Oh Well!

HEALTH

What a Pain in the Neck!

If your neck or back have been hurting more since you started working from home, don’t fret. All you may need is a little adjustment.

The world has changed in many ways the past couple years. This is especially true with lifestyle changes, since many more people are now working from home. Along with that change comes new challenges, and sometimes new pains.

As a chiropractor, I’ve noticed more patients dealing with lower neck/upper back pain. This has always been a common issue, but recently, almost every single patient has said this “new pain” started shortly after setting up their work-from-home station. Luckily, this is usually fairly easy to address.

The first thing I talk to patients about is addressing any issues with the ergonomics at their work from home station. After that, we start on treatment, focusing on soft tissue (muscle) work in the area. Generally the muscles surrounding the area will be rather tight and we can relax those muscles through electric muscle stimulation, stretching, and myofascial release.

We then move into the adjustment for the lower neck and upper back. This area where the cervical spine (neck) and thoracic spine (mid-back) meet and is known as the cervicothoracic junction, or the CT junction. During the adjustment, the goal is to break up fibrous adhesions in the joints of the CT junction that cause inflammation and restrict joint mobility. This allows for better movement, reduced pain, and better functioning while also causing the surrounding muscles to relax.

This increase in movement and decreased muscle tension from the adjustment gives us a window of time to work on strengthening the area. The combination of the muscle work, the adjustment, and the strengthening exercises provides the most beneficial treatment to these patients for not only pain relief, but also for preventing future pains.

Connor Kelley, D.C., Chiropractor at Greater Orlando Chiropractic & Wellness. Connor is a fourth-generation Central Floridian who grew up in Leesburg. His interest in the field began when chiropractic treatment helped him recover from a football injury in High School.

NUTRITION

Beneficial Brew

Why drink kombucha? Heck, what even is kombucha anyway?

When you want a sweet, bubbly drink, what do you reach for? Soda may be tasty but is often loaded with more sugar than a candy bar, and while diet sodas are sugar-free, drinking these products may still yield health concerns. So, what should you drink?

Kombucha (pronounced kuhm-BOO-chuh) is a lightly e ervescent, sweetened black or green tea drink fermented with a colony of live bacteria and yeast, called SCOBY, and infused with fruits and herbs. Here are some bene ts to adding kombucha to your daily routine: 1. Probiotics are important to creating good bacteria in your gut, which aids in digestion, balances energy levels, and strengthens our immune system. 2. The brewing process naturally produces vitamins C,

B, B1, B6, and B12. 3. Kombucha is rich in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that can reduce in ammation.

Breanne D’Amato Co-owner of Main House Market. She and co-owner Brandon Wood are avid kombucha drinkers who are passionate about sharing quality, local brews and supporting local businesses and artists in the Winter Garden community.

FITNESS

Row Man Row

As I got further along into my 30s, I wanted to nd a way to get an intense workout, in a short amount of time, and without feeling too sore afterwards. I had used a rowing machine o and on for years, but was always a bit intimidated by them. Finally, last year, I took the plunge and made the investment in my own rowing machine, and it couldn’t have been a better choice.

In as little as 30 minutes I get my heart rate up to a maximum level, I use over 80% of the muscles in my body, and I sweat like nobody’s business. Though I can’t say I’m not a bit sore after a good workout, they’re not the aches and pains in my knees and ankles that often come with 30 minutes of running.

Adam Ashton is a native of the Greater Orlando area, Adam has lived in Winter Garden with his wife Christina and his son Keegan for the past three years.