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Category: Chiropractic

What is the difference between Chiropractic and Physical Therapy?

It’s normal to get confused when you have a musculoskeletal issue like back pain or joint ache and you have to see an expert. Some people might recommend you see a chiropractor while others may suggest you consider a physical therapist (physiotherapist). Since the two experts are experienced in dealing with issues that affect the muscles and joints, who should you see exactly?

Before we go any further, it’s important to know what these two practices are all about. Chiropractic is a hands-on manipulation technique meant to adjust the spine and correct restricted mobility. The technique is aimed to not only treat most musculoskeletal conditions but to also prevent them. From low back pain to tension headaches, they can all be managed by chiropractic.

Physical therapy, on the other hand, is a manipulation technique done on the body to promote healing and restore mobility. While chiropractic specifically targets spinal manipulation, physiotherapy focuses on the specific part of the body that has a problem. But just like chiropractic, physiotherapy is mostly administered using manual techniques like massage therapy and exercises.

To help you understand the two practices further, here’s a quick guide:

Training and Certification

For one to become a chiropractor, they first have to pursue an undergraduate course from a certified chiropractic school. The undergraduate training can take 3-4 years and is followed by a doctorate training that also takes the same duration. Undergraduates are also expected to complete a one-year internship program and pass the board exams. In the United States, chiropractors are accredited by the American Chiropractic Association.

Physiotherapists are also expected to complete a 4-year undergraduate program that is followed by a 3-year doctorate program. They also need to complete an internship program that runs for 30 weeks and to pass the physiotherapist board exams. In the United States, physiotherapists are certified by the American Physical Therapy Association.

Professional Status

You’ll notice most chiropractors going by the title Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). This, however, doesn’t mean that chiropractors are medical doctors. As for physiotherapists, they are referred by the title Physical Therapists (PTs). Just like chiropractors, physical therapists are not medical doctors. In some states, both DCs and PTs are considered health caregivers while in others they are not.

Treatment Philosophy

Chiropractors and physiotherapists have different philosophies for administering treatments. Chiropractors focus particularly on the nervous system (more so the spine) and the musculoskeletal (muscles and joints). They manually adjust these areas to bring relief and alleviate pain and discomfort. According to them, the issues are caused by a condition called subluxation (misalignments on the spine).

Physical therapists, on the other hand, focus on the specific part of the musculoskeletal system that has a problem. It could be your hand, leg, or hip. The whole idea is to restore mobility, balance, and strength through a personalized rehabilitation program. Thus, every treatment program is different and is suited for the problem that the patient is dealing with.

Diagnosis Approach

Chiropractors are generally experienced in detecting subluxations. This is done before they can administer treatments. Through the diagnosis, they can recommend the most suitable treatment for your underlying condition. The diagnosis can be done using physical techniques like:

  • Handgrip tests
  • Trigger point analysis
  • Muscle testing
  • Sensation tests
  • Straight leg raise tests

Additionally, chiropractors can turn to MRI, x-ray, and urinalysis if it’s necessary to discover the principal condition.

Physical therapists can also do diagnosis but their approach is very different. They diagnose mobility issues and musculoskeletal complications within their work scope. Often, they use the following diagnosis techniques:

  • Chat assessment (question and answers sessions)
  • Movement-based tests

Overall, both experts don’t diagnose medical complications but know how to identify them and recommend the right medical experts to see.

Treatment Techniques

Chiropractors administer adjustments using their hands. Some of the techniques they popularly use are:

  • Tissue mobilization
  • Joint adjustment
  • Spinal adjustment
  • Exercise therapy
  • Massage therapy

Physiotherapists also administer manual therapies just like chiropractors. Popularly techniques that they use include:

  • Rehabilitation exercises
  • Activity modification
  • Gait training
  • Muscle coordination
  • Wound care
  • Sports enhancement
  • Massage therapy

General Expertise

Ideally referred to as spine experts, chiropractors possess extensive knowledge to deal with different issues originating from the spine. This has forced them to explore other fields like physical therapy and human medicine. So, expect these experts to know a few things about what goes in the office of a physiotherapist and that of a general practitioner.

Physiotherapists, on the other hand, possess expert skills to understand and correct mobility-related dysfunctions. They also borrow from other fields like human medicine and chiropractic. This explains why chiropractic and physiotherapy are often confused.

Specialized Expertise

Even though both experts can perform general diagnosis and treatment of different musculoskeletal issues, they have specific fields where they are most suited. Clinically, chiropractors can specialize in the following areas:

  • Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Forensic
  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Nutrition
  • Occupation Health

Physical therapists are more conversant with manual therapies. Clinically, they are better suited to these fields:

  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Geriatrics
  • Oncology
  • Cardiovascular rehabilitation
  • Joint/tissue mobilization
  • Sports Medicine

Medication Prescription

Traditionally, chiropractors are not expected to administer medications. However, some states are allowing these experts to prescribe pain alleviation drugs to some special cases. A good example is New Mexico.

Physiotherapists are also not expected to prescribe drugs to patients. They can only be allowed to do so if they are in the military and it’s an emergency case. Their advantage over chiropractors is that they are trained in pharmacology. So, they have a general knowledge of drug prescription, effects, and side effects.

Surgical Procedures

Just like chiropractors are not expected to prescribe medications, they are also not expected to do surgery. Their expertise is conservation treatment and they are expected to stick to it. Chiropractic is globally popular because it’s known as a non-drug treatment. Thus, most patients go for it because it’s not associated with the side effects that medical drugs are associated with.

Physical therapists are also not expected to perform surgeries. However, unlike chiropractors, physiotherapists can perform wound care. This is more important if they are the only health professionals around and the wound is looking bad. In general, surgical procedures should be done by trained and licensed surgeons.

Closing Thought:

Without a doubt, there’s a big difference between chiropractic and physical therapy. The experts in these two fields are trained to handle musculoskeletal issues differently and their techniques are also different. So, you can use the above guide to decide on who between the two you should see.

What is a Healthy Diet?

It’s saddening to understand one-in-three people in the United States exhibit some form of obesity or are overweight. This means they are not taking a healthy diet. Unfortunately, most people assume a healthy diet means strict food limitation. For others, a healthy diet features costly food options and supplements that are not readily available. Well, this is not what healthy dieting is all about. It doesn’t have to be this intricate. Though you have to restrict your food intake, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Additionally, you don’t have to spend so much money to enjoy a healthy diet.

What the WHO Says About a Healthy Diet

According to the World Health Organization, a healthy diet features different foods that are taken in moderation. In particular, the WHO recommends the following options:

  • Starch – Starch is a broad term that includes cereals (like rice, maize, and wheat) and tubers (like cassava, potatoes, and yams). Starch is the primary energy provider. The WHO, however, advises on cutting back on starch consumption as it could skyrocket your blood sugar and may easily cause weight gain.
  • Fruits and vegetables – The WHO recommends taking fruits and vegetables in plenty as they are a vital source of antioxidants, mineral salts, and vitamins. These nutrients are associated with defensive functions in the body such as protection against heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Fruits and vegetables also contain fibers that you need for your digestion, heart health, and skin health.
  • Animal protein – The WHO recommends healthy animal protein sources like lean meat, milk, and eggs. Fish also falls in this category. Animal protein generally repairs the body, especially after an injury. It’s also important in building muscles and bones. There are also suggestions that it could promote a better mood while enhancing cognitive functions.
  • Legumes – Here, the WHO emphasizes beans, peas, soya beans, and lentils. Legumes are rich in fibers, vitamins, and proteins. So, you can use them to replace meat. They promote better heart functions and can offer protection against cancer.

The WHO does not advise against fats, sugars, and salts entirely. However, they vouch for a lower intake. Excessive fat, for example, could trigger a heart attack or stroke. The WHO recommends unsaturated oils of vegetable origin such as corn oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil. Such oils reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues.

Concerning sugars, the WHO recommends less than 10% of your daily energy needs. Simply, what the WHO is suggesting is that you limit taking high sugars. Lastly, the WHO advises against taking too much sodium salts. This also means going slow on fish sauces as it is high in sodium.

What about Infants?

For infants, the WHO emphasizes healthy breastfeeding. According to them, a newborn should be breastfed exclusively until 6 months. At 6 months, you can introduce healthy complementary foods to the baby. You are allowed to continue breastfeeding the little one up to 2 years.

Steps to Healthy Dieting

Having looked at what a healthy diet is and the kind of foods you should eat, it’s important to know how to go about it. You need an effective guide that you can follow. To get started, here are 8 key steps to observe:

  1. Take 100% Whole Grain

You need to cut on refined grains if you are looking to eat healthily. This means clearing white bread, white rice, and refined wheat from your pantry. You should replace them with whole wheat bread, brown rice, and oatmeal. The problem with refined grains is that they lack important fibers, phytochemicals, and vitamins that you need to reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and diabetes. These nutrients are readily available in whole grains.

  1. Prepare Your Meals More Often

The way restaurants prepare foods that they claim to be healthy is not the same way you would prepare the same food. When making food at home, you are normally extra cautious. You ensure that the utensils are clean and that the vegetables are washed properly. You also ensure that ingredients are used in moderation. According to research, this can help fight weight gain.

  1. Assume the Bird Complex

A bird is a small creature that always takes small portions. You can assume this complex as it can help instill discipline to your dieting. Whether you eat at home or dine out, you should learn to take small options. The moment you get used to the idea, it becomes easy to manage your weight.

  1. Look at the Food Labels

The only way you can ascertain the content of what you are consuming is by reading the food labels. This is more important if you are buying prepackaged foods from the store. Some brands will argue that their foods are healthy, only to discover that they are loaded with preservatives and artificial flavors. You also need to take note of the added sugars.

  1. Take More Water

Are you aware that drinking water is an essential part of healthy dieting? Studies have shown that drinking water can help in weight loss. It helps to manage your appetite and this means you are not forced to overeat. Furthermore, water is important in washing toxins off the body.

  1. Skip Sweetened Beverages

If you have to take a drink that’s not pure water, then you should go for sugar-free options like sparkling water. Sugary beverages like fruit juices and sodas are heavily loaded with sugars. This makes them a potential risk of issues like diabetes and obesity. Switching to sugar-free beverages will reduce your sugar intake by a significant margin.

  1. Go for Fresh

The simplest way to avoid processed foods is going for fresh options. If what you want are fruits or vegetables, shop for what’s fresh in the market. The same goes for meat. Fresh foods are normally packed with viable nutrients that are very healthy. Unlike processed options, fresh foods do not come with artificial additives.

  1. More Potassium, Less Sodium

As earlier mentioned, sodium is a risk for cardiovascular issues. The salt can easily cause your blood pressure to rise and may trigger a stroke. Thus, you should limit its intake. One way to do it is to take more potassium. Potassium can counteract the effect of sodium. While sodium is mostly found in processed foods, potassium is present in natural options like bananas, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers.

Closing Thought:

Everyone deserves a healthy diet. As seen, it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are so many food options out there that are healthy for your body. You just have to know how to go about it. Since WHO considers healthy dieting a lifestyle, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t adopt this lifestyle.

How Effective Is Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic is an old practice where hand-on spinal adjustments are done to realign a crooked, curved or compressed spine. From the spinal adjustments, other parts of the bodies such as the back, the neck, the legs, and the shoulders are manipulated. If you were feeling pain, muscle stiffness or a strain in any of these parts, calmness is initiated through chiropractic adjustments.

Chiropractic adjustments can also be done on specific affected parts and not just the spine. In this case, a chiropractor physically manipulates the affected part. The manipulation is meant to restore mobility, muscle flexibility, and stability to the affected part. It could be a painful joint, a torn ligament, a stretched muscle or a broken bone.

Chiropractic Diagnoses: Are They Effective?

You probably don’t know this but chiropractors are also known as Doctors of Chiropractic. Like regular medical doctors, Doctors of Chiropractic have to first diagnose a patient’s condition before designing and scheduling a treatment plan. The first step is to collect the medical history of the patient. This is followed by a physical exam where the expert assesses physical signs like spinal curving, tissue tenderness, muscle soreness, and inflammation.

The expert may also look at vital parameters like blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and body heat. In some cases, the expert may resort to neurological and orthopedic exams. The former is considered to assess problems with the nerves while the latter is considered to uncover health issues linked to the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones). So, yes, chiropractic diagnosis is effective.

Chiropractic Treatment Techniques: Are They Effective?

Chiropractors employ different physical techniques to help patients recover from chronic pain, muscle distress, mobility restrictions, poor posture, among other issues. The most used technique, however, is a spinal adjustment. It’s done to address underlying issues like spinal curving and spinal nerve compression. The technique is very effective since it manipulates the spine to facilitate effective communication throughout the musculoskeletal system.

Other notable effective chiropractic treatment techniques are:

  • Joint mobilization
  • Soft tissue massage
  • Stretching exercises
  • Activity modification

Let’s look as some of the leading issues that chiropractic is effective against.

Back Pain

It’s estimated that about 74% of patients who visit chiropractors annually go there because of back pain. Doesn’t this sound effective to you? These people are either experiencing back pain from a muscle strain, wrong posture or a physical injury. Before a chiropractor can treat back pain, he or she has to run a successful diagnosis. The chiropractor will examine the patient, putting the focus on the back and the spine.

If things are not clear, a chiropractor may request the patient to go through a diagnostic imaging procedure. This is to obtain images that will show what is exactly wrong with the patient’s back and spine. After all, these are done, the chiropractor will settle on a conclusive diagnosis. The diagnosis will provide the basis of designing a chiropractic treatment plan for the patient.

The chiropractic treatment normally features spinal adjustments but it can also feature nutritional counseling, body rehabilitation, and lifestyle advice. It depends on the severity of the back pain. Generally, the primary objective of chiropractic treatment is to promote back pain relief. However, the expert also purposes to restore body functions and to prevent back pain from recurring.

Headaches

In terms of popularity, headaches are the second most popular ailments addressed by chiropractors, after back pain. These experts can treat headache types like migraines and tension headaches. Pieces of evidence show that chiropractic adjustments can help relieve and cure headaches in different people. Based on these studies, most patients experience a 90% drop in headache pain intensity.

As a result, chiropractic is recommended as an alternative to pain relievers. Unlike pain relievers which normally treat the main symptom (pain), chiropractic adjustments dig deep into the root cause of the headache. By attacking and fixing the root cause, chiropractic treats the main symptoms and prevents its recurrence.

Shoulder and Neck Injuries

One study shows that patients suffering from a frozen shoulder can benefit from chiropractic adjustments. According to the study, most patients experience a 50% improvement rate. Of course, combining chiropractic treatments with other effective manual therapies boost the recovery rate.

A different study done on patients with neck injuries show that chiropractic is very effective in relieving neck pain. The study concludes by expressing that a good number of the patients were satisfied with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to consider chiropractic is they faced a similar issue in the future. Chiropractic is not just effective but also cheaper than physiotherapy.

Other Conditions

Chiropractic is not just effective against back pain, headache, shoulder injuries, and neck injuries. It’s also effective against the following:

  • Joint pain
  • Insomnia
  • Vertigo
  • Scoliosis
  • Sciatica
  • Hypertension
  • Asthma
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Anxiety, among many others

Athletic Performance

Top professional athletes in the world consider chiropractic for performance-enhancing. It’s argued that a majority of NFL clubs have a permanent chiropractor on their team. This is because the team always need body stretches and adjustments before and after they step into the field. Arguments are that chiropractic is quite effective in alleviating pain and restoring the functionality of the muscles and joints. In the long run, this improves athletic performance.

Generally, chiropractic is effective in promoting athletic performance in the following ways:

  • Relieving muscle stiffness and tension, resulting in relaxation
  • Boosting natural energy levels through muscle stimulation
  • Reducing oxidative stress
  • Improving heart functions and natural immunity

Also, chiropractic can address sports injuries to help an athlete recover quickly. We are talking about injuries like neck pain, back injury, sprains, and strains. In the end, chiropractic ensures that the athlete takes minimal time to recover and can perform at a higher level upon recovery.

The Bonus – Professional Backing

Different professional bodies support chiropractic as a treatment option. The American College of Physicians, for example, recommends it for back pain. The Journal of the American Medical Association, on the other hand, advocates it for surgery prevention. Furthermore, chiropractors are certified and licensed by the American Chiropractic Association in the United States and other chiropractic bodies in other countries. Those who are approved by these bodies are reliable, thus effective.

Closing Thought:

If we were to answer our title, we would say that chiropractic is effective. So, you don’t have to doubt its performance. You can consider it not just to treat and prevent musculoskeletal issue but also for performance-enhancing. Make your appointment with Healing Hands Chiropractic today!

What Does Chiropractic Treat?

Globally, millions of individuals have benefitted from chiropractic. It’s one of the most sought-after alternative therapies that promises so much to the patients. For one, chiropractic promises a non-invasive treatment. Unlike surgery, there are neither cuts nor injections in chiropractic. Two, chiropractic is drug-free. This means that you don’t have to deal with drug reactions and side effects.

Doctors of Chiropractic, otherwise known as chiropractors, use hands techniques to treat you. Through hand-on techniques, your body is manipulated and this helps to treat issues like body ache, stress, and internal injuries. So you are guaranteed to heal naturally. Chiropractors also do preventive therapies to avoid serious musculoskeletal (MSK) issues from arising. The experts can diagnose and treat them in their initial stages.

So many health issues have been associated with chiropractic and here are the top 11:

1. Back Pain

An estimated 80% of people experience varied forms of backache at one point with lower back pain being the most predominant. For most of them, drugs and surgeries are their primary considerations. Though the two can be effective against back pain, they are costly and have serious risks. Chiropractic, conversely, is affordable and suffers fewer risks. When treating back pain, the back plus the spine are adjusted to clear misalignments and compressions (subluxations). In addition to treating back pain, chiropractic prevents it.

2. Sciatica

The longest nerve in the body is called the sciatic nerve and it runs from the lower back to the knees and legs. When this nerve is compressed, it results in severe pain, a condition we call sciatica. The pain is highly felt in one leg and may make it difficult for you to lift the leg or walk. A chiropractor treats sciatica by decompressing the affected nerve. Through chiropractic adjustments, the sciatic nerve is manipulated to realign itself as it should. In the end, the compression clears and so does the pain. Research shows that chiropractic has a 72% effectiveness rate against sciatica.

3. Whiplash

Whiplash refers to a physical injury that occurs on the neck following a car crash. In this case, the neck is suddenly whipped resulting in a painful injury. The good news is that it can be treated by chiropractic. A 2003 study that compares chiropractic with physical therapy and other manual therapies shows that recovery from whiplash and other neck injuries is quicker with chiropractic.

4. Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation has been linked to serious conditions like cancer and heart diseases over the years. The condition is widely treated by medications but it can still be fixed by chiropractic. Via body manipulation, chiropractic helps to reduce inflammation resulting in pain relief, muscle relaxation, and healing. It’s also important to note that by treating inflammation, you reduce the chances of cancer, heart diseases, and other conditions linked to chronic inflammation.

5. Stress

Stress is mostly associated with emotional instability. However, it can also be due to a bodily issue or an environmental concern. The cause aside, stress interferes with your quality of life. You can’t eat well, concentrate or sleep properly. This makes you unreliable and unproductive to some extent. Fortunately, it can be managed by chiropractic. A chiropractor will manipulate your muscles to relieve you from any kind of tension that might be the reason behind the stress.

6. Headaches

Whether its tension headaches or migraines, chiropractic claims to relieve them all. This is according to one study where more than 90% of respondents argue that chiropractic reduces headaches by an extensive margin. These patients prefer chiropractic over pain relievers since it addresses the source of the headache and doesn’t just treat the symptoms. It’s also argued that chiropractic can prevent headaches just as much as it can treat them.

7. Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders may manifest in different ways. Some people can’t concentrate on their sleep and so they end up waking up in the middle of the night. For others, their sleep is filled with nightmares and bed wetting. Whatever the case, you can find reliable help in chiropractic. Through chiropractic body adjustments, your sleep patterns get to improve. Chiropractors argue that the reason you can’t sleep well is that of stress, fatigue, and body ache. The adjustments are done to address these issues.

8. Scoliosis

The spine is generally flexible and this makes it delicate. It tends to curve whenever your back curves. However, if too much force is applied, the spine may curve excessively resulting in an abnormal curvature, a condition called scoliosis. It’s characterized by an abnormal posture, difficulty in breathing, and body pain. Luckily, testimonials show that it can be fixed by chiropractic. This has seen Clear Institute and other nonprofits advocate chiropractic for scoliosis.

9. TMJ Dysfunction

When the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint between the skull and the jawbone, sustains a physical injury, it can be painful. It normally becomes harder to chew since jaw movement is restricted. Sometimes it can cause toothache and headache. Since a TMJ dysfunction signified a problem with the jawbone, a chiropractor can help to release tension in the jawbone and to restore motion in the TMJ. In the end, pains are reduced and you can chew seamless.

10. Hypertension

George Bakris, a distinguished hypertension expert, did a study on chiropractic versus high blood pressure and documented his findings in a 2007 journal. According to Bakris, chiropractic adjustments have the same treatment effect as a double dose of blood pressure drugs. He argues that chiropractic can regulate blood pressure to avoid a surge. Most hypertension experts advocate for management practices. So, if you are looking not to rely on hypertension drugs, then you should go for chiropractic.

11. Fibromyalgia

When the whole MSK system is rendered sensitive by an underlying condition, the resultant disorder is called fibromyalgia. It’s characterized by widespread pain. In this case, every joint and muscle ache. Sadly, this is not the only concern. The disorder may also affect your sleep, bowel evacuation, and general wellbeing. Fibromyalgia is so serious in the sense that no one knows what causes it. What the experts know is that the symptoms can be reduced by chiropractic. By relieving pain experienced throughout the MSK system, chiropractic manages the issue.

Closing Thought:

Chiropractic has proven to work over the years and there are research-centered proofs to back it. It’s generally a great alternative to medical therapies. Chiropractic adjustments are administered by licensed and experienced professionals who understand the musculoskeletal system better than anyone. So, you should try it.

7 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Sinfully sweet! That’s the term to use when describing dark chocolate. However, research has shown that you don’t have to pity yourself for craving for this mouthwatering snack. This is because there are so many amazing health benefits masked by the sweet taste. Dark chocolate is primarily cocoa. Actually, cocoa occupies close to 90% of dark chocolate with the remaining percentage being occupied by cocoa butter, fiber, and sugar. So, a majority of the health benefits we are going to discuss are linked to cocoa.

Nutritional Profile of Dark Chocolate

We’ve already mentioned that cocoa is the main constituent in dark chocolate. It’s also important to know that cocoa has bioactive ingredients called flavanols. Flavanols are antioxidants which prevent free radicals in the body. This is critical in promoting different heart functions like improving blood circulation and blood pressure regulation. As antioxidants, flavanols are not just protective of your heart but also of your brain and body in general.

Other than flavanols, cocoa also contains catechins and polyphenols antioxidants. In fact, researchers argue that there are more of these antioxidants in dark chocolate than what you get in berries and other fruits. Besides antioxidants, dark chocolate also contains beneficial minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium. All these minerals play key roles in your immunity and general health.

Key Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate has so many health benefits and thus the list can be endless. However, these 7 are the major ones:

1. Dark Chocolate and Your Heart

healthy heart

In order to understand the role played by dark chocolate in your heart, you’ve to look at two important factors; blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Studies show that antioxidants present in dark chocolate help to regulate blood pressure. As a result, it’s able to prevent hypertension.

Studies also show that the antioxidants discourage the availability of bad cholesterol (what’s known as low-density lipoprotein). In turn, it encourages the availability of good cholesterol (what’s known as high-density lipoprotein). By regulating blood cholesterol, dark chocolate prevents heart attack diseases.

2. Dark Chocolate and Your Eyes

healthy eyes

Recent research shows that dark chocolate is good for your eyes. The research indicates that the snack has an enormous effect on your vision. In this case, your eyes become sharper and you are able to differentiate and contrast things from a distance just on first glance. Though the study was on its clinical phase, there are positives pertaining to this benefit.

In fact, dark chocolate is recommended to individuals with pathological diseases which interfere with their vision. Such people should consider taking dark chocolate over milk chocolate as the former improves their vision acuity by a significant margin.

3. Dark Chocolate and Your Skin

good skin

You probably have noticed cocoa butter in most body creams and lotions. This bioactive component is also present in dark chocolate and is very beneficial to the skin. It protects your skin against drying and sun damage. Through flavanols, dark chocolate enhances blood circulation next to the skin surface. So, your skin tends to feel hydrated and soft.

One study shows that flavanols reduce the minimal erythemal dose. The dose refers to the number of destructive UV rays that can attack your skin. Flavanols form a protective coat over your skin to ensure that the minimal erythemal dose is not reached. This means that you can be exposed to the sun for an extended time without sustaining sunburns or your skin drying. Thus, if you are planning to go on a beach vacation any time soon, then you should bring some dark chocolate bars with you.

4. Dark Chocolate and Body Inflammation

inflammation

The body responds to infectious germs in different ways. One way is through inflammation. Inflammation is not a concern so long as it’s short-term. When it becomes chronic, there’s a reason to worry as such a case is associated with cell damage and tissue death. Such symptoms expose you to the risk of arthritis and diabetes. Luckily, you can avoid it all by taking dark chocolate.

According to a 2018 study, consuming dark chocolate promotes anti-inflammatory functions in your body. This is very important when an inflammation seems to have taken longer than it should. Though researchers argue that more conclusive studies need to be done to support this, there are no reasons to think otherwise.

5. Dark Chocolate and Your Brain

your brain

Are you aware that you can prevent brain slowness and neurodegenerative conditions by taking dark chocolate? According to a 2016 study, dark chocolate helps to boost brain activity and cognitive functions. As a result, it helps to fight Parkinson’s Alzheimer, stroke, and other common neurodegenerative conditions.

The function is highly linked to flavanols. The study shows that the brain is able to recognize itself when you take dark chocolate. This is quite important in the event that you suffer an injury or a chronic disease that affects the brain. So, you are able to overcome the challenge of forgetfulness in the long run.

6. Dark Chocolate and Your Blood Sugar

diabetes

Blood sugar normally rises when insulin faces resistance in the body. Ideally, the hormone is supposed to regulate blood sugar to make sure that the levels are acceptable. So, insulin resistance is something to worry about as it’s associated with Diabetes Type 2. The good news is that it can be fixed by taking dark chocolate regularly but in moderation. This is according to a 2018 finding.

According to the finding, you only need about 20g of dark chocolate a day and this is enough to fight insulin resistance. In the end, an enhanced insulin function means reduced blood sugar volume and disease prevention. For patients with hypertensive diabetes, dark chocolate regulates both their blood pressure and glucose levels.

7. Dark Chocolate and Cancer Prevention

cancer prevention

Lastly, there are scientific suggestions that show that dark chocolate has anti-cancer effects. Given its rich supply of antioxidants in cocoa, dark chocolate may significantly prevent the invasion of cancer agents. Though there are no studies to suggest that dark chocolate may help to treat cancer, what’s clear is the fact that it’s preventive. This ideology is well backed by the American Cancer Institute (ACI). But still, ACI insists on doing more conclusive studies on the relationship between dark chocolate and cancer.

Generally, you need dark chocolate to boost your overall health. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you should snack excessively. You need to avoid getting addicted to dark chocolate as you also need other nutritious snacks. If taken in moderation, you can look forward to enjoying the discussed benefits among many others.

Chiropractic Care and Injury Prevention

We regularly read and hear about athletes sustaining injuries which leave them on the bench for a while. Some are even unlucky to go into forced retirement because of the injuries sustained. However, it’s not just sportspeople who are prone to life-threatening injuries. You too can suffer an injury. It can occur at work, when working out, and when playing with your kids. So, sometimes injuries are unavoidable. But still, a majority can be prevented. But before we can get to the prevention part, you have to know what cause most injuries so as you can address them.

Why Are Injuries So Common?

According to a 2010 survey, about 66% of personal injuries are associated with sports and working out. The remaining percentage is occupied by work-related activities. Though working out and sports are necessary for kipping fit and healthy, most people tend to overdo things. For example, you’ll find a majority of them training excessively. Others employ unsuitable techniques which expose the body to posture issues.

Sometimes, injuries are sustained when there’s an excessive force at a body junction. We are talking about the various joints of the body such as the knees and elbows. Injuries to body junctions are normally characterized by pain and swelling. They are not just sport-related but also work-related.

But we still have a few cases which affect other parts like the back, the arms, and the legs. They are mostly associated with accidental falls. Most of these injuries start with signs like pain, body discomfort, and inflexibility. Unfortunately, most people dispel the signs without understanding the implications of doing so.

Prevention – The Chiropractic Factor

Chiropractic is a treatment profession that involves administering spinal adjustments and body manipulations. This is meant to bring relief to a discomforted or ailing part. The technique is done by hand and can be administered for preventive purposes. Like all treatment professionals, chiropractors are trained and certified. Actually, they are referred to as Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) because they are trained on the working of the human musculoskeletal. In case of injury prevention, a DC is able to examine your body and fix hidden issues which could potentially expose you to injury risk.

Generally, chiropractic care prevents injuries in the following ways:

  1. Spinal Health

If we can start with the basics; you should approach a chiropractor when your spine has a problem. Since most injuries are due to a spinal dysfunction called a subluxation, a chiropractor is able to fix it before you can sustain an injury. The whole idea of seeing this expert is to be able to enjoy a healthy spine. When your spine is healthy, you can expect to avoid most injuries.

  1. Fitness Evaluation

The truth is that injuries can be sustained by anyone, more so when you are not careful. A chiropractor understands that it’s important that your body parts are functional and that your fitness level is established. If there are parts that show signs of being susceptible to injuries, a chiropractor is able to identify the issues and fix them. Often, you may think you are okay when you are not. A chiropractor is able to give you the assurance in order to prevent an injury occurring. The expert simply examines you to ensure you are physically fit before you can go to the field.

  1. Enhanced Flexibility

So often than not, injuries are sustained when we push ourselves to the extreme. Your body needs to be prepared for such. If it’s not, then there’s always the danger of sustaining an injury. Chiropractic care may help you with this. A chiropractor is able to manipulate your body to improve your range-of-motion. In the long run, your joints and muscles become more flexible. In this case, it becomes easy to push yourself to your limits without risking an injury. This is imperative if you are an athlete in a competitive field.

  1. Posture Restoration

It’s easy to suffer an injury when you have poor body posture. A lot of times, such issues are linked to a misaligned spine. This is because spinal misalignments interfere with the flow of important signals that flow from the brain to the skeletal system. As a result, you are likely to have a problem with coordination. To restore posture, a chiropractor is able to treat the misalignments. Nevertheless, it takes a number of chiropractic sessions to realize this function.

A lot of times, body posture issues are linked to prolonged sitting. This is quite common with individuals who work in an office. In such a case, you may not know that you have a problem with your posture until you start to ache. Before you can get to such a point, you should go to see a chiropractor. The expert is able to advise you on how to sit properly and the lifestyle changes you should assume to improve your posture. This ensures you are able to prevent posture-related injuries in the long run.

  1. Tension Release

Some people sustain injuries not because they are physically unfit or because of a low range-of-motion, but because of muscle tension. When your muscles are tensed, it becomes harder to work out as your mobility is hampered. It even becomes harder to engage in manual work. Actually, muscle tension affects your coordination. Luckily, this problem can be fixed by spinal adjustments. There’s actually no better spinal adjustment expert than a chiropractor. The expert will manipulate your body to release muscle tension. Your coordination, in this case, will be restored and so will your mobility.

  1. Musculoskeletal Harmonization

The musculoskeletal system primarily comprises the muscles and the bones. These components have to work together in harmony. If they don’t, then there’s always the chance that you may suffer an injury if your body is under any kind of physical pressure. A lot of times, the harmonization of the musculoskeletal system needs periodic body adjustments. Your joints and muscles need to be manipulated and twisted to become adaptable to physical pressure so as to prevent injuries. The manipulation is done by a chiropractor.

Closing Thought:

Today, you can consider chiropractic care as a preventive option for injury prevention. So, whether you are an athlete or you just want to avoid sustaining unnecessary injuries, it’s recommended to talk to a chiropractor. Contact Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic, located in Murfreesboro, TN today!

Chiropractic Treatment for Shoulder Injuries

More often than not, people assume that what they have is a shoulder injury just because their shoulder is paining. Though shoulder pain may be an indicator of a shoulder injury, it’s not always conclusive. You have to also look at other factors. Actually, unless the pain is intense, what you might be having is something different. For example, a condition like arthritis is known to cause shoulder pain. In this case, you can’t argue that you have a shoulder injury because you have arthritis and it’s paining all your joints.

So, what’s exactly a shoulder injury? To answer this, you need to first ask yourself the following:

  • Is my shoulder too painful to move it?
  • Is my shoulder feeling like it’s going to pop out of its socket?
  • Is my shoulder looking deformed?
  • Is my shoulder joint swollen?
  • Am I unable to use my shoulder whatsoever?

If the answer to a majority of the above questions is YES, then what you are dealing with is definitely a shoulder injury and you need to see a chiropractor right away.

What Cause Shoulder Injuries?

A lot of times, shoulder injuries are caused by accidental falls and hits. You may be in the field playing and you accidentally fall on your shoulder. There are also some people who experience shoulder injuries when they are hit by a car. Though rare, there are others who suffer shoulder injuries for overdoing manual tasks like padding, painting, and mowing.

Because the shoulder joint is naturally flexible to a certain extreme, people tend to overuse it and this often results in an injury. Whatever the cause, a shoulder injury needs immediate treatment. Some cases are not so serious and thus can be treated at home using ice therapy, bandaging, and rest. However, serious cases need chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic Treatment: What it’s All About

Chiropractic treatment is all about body manipulation. Starting with the spine; a chiropractor readjusts it to free it from misalignments. Normally, it’s the misalignments that block the functioning and effectiveness of your immune system. As a result, healing is delayed. By realigning your spine, your immune functions are restored and you are able to heal much faster.

The other thing that a Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic will manipulate is your injured shoulder. The manipulation is gentle and measured to ensure that your shoulder injury is not aggravated. On the contrary, shoulder adjustments bring about relief against pain and inflammation. It may also be necessary for the expert to adjust your neck, back, and arms if the injury has affected the parts.

Other ways that Dr. Dee may help treat shoulder injuries include:

  • Posture advice – Dr. Dee may advise you on the correct posture for your shoulder to help hasten the healing process. This usually comes after shoulder adjustments. You’ll be advised on how to position your head correctly when resting in order not to put so much weight on your shoulders. Posture advice is generally a good aftercare tip when you are back at home recuperating.
  • Shoulder exercises – Dr. Dee may also assume the responsibility of being your physiotherapist and fitness trainer. She will advise you on simple physical exercises you can do on your own at home. They are mostly characterized by shoulder stretches.

Common Types of Shoulder Injuries that a Chiropractor Can Treat

Dr. Dee is trained to handle different shoulder injuries. Here are the common ones:

  1. Shoulder dislocation – Have you ever heard of someone complaining of a pop out shoulder? This exactly what happens during a shoulder dislocation. It occurs when your shoulder is over pulled or over rotated. To show that it cannot handle the limit, your shoulder produces a pop sound. A shoulder dislocation is a very painful injury. The good news is that a chiropractor can help to restore the joint just by gentle body manipulation.
  2. Unstable shoulder – Any joint of your body that stretches beyond its limit is likely to be unstable. So, the shoulder joint is no exception. Shoulder instability is mostly associated with sports activities like baseball, cricket, and rugby. Such sports require you to stretch a lot and this may make your shoulder to suffer. The injury is characterized by pain and shoulder weakness. Luckily, a chiropractor can help fix the symptoms.
  3. Shoulder sprain – A shoulder sprain occurs when there’s a separation on your acromioclavicular (AC) joint. As a result, it’s often called a Shoulder Separation. The AC is the joint formed by your collar bone (clavicle) and the shoulder blade (scapula). The joint gets injured when you hit hard on the ground or when your shoulder is overstretched. It’s characterized by pain, swelling, and decreased mobility. A chiropractor is able to look at your AC and fix it through shoulder adjustments.
  4. Frozen shoulder – A frozen shoulder is simply extreme stiffness of the shoulder joint. A lot of times, it occurs when your shoulder joint is rendered immobile for long. In this case, tissue adhesions form which freeze the shoulder. The problem with a frozen shoulder is that it tends to restrict shoulder mobility. Thus, your shoulder is not able to move freely. It’s, in fact, a painful injury that a chiropractor can fix. The expert is able to manipulate your shoulder area to disintegrate the tissue adhesions that are making your shoulder stiff.
  5. Shoulder fracture – When you get hit by a car or when you fall hard, a bone may break. Such kind of injury is called a fracture. On your shoulder, fractures are common on your collar bone and at times on your arm bone. It’s generally a painful injury that’s characterized by bruising. A chiropractor is able to stop the pain and bruising.

Other Less Common Types of Injuries Treated By a Chiropractor

Some injuries are not common but are very serious to demand chiropractic treatment. They include:

  • Rotator cuff tear – Your arm is held into place at your shoulder joint by the rotator cuff. The cuff can tear if it’s overused or when you fall hard.
  • Shoulder strain – A shoulder strain refers to the loss of shoulder strength and flexibility. It occurs when your shoulder is overstretched.
  • Shoulder impingement – If the rotator cuff tendons get pinched by one of the shoulder bones, the injury that result is called impingement.

Closing Thought:

Since shoulder injuries are so serious, it’s wise to seek chiropractic treatment immediately. Your injury will be examined by Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic, located in Murfreesboro, TN, and a customized treatment will be decided to treat your shoulder injury.

Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain

Do you often find it hard to raise your arm or carry an object? Are there signs of inflammation on your shoulder? If you answered YES to both questions, then you may be suffering from shoulder pain. Other symptoms to watch out for include recurrent aching on the shoulder, a deformed shoulder, and a frozen shoulder. So, if at any time you experience such symptoms, you should seek treatment immediately.

But you should know that shoulder pain doesn’t just get treated by taking pain relievers and having plenty of rest. No. This will only provide short-term relief but doesn’t give any guarantee that the problem won’t recur. You need to treat the issue from its root and that’s the spine. If there’s any treatment that can do, it has to be chiropractic care. Before we can look at how the treatment helps, let’s first learn about the source of the problem.

The Causes

Usually, the key to treating shoulder pain is diagnosing its course. This is critical not just in medical diagnosis but also in chiropractic assessments. A lot of times, shoulder pains are caused by the following:

  • Pain transfer from an aching neck, back or an internal organ like the pancreas and gall bladder.
  • Shoulder joint immobilization for long hours (we call the condition a frozen shoulder).
  • A dislocated shoulder often associated with a traumatic injury.
  • Tearing of the tendons of the rotator cuff due to a shoulder injury.
  • Arthritis effects on the shoulder joint.
  • Calcium deposition on the shoulder joint.
  • Shoulder joint becoming unstable over time either because of a traumatic injury on the shoulder or a shoulder condition.

The Chiropractic Factor

Before you can see a chiropractor, it’s important to know how the care practice works. The first thing to know is that the body’s musculoskeletal system works as a unit and that the spine is the pillar of the whole system. So, if there’s any misalignment on the spine path leading to the shoulder, it has to be fixed. In this case, a chiropractor will employ hands-on body manipulation techniques collectively known as chiropractic adjustments. The aim of this approach is to clear misalignments on the spine so as to exercise its therapeutic function.

When the spine is well-aligned, the immune system is maximally stimulated to exercise its therapeutic function. Thus, immune cells are released and distributed in the body. As a result, healing effects are felt on your shoulder. A chiropractor can also manually manipulate the hurting shoulder and adjacent parts to release their tension. This is particularly important in getting rid of discomforts associated with shoulder pain. Generally, doing chiropractic adjustments is beneficial in the following ways:

  • Enhances range of motion on your shoulder joint
  • Ease pain, swelling, and soreness on the affected shoulder
  • Improves shoulder strength and stability
  • Improves shoulder flexibility and comfort

Other Ways a Chiropractor Can Help with Shoulder Pain

Though the key role that chiropractors play when dealing with shoulder pain is doing chiropractic adjustment, there are other ways that such experts can help. Here are the common ones:

  1. Chiropractic Diagnosis

Before a chiropractor can decide to do spinal adjustments and neck manipulation on you, a diagnosis must be established. In most times, the expert will use physical approaches to assess shoulder pain. The expert will feel the shoulder and observe how you respond when it’s touched or moved. The chiropractor may also consider using imaging exams like CT scanning and MRI.

Depending on the results of the diagnostic imaging exams, a chiropractor may consider recommending chiropractic adjustments as the only treatment or may suggest co-treating the condition. In the case of a co-treatment, you may need to do chiropractic adjustments alongside therapies like physiotherapy and massage therapy. Such therapies are normally considered when your shoulder pain is at a severe stage.

  1. Posture Treatment

Sometimes, all you need to treat shoulder pain is maintaining the correct posture all day. In this case, a chiropractor, who may also double up as your physiotherapist, will advise you on how to sit and rest so as not to impact the shoulders negatively. Basically, you’ll be taken through the basics of better posture.

  1. Home Exercises

A chiropractor can recommend several exercises for the shoulder to do on your own at home. Simply, the expert can help form a personalized workout plan depending on your shoulder condition and willingness. Following the plan eliminates the need to see a physiotherapist.

  1. Ice & heat – Both ice and heat can be used to curb shoulder pain and to reduce its inflammation. Though the options offer short-term relief, most chiropractors consider them before they can do chiropractic adjustments. But if you consider DIY ice & heat application, you should be careful not to apply where you are not hurting. It may make the areas to hurt

Non-Chiropractic Practices Known to Enhance Chiropractic Effects

Even though chiropractic care is an effective treatment for shoulder pain on its own, some practices just improve it. They include:

  • Rehabilitation exercises – After having your chiropractic sessions, you could boost your bounce-back chances by engaging in rehabilitation exercises. You’ll need to book an appointment with a physiotherapist for this. The exercises will help the shoulder joint recover fast.
  • Ultrasound – A chiropractor may also recommend ultrasound treatment for your shoulder in addition to chiropractic adjustments. The sound waves that are directed to your shoulder may help release tension and discomfort.
  • Natural anti-inflammatory remedies – Your chiropractor may recommend natural options for treating inflammations instead of taking NSAID. A lot of times, they recommend essential oils.
  • Cortisol injection – Though often taken as an independent treatment for shoulder pain, cortisol can be used as an adjunct treatment to chiropractic care. But you should be aware that the option is invasive and may come with serious side effects.
  • Joint resting – Lastly, it’s important to rest your shoulder joint so as to reduce inflammation. It’s however important to do it cautiously to avoid freezing the joint. A frozen shoulder may result from prolonged immobilization of the shoulder joint. So, you should only rest it intermittently.

Closing Thought:

Generally, chiropractic care is worth considering when dealing with any kind of shoulder pain. Since chiropractors treat the issue from its source, this not only promises to clear the symptoms but also the condition in general. So, if you have been suffering from recurrent shoulder pain and haven’t managed to treat it effectively, it’s time you pick up your phone and call a chiropractor. The expert is likely to help you.

Benefits of Chiropractic for Men

Traditionally, men are ‘hardy’ beings. Often, we tend to dispel signs of discomfort early until it’s too much for us to bear. Unlike women, we tend to take issues like headaches and joint aches as just a by the way. We assume that such discomforts can be treated with pain killers or herbs and a bit of rest. Though such approaches are sometimes effective, they do not address the underlying issue.

Generally, it’s important that you know what’s making the body ache so as you can address it. This is where chiropractic for men comes in. It’s a holistic natural approach for all body discomforts. The treatment involves manual (by hand) adjustment of the spine and aching parts to bring about relief and restoration to body functions. The interesting part about all this is that no drugs are used and that the whole practice is non-invasive.

Today, chiropractors do more than treat an underlying musculoskeletal condition. They also diagnose these conditions and are able to offer preventive care against a majority of them. The whole idea of offering chiropractic is to enable your body to heal and defend itself. This is achievable by treating misalignments (subluxations). Now that you know what chiropractic is, it’s time you learn some of its benefits that you may have been missing on:

  1. No to Hypertension

Back in 2007, a team of researchers led by top hypertension expert George Bakris did research on the role of chiropractic on high blood pressure. To their surprise, they found that one session of chiropractic adjustment has the same effect as two doses of hypertension medications. So, they concluded that chiropractic can help avoid the use of hypertension drugs and still be able to enjoy regulated blood pressure.

  1. Strong Muscles

Men are all about muscles. Simply we are expected to be stronger than our opposite sex. This, however, cannot be said about every man out there. Chiropractic is there to make things right for all men, nonetheless. Through body adjustments, your muscles are properly aligned. The same can also be said about the bones. In the end, you are able to enjoy improved muscular energy and body strength.

  1. Better Immunity

Generally, there must be communication between the body and the brain for it (the body) to defend itself. However, the medium used for communication is the spine. If there’s a misalignment on it, then the flow of communication between the two parts is affected and so is the immunity. Through chiropractic, the spine is cleared of any obstruction to ensure that the body is healed naturally.

  1. Back Pain Relief

Back pain is one of the commonest and most serious physical conditions in men. Some are serious enough to interfere with posture and to cause disabilities. Luckily, the condition can be managed effectively with chiropractic. According to one study, men who go through several chiropractic sessions show drastic improvement against back pain. Whether it’s acute pain or chronic pain, chiropractic will help.

  1. Faster Recovery

We’ve already mentioned how important the spine is in promoting healing. Generally, it helps you not just to recover from an injury or an infection but also do it quickly. Your immune system, in this case, becomes more adaptive and effective against the condition at hand. For this reason, it’s advisable to see a chiropractor after sustaining a sports or work injury.

  1. Better Posture

Essentially, posture is controlled by the spine. If you have a problem with sitting or standing properly, it’s likely that your spine is misaligned. Since a chiropractor specializes in spinal alignment, the expert will adjust your spine effectively to eliminate subluxations. In the end, you are able to regain your posture. Additionally, a chiropractor will advise you on how to maintain your posture even at home.

  1. Headache Relief

Men get headaches for different reasons. It may be due to stress, exhaustion, drug reactions or an underlying condition. Regardless, you need to treat it. According to research, you can do it safely with chiropractic without risking side effects associated with analgesics. The research shows that chiropractic adjustments are effective both against migraines and tension headaches.

  1. Quality Sleep

Are you aware that your sleep is determined by your spine alignment? Well, if there are subluxations on the spine, your sleep quality is affected. You’ll experience periodic wakefulness because of discomforts felt on the spine. Fortunately, a chiropractor can make it all go away. By treating subluxations, your sleep quality is improved. This means you can start sleeping soundly for longer without waking up unnecessarily in the middle of the night.

  1. Stress Management

Though stress can be good when you are in some high-performance demanding situations, it can be bad for your health. It’s known to cause heart disease, hypertension, mental exhaustion, and muscle wasting. So, you need to manage it and you can do it with regular chiropractic. By eliminating subluxations, balance is brought back to your nerves and you are able to enjoy stress relief in the long run.

  1. Surgery Prevention

As already mentioned, chiropractic does not just treat but also prevents. According to a recent publication, chiropractic should be considered by patients who are planning to have surgery. By going for chiropractic adjustments, these patients can improve their chance of not only getting better but also of avoiding surgery entirely.

  1. Joint Pain Relief

Joint pain is mostly associated with men with arthritis. However, it can also happen to anyone who suffers an injury to the joint. The cause notwithstanding, chiropractic adjustments will help. By adjusting your spine, you start to experience comfort and pain relief throughout the musculoskeletal system, joints included. This is because the entire musculoskeletal system is directly connected to the spine.

  1. Healthier Lifestyle

A chiropractor is not just a therapeutic technician whose work is to realign your body. This expert is also a health advisor. You are able to benefit holistically in as far as your health is concerned. The expert is there to advise you on the following aspects of your health:

  • Better workout routine
  • Proper dieting
  • Body rest
  • Mental health

The whole health counseling idea is meant to help you make better decisions in the future pertaining to your general wellbeing.

Closing Thought:

For men, chiropractic is clearly beneficial. It’s able to treat and prevent conditions that most men struggle with on a daily basis. So, if you have been looking for a more direct, safe, and minimally invasive treatment for your body discomfort, then you should consider chiropractic. Just give a chiropractor a call now!

The Best Outdoor Activities in Murfreesboro, TN

Fun! Fun! Fun! That’s all you can think about when the sun is out in Murfreesboro, TN. This historic city is always lively. In fact, you can’t tell what makes it tick. Whether it’s historic sites, nature spots, or family-friendly parks, Murfreesboro has all sectors covered. So, when it’s summer, you know that it’s time for outdoor fun. Depending on your definition for fun, it can be anything in Murfreesboro.

For some, it’s taking an adventurous walk in the park. For others, it’s picnicking or camping with friends or family. There are also others who consider scavenger hunt or bird watching to be fun. Regardless of how you define fun, Murfreesboro has it all. To get you started, we’ve assembled some of the best outdoor activities to try out in the city this year:

  1. Go Fishing at Riverside Picnic Area

If fishing has always been a part of you and you are always looking for the best places to do it, then you’ll have a great time at Riverside Picnic Area. Actually, the area is known for rainbow trout, among other amazing catches. You can also do picnicking in this park. It has everything that you need to have a great time in the outdoors. Whether it’s to sit and observe nature or to stroll around the park, each moment spent here is special.

  1. Tour the Stones River National Battlefield

Do you want to have a more personal feel of how the Civil War might have been? Then, you need to visit the Stones River national battlefield. The battlefield houses hundreds of cemetery belonging to passionate Americans who gave their lives during the bloodiest war. There are guided tours to the spot which can help you learn more about the Civil War. It’s generally a nice place to walk when you are in love with your history. Some trails lead through the woods while others rise above the rocks.

  1. Dirt Hike at Barfield-Crescent Park

If you are ready to get dirty at a hiking site, you should go to Barfield-Crescent. The 430-meter park located in the southern part has amazing picnic shelters for families and groups. From the picnic areas, there are dirt trails leading to the jungle. So, if you are in for adventurous hikes, the trails are worth following. Throughout the park, there are 13 campsites to spend some time after the dirty hike.

  1. RV Camping at Murfreesboro RV Park

Do you have a recreational vehicle that you like camping with? Then you should drive to Murfreesboro RV Park to join RV campers alike for an amazing camping adventure. RV camping here is very exciting. The RV Park is small and quiet with so many advantages to enjoy on site. From shower houses to free Wi-Fi, they are all available. Outside the camps, there’s good cell reception and a clear view of the sky.

  1. Play with Your Kids at the Miracle Field

Are you looking for an outdoor spot where you can spend time with your kids? You should then go to the Miracle Field. This customized baseball fun field is designed to also accommodate kids with special needs. It’s wheelchair-friendly and safe for other mobility-assistance devices. There’s also a picnic area on site and amazing fun activities like the zip line and exciting rides to enjoy.

  1. Fat Biking Along the Stones River Greenway

For so many years, the Stones River Greenway has been known as a great hiking spot in Murfreesboro because of its amazing walking trails. Now, it’s also known for biking. It has amazing biking trails that are adjacent to the walking trails. So, if you have a fat bike, you can ride it along the Greenway. You can also rent one. The experience allows you to appreciate the beauty and lushness of the Greenway.

  1. Explore the General Bragg Trailhead

When looking to access the Stones River Greenway, no trail leads there fast than General Bragg. The good thing about following this trailhead is that it’s a great hike on its own. It allows you to see beautiful scenery along the way. Additionally, you can access a picnic pavilion that features beautiful restaurants and a kids’ play area. Exploring the trailhead is always adventurous.

  1. Harvest Time at Batey Farms

Batey Farms is a family-owned agribusiness that goes back to 1807. Now, the 8th generation of the family is running it. The farms are known to produce the best and freshest local produce. You are allowed to come and harvest what you like and pay for it. From strawberries and blueberries to grapes and sweet corns, you can pick them at Batey Farms. Moreover, they have a shop on site where you can buy sausages, pork burgers, and other animal-based products.

  1. Unwind at Blueberry Farm

Though most people who visit the Blueberry Farm go there to pick fresh and juicy blueberries, it’s also a good spot for unwinding. So, if you are looking for an outdoor spot that’s peaceful and one that connects you to nature, the Blueberry farm is just perfect. The 7-acre privately ran farm is characterized by more than 4,000 plant species. So, it’s not just blueberries that you can find.

  1. Scenic Walk on the Walls of the Old Stone Fort

Murfreesboro never runs out of hiking trails. The Old Stone Fort Archaeological Park is just a perfect example of what it means to walk close to nature. Walking in this park is just magical. The view is splendid and inspiring. Actually, the real fun is in walking on the walls of the historic Stone Fort. It allows you to see the park widely and intimately.

  1. Nature Observation at Long Hunter State Park

Murfreesboro has always been known as a great city for nature’s most unique and adorable birds. Part of the reason for this is the existence of Long Hunter State Park. The 2,600-acre observatory allows you to see dozens of bird species as you follow lengthy walking trails. The trails cover roughly 20 miles. Other than nature observation and hiking, you can also enjoy fishing in the park.

Closing Thought:

Whether you want to have fun with family or just some lone time in the outdoors, Murfreesboro is the city to be. With the above outdoor activities on the table, you can’t miss something memorable to do. All these activities guarantee maximum adventure.