Chiropractor’s Holiday Gift Guide 2021
Are you still looking for the perfect gift for someone in your life? Or maybe the perfect gentle suggestion for yourself? Here are some of our picks for products that can help you feel good going into 2022. (The Amazon links support World Spine Care, an amazing organization)
Pillow
The proper pillow really depends on your typical sleeping position. This of course can change through the night but think of how you or your loved one likes to fall asleep. If sleeping mostly on the side, then a pillow should fill the space between your shoulder and your ear so your head can be in line with your spine. If sleeping on the back, the pillow should be high enough your chin is not tilting upwards, but not so high you are flexed at the neck. The neck should feel relaxed at rest. Dr. Freedman and Dr. Armstrong both use the Water Pillow by Mediflow that has a pillow top but can be filled with water on the bottom to the appropriate height for your sleep position. It molds around your head and neck to give flexible support. Make sure you fill it regularly as the water does evaporate. The original is great, although the elite seems to have nicer fill.
Posture Brace
Does someone in your life work at a computer all day? Do you want to decrease upper back and neck pain while improving posture? A posture brace can be a helpful reminder for your body to keep your shoulders back, avoiding rounding and jutting the head forward. It is not a brace so much as a trainer. When the shoulders start to slump, your body feels the tension of the brace and you are reminded to sit up taller. This is extremely helpful for people who suffer from upper back/shoulder blade pain that keeps returning. Look for a brace that has wide straps for comfort and is adjustable for different sizes and tensions.
There is a million of them on amazon, but here is one example.
Rolling out Muscles - Roller & Balls
A foam roller can be a great gift for someone who is trying to stay on top of their self care routine. Rolling out muscles increases blood flow, decreases feelings of tension, and naturally causes you to do a bit of stretching. If the roller will be used for spinal issues, it is nice to have a longer one as Dr. Armstrong loves to prescribe lying on the roller with it in line with the spine to open the chest and upper back. If you think the roller will mostly be used for hips and legs shorter and bumpy is ok.
Another simple rolling tool is a lacrosse ball or a tennis ball. Great for feet, shoulder blades, hips. (Pro tip, just ask one of the chiropractors for a tennis ball next time you are in the office, we give them out for free)
Our patients who have a self care routine between visits are the ones that thrive. By giving the gift of self care (or asking for it) you are helping your loved one enjoy their 2022 with a little less pain.