Smiley Family Chiropractic

10/13/2025

Take a second to check your posture: shoulders relaxed, head over your spine, and feet flat on the floor. Small corrections throughout the day prevent big problems later."

10/06/2025

🏓 Stretching Routine for Pickleball Injury Prevention

Warm-Up (3–5 minutes)

Light jogging in place, side shuffles, or gentle jumping jacks.

Goal: get blood flowing before stretching.

✅ Upper Body Stretches

Shoulder Cross-Body Stretch

Pull one arm across your chest, hold with opposite hand.

Hold 20–30 seconds each side.

Helps prevent rotator cuff and shoulder strains.

Triceps & Overhead Lat Stretch

Reach one arm overhead, bend the elbow, and use the other hand to gently pull.

Hold 20–30 seconds each side.

Keeps shoulders and upper back mobile for overhead shots.

Wrist Flexor & Extensor Stretch

Extend one arm forward, palm up, gently pull fingers back with opposite hand.

Flip palm down and repeat.

Hold 15–20 seconds each side.

Reduces risk of pickleball elbow & wrist tendonitis.

✅ Lower Body Stretches

Hip Flexor Stretch

Kneel on one knee, shift hips forward, chest tall.

Hold 20–30 seconds each side.

Helps with lunges and prevents hip tightness.

Hamstring Stretch

Sit with one leg extended, hinge at the hips toward your toes.

Hold 20–30 seconds each side.

Keeps legs loose for quick movements and bending.

Calf Stretch (Standing or Wall Stretch)

Place one foot back, heel flat, lean forward.

Hold 20–30 seconds each side.

Prevents Achilles tendonitis & ankle sprains.

✅ Back & Core

Seated Spinal Twist

Sit on the floor, cross one leg over the other, and rotate your torso gently.

Hold 20–30 seconds each side.

Supports mobility and reduces risk of low back pain & sciatica.

🔑 Tips for Players

Stretch after warming up and again post-game for recovery.

Never bounce; use slow, controlled holds.

Breathe deeply and relax into each stretch.

Consistency is more important than intensity.

09/29/2025

🏓 Top Pickleball Injuries Treated by Chiropractors

1. **Rotator cuff strains / shoulder injuries**
Overhead reaches, stretching, or abrupt swings can stress the shoulder, cause inflammation, tears, or muscle imbalance.

2. **“Pickleball elbow” / Lateral epicondylitis & tendonitis**
Similar to tennis elbow, repetitive paddle swings strain the elbow tendons, causing pain, swelling, and grip issues.

3. **General tendonitis (wrist, shoulder, Achilles, etc.)**
Overuse of joints, repeated motions, or poor form can inflame tendons in various areas (wrist, shoulder, ankle).

4. **Lower back pain / lumbar strains / sciatica**
Twisting, lunging, and trunk rotation can cause back muscle strain, disc irritation, or nerve involvement (sciatica).

5. **Sprains in wrist, knee, ankle (ligament injuries)**
Quick lateral movements, missteps, or awkward landings can sprain ligaments around these joints.

6. **Hip, knee, and joint strain / overuse pain**
Repetitive motion and repeated bending, lunging, and pivoting can stress hips and knees, causing inflammation or strain.

09/17/2025

Shoulder Pain Facts and How Chiropractic Can Help:

Did you know?

Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints, often linked to posture, repetitive strain, or old injuries.

It can result from conditions like rotator cuff injuries, bursitis, frozen shoulder, arthritis, or simple muscle tension.

Desk workers and athletes are especially prone to shoulder pain from poor ergonomics, heavy lifting, or repetitive overhead movements.

Ignoring shoulder pain may lead to stiffness, reduced mobility, and chronic discomfort.

How Chiropractic Can Help:

Gentle Adjustments: Improve joint motion in the spine and shoulder to reduce pain and stiffness.

Postural Correction: Identifies poor posture habits (like hunching or rounding shoulders) and provides strategies to correct them.

Soft Tissue Techniques: Help relieve muscle tension and inflammation in the shoulder and surrounding areas.

Rehabilitation Exercises: Custom stretches and strengthening routines restore flexibility and prevent re-injury.

Whole-Body Approach: Chiropractors don’t just treat the shoulder—they look at how the spine, neck, and posture contribute to the problem.

✅ Whether your shoulder pain comes from working long hours at a desk, lifting weights at the gym, or recovering from an old injury, chiropractic care may help you move more freely and comfortably again.

08/19/2025

**Common Lower Back Injuries in Remote & Desk Workers**

Spending long hours sitting at a desk or working from home can put extra stress on your lower back. Over time, this can lead to common injuries such as:

Muscle Strains – overstretched or tight muscles from poor posture.

Ligament Sprains – supporting ligaments of the spine become irritated from slouching.

Herniated or Bulging Discs – pressure on the discs can cause pain that radiates into the legs.

Facet Joint Irritation – stiffness and pain from being locked in one position too long.

Sciatica – nerve irritation that causes pain, tingling, or weakness down the leg.

👉 Why this happens: Remote and desk workers often deal with forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and lack of movement — all of which strain the spine.

✅ What helps: Regular breaks, better posture, ergonomic setups, stretching, and strengthening your core. If pain continues, chiropractic care can restore movement, reduce discomfort, and help prevent future flare-ups.

📍 At Smiley Family Chiropractic, we help desk and remote workers get lasting relief from back pain so they can stay comfortable and productive.

When you're ready to seek help give us a call: 317-228-9701

http://www.your-indianapolis-chiropractor.com

08/18/2025

**Common neck injuries for remote and desk workers usually develop from poor posture, prolonged sitting, and repetitive strain.**

Here are the most frequent ones:

1. Cervical Strain and Sprain

Cause: Long hours of sitting with the head tilted forward (tech neck) or slouched shoulders.

Symptoms: Muscle tightness, stiffness, and dull or aching pain in the neck and upper shoulders.

Why common: Remote workers often sit without ergonomic setups, straining neck muscles and ligaments.

2. Cervical Disc Problems (Bulging or Herniated Disc)

Cause: Prolonged poor posture compresses the discs in the cervical spine.

Symptoms: Pain radiating into the shoulders, arms, or hands, tingling, or weakness.

Why common: Continuous forward head posture increases disc pressure, leading to degeneration or herniation.

3. Cervicogenic Headaches

Cause: Tension in the neck muscles and joints irritates nerves that refer pain to the head.

Symptoms: Headache starting at the base of the skull, often spreading to the forehead, temples, or behind the eyes.

Why common: Desk setups that cause neck strain (looking down at laptops, cradling phones) trigger these headaches.

4. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Cause: Compression of nerves or blood vessels between the neck and shoulder, often from rounded posture.

Symptoms: Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arms and hands.

Why common: Hunched posture from long sitting compresses this area.

5. Facet Joint Irritation

Cause: Prolonged extension or flexion of the neck irritates the small joints in the cervical spine.

Symptoms: Localized neck pain, stiffness, and pain when turning the head.

Why common: Sitting without breaks locks joints into static positions.

6. Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)

Cause: Constant small movements (like looking between multiple screens or holding a phone between ear and shoulder).

Symptoms: Soreness, tightness, or sharp pain with movement.

Why common: Remote workers often multitask without ergonomic tools like headsets or monitor stands.

✅ Key takeaway: For remote and desk workers, the biggest culprits are forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and lack of movement—all of which stress the cervical spine and surrounding muscles. Simple changes like ergonomic setups, regular breaks, and posture correction can prevent most of these issues.

http://www.your-indianapolis-chiropractor.com/

08/13/2025

**Common Lower Back Injuries**

Lower back pain can come from many different causes. Here are some of the most common:

1. Muscle Strains
Cause: Overstretching or tearing of the lower back muscles from lifting, twisting, or sudden movement.

Symptoms: Localized pain, stiffness, muscle spasms, and soreness that worsens with movement.

2. Ligament Sprains
Cause: Overstretching or tearing the ligaments that support the spine, often from awkward lifting or falls.

Symptoms: Pain with movement, swelling, and tenderness around the lower back.

3. Herniated Disc
Cause: The soft center of a spinal disc pushes out through a tear in the outer layer, pressing on nearby nerves.

Symptoms: Lower back pain, leg pain (sciatica), tingling, or numbness.

4. Degenerative Disc Disease
Cause: Natural wear and tear on spinal discs, leading to reduced cushioning between vertebrae.

Symptoms: Chronic low back pain, stiffness, or pain that worsens when sitting or bending.

5. Sciatica
Cause: Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, often from a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.

Symptoms: Sharp, burning pain radiating from the lower back down one leg, with possible tingling or weakness.

6. Facet Joint Dysfunction
Cause: Irritation or degeneration of the small joints at the back of the spine.

Symptoms: Localized low back pain that may radiate to the buttocks or upper thighs, often worse with twisting or bending.

If you’re dealing with persistent or worsening back pain, chiropractic care can help restore movement, reduce pain, and prevent future flare-ups.

Give us a call when you're ready... 317-228-9701

05/09/2020

Hi Moms!

My husband and I are looking for a chiropractic assistant for our chiropractic office. We are a family focused practice and I specialize in perinatal care. Looking for someone who is holistic minded and aligns with our values.

Hours are normally 32-35 hours per week M-F. Currently with covid it’s about 25 hours. Hoping that changes soon!

Job responsibilities:
-All Front Desk duties
-Insurance Claims
-Cleaning

PM if you are interested or know someone that might be 😊

03/25/2020

Small studies have shown no transfer of COVID-19 to the baby in utero.

The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women were similar to those reported for non-pregnant adult patients who developed COVID-19 pneumonia. Findings from this small group of cases suggest that there is currently no evidence for intrauterine infection caused by vertical tran...

03/19/2020

Please tune in if you are expecting or know someone who is! 🤰🏻

Join Gail Tully for a Facebook LIVE!

Our Founder Gail Tully wants to connect with you to offer ways to increase your resilience in pregnancy and birth during this time of social distancing. She wants to share ideas for shorter hospital stays, fewer inductions and cesareans, and finding support in virtual community.

Facebook LIVE Dates:
March 19th at 11:00 am CST
March 20th at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm CST

Make sure to tune in on our page. Find your timezone: https://bit.ly/3a2z0ZA

03/16/2020

Important Update from Smiley Family Chiropractic

Dear Valued Patients,

We wanted to share an update with all of you. At this time our office is still operating under our normal business hours. We are committed to the health and safety of all patients and have taken additional precautionary measures to ensure our office is clean. We encourage anyone who feels they may be sick to stay home. Please alert our office if you are unable to make your appointment for any reason. We are closely monitoring the situation and will alert you to any changes that may arise.

If you have any questions or concerns we encourage you to call our office at 317-228-9701 or send us an email at smileyfamilychiro@gmail.com

Smiley Family Chiropractic

02/25/2020

THE SACRUM:

One of the many reasons chiropractic care is so important during pregnancy and the preparation of birth!

A Flexible sacrum is KEY to a vaginal birth. The pelvis consists of four mobile joints: the p***c symphysis , the two sacroiliac (SI) joints, and the joint between the sacrum and coccyx. The sacrum, which is the triangular shaped bone at the base of your spine between the two pelvic bones, needs to be mobile during birth to allow your baby to navigate its way through the pelvis and be born.

Have your sacrum checked TODAY to make sure your body is in good shape for a healthy birth for you and your baby!