Discover the Cutting-Edge Benefits of Laser Therapy at Vert Chiropractic

At Vert Chiropractic, we’re passionate about bringing you the most advanced, effective, and non-invasive treatments to support your health and well-being. That’s why we’re excited to introduce laser therapy, an innovative solution for pain relief and healing that complements our chiropractic care.

Laser therapy is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to accelerate the body’s natural healing processes. It’s particularly effective for reducing pain, decreasing inflammation, and improving mobility—all without surgery or medication.

What is Laser Therapy?

Laser therapy, also known as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), uses targeted light energy to stimulate cellular repair and regeneration. The treatment delivers energy directly to the tissues, increasing blood flow and supporting the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Our office uses advanced laser technology from Summus Laser, a leader in laser therapy equipment. This cutting-edge system allows us to provide personalized treatments that cater to your unique needs, whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, acute injuries, or mobility challenges.

Benefits of Laser Therapy

Laser therapy offers a range of benefits, making it a versatile treatment option for many conditions:

• Pain Relief: From chronic back pain to joint discomfort, laser therapy helps reduce pain quickly and effectively by calming irritated nerves.

• Reduced Inflammation: The treatment reduces swelling and inflammation, speeding up recovery from injuries or chronic conditions.

• Enhanced Mobility: By reducing pain and stiffness, laser therapy can help you move more freely and comfortably.

• Accelerated Healing: Laser energy stimulates cellular repair, promoting faster recovery from injuries, strains, and sprains.

• Non-Invasive and Drug-Free: Laser therapy offers a natural alternative to pain management without the need for surgery or medications.

Conditions Treated with Laser Therapy

Laser therapy can be used to address a wide variety of issues, including:

• Back and neck pain

• Arthritis and joint pain

• Sports injuries

• Tendonitis and bursitis

• Plantar fasciitis

• Sciatica

• Soft tissue injuries

• Post-surgical recovery

Why Choose Vert Chiropractic for Laser Therapy?

At Vert Chiropractic, we’re committed to treating the root causes of pain rather than just masking symptoms. By combining laser therapy with our personalized chiropractic care, we can create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or looking to optimize your mobility, laser therapy can play a key role in your journey to better health.

Experience the Difference Today

Are you ready to explore how laser therapy can transform your health? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out if this innovative treatment is right for you. Together, we’ll create a plan that helps you feel and function at your best.

Book your session now at vertchiro.janeapp.com, or give us a call to learn more about laser therapy and its benefits.

Types of Chiropractic Care

Traditionally, most chiropractors’ practices fall under two different categories, musculoskeletal or traditional. Not wanting to be the “average chiropractor,” Vert Chiropractic’s Dr. Craig Hewitt has paved his own way, blending a unique combination of musculoskeletal methods mixed with physical therapy stretches and techniques. 

Musculoskeletal chiropractic care is often characterized by relieving a patient’s symptoms or consistent pain. This type of chiropractor tends to focus on the musculoskeletal system, adjusting to realign the spine and fix the overarching problem that may be causing a waterfall of other issues. Dr. Hewitt’s vast knowledge of the human body and musculoskeletal system allows him to quickly and effectively correct points of dysfunction and help you get back to living a normal, pain free lifestyle.

One of the many ways Dr. Hewitt differs from most chiropractors is his incorporation of physical therapy practices. He has found that treatment is much more effective when paired with appropriate stretches, massages, and daily practices that change the way our body moves for the better. This helps correct the body’s range of motion and alleviate pain rather than adjusting just to tick the boxes. 

At your first visit, Dr. Hewitt will work with you to come up with a comprehensive, customized treatment plan that will not only help you feel better, but also equip you with the tools to continue to live a pain free lifestyle.

So yes, Dr. Hewitt isn’t your average chiropractor–he is much more than that. Interested in learning how Dr. Hewitt and Vert Chiropractic can help you feel your best and learn helpful ways to stay injury free? Contact us to make an appointment today!

The Vert Difference

If you are like the majority of chiropractic candidates, odds are you are somewhat hesitant to seek out chiropractic treatment. Unfortunately, horror stories of malpractice and treatments that lead to even more pain plague the minds of those who can greatly benefit from proper chiropractic care. That is why seeing a trustworthy chiropractor who has a firm grasp on the body, the many adjustment methods, and a solid treatment plan is crucial.

With his degrees in biology, neuroscience, and chiropractic care, Vert Chiropractic’s Dr. Craig Hewitt truly understands how tendons, ligaments, and muscles all play a role in how the skeletal system aligns and interacts. This thorough knowledge and understanding has led Dr. Hewitt to treat patients differently from the typical chiropractor.

Unlike most chiropractors, Dr. Hewitt does not perform adjustments simply to hear those all so satisfying cracks, as they are not always indicative of a proper adjustment; rather, he relies on a decrease of symptoms and dysfunction to determine if the correct adjustment was made. In his mind, Dr. Hewitt believes that if a patient is better and the source of the pain has been identified and treated, then he has done his job.

Vert Chiropractic offers many therapies and non-invasive treatment methods including lymphatic massage therapy, myofascial stretch technique, and more. Dr. Hewitt also incorporates many types of tools that can help treat certain ailments faster than most adjustment methods. These methods include everything from lymphatic vibration massage tools that can be greatly beneficial to pregnant women with swelling in the lower extremities, to cold laser therapies that target and encourage cellular growth throughout the body.

Interested in learning about our different treatments, the many benefits of having a customized plan, or how working with Vert can help you heal with confidence? Contact us today! 

The Benefits of Intersegmental Traction Therapy

At Vert Chiropractic, one of our main goals is to provide approachable, affordable, and highly effective alternative care to surgery and pain medication. One of the ways we achieve this for back pain, disc problems, and muscle spasms is through Intersegmental Traction Therapy (IST).

Over time, pressure can build in spinal disks to create a combination of gravity and vertebral misalignments. If not corrected, spinal discs begin to bulge, deteriorate, and lose nutrients, which can cause a great deal of pain and decreased mobility.

During one of our IST sessions, the patient lies down on a specialized table and a series of rollers inside the table move up and down the spine to help alleviate pressure and open up joints, allowing for nutrients to replenish in the discs and preventing the further onset of deterioration and injury.

IST sessions can also help reduce muscle spasms, improve balance, and restore range of motion to the spine. Sessions can even be used before performing adjustments to help clients fully relax.

Depending on the patient, Dr. Hewitt and our team at Vert Chiropractic can adjust the amount of pressure applied during IST so that your treatment is tailored to your individual needs. This makes this treatment plan perfect for any patient, no matter your age or injury. 

Curious if IST is the answer to your back pain? Contact us to learn more and schedule a consultation!

The Road to Spinal Health

Most people seem to believe that you have to be of a certain age or experienced some sort of traumatic injury to receive chiropractic care. This, however, couldn’t be further from the truth. Just as we regularly see a physician or dentist, we can all benefit from regularly seeing a chiropractor, especially as we age and our spines continue to change. 

Whether we like it or not, our bodies are continuously growing and sometimes even degrading. According to Cedars Sinai, as we age, the disks in our spine begin to dry out and no longer support our vertebrae. Without this cushioning, we start to experience pinching and uncomfortable pressure, which can greatly affect our daily lives. Over time, the degradation makes it harder to stay active as the rest of our body slows down. 

One of the best ways to stay one step ahead of this change is to monitor your spinal health as you age. Working with a knowledgeable chiropractor such as Dr. Hewitt sets you on the right path so that you can be aware of any issues before they cause life-altering challenges down the road.

One of the great things about our team at Vert is that we see people of all ages, no matter their level of health and fitness. We work closely with you to create a custom treatment plan that takes into consideration your lifestyle, previous injuries, and body composition to ensure that you are spending less time in our offices and more time doing the things you love. 

If you have ever wondered about visiting a chiropractor but were concerned that you are too young, too old, or weren’t experiencing severe enough symptoms, you are not alone. We encourage you to contact our team or visit our treatments page to learn more about the many things we can help with.

A Deeper Dive Into Massage Therapies

At Vert Chiropractic, Dr. Craig Hewitt believes in a non-invasive, holistic approach to chiropractic treatment and prefers to use alternatives to pain medicines whenever possible. One of the main ways he achieves this level of care is through various massage therapies. Let’s take a deeper dive into the different massage therapies Vert Chiropractic offers and the many benefits to each.

Vibration Massage Therapy 
Vibration massage therapy is an excellent way to promote muscle relaxation and help recently corrected misalignments to settle better. You may benefit from vibration massage therapy if you are experiencing tight or torn muscles, swelling and edema, or you are needing myofascial release in scar tissue within the muscles. 

Lymphatic Massage Therapy 
Lymphatic massage therapy is a type of vibration massage that specifically targets lymph nodes and major lymph tissue throughout the body. The vibration allows the lymph tissue to work more fluidly and decreases the edema throughout the arms, legs, and core. Lymphatic massage therapy is perfect for anyone experiencing any swollen body parts and also is beneficial for pregnant women. 

Myofascial Release 
Myofascial release massages tight muscles by applying a small amount of pressure while performing a range of motion techniques. This allows for a deeper stretch, leading to an increased range of motion to the targeted area. Myofascial release is most commonly used in the shoulders, hips, legs and extremities, but can also be used throughout the rest of the body if needed.

Graston 
Similar to gua sha, the Graston technique is used to break up scar tissue and muscle adhesions throughout the body. The tool massages over the targeted area until the adhesion is released into the body and flushed away. Once cleared, the muscle is able to relax and return to normal function.

Taking advantage of our various massage therapy services is an excellent way to stay one step ahead of your injuries rather than letting them control you. If you’d like to learn more about Vert Chiropractic or our massage services, give us a call today!

Cold Laser Therapy: Vert’s Cutting Edge Treatment

At Vert Chiropractic, Dr. Hewitt and our team offer a wide variety of non-invasive treatments combining state-of-the-art equipment and proven therapy methods. One of the tools we have seen great success with is the Summas P4 cold laser therapy system.

Cold laser therapy directly targets your injury to increase blood flow and provide “fresh” oxygen to the bloodstream. This newly oxygenated blood can rid the body of scar tissue and muscle adhesions that could prevent growth or cause further dysfunction.

Our FDA approved, class four laser therapy machine yields incredible results for tendonitis treatments, sprains and strains, neuropathy, burns, and so much more. With sessions costing only $40, our proven expertise and competitive prices make us the only choice for cold laser therapy treatments in the Upstate. 

The P4 laser we use features four different wavelength settings that can safely and effectively accelerate surface healing, increase ATP production helping to expand tissue reproduction, oxygenate the blood, and improve circulation. This range of power allows us to provide a more tailored treatment based on your injuries and concerns. Most importantly, it speeds up the healing process and helps you get out of pain quicker. 

With our tried and true custom treatment plans, you can trust that we are doing everything in our power to get you back to living your life to the fullest. Our unique methods such as cold laser therapy are just another way that Vert Chiropractic differs from our competitors. Interested in learning more about our treatments? Contact us today! 

It’s Not All in Your Head

Have you ever had someone tell you “It’s all in your head” when you’ve expressed feeling a certain way either mentally, physically, or emotionally? This phrase is used quite frequently with a negative connotation to describe someone who is overreacting. However, the reality is that the ways you physically perceive things are often directly related to your frame of mind.

A great example of how your mind and body are connected is the way you react to stress. Odds are, when you feel stressed you not only experience racing or panicked thoughts, but your palms also begin to sweat and you may have an upset stomach. This physical reaction is your body’s direct response to the anxiety and stress you may be experiencing.

One of our goals at Vert Chiropractic is to bridge the gap between your mind and body so that we can address your injuries and symptoms from every angle. Because of his degrees in biology, neuroscience, and chiropractic care, Dr. Hewitt understands the intricacies of the human body and how everything is interconnected. This understanding has set him apart from other chiropractors in the way that he treats his patients with a holistic approach. He has seen faster results for his patients because he also understands no human body is the same and no injury is the same. 

Dr. Hewitt’s knowledge of how the body works together lets him alter plans of care away from always doing what the books say to determine the correct point of dysfunction and treat the individual accordingly. 

Interested in learning more about our custom treatment plans and how your mind and body are closely connected? Give us a call today!

Is Your Job Causing Pain?

Do you find yourself experiencing any kind of consistent pain while at work? And no, we aren’t talking about a nagging boss or a pesky coworker. 

Most Americans complain about experiencing some degree of joint, back, or neck pain when on the job, whether they are typing away at their desk or out on the construction site. The majority of people that feel either back, neck, or leg pain at work write it off as just being part of the job and ignore their symptoms until they are blatantly interfering with their ability to perform. 

Neglecting these types of injuries can result in more severe problems down the road. Ailments as simple as general back pain can cost employers a significant amount of money in insurance bills and could be treated quicker if the patient had only seen a chiropractor. Even if your job isn’t necessarily considered strenuous, simple repetitive tasks such as typing or sitting for prolonged periods of time can lead to long-term injuries.

One of our main goals at Vert Chiropractic is to pinpoint the root cause of pain and help you return to work as quickly as possible. If we feel that there are other underlying issues, we work with you to create a custom treatment plan to get you back to feeling like yourself again. Our team will also help you understand the origin of your injury so that you can retrain the way you move and prevent further injuries down the road. 

A common misconception that people have about chiropractors is that once you start treatment, you have to see them on a regular basis. At Vert Chiropractic, however, we only set patients up on a long-term plan if necessary. Once you are feeling better, you only have to return on an as-needed basis. 

No matter what your job is, ours is to help you return to work feeling your best. When you’re experiencing pain on the job, let us be your first option not your last. 

Chiropractic Care for Every Age

At Vert Chiropractic, a question we are often asked is: “Am I too young/old to see a chiropractor?” The answer is simple. With our customized treatment plans, your healing journey is unique to you, no matter who you are. 

Most people seem to think that visiting the chiropractor consists of aggressive, strenuous sequences of cracks and adjustments that may cause you pain before you actually start to feel better. This misconception often deters people from seeking chiropractic help and couldn’t be further from the truth.

Using a non-invasive approach to chiropractic therapies, Dr. Craig Hewitt alters his treatments to meet the comfort levels and needs of each individual patient. He is gentle with all patients, no matter their age, only using subtle pressure when needed. He believes that visiting the chiropractor shouldn’t only be about hearing cracks, as this is not always an indication that the misalignment has been fixed. Dr. Hewitt looks for a decrease in symptoms or dysfunction to determine whether or not a correct adjustment was made.

It doesn't matter who you are; you can benefit from seeing a chiropractor. Dr. Hewitt has helped patients ranging from as young as newborns who can benefit from adjustments after the birthing process all the way to the elderly. Pregnant women can also greatly benefit from treatments, such as sciatic nerve pain treatment or lymphatic massage therapy that helps with complications like swelling. 

With your health and happiness in mind, Dr. Hewitt and the Vert Chiropractic team do their best to get you back on the right track no matter your age. After all, age is but a number.

Vert Chiropractic’s Proven Treatments

Dr. Hewitt has always been fascinated by the human body. During his time as an Academy of Chiropractic Excellence intern in college, he studied every adjustment technique for over a year and went through many practical exams that covered the realignment of the entire body. 

Dr. Hewitt quickly became familiar with best practices for adjusting and treating many kinds of injuries and was the go-to for other students when correcting technique errors. This experience helped him gain an understanding of which adjustments are most effective and quickly led him to realize that a non-invasive approach to chiropractic care is key. 

Here are some of our favorite tools and techniques that have proven to be successful over the years:

Diversified technique: This technique involves pressure that is applied to the affected vertebral segment to restore regular movement throughout the entire body. The diversified technique has been proven to help adjust areas in the cervical and thoracic regions as well as other injured areas throughout the body.

Gonstead technique: A chiropractor that practices Gonstead techniques takes into consideration the patient’s entire physical makeup, but focuses mostly on the lumbar spine to realign and readjust bones that are harder to manipulate back to their original position.

Prone specific technique: One of the most widely used adjustments, prone specific adjustments are gentle, easy to use, and better for the patient because they remain stationary throughout treatment.

Activator tool: A chiropractic activator tool is used to apply a quick, gentle adjustment in patients that need a softer approach. This tool is most commonly used on infants, geriatric patients, and people who don’t like the “cracking sounds” that may come with common adjustments. The low-impact nature of the activator tool makes it the perfect solution for non-invasive treatments.

These treatments are just a few of the proven methods that we use to help our patients get back to their normal selves. If you’d like to learn more about the treatments we provide or the techniques we use, give us a call today. We would love to walk you through our different options!

What is Chiropractic Care? Debunking the Myths.

We get it. Dipping your toe into the world of chiropractic care can be intimidating to say the least. If you are like the majority of people, you may have questions, comments, and perhaps even concerns about seeing a chiropractor. One of our main goals here at Vert Chiropractic is to make our services as approachable, accessible, and personal as possible. That’s why we have put together a few common chiropractic myths that are in need of busting. 

Getting adjusted will hurt.
Getting a chiropractic adjustment should not hurt. Patients might find themselves temporarily uncomfortable during treatment, but not in any sort of pain. Depending on the reason for adjusting, you may feel a tiny bit of soreness afterwards; however, our team at Vert goes above and beyond to make sure you are completely comfortable throughout the entire adjustment process.

I am too old/young to see a chiropractor.
This is one of our most frequently asked questions. In short, you can never be too old or too young to start seeing a chiropractor. Our main goal is to help you heal any injuries so that you can get back to living your normal life, no matter your age. Part of your customized treatment plan is ensuring that you are safely getting the most out of your visits, young or old. Our team has helped patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly.

I can’t afford to visit a chiropractor.
This is a common misconception we hear about quite frequently. Although our services range in pricing, unlike most chiropractors, we do accept most insurance. At Vert Chiropractic, we are passionate about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a normal, pain-free life. 

To learn more about pricing, give us a call or schedule your consult with a Provider. We would love to walk you through our affordable treatment bundles.

Once I start, I will never be able to stop.
At Vert, our procedures and techniques are designed to focus on healing your body from the inside out, as quickly and efficiently as possible. Treatment duration is dependent on the type of injury or misalignment, and will range anywhere from 3-28 visits. After your more urgent care is complete, we then suggest quick wellness visits every three to four months so we can check and ensure your body is working in perfect alignment, similar to getting your teeth cleaned.

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or even better, give us a call! We would love to hear from you.

Not Your Average Chiropractor

After returning to college in his late twenties with the intent to go to medical school, Vert Chiropractic’s Dr. Craig Hewitt found himself at an unexpected crossroads.

With plans set and the intention of becoming a doctor, an injury caused him to change course. Craig threw out his back and took the advice of a friend to visit a chiropractor instead of pursuing a surgical solution. After receiving just a few treatments, his back recovered and he began to feel even better than he had before. 

Throughout his healing journey, he continued learning about the many injuries that fall under the chiropractic umbrella and was attracted to the simplicity and wide spectrum of conditions. It was then that he decided he wanted to become a chiropractor, and he wanted to do it differently. He wanted to help people figure out the source of their pain versus simply medicating it away, much like his own experience.

Craig is not your average chiropractor. Far from it, actually. He prefers the term “modern chiropractor” because the field is ever changing and evolving–and he evolves with it. He seeks not only to provide healing and comfort, but also to get to know his patients, understanding how he can help them get back to living life to the fullest.

Using innovative tools and proven therapies rather than “just adjustments,” Craig’s goal is to bring relief to patients as quickly as possible. He uses both book knowledge and years of treatment experience to develop personalized recovery plans for each patient.

During your first visit, the Craig and the Vert team will spend quality time getting to know you and putting together a custom treatment plan. Combining medical, chiropractic, physical therapy, neuroscience, and common sense, our team will help restore your health and quality of life as quickly as possible.

3 Main Causes of Neck Pain

Neck pain has become a regular problem to many people over the past few years. A multitude of problems lead to these issues. This blog is designed to point out the 3 reasons that people suffer from tight muscles, shoulder/arm pain, headaches, and lack of energy. The elimination of work stress, rounded scapula, and sleep ergonomics will have you feeling rejuvenated. Say goodbye to neck pain for good.

Work stress is one of the leading contributors to neck pain. If you work from a computer, check out the posture that you present with. Is your head forward? Are your shoulders rounded? Are you in this same position for hours on end? Improper postural positioning causes the muscles in the neck to be stressed and tight. The muscles run from the shoulders to the neck and all the way up to the base of the skull. Tight muscles are painful enough and, if not corrected, will often lead to headaches and misaligned vertebrae due to the excessive pulling. The neck drops forward and you will begin to notice a hump at the base of the cervical spine. That is a protruding vertebrae. It will get tender due to the pressure placed on the nerves.

Rounded shoulders go hand in hand with rounded scapula. Due to the stress on the neck, the rhomboid muscles become weak. They begin to lose hold on the scapula and the scapula begin to flare out laterally and upwards. This forward position causes added neck tension because every muscle that attaches to the scapula will move with it (think traps, supraspinatus and cervical stabilizers). You can test to see if rounded scapula are a problem for you by checking the top of each scapula. If there are tight, sore muscles on each side, work needs to be done.

Are you a side sleeper? This puts extra stress on one side of the neck compared to the other. Do you sleep on your stomach? When this happens, your neck is rotated throughout the evening, and it could also affect digestion.  Do you just sleep in any position that feels comfortable? Most people do and that is ok, but we need to look closer at what positions work and don't work for you. Do you toss and turn every night? That could be from a number of different issues. Sleep ergonomics are tough to figure out. It may be that you need a new mattress. It could be that your pillow is too old. Whatever the case may be, if you wake up sore, tired, or with a headache, it's time to thoroughly examine the cause. There may be underlying issues such as sleep apnea that come into play, and the quicker these problems are fixed, the better you will feel.

If you are feeling neck pain and suffer from any of the situations above, there is a strong chance that you need to get your neck/ scapula/ shoulder region checked by a professional. Vert Chiropractic of Greenville, South Carolina is trained to examine, diagnose, and treat all of these ailments. We will provide you with the tools you need to find that perfect sleep position, optimize your posture, and make you feel better than you have in ages. Give us a call today at (864)251-5725 or visit our website at www.vertchiro.com to schedule a consultation. Your body deserves it!

Sciatica Explained

Let's talk about Sciatica. Sciatica may be one of the most vague terms used in medicine. It is a fancy name used to describe that pain going down your leg. It is named for the sciatic nerve, but to understand why it is happening, you have to understand how the nerve is formed. Then you can see how a misaligned bone in the back can cause the pain. From there, you will be able to take the appropriate measures needed to find the right clinician that will put you on the proper path to recovery from this irritating and often debilitating problem.

The sciatic nerve is a combination of 5-6 nerves that are located in the lower spine. They join together in the butt cheek and run down the hind part of the leg. The combination of these nerves control all the muscles found in the lower body. The sciatic nerve stems from L2, L3, L4, L5, S1 and sometimes S2 nerve roots. That probably means nothing to someone who hasn't been taking science classes for a hot minute, so think of it as being the last 4 bones in the spine and the tailbone. Nerves will shoot out of each of these bones on both sides and come together like a power line going from your house to the electric company. 

Sciatica can occur when just one of these 5-6 nerves is pinched. Each nerve will come out of a small hole on the side of the bone. The pinch is usually due to the bone shifting out of proper alignment and putting added pressure on the nerve by narrowing the hole that the nerve comes out of. When the pinch happens, that nerve will not be able to work like it usually does. Instead of experiencing proper muscle function, you will feel numb, sore, tight muscles, inflammation, lack of movement and eventually pain. If the impingement is serious enough, you may hurt when you sit, stand, walk, go to the bathroom, or use your leg. If the pain is extreme, you need to be properly diagnosed to determine which nerve is being impinged so the problem can be corrected.

There are multiple avenues one can take to get relief from sciatica. Each has their own benefits and problems. Chiropractic is affordable (depending on the chiropractor) and effective in correcting the misalignment which takes pressure off of the nerve. That is what chiropractic is designed to do, especially at Vert Chiropractic in Greenville, SC. The negatives of chiropractic are that each chiropractor is different from the next, they may try to put you on long term care plans, and they use scare tactics to reel you into those long term care plans. Physical therapy will get the results you are looking for but the relief may not be immediate. PT focuses on muscle work, so correction of the bone will not be factored into the equation. Your medical Doctor will give you muscle relaxers, painkillers, a cortisone shot, or send you to the PT. All these may work for a time but none will be a long term solution, except for the PT, pending which way they decide to treat you. Surgery will take the pressure off the bone permanently, but the cost is high. You have to undergo back surgery and get screws put in the back. Recovery takes time as well, so you will be out of commission for a long time.

Sciatica is one of the most common injuries in the world. Fixing the problem will bring you the relief that you are looking for, so understanding what is going on helps you to find the help. Each of the forms of treatment listed above will get you feeling the way you need to feel, but it is up to you to weigh the pluses and minuses and determine which avenue to take. You only get one body, and preserving that body is key to living a happy, full life. If you ever have questions or would like to receive a consultation to determine if sciatica is your problem, call Vert Chiropractic at 864-2515725 or visit our website at vertchiro.com to learn more and schedule a time to speak with our fully trained staff.

Be well!

The Benefits from Improved Posture

5 Major Benefits of Improved Posture

Have you ever caught yourself saying “ I know I have bad posture” or “ I know I need to work on my posture more”? If so, you are not the only one. Millions of people suffer from the effects of incorrect (bad) posture, but they do nothing about it because postural correction can be too time consuming, too painful, or people just don't think about it. What would you do if you had the perfect routine that was designed to correct your posture, wasn't painful, and wasn't expensive? Vert chiropractic began to ask these questions and developed a program to achieve the answers. As a result of following this program, patients were able to receive results that they didn't know were linked to the way they carried themselves throughout the day.

There are the 5 major benefits one gets from improving their posture:

• Increased muscle function/ strength

• Decreased muscle tension/ pain

• Better breathing

• Better heart function/ blood flow

• Increased self confidence/ awareness

Once patients began to incorporate a simple, fast posture correcting routine that focused on what was wrong with the body, results came instantaneously. Some even noted that they had not felt this good in years. Now, you can receive similar results with the help of Vert Chiropractic of Greenville, SC.

Increased muscle strength and function

If you correct the structure, then function will improve. That is one of the basic facts of life. If the building has good bones and a strong foundation, then it can withstand all types of pressure or weather. The same is true for the body. If the body is properly positioned, then muscles and tissue are stronger and more effective because of less wear and tear, increased room for growth, less frictional breakdown, and proper mobility to do the job intended. You will throw the ball correctly, harder, and with increased velocity. You will be more accurate striking the golf ball. You will have a more dynamic squat, shoulder press, bench press etc. When the body is positioned correctly, the muscles, tendons, and ligament tissues will be pliable, less prone to tearing, and less sore after use. 

Decreased muscle tension and pain

If your posture is off, then your body has less room to do what it needs to do. Your muscles begin to interact in ways that they were not designed. You may notice popping or clicking when you use your shoulder, or your legs may feel tight when you go to squat. You might have soreness at the base of your skull when you look down. You could even have tight rods in your neck instead of loose, natural feeling muscles. 

You are not supposed to feel tight. You are not supposed to have pain at the base of the skull. You are not supposed to have restricted range of motion anywhere in the body. If any of these things are happening then it is because of the incorrect positioning of the body. Muscles tear because they are overused in wrong positions. Arthritis develops because there is pressure on the bone that is not supposed to be there. Osteoporosis happens because a person isn't distributing pressures throughout the body properly. Fix the structure, fix the problems.

Better breathing

If your spine is in correct alignment, then your ribs will be in proper alignment. They will not have to fight gravity when expanding and depressing during breathing. Muscles will not have to work hard. The body will be able to use the saved energy to do more important things, such as breathing in air, circulating oxygen throughout the body, and getting rid of carbon dioxide (instead of having it settling in the base of the lungs and becoming toxic). Unrestricted breathing will allow you to feel invigorated after every breath. Cool stuff

Better heart function.

This runs hand and hand with breathing. The more oxygen you have in the blood allows for more energy to be produced in the body. The blood will circulate the oxygen to more areas. There will be less breakdown of muscle and tissue and the heart will not have to work as hard.

If there is a lot of pressure on the spine, then there is equal amounts of pressure on the nerves. When the nerves are being pressured, the signal that is sent from the brain to vital organs is not as effective. This causes decreased organ function. The heart needs every signal it can get from the brain. If that is lacking, then problems can occur. Fix that spine and place less pressure on the heart. It works hard enough, as is.

Increased self confidence and awareness

Have you ever looked in the mirror and just felt “off”? Does that side view make you loath looking at it? Do your head and shoulders droop forward? Are you unable to distinguish between your lumbar spine and buttocks region? Does your posture make you more frustrated by the minute?

If this is the case, you may have bad posture. Having bad posture makes you feel horrible about yourself. You start focusing on the faults to the point that it begins to wear you down. When you get your posture reset correctly, you begin to feel better, move better, and enjoy life more. You feel taller, you are able to develop that “booty” you always wanted. You get the broad shoulders that everyone is looking for, and you feel lean. You begin to appreciate what you have and don't want to lose it.

So, what are you waiting for? It takes time to get the posture right, but the results are well worth the work you put in. If you have a desire to live a healthier life and enjoy what you see in the mirror, you need to begin with the foundation. Vert Chiropractic of Greenville, SC will help. Give us a call at (864)251-5725 or check out our website at www.vertchiro.com to find out how you can begin to start framing your best self!

The Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment for Women

Women have their plates full. In a perfect world, it would be easy to juggle everything on one's plate, but a busy life often comes with bumps and bruises. Many of the stresses that women face on a daily basis lead to small problems. If these problems aren't addressed and resolved, they can lead to bigger problems down the road. Problems can range from headaches, postural deficiency, hip pain, tight muscles and decreased ROM to bigger problems such as labral tears, muscle impingements, migraines, fatigue, sciatica, piriformis problems, arthritis and radiating pain issues. Good thing is there is help. Vert Chiropractic of Greenville SC has a staff of trained doctors that are able to treat these issues in house, and also provide long term solutions designed to ensure that the problem doesn't return. Let's not forget that we are able to comanage pain and discomfort that comes with pregnant women.

Warning signs. 
Do you work from home and sit in weird positions all day, every day? Does your hip feel sore from time to time? Do you get headaches every afternoon or morning in the same spot? At the same time? Do you feel like your knees hurt everytime you walk or go for a run? Does your neck hurt when you turn to the side? Do you ever get a pinching sensation in your legs or arms? These are just a few signs that your body is telling you that something is going  on. If you feel anything like that, come into Vert. We can take a deeper look and get you the answers to what is ailing you.

What we can do to help this stuff.
Women need to fix all the misalignments throughout their body. When they get back in alignment, pressure will be taken off all the nerves being pinched. No pinch, no symptom. Then muscles will need to be relaxed. If a bone is out of place, the muscle will be stretched on one side and shortened on the other. The muscles will adapt to the new position as time goes on. When the bone is put back to where it should be, the muscles that attach to that bone will be too tight and they will pull that bone back out of place until they are stretched far enough to prevent that pull. The symptoms will then come back. Relaxing the adjoining muscles makes sure the bone stays in the correct position. By doing muscle work, the muscles relax and are able to adapt to their new/correct positions. The next step will be to train the body to be in correct full alignment, which keeps the symptoms from ever coming back. This is done by teaching the patient how to move their body properly, and how to incorporate certain body parts so that they don't wear down the optimal alignment that allows the body to work best. Once this is done, the body is considered healed, and the patient doesn't need to stress about any of these nagging ailments in the future.

If you have questions on how chiropractic can help you live a better life or make you feel better, if you are curious about how our office works, or if you are ready to get started, give our office a call at (864)2515725 or visit our website at www.vertchiro.com. We can answer any questions and get you started towards a better life, free from pain and discomfort.

What is wrong with my Posture?

Posture is one of the most important things to maintain when improving body function. Your posture establishes the foundation for how everything in your body works. Do you focus on your posture? Do you set aside time throughout the day to work on it? Or are you in the gym crushing cardio and lifting weights trying to get that body you always wanted without taking care of the foundation first. Posture isn't genetic, it doesn't come naturally. You have to work on it. I bet your trainer or your workout guru doesn't mention this because they probably don't know how important it really is to reach your goals. They didn't learn this at a web seminar. That being said, if you go up to a model or to a bodybuilder and ask them about their keys to success, they will tell you that the key to getting the body of your dreams starts with a foundation, and that foundation is getting the body in perfect alignment and incorporating correct posture so that you can build upon it with everything else you do.

If the bones in your body are the structure, the posture is the foundation. If you are always uncomfortable whenever you sit, stand, or move, That is a sign that your posture isn't where it should be and there is some work to do. You should be able to use your body in a way that doesn't cause you stress or pain. Also, the body isn't designed to stay in one place or position for long, extended periods of time. People are designed to move. 

There are so many companies trying to sell equipment and tricks geared toward postural correction. They want you to think that one position is the proper postural way to live, when, in fact, every position should feel somewhat comfortable for at least a brief amount of time. Plus, everyone is different, so why would a 110 pound woman expect to be comfortable in the same postural position as a 320 pound construction worker. It just doesn't make sense to me and it shouldn't to you either.

What one needs to do is train their body to be comfortable in every position. For that to happen, the body must become properly aligned, and then the person can begin to change positions without causing additional stress to the muscles, joints and ligaments that surround the key structures within the framework of the body.

I tried for the longest time to gain a better understanding of posture and how it affects the body. I tried exercises, gimmicks, workouts, and devices designed to get me right. I would use these gimmicks and try these workouts for a few days or weeks and then I would forget about them and eventually gain back the poor habits that got me to where I was before. I was using short term solutions to try and get long term results. I needed to find a way to align my body so that my posture became a natural reflex that I wouldn't have to think or worry about.

The most common problems associated with bad posture:

• Low back pain

• Hip pain

• Neck pain

• Shoulder pain

• Headaches

I'm sure you don't want to have to buy products that are designed to treat each of these problems. You would be walking around with braces all over your body. That is just one of the reasons why you need to begin to align your body properly

Importance of good posture

Some of the easiest and quickest benefits of good posture are:

• Better breathing

• Decreased stress

• Less pain

• Better mobility

• Better conditioning throughout the day

Mental benefits of good posture

The improvement of posture does more than help improve the health of the body. Research is starting to see certain markers that may be linked to the improvement of mental and emotional health. For example, using proper form during a lunchtime walk led to better alertness and improved energy levels for the remainder of the day, as opposed to taking a lazy slumped forward walk with bad gait habits during the same timespan. It also showed reduced feelings of depression and anxiety.

How to fix that bad posture for good.

Everyone looks for the one foolproof plan and quick fix, just like in weight loss. Unfortunately, it takes a little effort. Correct alignment is not something that can be achieved overnight.  Vert chiropractic of Greenville Sc has designed a guided plan that will ensure that the efforts you make will not go to waste. We can guarantee you the results you are looking for if you follow the path we put you on. We teach people in short sessions step by step actions to take to improve. We focus on aligning the body and straightening it, then adding more moves that will continue to solidify the core, neck, mid back, lower back, hips, knees, ankles and feet.  

Vert has one of the few programs in the area that is solely dedicated to correcting and completely aligning the body. Give us a call and we will guide you on a path to fixing your posture once and for all.

If you have any questions on how good/bad posture affects the rest of the body, or questions on the program we provide, email us at info@vertchiro.com and we will quickly respond/answer any inquiry that you may have.

Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care

Having a child is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. There is endless preparation and planning involved in order to guarantee the world is ready for the little one’s entrance. The discomfort and difficulty that the expecting mother has to go through can sometimes overshadow these excitements. With the help of specific techniques and procedures, a chiropractic doctor can help to alleviate some of the discomfort a woman may go through during this life-altering period. Vert Chiropractic has a plan to help the mother transition from normal life into pregnancy, then delivery, and finally into post pregnancy. Read ahead to find out if prenatal/postnatal chiropractic is right for you.

The Problems Women can face During and after Pregnancy

The problems a woman might face while pregnant are numerous. She can expect some combination of nausea, heartburn, headaches, cramping (esp in the legs!!), diarrhea, constipation, muscle aches, bone pain, bleeding gums, swelling, the list goes on. During delivery, one may have pain, nausea, exhaustion and pure bliss!! Post delivery, things do not let up. There are cramps, bleeding, hemorrhoids, joint aches, exhaustion, muscle pain in the shoulders and upper back. The hospital is only designed to help so much. A chiropractor is able to comanage these issues by providing relief to symptoms the hospital often overlooks.

Why Should Pregnant Women Go to the Chiropractor?

The most popular reasons for a woman to seek chiropractic care during pregnancy are: 

• Receiving the Webster technique 

• Correction of misalignments throughout the spine

• Relief of muscle tension 

• Assistance with stretching

• Light massage of muscles throughout the body 

Vert Chiropractic’s Prenatal Program

We have designed a program to help women adapt to many of the problems attributed to being pregnant. We will work with you to ease the stresses placed on the body. First, we will administer a specialized adjustment called the Webster Technique. This technique helps to correctly align the pelvic bowl which allows the descension of the baby to occur with ease. Next, we will clear the spine of any misalignments found. Correction of misalignments will take pressure off the nerves and in doing so, the adequate amount of nerve signals are able to reach their intended designation and the relief of symptoms occurs. We will also stretch key muscles of the upper and lower body. We do this in order to loosen and strengthen the hip flexors and extensors, target the hamstrings, and the abductors and adductors of the inner thigh. These stretches help to target the muscles that strengthen the pelvis during the delivery process. We also target the chest and neck muscles, helping to maintain correct posture. After stretching is complete, using light lymphatic massage we work to decrease swelling, beginning with the feet, and bring any accumulated fluids to the core of the body. Bringing these fluids to the core allows for them to drain properly and reduces further swelling. We finish with light massage and vibration therapy to the upper body that relaxes the muscles that are being strained throughout the day.

Vert Chiropractic’s Post Natal program

The changes a woman's body goes through, during pregnancy, takes a toll. Her body doesn't always return back to the way it was just because the baby has entered the world. The medical team has guided mom to this point, but postpartum care is limited. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication, they may tell you to go home and rest however, this advice tends to be the extent of postnatal care until you have a 6 week checkup. There is a more advanced protocol in treating a sprained ankle than receiving postpartum relief. Vert chiropractic wants to change this glitch. We have developed a program that continues to treat mom after the baby is born. We focus on the mothers rehab by strengthening and stretching the core and postural muscles. We relieve mom of misalignments. We focus on posture analysis/ correction. We continue with lymphatic drainage by applying light massage work. Vert doctors are some of the most knowledgeable postpartum minds in the country. We guide you through this new process and answer any questions that you may have. We get you feeling the way you did before your body went through those 9 months of change. We also treat the newborn. Removing their misalignments will help the baby sleep, breath, poop, smile, and adapt to all the new experiences they will face in life. Your child will prosper the way you hoped and imagined. Their growth will give you a sense of ease, and you will know that they are in the right hands.

Vert Chiropractic is dedicated to helping if you are struggling with any of the issues listed above. Our goal is centered towards easing the birthing process. Vert Chiro will consult with your OBGYN, Dullah, Midwife, etc. to ensure you are receiving top notch care. By working alongside your medical team we can achieve the best results possible. If you believe our services may be of use to you, or you just have questions and concerns, please give us a call. If the father has any questions, we are here for him, as well. Due to both professional and personal experiences, our staff is well equipped to guide you mentally and physically through this beautiful period in your life.

Give us a call at 864.251.5725 to book a consultation. We will guide you on the road to a less stressful birthing process and allow you to focus on being the best parent you can be.

The 5 Signs That Tell You It’s Time to See a Chiropractor

You may already have a pretty good idea of whether or not an ache or pain is a problem that needs to be addressed. Then again, there may be some complaints you thought were minor, when in reality, they may be signs of a problem that should be taken seriously.

What signs would a chiropractor use to determine what the problem is, or if it is a problem? Every chiropractor has different answers to these questions but at Vert Chiropractic our philosophy is simple - we focus on the immediate issues at hand and only treat what needs to be treated as we work towards finding the core root of the problem area. We believe in treating the cause, not just the symptoms, as well as giving you the tools to prevent future injury. 

So how do you know that it’s time to seek help? 

Pain

This is the most obvious sign it’s time to see a chiropractor and is the driver for the majority of our patients to start their visits. Pain is caused by receptors throughout the body responding to something that is inflamed or impeded along the chain of your body’s function - meaning pain is an effect of the problem. When you’re able to tell us directly where you feel pain, we focus on what is located at that segment of the body, which nerves correlate to that section, and can move forward in our exam to determine what other complications may be contributing to your pain.

Swelling

Swelling is usually one of the more ignored symptoms. I had a patient present with lower back pain, and as I was checking her spine, I mentioned the swelling in her lower back. She replied that she “knew she felt swollen in that area, but was currently on a diet”. Simple problem: swelling isn't fat -- it’s a protective reaction of the body, filled with fluids to guard the body from injuring a problem even further. After correcting both the symptom and the issue, we were able to adjust the segment that was giving her the problems, the pain disappeared, and the swelling with it. That's the “magic” of chiropractic care.

Redness

Not to be punny, but this is a big red sign saying that you may have an immediate problem. You know how when you get even a tiny paper cut, redness will form around the edges of the cut? This is your body working to heal the problem. We had a female patient come in and say that her neck had been hurting for months and no one could tell her why. She’d been working to rub and stretch the area for months, which led to even more misalignment and inflammation. Sure enough, I spotted a large red area she couldn’t see on her own. After a thorough exam and a few quick visits, she was finally pain free.

Areas that are Hot to the Touch

When there’s something wrong in the body, early in the injury phase, the brain sends its own signal for healing to begin. First comes heat, then comes inflammation. The heat will eventually go away, but this is also when the condition can change from acute to chronic. Have you ever noticed that when you’ve sprained an ankle it feels hot? It’s the body telling itself the injury should be stabilized by now. BUT, it may or may not be re-aligned in the correct spot. The next time something like this happens, give us a call so we can determine if you’re back in alignment, and help you get back up and running more quickly after an injury.

Loss of Function

While this one also sounds obvious, we’ve found it’s frequently a symptom that goes unnoticed by the average person. Here’s what happens: an injury occurs, the body is going to avoid using it as much as it can, and will compensate by incorporating other parts of your body to help do the function that has been lost. Remember the last blister you had from a new pair of shoes? Your body probably told you not to use it the way you normally would -- by signaling a shooting pain to that foot with every step. You then may try altering the way you walk by lightly stepping, or using the side of the foot as a base to walk on, which then causes dysfunction in the foot. What was initially a simple blister has turned into improper walking mechanics, and the same thing happens in the spine. When your vertebra is out of place, your body will avoid using it as much as it can. What originally started as a crick in the neck can quickly turn into constant neck pain, decreased range of motion, headaches, arm pain, the list goes on. What I do as a chiropractor is perform a thorough examination, determine if part of your spine has lost its function, and treat you as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Although the 5 major signs of problems are the same, we know the same problem presents itself differently in each patient. Therefore, each patient needs a customized treatment plan to work with their body, their injury and fits their lifestyle. Once we find the cause of the problem, we are able to confer with the patient to find the best treatment plan for them, begin performing care and results will soon follow. Because of our treatment philosophy, we’re able to treat your needs more efficiently resulting in a treatment plan that fits both your lifestyle and your budget.

If you are experiencing one of these 5 signs, it’s probably time to see a chiropractor. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Vert Chiropractic specializes in thorough and affordable chiropractic aimed at getting you back to full function as quickly as possible - saving you money in the process. We’re here to help, and want to see you living life at your highest functionality. To schedule your chiropractic consultation, give us a call at 864.251.5725 or head to VertChiro.com to book online.