Elevate Life Chiropractic and Wellness

Dr. Paul Hoyal of Elevate Life Chiropractic and Wellness treats patients and relieves pain, but patient self-care is just as important for their continued health. Simple changes to everyday habits can help you to live a pain-free life.  So many of us spend a lot of a typical day sitting, between working at computer desks, watching TV, and commuting to work. All of this sitting can cause back pain, making it the most common reason patients visit the chiropractor.  Making a few adjustments to how you sit can ease this stress, help alleviate back pain, and minimize future visits. Believe it or not, you’ll put less stress on your back when you don’t sit up straight. Leaning back just enough so that your thighs are at a 135-degree angle with your torso is an optimal seated position for preventing back pain. Long periods of sitting are what really increase the risk of muscle pulls, strains, and cramps. So if you don’t have time to walk around and stretch at work, try switching between sittin...

Spinal manipulation may sound painful, but it’s actually a very relaxing method of treatment. The act of spinal manipulation targets vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or seem to function incorrectly. Dr. Paul Hoyal of Elevate Life Chiropractic and Wellness performs this method of therapy with his hands, while the patient is fully clothed to relieve back pain, manage pain, and increase a patient’s range of motion. Spinal manipulation, also known as hand manipulation or manual therapy, is designed to relieve pressure on joints, reduce inflammation, and improve nerve function. It has been known to relieve headaches, as well as back, shoulder, and neck pain. To perform a spinal manipulation, Dr. Paul Hoyal will have the patient lay on a table and apply firm pressure on the vertebrae that is causing discomfort. If you have questions or concerns regarding spinal manipulation, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about services provided at the ...

At the Elevate Life Chiropractic and Wellness clinic in Kansas City, we believe in minimally invasive interventions that allow the body to heal itself. One example of this is our treatment of tailbone injuries. While these injuries are serious and deserve attention, the best way to handle them is to manage pain symptoms and to adjust the bones so they don’t cause complications. The tailbone is actually a structure made up of several vertebrae at the bottom of the spine. It is scientifically known as the coccyx and pain in it is called coccydynia. An injury there is unlikely to be a fracture since it’s well protected, but strains can happen as a result of activities such as bicycling or horseback riding. Whenever vertebrae are displaced or tissues around them swell up, there is a chance nerve function will be impeded. In the case of the tailbone, this can result in sciatica and result in pain or numbness in the legs. After conducting imaging tests to confirm the tailbone is the l...

Our chiropractor, Dr. Paul Hoyal, takes a holistic and preventive approach to health. In order to avoid back pain, it is best if people begin practicing good habits at a young age. A major component of that is proper backpack usage. A backpack is a better option than a shoulder bag or a large purse. Weight should be distributed across both shoulders and, ideally, with a chest strap. But weight should also be kept to a minimum. Children shouldn’t be carrying anything they don’t anticipate needing and should make stops at their lockers throughout the day to switch items. A backpack should never weigh more than 15% of its wearer’s body weight. When putting items in the backpack, they should also be evenly distributed. The backpack should rest in the middle of the upper part of the back, not against the lower part. If your children are experiencing pain, numbness, or tingling in their shoulders or arms, that could also be a sign their backpacks are too heavy or are badly designed. T...