Chiropractic adjustments for children’s health is nothing new, but it could be something new for parents. Do children really need chiropractic adjustments? Chiropractic physicians, also known as DC’s provide techniques and treatments that pediatricians don’t offer.
Chiropractors offer non-invasive options, before referring an individual to a pain specialist that might only prescribe medication/s and surgery. The body’s central nervous system controls everything. Birth itself can be physically traumatic for some infants. Therefore, receiving an adjustment can improve neurological input and correction, allowing for healthy development. �
�
If involved in sports or some type of physical activity, chiropractic helps recovery from injuries progress faster and is less traumatic than disruptive therapies like pain-meds or surgery. Chiropractic medicine takes into account the entire person when there is an adjustment/correction in one area, it supports and corrects the other areas.
Depending on the chiropractor, other techniques and specialties like acupuncture, craniosacral, nutrition, and more could be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan. Here are a few ways chiropractic can benefit children’s health.
�
Non-invasive
Chiropractic treatment is holistic and non-invasive. For children’s health, adjustments help with proper growth and development by removing or limiting digestive issues like:
Nursing
Re-flux
Colic
Constipation
Other issues for where pediatric chiropractic care can be utilized include:
Allergies
Asthma
Bed-wetting
Colds
Ear infections
Attention deficit disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Autism
�
However, unlike adults, children, and especially infants, chiropractic medicine focuses on mobilization that places a lower amount of pressure on the area, rather than manipulation associated with chiropractic for adult treatment that places more pressure on the area being adjusted.
�
Nutrition
Parents who are considering chiropractic treatment for their children’s health and wellness should also expect nutritional health coaching for optimal health. Chiropractors go through extensive training in nutrition and are qualified to offer nutritional plans that are part of the treatment.
Proper nutrition is important for everyone�s health. But for children who are growing and developing, it is essential that they get the nutrients they need for optimal spine health and development. Some foods and food additives can cause behavioral issues. These foods include:
Dairy
Artificial colors
Sugar
Preservatives
Other food allergens
Chiropractors can help parents and caregivers by testing and identifying behavioral triggers whose root cause could be nutritional that is improper or deficient for children’s health. �
�
Wellness Philosophy
Educating parents and families about the benefits of proper nutrition and fitness are essential for children’s health and wellness. Families need to follow the principles of:
Eating whole foods
Junk food minimalization
Electronic device limits
Playing/exercising regularly
These are strategies that will reduce childhood obesity that is causing a range of problems for health care like Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Excess weight in young children and if it goes on for a long time creates a higher chance of earlier death in adulthood. From a psychological perspective, it is important to understand that during childhood kids can develop a negative body image, leading to low self-esteem, and causing depression. This can lead to serious mental health issues.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Chiropractic athletics is a natural treatment focused on athletes and sports injuries. It is a non-surgical, non-drug option that can help individual athletes prevent injury/s from happening, maintain optimal athletic performance, and relives sports musculoskeletal injuries.Athletes of all types can benefit from chiropractic athletics.
Sports leagues and professional athletes including Major League Baseball and the National Football League have full-time chiropractors on their teams. Athletes from all over the world utilize chiropractic medicine. With the advancement in sports technology, intense training and superb athleticism come injuries that can turn into game-ending conditions. Because of this, there is a wide variety of treatment needs and is where chiropractic athletics comes in.
�
Commonly athletes are referred to chiropractors for neck, lower back, and extremity conditions. Chiropractic athletics help them get them back into play after an injury faster, with added flexibility and agility. And for those without injuries chiropractic helps athletes prevent injuries by increasing strength and power to help perform at peak level.
Chiropractic sports doctors are highly trained with the tools and skills that will optimize the performance of an athlete’s musculoskeletal and nervous system. This training is what allows these athletic chiropractors to provide sports therapy/s that is focused on maintaining agility, flexibility, strength, and quick rehabilitation after an injury. Why chiropractic athletics should be essential?
�
Chiropractic Athletic Importance
Regular chiropractic improves range of motion. Athletes place intense pressure on their bodies when training, weight-lifting, and playing. This can shift the spine out of alignment affecting movement, along with the rest of the body, generating a high probability of injury.
Athletes have to deal with soreness, stiffness, and pain from their basic training regiment. An injury can easily compound the soreness into something more severe. Spinal alignment problems can cause the range of motion to be hindered and limited, inhibiting overall ability. Chiropractic athletics undoes the damage. Once a chiropractic regiment is in place injury prevention kicks in, all the while keeping the athlete moving pain-free. �
�
Pain Reduction
Anyone especially the strongest athletes can have an episode of back pain, specifically in the low back. A chiropractor promotes proper alignment and movement of the delicate spine. Chiropractors can recommend treatments both professional and self-care that will reduce all types of back pain short and long-term. Research confirms that a manual spine manipulation is an effective form of pain relief.
�
Less Need for Pain Meds
Too often aches and pain are treated with pain meds, cortisone shots, and other drugs that provide short-term relief. Chiropractic is drug-free. This means athletes are not subject to side effects or dependencies that unfortunately arise from prescription med use.
Because of the increasing dependency on opioids, the American College of Physicians has updated their guidelines when it comes to low back pain, a very common reason for opioid prescriptions. Now, those with low back pain are encouraged to utilize various complementary and alternative medicine techniques that include chiropractic spinal manipulation before having to use prescription medication.
�
Non-invasive
Chiropractic is non-surgical and can provide relief from injuries throughout the body. It can even serve as an alternative to surgery/s that would keep athletes on the sidelines because of a long recovery period. Treatments include:
All of these can be used to treat athletic injury.
�
Athletic Benefits
Whether a neighborhood sports league or advanced competitive league athletes need chiropractic specialists for injury treatment to get them back to play. Kids are now traveling at a younger age meaning more practices and tournaments. Kids are also committing to only one sport early on. This is known as specializing. A study by The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that athletes that specialize too early are subject to continued injury/s. �
�
Chiropractic decreases recovery time
Normal wear and tear happens to all of us but can wear down faster especially in an extremely healthy athlete�s body.
A baseball pitcher uses a consistent repetitive throwing motion.
A volleyball player jumps, constantly hitting and blocking.
A skateboarder falls repeatedly, sometimes over one-hundred times trying to land a trick.
At some point and quite often an athlete experiences muscle fatigue and soreness. Practices and games have only a few days between them. Younger athletes and their growing bodies need a lot more than rest to keep them in shape. After practice or a game, a chiropractor can do some soft tissue massage or instrument-assisted soft tissue techniques to make the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints flexible, relaxed, with decreased lactic acid, and improved blood circulation.
Physical therapy and the equipment used like ultrasound or cold laser therapy can be used to help with areas that are highly inflamed. This along with adjustments can improve joint mobility. Chiropractic athletics also helps with proper rehydration and customized dietary plans to assist with recovery and maintaining top-level performance. �
Lacrosse players experience knee injuries and muscle strains
Chiropractic adjusting of joint segments, no longer moving, can enhance mechanical motion. Soft tissue techniques improve muscle tone and blood flow to injured areas and decrease tissue buildup around the injured areas. Chiropractic along with the aforementioned treatment options can significantly reduce inflammation and pain.
All of these treatment options can be enhanced with Kinesio Taping. It can add support and various taping techniques can assist in blood circulation to the injured area. A sports chiropractor has a complete understanding of sports injury repair and knows the proper guidelines for safely returning the athlete to their sport. �
�
Health and Wellness
Athletes have to focus on body awareness, health, diet, and optimal function. But they also need to be injury prepared through preventive awareness. Think of it as defensive driving. A chiropractor can assist an athlete with:
Proper training strategies that can become life-long habits
Body mechanic evaluation
Gait analysis
Continually keeping an athlete�s body in top form, allows them to train more efficiently and effectively.
�
A Vital Role
With athletes training year-round and specializing earlier, chiropractic assistance can keep an athlete at a top level of body function. Chiropractic combined with certified athletic trainers can help with muscle development, ligament, and tendon stability. These specialists play a vital role in obtaining and maintaining whole-body wellness.
�
Consider Chiropractic
Chiropractic athletics includes a whole health assessment to ensure there are no underlying issues that could be contributing to an injury, or that could cause future problems. Athletes, consider seeing a chiropractor regularly for those that want to maintain physical strength and range of motion, or if they want to recover from an injury without taking prescription meds and surgery. Sports performance will improve when the body is in alignment and pain-free!
�
Functional Fitness Fellas
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
An individual may need to wear a neck brace or cervical collar after cervical spine surgery, or after experiencing a traumatic injury to the neck, from an automobile accident, sports, work, or personal injury. Neck braces are some of the most common spinal braces. A doctor might call these orthoses or orthotics. There are different types of neck braces also called cervical collars, and function for different purposes.
They can be utilized in stabilizing the neck after cervical/neck surgery.
They can provide non-surgical relief after experiencing trauma or injury to the neck
Neck braces or collars are used to limit movement, support the head, and take the load off the neck. This gives the muscles time to rest, recover, and heal properly and thoroughly. �
Soft braces are made to be flexible and are made of a polyurethane foam rubber. They easily wrap around the neck and are secured with Velcro.
Soft collars are usually worn for a minor injury that just needs to be worn for a short time or to transition from wearing a hard brace from a more serious injury or surgery. Soft braces are worn typically at the end or completion of the healing process. The main purpose is to help with the gradual transition to remove the brace.
Hard neck braces look sort of like soft braces. The difference is that they are made of hard polyethylene and are rigid/stiff to really keep the neck from moving. These braces provide support and pain relief for spinal conditions like cervical spondylosis and acute neck pain. �
�
Philadelphia
A Philadelphia brace is made of stiff foam and is made in two pieces that attach with Velcro. The upper portion supports the lower jaw with the lower brace extending down to cover the upper back.
This brace is made to protect more of the neck area than a soft or hard brace. However, it does place a higher restriction on the neck and body’s range of motion. Because of its effectiveness for limiting movement, it is usually prescribed after cervical surgery for a healthy recovery. The Philadelphia neck brace is also used for stabilization of minor cervical fractures and to reduce pain brought on from neck muscle strain. �
�
Sterno-Occipital-Mandibular Immobilization
The Sternooccipital mandibular immobilization brace is a highly rigid braceused to position the neck in straight alignment with the spine. This brace immobilizes the neck completely by preventing the head and neck from moving at all. This allows the injured/damaged structures to heal correctly and quickly. Sterno comes from the sternum. The brace has a front chest plate, and bars that go over the shoulder. �
�
It is secured with straps that attach to the front chest plate. It also has a removable chin piece where the mandibular comes from, which is the lower jawbone. And there is an optional headpiece for added protection and support. Occipital is referring to the occipital bone at the back of the head. This type of brace is used for the treatment of severe neck injury/s or cervical pain caused by a chronic condition, like arthritis. It can also aid in recovery after cervical spine surgery.
�
Halo
The halo brace is the most rigid of the neck braces. It completely immobilizes the head and neck from moving. Sometimes it is necessary to immobilize the spine after a major neck procedure or for stabilizing fractures in the neck or middle back area. Halo bracing is considered a form of spinal traction. Traction pulls the spine in 2 different directions.
The tension reduces the abnormal curvature associated with spinal conditions, like scoliosis. A halo brace has a metal ring secured to the head using pins. The ring is connected to bars that are attached to a properly weighted vest. The weight of a halo brace is different depending on the individual wearing it. A halo brace is worn at all times until completely healed and recovered. �
�
Effectiveness
Neck braces are the most effective when they are used as directed by a doctor, chiropractor, or spine specialist. Working with an orthotist, or a specialist that designs and custom fits spinal braces can be extremely beneficial. Any questions about how to wear and care for a spinal brace should be brought up with a doctor or orthotist. They will help ensure a full understanding of how to get the most benefit from the treatment.
�
Neck Pain Chiropractic Treatment
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
An overview of chiropractic treatment for lower lumbar back pain, how it works, how safe it is, and how often treatment is necessary. Along with the principles of chiropractic for the relief of lower/lumbar back pain, whether acute or chronic. Seeing a doctor ofchiropractic/DC, a chiropractor�or a chiropractic physician can be highly beneficial towards effectively treating low back pain. �
�
�
Practice
Chiropractic medicine utilizes a variety of treatments/therapies that are designed to manipulate/adjust the:
Spine
Joints
Tissues
These treatments focus on the entire body to relieve pain and improve functional ability. This is referred to as spinal manipulative therapy or SMT, but there are many other treatment methods and techniques.
Every chiropractor has a personal treatment approach based on the patient’s condition/s, medical history, and personalized treatment plan. A chiropractor will begin traditionally starting off with soft, natural, less-invasive treatments. If these do not generate positive results they will move on to more aggressive techniques.
�
Consent Form
At every stage of the chiropractic process, there is a strict emphasis maintained on proactively discussingwith the patient exactly what is taking place and what is going to happen. A chiropractor makes sure that the patient understands everything that occurs during:
Diagnosis
Examination
Procedure/s
This is all done in order to educate the patient and receive direct permission to start the treatment. The emphasis on informed consent is essential. This is because some chiropractic techniques could carry material risk. This means that a certain technique or particular procedure could possibly cause injury.
A chiropractor also informs the patient of the possible risks of not being treated. It is not meant to scare a patient. It is to eliminate any misunderstandings and make sure that the patient has full control over their body, so they can make an informed decision, as to which way they want to go. �
�
Examination
A chiropractor will thoroughly examine a patient before making any sort of diagnosis or treatment plan. The assessment can include:
�
Medical history
The characteristics of the pain, any red flag symptoms that require further diagnostic testing will be conducted to remove any potentially serious medical issues that can be associated with neck or lower lumbar back pain-like:
Neurological disorders
Fractures
Infections
Tumors
There can be many reasons as to why low lumbar back pain happens. A chiropractor will investigate and develop a personally customized treatment plan. Next, a physical exam will be performed. This includes an orthopedic and neurological exam. These will test the:
Reflexes
Sensory nerves
Joints
Muscles
Other areas of the body
�
Advanced Diagnostic Testing
Imaging and laboratory tests are not always used for non-specificlower lumbar back pain, but they could be necessary if there are signs/symptoms of an underlying condition.
�
Severity/Duration of Condition
Chiropractic medicine looks at the symptoms and conditions of an injury or ailment and classifies them on how severe they are, and how long they last. Symptoms can be divided into degrees of severity: They are:
Mild
Moderate
Severe
For the duration period, pain and other symptoms are referred to as:
Acute pain – lasts for less than 6 weeks
Subacute – lasts between 6 and 12 weeks
Chronic – lasts for at least 12 weeks
Flare-ups – the same symptoms happen irregularly or from an exacerbation of the original injury
�
Treatment Trial
If an individual is dealing with acute or subacute lower lumbar back pain, then a chiropractic trial could be an option. This could be two to three weekly sessions over the course of two to four weeks adding up to twelve total sessions. This can be a sufficient treatment to completely alleviate the pain. However, when the pain does not go away then additional treatments could be necessary, especially if an individual has other issues/conditions.
�
Measured Outcomes
Outcome measurements are a valuable tool because they help determine whether or not the treatment is producing significant results. Some outcome measurements of treatments include:
Numeric Pain Scale for patients to rate the pain
Pain diagram so patients can describe the location and character of the pain
Increases and decreases in normal daily practices, like work, exercise, and sleep
Testing functions
Lifting ability
Strength
Flexibility
Endurance
For some low lumbar back pain could last and go over the 12-week mark making it a chronic pain condition. A chiropractor will look for signs/symptoms to see if there is a risk of developing chronic pain. �
�
Chiropractic How Often
When the pain is acute lower lumbar back pain, a standard treatment plan can be six to ten sessions over the course of two to four weeks. These treatments emphasize the passive non-exercise approach of manual therapy for relieving pain and improving function.
If the non-exercise method doesn’t deliver positive results then a more active exercise-based treatment can be utilized to increase function and return an individual back to normal life.
�
Back Pain That Doesn’t Go Away
Often acute symptoms are resolved within the first 4-weeks. But it is possible that the pain can become chronic, meaning that it lasts longer than 12 weeks. Some individuals can hit a plateau during the recovery process.
This is referred to as MTB or that the patient has met the therapeutic benefits. A chiropractor will want to see if pausing/stopping chiropractic treatment will have a residual effect, exacerbate the pain, or reduce function and activity.
Example: If mild to severe chronic lower lumbar back pain has worsened, a patient could need one to six more visits with each pain episode. And this would be two to three weekly treatments for two to four weeks. However, patients rarely need continuing or ongoing care of one to four visits per month.
�
Re-Evaluation
Chiropractors will not continue treatment/s if they are not helping the patient. Therefore, every 2 to 4 weeks there is a re-evaluation of the patient to see if the treatment is still having a positive and beneficial effect. Here are some of the criteria for continuing treatment:
Individual still responds positively to the treatment
The individual has met the therapeutic benefits and worsens when they are not treated
Proof shows that self-care alone will not be sufficient to maintain the therapeutic benefits
�
Continuing Treatment
Living with chronic lower lumbar back pain can be a challenge, but chiropractors want to emphasize to individuals that self-care is an essential component for pain management. This includes physical rehabilitation combined with range-of-motion exercises. A chiropractic physician may encourage a variety of treatment options, like:
Chiropractic treatment and the benefits are different for everybody. This is why it is important to communicate with your chiropractor every step of the way and to be open-minded about the different treatment options they offer.
�
Lower Back Pain Chiropractic Treatment
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas*& New Mexico*�
Facet joint syndrome also called facet joint sprain is a common cause of back pain. The joint/s in our bodies connect two or more bones and their primary function is to promote motion. In the spine, the joints connecting each vertebra are known as facet joints. Like any other joint, each facet joints� job is to generate healthy movement and provide stability for each motion segment.
The disc/s function as spacers that support motion between the vertebral bodies. This creates a tri-relationship between the intervertebral disc and the facet joints. Degeneration or damage/injury to one affects the other. The effects of aging and/or traumatic injury can damage the facet joints and is the leading cause of back pain known as facet joint syndrome.
There are a variety of treatments that are used, but the most mainstream involves pain medication which can have undesirable side effects and can lead to addiction. Chiropractic is a proven, reliable treatment for pain relief and discomfort of facet joint syndrome. It restores mobility and flexibility while providing pain relief. Individuals notice significant alleviation from the pain and inflammation with chiropractic and is often recommended to those with the condition.
Facet joint syndrome
The joints are located at the back of the spine. At each level, there are two joints, one on each side of the spine. The facet joints are enclosed in a capsule. The capsule contains synovial fluid and the surface is covered with hyaline cartilage. These joints are constructed in this fashion because of their role in the body. This role is to control excessive or extensive movement, which includes hyperextension and rotation. This helps to stabilize the spine.
Facet joint syndrome happens when there is an injury or damage to the joints. There are a variety of causes, but basically, it is a sprain that is brought on by excessive movement. This damages the joint capsule and results in inflammation, swelling, and pain.
The pain triggers a protective mechanism in the spine called a reactive muscle spasm which causes difficulty moving comfortably and severe, sudden pain. It is difficult to sit and rest because of its integral function of supporting the body. Severe sprains can take weeks to heal, normally 2 to 6 weeks. The�daily pain and lack of mobility make everyday activities difficult and a normal lifestyle almost impossible.
Chiropractic/Physical Therapy
Chiropractic is a proven, effective treatment for facet syndrome.� A chiropractor will conduct a physical exam, discuss medical history, and send you for diagnostic tests like x-rays and MRIs. Once they have a clear picture of the condition and a facet joint syndrome diagnosis has been confirmed, they will discuss a recommended course of treatment that can include:
Exercise
They recommend exercises�specific�to the condition that helps relieve the pain while strengthening the muscles in the back.
Poor Posture
Posture is extremely important for spinal health and general wellness.
A chiropractor will help you achieve a proper, healthy posture along with exercises to do at home to maintain posture and retrain your body.
Heat/Ice
Heat wraps, hot showers or ice packs and cold pads can be recommended to help control pain and swelling.
Changes
Depending on job type, you may be advised to take frequent breaks if you sit all day or shorten your commute. Certain activities won�t be do-able for some time until your back heals.
Spinal manipulation
Spinal manipulation is the most standard chiropractic treatment. A chiropractor may include other treatments/therapies depending on the specific condition and lifestyle.
Chiropractic is a safe, effective, non-invasive, and drug-free way to treat facet joint syndrome, relieve back pain, and help you regain mobility. Talk to your chiropractor about treatment options. Our uplifting southwest community surrounded by its infinite beauty is a fantastic place to live and enjoy our families; it is, therefore, our mission to help each of our patients to live,�to�love,�to�matter�and�to�thrive�pain-free�in this beautiful special place.
Chiropractic is more than spinal manipulation. More people are choosing chiropractic for their pain symptoms, conditions, and injuries. Many are exchanging pills and surgery for all-natural non-invasive medicine known as chiropractic. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications and do not perform surgery. But they are trained to recognize when an injury is outside the scope of their practice and will refer an individual to the appropriate medical specialist.
Here are a few reasons why individuals are trying out chiropractic:
Doctors recommend chiropractic
The American College of Physicians recommends chiropractic and other non-drug treatments, as a first-line treatment for chronic and acute low back pain. Spinal manipulation is strongly recommended as a natural remedy. It is highly effective when combined with gentle exercises like Pilates, yoga, and tai chi.
Studies show spinal manipulation highly effective
The Journal of the American Medical Association cited spinal manipulation to be highly beneficial in treating lower back pain. Results are consistently showing that chiropractic treatment, specifically spinal manipulation, is effective in helping low back pain and improving function while minimizing pain.
95% Return for treatment
In the 2016 Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Report, 95% of people who used chiropractic say that it is an effective treatment. 97% said that if back or neck pain returned they would seek chiropractic treatment again. More than half of adults that have never seen a chiropractor said they would seek chiropractic treatment if they developed neck or back pain.
Chiropractic rated higher than All other treatments for back pain
A Consumer Reports survey ranked chiropractic as a top treatment compared to medications for back pain, osteoarthritis, and neck pain relief.
Individuals prefer a whole-body approach that includes:
Lifestyle recommendations
Dietary advice
Supplements for pain, immobility, and range of motion problems.
Many said they opted for natural treatments like chiropractic to avoid harmful and undesirable side effects of prescription medication.
Opioids
With the Centers for Disease Control declaring prescription abuse an epidemic, individuals are searching for safer options. Natural treatments are becoming more popular to avoid the potential for addiction. And not just addiction but the often side effects that come with prescription meds, like constipation, brain fog, nausea, dry mouth, etc.
Spine surgery rising Individuals seeking the less invasive option
Spinal fusion surgery has been on a steep rise, increasing by about 500%. Therefore many are going for natural treatment like chiropractic to avoid surgery. Chiropractic looks at the whole person along with advice on lifestyle habits, dietary adjustments, and exercise programs. The bottom line is it works. It is less invasive, and yes, it is drug-free, but most of all, it is effective.
How adjustments work
When the vertebrae become misaligned, they place pressure on the nerves and cause pain, swelling, awkward movement/s, etc. This is called a subluxation. Chiropractors use their repertoire of techniques that equal a form of spinal adjustment to treat the subluxations. An adjustment means that the vertebra is returned to the proper position in the spine. When the vertebrae are adjusted, tiny pockets of gas are released from the joints, sometimes make a popping/releasing noise. It is the same sound when cracking knuckles.
The benefits
Individuals with the following conditions have found chiropractic to be helpful:
Arthritis
Bursitis and
Fibromyalgia
Headaches
Leg pain
Pain or stiffness in the neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands, chest, abdomen, hips, legs, feet.
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Sports injuries
Tendonitis
Trauma injuries like auto accidents
Other Services
The main method of treatment is spinal adjustment, many chiropractors use a variety of therapies to treat patients, including:
Health Coaching
Exercise
Diet
Massage
Weight loss
Stress management
Chiropractic medicine is more than just spinal manipulation. Chiropractors use a variety of treatments to help the body heal itself and return individuals to a pain-free and healthy life.
Shoulder pain along with the kinds of shoulder problems like sprains and strains that chiropractors regularly treat often involves a form of rotator dysfunction. The shoulder has the greatest mobility of any joint in the body. However, there is little stability when in certain positions the soft tissues in the shoulder area can get injured through sports injury/s, recreational activities, at work or in a fall.�
This usually begins with dysfunction of the rotator cuff muscles and progresses to:
In cases like this, there is no direct, acute injury.
Every sprain and strain injury to the shoulder must be treated and rehabilitated�properly�to avoid future injuries and pain. There is a higher probability of shoulder instability that becomes chronic after an injury. This is because the surrounding muscles and connective tissues are what create shoulder joint stability.
Shoulder Pain
The shoulder goes through a great deal that we do not realize. It is made up of an intricate network of ligaments and muscles, with the rotator cuff taking most of the load/weight during movement and exertion. As aforementioned, the shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body, but it is one of the most unstable. For athletes, shoulder injuries are pretty common, as the shoulder sustains more injuries than almost any other part of the body.
The shoulder is unstable because of its unique construction. Other joints like the ankle or elbow are limited in their range of motion. The shoulder, on the other hand, can move pretty widely, which leaves it open to stress, injury, and pain. The soft tissues in the shoulder, muscles, tendons, and ligaments can get injured from overuse, excessive strain, falls, and improper motion.
Treating shoulder pain can be a challenge because it is used so much daily. A Chiropractor can bring relief to shoulder pain and speed up the healing process.
Injury and pain causes
Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of conditions. Injury is one of the most common causes and is seen in athletes, like swimmers, gymnasts, golfers, baseball players, bowlers, and tennis players, etc, who use their arms and shoulders regularly, place added stress on the joint.
Jobs that involve repetitive shoulder movements can also cause injury. People whose job requires repetitive motions or strenuous upper bodywork are at higher risk. Truck drivers, construction workers, warehouse and grocery store employees commonly experience shoulder injury and pain.
Prevention
Preventing shoulder pain and injury can be a simple process. Workers and athletes whose jobs require repetitive arm work or rotation should warm-up, and take stretching and shake out the hand/s and arm/s breaks. Pain should be addressed, as soon as it presents with ice/heat and a possible chiropractic appointment. Ignoring the pain could lead to a more serious/chronic condition.
Shoulder rest is always a must. The joint needs time off to heal and regular chores should not be resumed until the doctor or chiropractor clears the patient. Chiropractors usually recommend exercises and stretches geared toward the type of injury/s or condition/s.
Chiropractor
Chiropractic is highly beneficial for shoulder injury/s and shoulder pain.
It will:
Reduce pain
Relieve pain
Improve range of motion
Increase flexibility
Restore function to the joint
Different techniques are used depending on the type of injury or condition. The patient will be assessed by the chiropractor and will determine a treatment plan. Compression techniques have been found to be very effective for shoulder pain. It is favored because it is not strenuous for the doctor, is very safe, and is handled well by the patient. Chiropractic is the treatment of choice for shoulder pain because it is minimally invasive and it works.
Chiropractic addresses the entire body with its aim to relieve pain without drugs or surgery and keep the individual healthy and functioning at an optimal level. Are you, a family member, or friend suffering from shoulder stiffness/pain? If so, give us a call. Dr. Jimenez and his outstanding physical therapy team are here to help!
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
