Innate Chiropractic

Innate Chiropractic Helping the Wichita area live healthier lives. Over 4,000 patients helped - call today! Our content is meant for educational purposes only.

It is not meant for, nor should be taken as, medical advice. Consult with a medical professional.

Stiff after a hard workout - is ice always the right call?When soreness comes with that locked-up, can't-quite-straighte...
05/08/2026

Stiff after a hard workout - is ice always the right call?

When soreness comes with that locked-up, can't-quite-straighten-your-legs feeling, cold might not be the most helpful tool. Heat therapy works by dilating blood vessels and boosting circulation to the area, which brings oxygen and nutrients to tired muscles and helps flush out metabolic waste.

That increased blood flow also relaxes tight muscle tissue and improves elasticity in the connective tissue around your joints - which is exactly what's limiting your range of motion in the first place.

Some clinical evidence suggests heat may actually relieve DOMS pain faster than cold in the short term. One study found that participants using a continuous low-level heat wrap reported significantly greater pain relief than those who used cold therapy.

So if your main issue after leg day isn't swelling, but stiffness and that frustrating loss of mobility, a heating pad or warm soak may be worth reaching for before the ice pack.

Ready to get your mobility back?
Visit us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita — we're here to help.

Did you know vitamin D does more than just harden bones?Research suggests vitamin D also plays a meaningful role in musc...
05/07/2026

Did you know vitamin D does more than just harden bones?

Research suggests vitamin D also plays a meaningful role in muscle function and physical stability. A meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials involving over 2,500 adults aged 60 and older found that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of falling by roughly 14% compared to placebo.

That's significant, because falls are a primary cause of fractures in older adults.

The greatest reduction in falls appeared in trials where participants received at least 800 IU of vitamin D daily - and where calcium was included alongside it. Vitamin D may help strengthen the leg muscles and improve balance and coordination, which researchers believe contributes to that lower fall risk.

So the protective effect of vitamin D on fractures may work through two separate pathways: one through bone mineral density, and one through the neuromuscular system that keeps people upright in the first place.

If you'd like to discuss how nutrition and overall health work together, we'd love to help.
Visit us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita.

You might not know this, but sleep does far more for your body than most people realize - and new research is making tha...
05/06/2026

You might not know this, but sleep does far more for your body than most people realize - and new research is making that clearer.

During deep sleep, the body actively suppresses the production of inflammatory chemicals. When sleep gets cut short, that process doesn't fully happen, and the immune system can stay in a low-grade state of alert.

What's striking is how quickly this occurs. A meta-analysis found that people sleeping around 4 hours per night for just a few nights showed significantly higher blood levels of two key inflammatory markers - interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein - compared to when they got adequate rest.

These aren't obscure measures. C-reactive protein and IL-6 are among the same markers that researchers track when studying chronic inflammation linked to heart disease and diabetes.

The implication is that sleep deprivation isn't just about feeling tired the next day. It appears to create a measurable shift in the body's inflammatory state, and it can happen relatively fast.

Most adults need somewhere between 7 and 9 hours. Consistency in sleep timing seems to matter as much as the total amount.

Did you know that what you eat can actually affect how your skin looks and feels?Omega-3 fatty acids — the kind found in...
05/05/2026

Did you know that what you eat can actually affect how your skin looks and feels?

Omega-3 fatty acids — the kind found in fish oil — may do more for your skin than most topical products. Your skin's outer layer depends on healthy fats to hold moisture in and keep irritants out. Research suggests omega-3s can help strengthen that barrier.

In one placebo-controlled trial, adults who took a daily omega-3 supplement for 12 weeks showed significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity compared to those who took a placebo. Their skin retained water better and had measurably more suppleness.

Omega-3s may also help with acne. In a 10-week controlled trial, participants who took 2,000 mg per day of EPA and DHA saw a significant reduction in both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions. Researchers noted decreased levels of an inflammatory protein in the skin, which likely explains the improvement in redness and pimple count.

It's worth noting these are relatively small studies, so the findings should be interpreted with some caution. But both EPA and DHA produce anti-inflammatory compounds in the body, which gives the results a plausible mechanism.

Want to learn more about nutrition's impact on your health? Stop by us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita — we're here to support your wellness journey.

Vitamin C may be a useful pain management strategy.Most people managing chronic pain rely on NSAIDs or opioids at some p...
05/04/2026

Vitamin C may be a useful pain management strategy.

Most people managing chronic pain rely on NSAIDs or opioids at some point. NSAIDs come with well-known risks at higher doses - stomach ulcers, kidney stress, cardiovascular strain. Opioids carry risks of dependency and cognitive effects. These aren't minor trade-offs for someone dealing with long-term pain.

Vitamin C's side effect profile looks quite different. At high oral doses, the most common complaint is temporary digestive upset - essentially the body flushing out what it can't absorb. Serious adverse effects are rare in the general population.

There are exceptions worth noting. People prone to kidney stones or those with a genetic condition called G6PD deficiency may need to be cautious, particularly with very high doses.

For most people, though, research suggests vitamin C is well-tolerated even at doses well above typical dietary intake. Whether it belongs in a pain management plan is a conversation worth having with a healthcare provider.

Reach out to us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita to explore pain management options.

Did you know your social life could be strengthening your immune system?A study out of Carnegie Mellon University expose...
05/01/2026

Did you know your social life could be strengthening your immune system?

A study out of Carnegie Mellon University exposed volunteers to the common cold virus under controlled conditions. Researchers then looked at how social networks influenced who actually got sick.

People with more diverse social connections - meaning ties across family, friends, coworkers, and community groups - were significantly more resistant to developing a cold. The most socially connected individuals showed about four times the resistance compared to the least connected, even though everyone was exposed to the same virus.

It's worth noting this was a controlled exposure study, not a real-world observation, which limits how broadly the findings can be applied. The study also doesn't fully explain the mechanism behind the effect, though researchers suspect it may relate to how social connection influences immune regulation and stress hormones over time.

What's interesting is that the benefit seemed to come from having connections across multiple types of relationships, not just a high number of contacts from a single source.

Ready to learn more about how lifestyle choices support your health? Visit us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita — we're here to help you thrive.

Your body needs potassium just as much as it may need a limit of sodium.When potassium enters your body, it signals your...
04/30/2026

Your body needs potassium just as much as it may need a limit of sodium.

When potassium enters your body, it signals your kidneys to flush out excess sodium through urine. At the same time, it may help relax the walls of your blood vessels, which can take some of the pressure off your circulatory system.

So in a way, potassium acts as a kind of natural counterweight to sodium - not just sitting alongside it, but actively working to move it out.

This is part of why researchers have found that getting enough potassium matters just as much as limiting sodium intake. The two minerals are linked in how your body handles them, not separate concerns.

Foods like potatoes, leafy greens, bananas, beans, and dairy tend to be reasonably high in potassium. Most people in Western countries get far less potassium than recommended - and more sodium than is considered ideal.

Whether adjusting these levels meaningfully changes outcomes for any given individual depends on a lot of factors, but the underlying mechanism is an interesting one worth understanding.

Ever heard of passionflower? It's a climbing vine that some researchers think could help with anxiety.Here's why it come...
04/29/2026

Ever heard of passionflower? It's a climbing vine that some researchers think could help with anxiety.

Here's why it comes up in the research: passionflower extract appears to raise levels of GABA in the brain - a neurotransmitter that essentially slows down neural activity, helping to create a sense of calm.

One small study compared passionflower extract directly to oxazepam, a prescription anti-anxiety medication. After several weeks, both groups showed similar reductions in anxiety symptoms. The passionflower group, though, reported fewer side effects - particularly less daytime drowsiness - than those taking the medication.

That "foggy" feeling is a common complaint with some anti-anxiety drugs, and it's one reason people explore herbal alternatives.

It's worth noting this was a small study, and researchers generally agree that more evidence is needed before drawing firm conclusions. Passionflower can also interact with certain medications, so it's not without consideration.

You can find it in teas, tinctures, and capsules - often combined with other calming herbs.

Did you know that brushing and flossing do more than just keep your teeth clean?When gum disease takes hold, the bacteri...
04/28/2026

Did you know that brushing and flossing do more than just keep your teeth clean?

When gum disease takes hold, the bacteria don't just stay in the mouth. They can enter the bloodstream repeatedly, triggering chronic inflammation that puts stress on other parts of the body. Some of these bacteria have even been found in arterial plaque and heart tissue.

The numbers behind this are worth knowing. A meta-analysis of 17 studies found that people with gum disease had about an 84% higher risk of heart attack compared to those with healthy gums. A separate review found roughly a 22% higher risk of developing dementia in people with chronic periodontal disease.

It's worth noting that most of these findings are correlational - they show an association, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Other shared risk factors could be contributing.

Still, researchers are increasingly framing basic oral hygiene as a form of systemic disease prevention, not just tooth preservation - the idea being that keeping the mouth healthy may reduce one potential source of ongoing inflammation in the body.

Take charge of your whole-body health today.
Visit us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita — we're here to support your wellness journey.

Do you find yourself reaching for your neck by the end of the workday? A 12-week trial looked at office workers who regu...
04/27/2026

Do you find yourself reaching for your neck by the end of the workday? A 12-week trial looked at office workers who regularly experienced neck and shoulder discomfort, likely linked to prolonged screen time and static postures. The group that followed a neck-specific exercise program ended up with fewer days of neck pain and less neck-related disability compared to where they started.

The researchers suggest that consistently strengthening the neck muscles may improve support for the cervical spine, which could make the neck more resilient to the physical demands of desk work over time.

It's worth noting that this was a structured program, not casual stretching here and there. The participants followed a defined routine, which suggests consistency played a role in the outcome.

The study involved office workers specifically, so the findings may be most relevant to that population. Still, for people who spend long hours in front of a screen, this line of research offers a reasonable case for making neck strengthening a regular part of their week.

Visit us at Innate Chiropractic in Wichita to learn how we can help with neck health.

Microplastics may be triggering your immune system - and causing chronic inflammation.When microplastic particles enter ...
04/24/2026

Microplastics may be triggering your immune system - and causing chronic inflammation.

When microplastic particles enter the body, immune cells called macrophages recognize them as foreign and respond accordingly. They ramp up production of inflammatory molecules like interleukins and tumor necrosis factor, which are the same signaling chemicals involved in fighting off infections.

In the short term, that's a normal immune response. The concern is what happens when exposure is ongoing.

Research suggests that chronic microplastic exposure may push the immune system into a state of persistent activation. Some studies have observed that macrophages dealing with microplastics can experience structural damage and even cell death - which may impair their ability to respond to actual pathogens.

So there's an interesting paradox here. The immune system may be continuously stimulated by plastic particles, yet potentially less effective at its primary job.

Most of this research comes from animal studies and lab models, so how this translates to human health over a lifetime isn't fully established yet.

It's an area researchers are actively studying, and the findings so far suggest it warrants continued attention.

Address

5800 West Central Avenue
Wichita, KS
67212

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 1pm
2pm - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+13162953727

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Innate Chiropractic posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Innate Chiropractic:

Shortcuts

Share

Category