​Massage therapy is a natural treatment approach that can help increase circulation, relieve tension, reduce stress, relieve anxiety, improve sleep, and relax your body to promote healing. Massage therapy is an important treatment tool. Did you know that many insurance companies now provide coverage for massage therapy sessions? Massage therapy benefits you in so many ways:

Strengthening Your Immune System – Regular massage sessions provide many benefits to the human body. It is a well-known fact that individuals who experience high levels of stress are more vulnerable to illness and injury. When stress is combined with sleep disturbances and poor nutrition, the impact is directed at the body’s immune system. Its ability to naturally protect itself against infections, pathogens, and bacteria is greatly reduced. Some might wonder how massage therapy benefits the immune system. Studies have indicated that regular massage sessions not only help reduce stress, but can also boost the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity (activity level of the body’s natural “killer cells”) and enhances the body’s ability to deliver nourishment. Moreover, massage therapy can be a great addition to any exercise program. Much like regular exercise can keep the body fine-tuned, regular massage therapy can help keep the immune system strong and resilient.

Helps Lower Blood Pressure – Regular massage therapy sessions have been found to reduce blood pressure levels. In fact, some long-term studies have shown that a consistent massage program can reduce both systolic (upper number) and diastolic (lower number) blood pressure. Moreover, it can also reduce cortisol levels within the body. Furthermore, consistent massage sessions can also reduce trigger sources for anxiety, hostility, tension, and depression. In turn, lower blood pressure levels can also reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and/or kidney failure, as well as many other health issues.

Promotes Healing – The purpose of massage therapy is to target the source of the body’s pain via eliminating tense muscles, increasing flexibility, and providing relaxation to the affected muscles as well as the body as a whole. Massage also promotes circulation to the affected or injured muscles, which increases nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues. In turn, this increased activity to the affected sites reduces stiffness and edema (swelling) in the muscles and joints, as well as increases flexibility to help reduce pain. Moreover, this form of therapy also releases endorphins (pain-killing hormones), which boost the dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. These hormones assist the body in many ways–physically as well as emotionally. Case in point, they promote healing, pain management, and feelings of euphoria, as well as help to calm the nerves.

Improves Circulation – The long-term benefits of massage therapy are not to be underestimated. Improved circulation is part of a snowball effect that occurs in the body as a result of receiving regular massage therapy on a consistent basis. This is because proper circulation brings damaged, stiff, and tense muscles the rich blood supply they need to promote healing.

Moreover, massage also promotes improved circulation via the use of hands-on pressure, which moves the blood through the damaged and congested areas of the body. In turn, the release of this same pressure causes new blood to flow into tissues. Furthermore, the squeezing, twisting, and pulling action of the massage technique also removes lactic acid from the muscle tissues. As a result, this action improves the lymph fluid circulation, which carries metabolic waste products away from internal organs and muscles. In turn, this results in lower blood pressure levels and improved overall body function.

Reduced Anxiety – When the body is tense and under stress, it produces unhealthy levels of the well-known stress hormone, cortisol, which can contribute to weight gain, sleeplessness, digestive problems, and headaches. Massage therapy has been shown to decrease cortisol levels in the body. This enables the body to enter a recovery mode. Moreover, this form of therapy also triggers lasting feelings of relaxation, improved mood, and reduced stress levels.

Stress Reduction – Not only can massage therapy help with stress relief, but regular massage sessions over a prolonged period of time can boost energy levels, reduce pain, and stimulate individuals on physical as well as emotional levels.

Improved Posture – Many Americans experience back, neck, and muscle pain from a variety of sources. However, the primary cause of this pain results from poor posture. In fact, chronic back pain, which is the number one reason for missed work days and second most common cause of disability, is often the result of incorrect or poor posture while standing and/or sitting. Moreover, being overweight, poor posture, and repetitive or overuse movements can also contribute to the strain on the back and other potential problem areas. As a result, the added strain often causes spasms, pain, and tense muscles in the hips, glutes, back, neck, and legs.

Massage therapy can help get the body back into proper alignment. In fact, improving one’s posture can be one of the most beneficial and relaxing aspects of massage therapy. Massage allows the body to relax and loosen the muscles made tense and sore via bad posture. In turn, this allows the body to position itself in its organic and pain-free posture. As part of a consistent massage therapy program, the body’s muscles are loosened and relaxed. Moreover, the joints have greater freedom, flexibility, range of motion, and pressure points are relieved. As a result, the body is able to position itself in an organic and healthy posture. In short, massage therapy helps to correct the positions and movements developed over time as a reaction to pain.

Massage therapy is now considered a mainstream treatment tool which means that most insurance companies provide treatment coverage. 

As part of our whole-body approach to your health, massage therapy may just help you live the happy, healthy, well-adjusted life that you deserve. Make your health your top priority, call Dr. Dukes at (813) 752-2524 and schedule your wellness consultation today.

7 Surprising Benefits of Chiroropractic Care

Patients often seek out chiropractic care for acute conditions like headaches, back pain or neck pain. Did you know that these acute conditions are not the top 7 reasons patients stay with chiropractic care?

Proper nervous system care offers benefits that may surprise you such as: Better Digestion, Lower Blood Pressure, Stress Relief, Injury Prevention, Mood Improvement, Immune System Strengthening and Better Sleep.

More Settled Tummy
If you have a difficult time with digestion, regular chiropractic visits often ease symptoms safely, without the risks often associated with drug therapies.

Reduced Blood Pressure
It can decrease your blood pressure. If the spine is misaligned, body functions such as your blood pressure aren’t properly maintained which may be putting you at greater risk.

Better Balance
The stronger and healthier your spine is, the easier it is to balance. Better balance potentially helps you better avoid injuries due to slips or falls.

Stress Relief
Have you ever said, 'I just don't feel right'? When your nervous system is out of line we know something is wrong but it can be tough to figure just what the trouble is. This can cause a great deal of mental and physical stress on your body. That's why regular wellness care is so important to feel your best.

Injury Prevention
Proper posture is vital to preventing injuries that can hold you back. Posture education and regular chiropractic adjustments are powerful tools to help ou acheive consistently proper posture at work, paly or rest.

Improve Your Mood
Wellness care helps balance every system in your body - including your body's chemistry. Physically feeling your best, and even working towards feeling your best, jump-starts the chemical signals that keep you in a positive mood.

Improve Your Immune System
Chiropractic adjustments help remove  subluxations that prevent the nervous system from working properly. This includes the signals to and from your immune system. Your immune system can only work properly when your nervous system sends and receives the right signals.

Improve Your Sleep
So many of us suffer from sleep-related issues. Most of these sleep problems are related to stress, pain and/or body aches. Wellness treatments helps you improve sleep quality and get a good nights rest.

Chiropractic wellness care can helps you live the happy, healthy, well-adjusted life that you deserve. Make your health your top priority, call Dr. Dukes at (813) 752-2524 and schedule your wellness consultation today.

​Soon-to-be-Moms and their loved ones often ask about how Chiropractic care might help them facilitate a safer and more comfortable pregnancy experience.

The great news is that Chiropractic Care can help. Here are answers to some of the questions I am most frequently asked:

Why should Moms-to-be seek out chiropractic care?

First, it is somewhat of a misconception that Chiropractors only deal with neck and back pain. The truth is we treat the 'whole patient' by ensuring balance in the body. Our goal is to ensure that the brain is in complete control of the entire body as well as all of its processes without any interruption in the communication of those messages. The way we do this is by adjusting the spine, pelvis and cranium, removing any subluxations (mis-alignments) which may detract from the electrical signal from the brain traveling along the nerves to their final destinations such as organs, muscles, tissues and so on. This is critical to safety and comfort for you and your developing baby. If you have subluxations in your spine, your bodily systems are likely not functioning at 100%. And, chances are that you and your baby's health could be impacted.

What type of health impact?

Consequences may take many forms from mild pain or discomfort to high blood pressure, gastric reflux, constipation, back pain or difficult labor (dystocia). Everything in your body is controlled by your brain and nervous system. You have nerves that you consciously feel and many more nerves that you cannot feel. 

Your brain and body are in constant communication. During child birth your brain gives signals to release oxytocin to induce contractions, the brain then receives feedback as to how everything is working. When subluxations exist, your brain and body communication is compromised often resulting in a longer and more difficult labor.

Can chiropractors help correct my babies position for birth?

Breech babies are a big concern for most moms-to-be. We all want a safe birth for both Mom and baby. When the pelvis is mis-aligned the ligaments attaching the uterus to the pelvis get strained and the baby may be in the unfavorable head-down position. The Webster technique aims to re-align the pelvis and thus enable the baby to find a more favorable, more comfortable position. The goal of this Chiropractic technique is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In so doing neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is improved resulting in a safer, more comforable birthing process.

What about labor pains?

Study after study confirm that regular adjustments throughout your pregnancy may help you have a shorter and easier labor. And proper alignment of the pelvis and lumbar spine has been shown to decrease the low back pain which commonly occurs throughout pregnancy and after delivery without the use of drugs or injections.

What are the risks of undergoing the Webster technique?

The Webster technique is considered safe and there are minimal associated risks. The technique helps balance the pelvis restoring proper nerve flow to the pelvis, uterus and lower body muscles. The benefits of balancing your pelvis and relieving uterus torsion is that your baby is more likely to turn head-down and be in a more comfortable and favorable vaginal birth position. For some women, report mild discomfort from muscle spasms forming in areas around subluxated joints. The body has compensated to these mis-alignments and getting these taken care of may cause temporary mild tenderness. The other discomfort that may occur could be the baby shifting in the uterus, but that should not cause any more discomfort than the mother has experienced with previous movement of the child. 

What should I consider when choosing a chiropractor?

When choosing a Chiropractor it is helpful to choose one who is certified in the Webster Technique. It's also helpful if the practice offers massage therapy in-house.

Did you know that just one hour a week of brisk walking has been shown to stave off disability in older adults? A recent Northwestern Medicine study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals that an estimated 14 million older adults in the U.S. have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Approximately two in five people with osteoarthritis —most of whom have it in their lower joints —develop disability limitations.

The study found an hour of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity allowed older adults to maintain their ability to perform daily tasks. The weekly hour of exercise reduced their risk of mobility disability (walking less than one meter per second) by 85 percent and reduced their risk of daily living disability (difficulty performing routine tasks such as walking in the home, bathing and dressing) by almost 45 percent.

Some health guidelines recommend older adults participate in at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate-intensity activity. But that level of activity can be daunting for many inactive adults.
​
If you are currently inactive and are looking for a path to a healthier lifestyle, call Dr. Dukes at (813) 752-2524. Schedule an exam to learn if you're ready to walk your way to the benefits of a more physically active lifestyle. She’ll help you begin your path to wellness safely and for maximum benefit.

Sciatica have you down? Sciatica is most commonly caused by lower lumbar pressure on nerve groups which is why Dr. Dukes spinal decompression treatments can be so effective.

Get back to living life on your terms. Duke's Chiropractic Health Clinic provides proven non-surgical, drug-free and comprehensive services that give you the relief you need and continuing care that may prevent chronic flare-ups. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Dukes today. Learn how if the drug-free therapies she specializes in are right for you.  (813) 752-2524

When pinched or compromised, Sciatica symptoms can range from mild to debilitating:

• Radiating leg pain that often intensifies while sitting
• Isolated buttock or leg pain
• Paing shooting down the leg
• Tingling or burning in the toes, feet or lower leg
• Leg weakness, impaired bowel or bladder control
• Leg numbness

Low back pain and sciatica do not have to reduce your quality of life. Our team is trained to help alleviate your pain so you can get back to doing the activities you enjoy. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Dukes today. (813) 752-2524

Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Work pressures, relationship stress and other life challenges can cause tension headaches. Most of us share bad habits such as repetitive activities and poor posture. The result is tension in your neck and shoulders that feels like it slowly travels up the base of your skull to wrap around your head.

Schedule an examination with Dr. Dukes. Research shows that spinal manipulation can be an effective treatment option for tension headaches.
Together, see if chiropractic care is right for you. (813) 752-2524

Additional Information
Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to prevent tension headaches. Activities such as Tech-Neck, Commuting, Video-Gaming, Jaw Clenching, Stomach Sleeping contribute to tension headaches.

Episodic tension headaches are often tied to stressful events. They typically come on quickly and are fairly painful. Chronic tension headaches tend to occur daily. They may come on as you wake up or after a long day of work or activity. Muscles in your neck and scalp tend to stay contracted with pain and tightness on across the head, in the forehead and at the base of the skull.

Ease tension headaches by:

• Minimizing stress by working to avoid or limit exposure to stressful events.
• Take regular breaks to stretch or walk.
• Limit the time you spend looking down at your phone
• Limit extended drives or commutes.
• Adjust the way you sleep to ensure that your neck is in a neutral posture.
• Exercise and stretch your neck and shoulder muscles.
• Consider drug-free preventative care such as regular massage therapy.

Schedule an examination with Dr. Dukes. Together, see if chiropractic care is right for you.

​Mom Summer Survival: Focus on Self-Care
Some moms can’t wait for summer months. Family time, vacation, holidays, travel and keeping up with the yard. It's easy to over-do-it. 

Regularly scheduled stretching and massage therapy is a great way to focus on your self-care and prevent everyday aches and pains from becoming problematic. Professional therapy works wonders. And, by scheduling regularly at a Chiropractic office, you’ll be much more likely to be aware of potential issues and be prepared in advance so you can take steps to prevent or treat them. Call and schedule a soothing therapy session today.

Call Dr. Dukes today. Schedule an examination. Together, you can learn if chiropractic care is right for you. (813) 752-2524

Stress is a reality of modern living. Left untreated, stress may compound minor health issues and lead to major health issues such as anxiety or depression. Luckily, chiropractic care can help you manage your stress because chiropractic focuses on the spine care.

One of the effects of chronic stress is muscle tension and contraction, which can lead to dangerously unbalanced skeletal pressures which often cause headaches, migraines, muscle tension, and back and neck aches. Chiropractic adjustments and manual therapies help ease these painful symptoms through natural, drug-free treatment. Take control by scheduling an appointment.

Chiropractic Care can help reduce stress in four primary areas:

• Reduce muscle tension through various manual therapies
• Restore proper body function through spinal adjustments
• Guide you through proper posture and stretching techniques
• Guide you through  stress-deducing hydration and nutrition habits

Reducing Muscle Tension Helps Reduce Stress
As you encounter stress, muscles tighten and become more tense. Over time, this takes a toll through chronic poor posture, loss of sleep, and difficulty focusing on tasks. Chiropractic care can help reduce tension and restore your body to its natural balance through manual therapies and spinal adjustments.

Restore Natural Balance & Function Through Spinal Adjustments
Your brain communicates everything with the help of your spine. As stress intensifies, you tense up causing your spine to move and become out of alignment. Chiropractic adjustments help restore proper alignment so that the body can begin to heal itself.

Heal Faster with Proper Posture & Regular Stretching
Posture refers to the position of the body while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture and regular light stretching helps keep your spine in a neutral or balanced state which reduces the negative effects of stress and helps prevent regression of your condition through your course of care.
​
Good Nutrition and Hydration Help Too
Good nutrition and proper hydration are the foundation of maintaining your health. Eating the right foods, avoiding some foods and drinking plenty of water will help reduce your stress symptoms faster so you can get back to normal.
 
Call Dr. Dukes today. Schedule an examination. Together, you can learn if chiropractic care is right for you. (813) 752-2524

​Providing healing and wellness without drugs or invasive surgery by focusing on spine function and natural methods is what makes Chiropractic care unique. You may be surprised to know that Dr. Dukes uses a host of techniques and methods beyond spinal adjustments to help her patients find relief and lifelong wellness.

Natural therapies such as heat, cold, massage, stretching and exercise are the most common tools. When employed in a specific and controlled manner, these and other techniques positively influence a wide range of body functions reducing pain symptoms while increasing wellness.

Dr. Dukes often uses a variety of therapies to help her patients:

• Ergonomics. During your course of care, Dr. Dukes may recommend modifications to your posture at work or home - particularly when performing repetitive tasks or living a sedentary lifestyle.
• Massage therapy helps improve patients mental approach, circulation and reducing swelling and inflammation. Plus, it's simply wonderful.
• Dietary management. Cutting calories alone is rarely successful. Crafting a nutrition plan is the best way to make sustainable life changes. Patients often report how their improved diet helps relieve inflammation and joint pain.
• Pelvic stabilization. Fallen arches or 'flat-feet', leg-length deficiency and/or subtalar instability are present, Dr. Dukes may prescribe corrective arch supports and/or heel lifts to aid in stabilizing your pelvis.
• Patient education. Dr. Dukes may advise a variety of lifestyle modifications including stretching, exercise, nutrition and stress-reduction as part of your overall course of care.
• Exercise and stretching are key wellness components. Dr. Dukes prescribes specific exercises and stretches to help patients minimize injury and health risks while getting the most out of the time and effort they invest in their recovery.
• Ultrasound therapy helps reduce joint pain, stiffness and spasms while increasing blood flow to accelerate the healing process by essentially using sound waves to micro-massage soft tissues and joints.

It is important to remember that each patient's situation is unique. After a complete examination, Dr. Dukes may employ specific manipulations (chiropractic adjustments) in conjunction with one or more of the above therapies to remove structural or nervous system irritation that may be a major contributing factor to your condition.
If you or your loved one is experiencing any of these conditions, chiropractic care may help. 
Call Dr. Dukes today. Schedule an examination. Together, you can learn if chiropractic care is right for you and your specific situation. Call today (813) 752-2524