Dr. Stacey Francis, D.C.

It is not too much if we are getting you out of pain and back into optimal function. 3 times a week is used until we see some positive movement in what we are trying to achieve (pain management, increased function, optimal performance).

I am going to hope you are referring to hanging from your hands gripping a very secure bar. This can help decompress the spine. Please make sure you have someone in the room with you at all times if you are hanging from your ankles on an inversion table.

They can, but there are a few things to consider. One, if the sprain was severe, your ligaments and tendons may have been stretched causing a long-lasting instability that may make you vulnerable to future injuries or instability. And two, if you have a tight calf muscle that is constantly pulling hard on the heel, that too will make you vulnerable to future injury. Seeing a chiropractic kinesiologist will help you identify imbalances and help you maintain function and appropriate flexibility and stability of the ankle.

It depends on how severe the misalignment is and if you are correcting the behavior that contributed to it in the first place. I have some patients who are dentists. They typically get neck and upper back pain on the same side of their body. They choose to get relief from consistent and periodic chiropractic adjustments because they are always on the same side of the dentist chair rotated the same way day after day for years on end.

Chiropractors correct imbalances related to the spine and nervous system. Sometimes we call this realignment or correction of subluxations.

First, figure out your "why." Are you sitting too long? Are you sitting in surfaces that are too soft like recliners and cushy couches? Is your nutrition on point with healthy proteins, a variety of fresh vegetables, healthy fats with omega-3s and friendly fiber sources?

After you corrected any issues from above, move your body. Walk, do yoga, bend and stretch. Use a foam roller. And, most importantly, get adjusted. As a chiropractic kinesiologist, I do muscle testing to determine imbalances and I correct those imbalances with chiropractic adjustments. They are safe, effective, and often give immediate results.

First, figure out your "why." Are you sitting too long? Are you sitting in surfaces that are too soft like recliners and cushy couches? Is your nutrition on point with healthy proteins, a variety of fresh vegetables, healthy fats with omega-3s and friendly fiber sources?

After you corrected any issues from above, move your body. Walk, do yoga, bend and stretch. Use a foam roller. And, most importantly, get adjusted. As a chiropractic kinesiologist, I do muscle testing to determine imbalances and I correct those imbalances with chiropractic adjustments. They are safe, effective, and often give immediate results.

It depends on your spine. A healthy spine at your age can usually handle back bends just fine but there are some things to be aware of.

If you are hypermobile (read, really good at yoga because you are basically a human pretzel) any movement into the extreme is not recommended. Your ligaments and tendons are already too stretched and you can make your joints unstable by stretching past the initial stretch point.

If you have an increased lumbar lordosis (read, low back curve to your spine) backbends can cause the curve to become even more exaggerated. Not only can that set you up for low back pain but you will compensate throughout the spine causing damage there as well.

If you have a decreased lumbar lordosis then getting into a back bend position may cause you pain and set you up for inflammation.

I teach yoga therapists at Beaumont School for Yoga Therapists and we discuss what to watch out for when their students are going into the more advance positions. Reach out to one of them to guide you through your yoga practice or reach out to me to help you determine if you have any of the three conditions above.

One simple thing you can do is roll on a tennis ball or foam roller. If that helps it is most likely muscular. Getting evaluated by a chiropractic kinesiologist would help you determine definitively.

Being evaluated and treated by a chiropractor is by far the best treatment for low back pain. They will determine whether a chiropractic adjustment is necessary. If it is, you could potentially walk away from the first adjustment with considerably less pain.

The best thing for a pulled muscle is to be evaluated by a chiropractic kinesiologist. If the muscle has pulled so hard that it has rotated the bones it's attached to, the first thing you want to do is correct those misalignments. Then use ice for the next three days to control pain and inflammation. Heat may feel good on a sore muscle but as soon as you remove the heat the muscle can go into a rebound spasm and get tighter than it was before. So Chiropractic first then ice, rest, walk around or lie down. Avoid sitting for longer than 20 minutes at a time and only sit in a hard chair.

At 15 years old you need to figure out why you have low back pain. Check your posture when you are sitting. Avoid slouching and cushy couches. See a chiropractic kinesiologist to help correct any misalignments and help you control the pain. Then you should sleep in the position most comfortable for you that doesn't cause an aggravation of the pain. Sleep is one of the best anti-inflammatories so utilize that by getting as much sleep as you can.

Yes. You can massage a pulled back muscle but it would be more effective if you were evaluated and treated by a chiropractic kinesiologist first. If your back is tight because you have tight hamstrings and your hamstrings are pulling on your pelvis to the point of misalignment then massaging the muscle will only get you so far until you realign the pelvis.