Chiropractors

Chiropractic Care Provides Numerous Health Benefits 

A variety of chiropractic techniques may be prescribed based on your individual diagnosis by your licensed chiropractor. These include spinal manipulation, activator technique, and custom orthotics. Our chiropractic doctors focus not only on the nervous system but on the musculoskeletal system as well. During treatment, your chiropractor will examine how each system may be impacting specific conditions and your general health.

Chiropractic treatment is most often used for back and neck pain as well as joint pain in the arms and legs. The right treatment can also relieve certain types of headaches caused by misalignment of the spine.

What comes to mind when you think of overall health? Is it a healthy diet, an alternative approach to healing from an injury, relief from body pain not caused by injury, a regular exercise routine, lower levels of stress, less frequent headaches, or something else? Which spinal adjustment or soft tissue manipulation approach to back and neck pain, headaches, or stress relief would you consider? Our patients have taken different paths to seek chiropractic care. Many of them have something in common, though: They share one or a combination of these frequent complaints.

When we move, bend, and lift items incorrectly, the spine straightens, which puts it at risk for injury. Sometimes, injuries don’t manifest right away, but over time, tension builds up, as do the effects of poor posture and lifting practices. Eventually, your range of motion becomes limited, and pain could develop. Any of these symptoms can lead you to seek chiropractic treatment.

• Poor posture
• Neck pain
• Low back pain
• General backache
• Temporomandibular (TMJ) pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Headaches
• Spinal joint dysfunction
• Sciatica
• Frozen shoulder
• Knee, and hip pain
• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
• Pinched nerves or slipped disks
• Sports injuries
• Pregnancy-related symptoms
• and more…

1. Increased joint mobility

Stiff joints are often relieved by an adjustment that relaxes the muscles surrounding them. This can lead to greater mobility in areas that were previously “locked up” and may have been impinging on nerves.

Apart from treating localized pain, chiropractic adjustments help to restore normal function and movement to all parts of the body. The adjustments can have an overall positive effect on the ability to move efficiently and with full strength.

2. Improved nervous system function

Chiropractic adjustments have been known to not only reduce pain and discomfort but also to improve the nervous functions within the body, which impacts many aspects of a person’s health and well-being.

3. Improved posture and general well-being

The nervous system regulates the cells in the body, and when the nervous system is ailing, the entire body suffers, and you may become sick. Many conditions resulting from postural distortions can be addressed in a few sessions with one of our chiropractors, bringing improvements in health and lifestyle.

4. Effective treatment of new and old traumas

Chiropractic adjustments provide quick and noticeable relief for new and long-lasting chronic pain. They reduce pain and restore mobility to a tweaked shoulder, sprained ankle, or a wrist suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Issues in elbows, hips, knees, feet, and other locations in the extremities can also be effectively treated. A proper alignment facilitates healing without surgery or medication. It can restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury following a fall or repetitive stress injury

5. Lessor no need for pain medication

Chiropractic treatment can help reduce pain without the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications that are known for their harmful side effects. Additionally, chiropractic care treats the cause of a condition, while most pain medications and anti-inflammatory simply treats the symptoms—pain. By removing the cause, the need for harmful medications is reduced or removed.

PLUS: Promotes general wellness and stress reduction

Stress induces real physical pain and vice versa. Coping with disruptions in your regular routines due to pain and discomfort can be very stressful for both the mind and body. Stress can trigger increases in blood pressure, sleep disruptions, and a host of other problems. Chiropractic adjustments can help relieve pressure points, speed recovery, and contribute to the maintenance of better overall health.

Risks associated with chiropractic care

The risks associated with chiropractic care are very small. Sometimes, patients experience mild soreness or aching following spinal manipulation. These symptoms typically fade within 24 hours.

Chiropractic adjustment may not be recommended in cases of:

• cancer in the spine
• severe osteoporosis
• numbness, tingling or loss of strength in an arm or leg
• instability or excessive motion in the spine
• presence of stroke risk factors

The in-office clinical session consists of three parts:

1. Patient history and symptoms

You will be required to fill out forms that provide background health information about your symptoms and conditions. These forms include the location of the discomfort, when and how it started, and a description of any pain you feel in the area. Our doctor will also ask questions to help determine activities or circumstances that reduce or increase your discomfort.

Information about your family medical history, pre-existing medical conditions, and details of past and current treatments are also gathered.

During this first consultation, you can also discuss the chiropractor’s philosophy, expertise, and general approach. It is also important to ensure that your personal preferences are made clear.

2. The chiropractic exam

The chiropractor will conduct orthopedic and neurological tests to evaluate muscle strength and tone in the affected area, the range of motion, and neurological integrity.

Additional chiropractic tests may be needed to complete a full evaluation. These may include asking you to move in a particular way, a posture analysis, and chiropractic manipulation of the affected body part.

At this stage, the chiropractor may recommend diagnostic procedures in the form of an X-ray or other laboratory tests. These help the practitioner to gain a better understanding of your condition and its underlying causes. They also help to conclude the final diagnosis and influence the treatment plan to be developed.

3. Chiropractic treatment

If the chiropractor feels the condition would likely respond to chiropractic care, treatment may begin immediately or during the next appointment. The therapies may include:

• Adjustments to relieve pain and joint dysfunctions, and to promote healing in soft tissue
• Strengthening and stretching exercises to improve joint mobility and muscle coordination
• Myofascial active release massage
• Providing tips to improve your posture and movements
• Instruction on ergonomics, nutrition, and other lifestyle changes

Treatments and reassessments may last for several weeks or more. Then the chiropractor will either release you from chiropractic care,
adjust and continue the treatment, or refer you to another healthcare specialist.