Tag: injury prevention

Correct Posture Month May Driven Fit + SWS Chiropractors Tampa

Unexpected Things Chiropractic Care Can Help With

Written by Luis Echeverry on August 13, 2020. Posted in Chiropractic, Lifestyle.

Every day millions of people who suffer from chronic back and neck pain seek chiropractic care for relief. However, what a lot of people don’t know is that chiropractic care is not just limited to alleviating these two ailments!

In fact, chiropractic treatment is one of the safest, most natural, and most effective forms of therapy used to treat a wide range of issues. Here are some unexpected things that chiropractic care can help with…

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care is a form of therapy that focuses on the body’s natural healing abilities. Treatment typically involves manual therapy such as spinal manipulation, however, exercise and nutritional counseling are often included in a chiropractic treatment plan.

At Driven Fit, our chiropractic team, led by Dr. Sponaugle, uses treatments such as stretching, sustained pressure, and specific joint manipulations that are delivered by hand and involve a quick and gentle thrust. Chiropractic care is often the first step in reducing chronic pain.

“There is a vast difference between treating the effects and adjusting the cause.” – Dr. D.D. Palmer

Unexpected Ailments Treated by Chiropractic Care

Immune System Support

What’s the best defense when it comes to preventing illness and overall wellness? A strong and healthy immune system!

For those who get sick often and typically turn to antibiotics, chiropractic care is an excellent way to give your immune system a boost – especially when paired with eating a gut-healthy and balanced diet as well as regular physical activity.

Chiropractic manipulation (and a properly aligned spine) improves the nervous system, thus helping every cell and organ in your body – including your immune system!

Improved Sleep & More Energy

There’s a lot going on right now – for everyone – and it’s not helping in terms of getting a good night’s sleep. In addition to stress, pain and discomfort also play a role in sleeping issues. Enter chiropractic care. Not only can this form of therapy regain healthy sleep patterns, it can also give you more energy.

Manual adjustments help with overall pain and discomfort throughout the body, but specifically help realign the nervous system, thus creating improved sleep quality. In addition, adjustments provide renewed energy by freeing nerves to work more efficiently.

Increased Flexibility

Another unexpected benefit to chiropractic care is improved mobility and flexibility. Whether a sedentary lifestyle has started to wreak havoc or you’re suffering from an injury, your muscles and ligaments can become inflexible and cause pain.

Manual adjustments can improve your range of mobility and help you get back to normal without having to live with pain and discomfort.

Chiropractic Care at Driven Fit

Chiropractic care at Driven Fit + SWS is more than just an alignment. You can also expect:

An in-depth consultation to determine your customized treatment plan
Awareness and education of proper exercise, nutrition, and supplements
Body posture & gait analysis
A specialized assessment and access to a full-wellness solution at our unique wellness studio

Ready to give chiropractic care a try at Driven Fit + SWS in South Tampa? Call our chiropractic team! For a free consultation, please call or text (813) 440-3016 or learn more about our chiropractic services.

How to Protect Your Neck While Exercising

Written by Luis Echeverry on June 30, 2020. Posted in Lifestyle, Personal Training.

Moved the wrong way while training and now your neck hurts? Ouch! Because the neck is a delicate region made up of complex bones and muscles, it is a hot spot for injury – especially during a workout. The good news? You can take a proactive approach to avoid neck injury. Read more from our trainers…

How did I hurt my neck?

Before we talk about how to prevent neck injuries, let’s look at the most common causes of neck injury caused by exercise. These include:

Poor posture
High impact exercises
Using poor technique
Training too often
Poor nutrition

Since your neck is so susceptible to injury, working with an experienced personal trainer can help reduce your chances of injury. We’ll watch your form and make sure you’re protecting your neck and joints as you workout. Call or text us if you’ve noticed aches and pains training on your own.

How can I Prevent Neck Injury?

Preparing your body for exercise is just as important as having the right kind of shoes and equipment. To prevent injury, keep these tips in mind while you’re at the gym:

Practice Good Technique

By far, this is one of the most important ways to prevent injury. Incorrect technique can pull a muscle or tear delicate connective tissue in an instant. Whether you are lifting weights, doing squats, working the abs, etc. always pay attention to the position of your neck and keep your head in a neutral position.

Strive to perfect your technique and form, while always respecting the integrity of the exercise. This means no twisting, turning, or contorting when trying to make a rep. If you can’t practice good technique, adjust the weights, or take a break.

Warm-Up Properly

You never want to just jump into a workout, especially one that is going to be intense. Prior to every workout, get the blood flowing with either dynamic stretches, a light jog, a quick ride on the stationary bike, or by swimming some laps in the pool. All these exercises will properly warm up the muscles and help prevent neck injury.

Stretch

You probably already know this but stretching is different than warming up. Warm-ups should be dynamic and get the blood flowing, whereas stretching helps relax and elongate muscles after warm-up and then again after weight training.

After stretching, muscles are warm, loose, and neurologically alert, making them as pliable and injury resistant as possible. Check out these stretches specific to help prevent neck pain.

RICE: Rest & Ice

Any time your neck, shoulder, or upper back are sore after a workout, apply a cold compress to the area. This will reduce pain and discomfort. If the pain continues, give your body ample time to rest and recover. Ice followed by rest is a great combo for reducing pain and preventing further neck injury.

Massage

At Driven Fit, recovery and maintenance are an important part of our wellness programs. In addition to athletic stretching, we highly recommend incorporating sports or therapeutic massage at least one to four times per month to achieve maximum results. Learn more about our massage therapy services.

Interested in learning more about the fitness and wellness programs offered at our South Tampa studio? Call or text Driven Fit + SWS today at (813) 440-3016!

Stretching DrivenFit Tampa FL Studio Gym

The Importance of Stretching

Written by Luis Echeverry on November 1, 2019. Posted in Lifestyle, Rejuvenation, Transformation.

You just finished a grueling training session at the gym, and are ready to get on with your day. Not so fast. You NEED to stretch! Stretching offers tons of benefits and should be done before and after exercise to help your body prepare for and recover after a workout. Here are 8 reasons why to make sure to always fit it into your session!

Increases Flexibility

Regular stretching does wonders for flexibility. Why is this important? Flexibility is crucial for your overall health in that it helps you perform everyday activities with ease and delays the reduced mobility that comes along with aging.

Increases Range of Motion

Full range of motion equals freedom of movement and stretching can help get you there. A recent study found that both static and dynamic (active) stretching are effective in increasing range of motion which helps with improved sports performance, better posture, and flexibility. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching (stretching a muscle to its limit) is effective for immediate gains.

Improves Sports Performance

Most, if not all, sports and exercise programs require some degree of flexibility. With regular stretching you’ll develop strength through the full range of motion at the joint. Increased flexibility can improve performance and prevent injury.

Trainer Tip: Remember to stretch before and after exercising – not just before. Dynamic (active) stretches before physical activity prepares your muscles for activity.

Prevents Injuries

Stretching is known to prevent acute (i.e. hamstring strain) and overuse injuries (i.e. IT band syndrome or plantar fasciitis). This is another reason why dynamic stretching, as opposed to traditional static stretching, during the warm-up process is crucial.

Increases Blood Flow to Muscles

Regular stretching improves circulation, and improved circulation increases blood flow to your muscles. This is helpful because it can shorten recovery time and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (microscopic tears in the muscle that occurs 24 to 48 hours after exercise).

Improves Posture

When muscles are imbalanced, it can lead to poor posture, which can eventually lead to aches and pains. A combination of strengthening and stretching specific muscle groups can reduce musculoskeletal pain and encourage proper alignment.

Heals and Prevents Back Pain

When muscles are tight, it will decrease your range of motion which can result in strained back muscles. Regular stretching will prevent back pain by strengthening the muscles and reducing the risk of strain. Stretching is also known to improve any existing muscle-related back pain and injury.

Provides Stress Relief

Physical and emotional stress is a huge culprit of muscle tightness. Stretching will help relax muscles (and your mind) so you can perform at your best. Focus on areas of your body that tend to hold stress such as your neck, shoulders, and upper back.

At Driven Fit + SWS, we believe that stretching is an integral component of our fitness programs. For information on our private and semi-private personal training and fitness, please call or text us today at (813) 440-3016. Our studio also offers wellness treatments including acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage for a total body transformation.