Merry Christmas!
Dr. Stephen J. Wohar
Chiropractor
727 Route 481
Monongahela, PA 15063
724-258-3371
www.drstevewohar.com
Holiday Greetings
Just a short note to wish you peace, health and happiness throughout this holiday season and in the year ahead. Thank you for the privilege of being your chiropractor and helping you experience better health through chiropractic care during this past year. I appreciate your confidence and trust and will continue striving to provide you with the best spinal care possible.
Every year we get positive feedback about the usefulness of the suggestions for wrapping gifts, shoveling snow, shopping, etc., so this is sort of a tradition for the office. Some of you may recognize the content. The practical information and tips are pretty much timeless. But as there are always new faces here, we hope you will take the time to read it and apply the info to help you have a more comfortable holiday season.
I graduated from Chiropractic College in 1990. After 20 years in practice, I still love what I do. I consider that a gift. While I enjoy the feeling of helping people live healthier, and thus, happier lives, I also feel blessed to have met so many of you. I believe I have learned so much from listening to your stores, hearing about your families, witnessing the stages of life from beginning to end. Life is a gift AND a mystery. It involves the blessings in each day AND the big questions.
I believe Christmas provides a hopeful, joyful answer. We are not alone. God is with us. He came into our world to show us how to love. To tell us that’s what our live are meant to be about. We make our own lives happier and our world better when we extend that love and concern to one another. People are what have always mattered most.
We hope you feel cared about in our office. We try hard to treat you the way we would want to be treated. We do our best to help you feel better, to get the results you hope for when you come to the office. We are grateful for your kindness, courtesy, patience and understanding. You make the office a pleasant place. Thank you.
I end this letter with a retelling of the story of the Christmas tree. The Vikings honored the evergreen as a symbol of strength and vitality amid the dark season of winter. Christian missionaries used the evergreen as a symbol of Christ’s presence with mankind through all the seasons of life, as well. It suggests that even though life will go through periods of being barren and dark for most of us, in faith we can take comfort in knowing that God’s love and presence can be there for us through the good and the bad.
I wish you good times with family and friends over the holidays; as well as cherished memories from Christmases past. I will do my best to help you enjoy better health and more active lives in the year ahead.
Avoid Snow-shoveling Injuries!
It will soon be that time when we’ll be outside digging out our cars, or clearing the walks and driveways (not to mention the office parking lot!) Snow-shoveling is a common cause of back and shoulder injuries during the winter. And it is always sad to hear reports of heart attacks as well. Here are a few suggestions to lessen your chance of an injury this winter:
Use a smaller shovel.
It may seem efficient to use a larger one but, it also increases the weight of the snow, and the stress on your back.
If you are tired, take a break.
Pushing already tired muscles may lead to injury.
If you have treated for an injury lately, or if you are not in the best of health, consider hiring a younger person to do the job.
It will be worth it.
Bend your knees while shoveling.
Bending only at the waist increases the strain on your muscles and ligaments and sets you up for an injury.
Switch sides frequently while using a shovel or broom.
This balances the stress between opposing muscle groups and decreases the risk of sprain or strain to one side.
If you do notice any pain while shoveling, stop, rest, and apply ice for 15 minutes every hour over the painful area.
If the area is not feeling better in the next 2-3 days, call for an appointment. Injuries heal faster when treated sooner.
Holiday Office Hours (724) 258-3371
Wednesday, December 22nd 8AM-NOON
Thursday, Dec. 23rd - Sunday, Dec. 26th OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS
Monday, December 27th 9AM-5PM
Tuesday, December 28th 3:30-8:30PM
Wednesday, December 29th 8AM-NOON
Thursday, December 30th 3:30-8:30PM
Friday, December 31st (New Year’s Eve) 9AM-2PM
Saturday, January 1st, 2011 OFFICE CLOSED FOR NEW YEAR’S
Tips to Stay Out of Pain While Shopping and Wrapping
Putting a little thought into the way you carry packages and wrap can also keep you feeling good for Christmas and help you avoid painful conditions. Keep these in mind during the next few weeks:
1. Balance your loads. Try to spread the weight of the bags or packages you are carrying evenly on both arms. Too much load on one side can strain your shoulder or low back.
2. Take more trips to the car, especially walking around malls. It may seem inconvenient, but so is a bad injury right before Christmas. It’s worth the time.
3. Put your foot or knee on the bumper when loading things into the trunk of your car. Bending at the waist with your arms loaded is a frequent cause of sprains.
4. Wrap presents on a table or counter at a comfortable height. Bend your knees, if possible. Do not wrap ‘Indian-style’ as this stresses your sacroiliac and hip joints. I see several of you every Christmas for injuries caused by sitting this way while wrapping.
www.drstevewohar.com
We send out newsletters to help keep you informed about office hours, office news, insurance information, chiropractic and general health information. You may also check our website should you lose or throw out your newsletter. Give it a look. And please feel free to offer feedback and suggestions so that we can improve it and make it more useful to you.
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Feel Your Best for the Holidays
Christmas will be here in a blink of the eye and we’re all scrambling to finish our shopping, decorations, baking, etc. Time is precious for all of us. So is feeling well.
Be sure to take the time to prepare yourself to feel your best for the holidays. Having a headache, back or any other area of pain could unnecessarily sabotage your effort to enjoy yourself.
Come in and get adjusted during these last couple of weeks before Christmas. It will help you concentrate on the people you are with, rather than the pain you wish you were without!
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5 Other Suggestions to Help You Feel Good for the Holidays:
1. Rest.
Try to maintain a regular sleep pattern during the holidays. It is often hard to do with all of the extra work and activities that go into celebrating the holiday season. But getting restful sleep can help make you feel more refreshed and increase your energy to get you through this time of the year.
2. Exercise.
Try and find time to exercise. 30-minute workouts, 3 times each week, will help you feel better and give you much needed energy. Even a brisk walk through the mall is a good activity, especially this time of the year.
3. Eat and drink in moderation.
Feasting is part of the Christmas tradition and celebration. However, it can also sabotage your holiday by making you feel sick, tired and uncomfortable. Consider eating smaller amounts spread out over the day. Don’t overdo it with alcohol. You’ll feel better and be able to enjoy your time with loved ones more.
4. Take digestive enzymes.
Supplement your bingeing with digestive enzymes. Take them with your meals to assist your body in proper digestion and absorption. Overeating can overwhelm your body's ability to effectively process what you eat and drink. Also, we produce less digestive enzymes and stomach acid as we age. Feeling stressed with holiday preparations also reduces our stomach and pancreas secretions. The net result frequently is indigestion and bloating. Digestive enzymes supplement our bodies’ digestive efforts and can reduce discomfort over the holidays when we want to feel our best.
5. Relax!
Remember to enjoy the people in your life. They are what matter most.
