
▪ increased mobility and independence in seniors
▪ life extension
▪ pregnancy
▪ increased on-time deliveries
▪ increased protection from miscarriages