Category: Newsletter Library

Chiropractic Care for Frozen Shoulder Syndrome

Simple movements become painful or impossible when you have adhesive capsulitis, commonly called frozen shoulder. When your shoulder joint doesn’t move freely, it’s hard to raise your arm to retrieve a box of cereal from a high shelf, change a light bulb, or even hug a friend. Luckily, your chiropractor offers natural treatments that will improve your range of movement and decrease pain and inflammation.

How a Frozen Shoulder Develops

Your shoulder joint is surrounded by a layer of connective tissue called the shoulder capsule. If you injure your shoulder or have surgery, the connective tissue that forms the capsule may thicken or tighten, restricting the movement of your shoulder joint. Scar tissue, or adhesions, may also begin to form, limiting movement even more. You can also develop a frozen shoulder even if you don’t remember injuring the joint.

Freezing is the first phase of the condition. While your shoulder is freezing, pain is common. You may also notice that it’s a little difficult to move your shoulder. Once the condition reaches the frozen stage, pain may decrease, but raising or moving your arm will become very difficult.

Eventually, your shoulder will begin to thaw on its own. Unfortunately, the thawing process can take 6 months to 2 years, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Speed the Thawing Process

If a year or two sounds like a long time to wait to use your shoulder, it’s time to pay a visit to your chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment can relieve your pain and improve your ability to move your shoulder. After performing an examination and possibly ordering a test or two to determine the severity of your condition, your chiropractor may recommend one or more of these treatment options:

• Spinal Manipulation. Your issues may not be solely limited to your shoulder if you have a frozen shoulder. Tightness in your shoulder capsule can stress nearby muscles, triggering muscle spasms and pulling the vertebrae in your spine out of alignment. Spinal manipulation, a hands-on chiropractic treatment that realigns your spine can be helpful. Manipulating your collarbone and shoulder may help relieve stiffness and spasms and improve your range of motion.
• Niel Asher Technique. This painless technique involves stretching and manipulating the bones and tissues in the joint to loosen the shoulder. The technique can decrease pain and reduce stiffness and swelling that limits shoulder movement.
• Massage and Soft Tissue Mobilization. Your chiropractor may use one or both of these therapies to break apart adhesions and loosen tight tissues that prevent your shoulder joint from moving freely. Treatments also improve blood flow and trigger the release of natural chemicals that act as pain killers.
• Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Electrical nerve stimulation therapy prevents pain signals from reaching your brain. If your brain doesn’t receive the signals, you won’t feel pain. During the treatment, a gentle electrical current is delivered through electrodes placed on your skin.
• Stretching Exercises. Your chiropractor will teach you several exercises that will help loosen your shoulder joint and improve your range of motion. Performing the exercises between visits to the chiropractic office will help you avoid setbacks in your treatment.

A retrospective case series published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in 2012 revealed the positive effects of chiropractic treatment for frozen shoulder. Of the 50 cases reviewed, 16 patients experienced 100 percent improvement, 25 had 75 to 90 percent improvement, 8 patients noticed 50 to 75 percent improvement, and one showed 0 to 50 percent improvement after treatment. The length of treatment ranged from 11 to 51 days.

Are you ready to try chiropractic treatment for your frozen shoulder? Call our office to arrange your visit.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Chiropractic Management of Frozen Shoulder Syndrome Using a Novel Technique: A Retrospective Case Series of 50 Patients, 12/12

Chiropractic Economics: Thawing Out the Frozen Shoulder, 2/4/15

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Frozen Shoulder

Niel Asher: Trigger Point Therapy – 5-Ste- Shoulder Technique, 11/24/18

Do You Have Shin Splints? Chiropractic Care Can Help

Do you struggle with frequent shin splints? Chronic shin pain could be related to arch problems, underlying issues with your muscles, or shoes that don’t support your feet adequately. Your chiropractor can offer a few treatments that will relieve your pain and help you avoid shin splints in the future.

What Are Shin Splints?

Inflammation in the muscles, tendons, and tissue layer covering the tibia (shin) bone is responsible for shin splint pain. Shin splints are particularly common in runners, walkers, gymnasts, and dancers. If you participate in a sport that requires sudden stops and starts on a hard surface, such as basketball, tennis, or soccer, you may be more likely to develop shin splints.

Shin splints often develop after an unusually long or intense game, run, or workout. Stressed or fatigued calf muscles strain the tendons in your shin, causing shin splint pain. Tight calf muscles can also increase your risk.

Other risk factors include failing to stretch before exercising and wearing shoes that don’t provide enough cushioning or arch support.

How Do Chiropractors Treat Shin Splints?

A spinal misalignment may be a contributing factor in shin splint pain. In addition to causing pain, misalignments stress muscles, ligaments, and tendons, making it easier for you to hurt yourself when you’re active. As part of the treatment for shin splints, your chiropractor may recommend spinal manipulation, a treatment commonly referred to as an “adjustment.” Your chiropractor will use quick thrusts to realign your spine, which helps reduce pain and inflammation throughout your body.

Realigning your spine improves the alignment and balance of your entire body. In fact, once your spine is properly aligned, stress and strain on your lower leg may decrease.

Adjustments can also be performed on your knee, ankle, calf, and foot. Adjusting these areas will loosen muscles and improve blood flow, in addition to improving alignment.

As part of your treatment plan, your chiropractor may recommend one or more of these chiropractic treatments:

• Massage. Massaging tight muscles in your leg keeps them loose, eases pain, and may help you avoid new shin splints. Percussion massage can be an effective treatment for shin splints, according to Chiropractic Economics. During a percussion massage, vibrating rollers and massage devices are used to reduce knots, improve blood flow and decrease scar tissue.
• Shoe Inserts. You may be more likely to develop shin splints if you have high or low arches, or your feet tend to roll inward or outward when you walk. Prescription shoe inserts, called orthotics, will keep your feet properly balanced and supported. More than 75 percent of long-distance runners in one research study reported that they no longer had lower leg pain or that their symptoms had improved after wearing orthotics. The study appeared in the American Journal of Sports Medicine
• Soft Tissue Mobilization. A handheld instrument loosens tight tissues during soft tissue mobilization therapy and breaks up scar tissue around your tibia. The treatment relieves pain and may help you avoid shin splints when you return to your normal activities.
• Stretching Exercises. Your shin splints could be related to tight muscles in the back of your calf and weak muscles in the front of your lower leg. Your chiropractor will teach you stretching and strengthening exercises that will keep these muscles balanced.
• Ultrasound Therapy. Ultrasound therapy involves using sound waves to gently heat the deep tissues in your lower leg. The therapy eases pain, reduces inflammation and swelling, improves blood flow, and helps break up scar tissue.
• Taping. Applying flexible tape to your foot and lower leg may reduce stress on your shin. During your visit to the chiropractic office, you’ll learn how to apply the tape correctly.
• Dry Needling. Knots in your shin muscles may be to blame for your shin splints. Dry needling, a therapy that involves relaxing tight muscle fibers by inserting a needle into them, loosens and relaxes the knots.

Chiropractic care provides a safe, effective, natural way to treat shin splints and other painful conditions. If shin splints are a common problem for you, contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Chiropractic Economics: The Science Behind Percussion Massage, 4/20/21

PubMed: American Journal of Sports Medicine: Effectiveness of Orthotic Shoe Inserts in the Long-Distance Runner, July/August 1991

Medline Plus: Shin Splints – Self-Care, 11/5/18

11 Health and Wellness Benefits of Chiropractic Care

A healthy diet and regular exercise aren’t the only factors in health and wellness. Regular visits to your chiropractor help you reduce your risk of illness, ease the pain of chronic conditions, and even lower stress.

Protect and Improve Your Health with Chiropractic

Chiropractic care isn’t limited to treatments for back and neck pain. In fact, chiropractic offers an excellent way to maintain your health and avoid conditions and illnesses that can affect the quality of your life. Regular chiropractic care offers these important benefits:

1. Healthier Immune System: Misaligned vertebrae in your spine or neck can press on the nerves that serve the immune system, interfering with the system’s ability to fight illness. Spinal manipulation, a common chiropractic treatment, realigns your vertebrae and improves your resistance to diseases and infections.

2. No More Pain: Unlike prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers, chiropractic isn’t a temporary fix for pain. Treatments target the source of the problem, eliminating or reducing pain and preventing it from occurring again. Chiropractic offers a simple, effective way to treat pain in any part of the body.

3. Improved Balance: Poor balance can lead to falls and serious injuries. Balance issues are more common in senior citizens but can affect people of any age. Chiropractic treatment enhances the function of nerves involved in balance control, improves gait (walking) problems, and corrects imbalances that can cause misalignments in bones, joints, and muscles. Improving balance with chiropractic care can also help improve your sports performance and reduce your risk of injuries.

4. Natural Headache and Migraine Relief: Do you suffer from frequent tension headaches or migraines? Chiropractic treatments relax tight muscles in your head and neck and keep the vertebrae in your neck properly aligned. Regular treatment can help you reduce the number of days per month you experience headaches.

5. Excellent Posture: If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your posture when you work on your laptop or send a few texts on your phone. Unfortunately, poor posture can strain the muscles and bones in your back, neck, shoulders, and hips, causing pain and headaches. Chiropractic care realigns your joints, improves posture, and corrects imbalances.

6. Fewer Age-Related Aches and Pains: The natural effects of aging can take a toll on your body, causing arthritis, bulging discs, decreased flexibility, poor range of motion, and other problems. Your chiropractor offers a variety of treatments that can help you manage age-related issues.

7. Less Stiffness: Spinal manipulation, spinal mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, massage, and other chiropractic treatments reduce stiffness and inflammation that can make your joints feel tight. Visiting your chiropractor on a regular basis is a simple way to keep your joints and muscles loose and flexible.

8. Better Gastrointestinal Health: Chiropractic treatment offers a natural solution for stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and gas. Treatment is aimed at relaxing abdominal muscles and easing pressure on the nerves that travel to your stomach and intestines.

9. Lower Blood Pressure: High blood pressure stresses your arteries and your heart, increasing your risk of heart attack, dementia, and heart and kidney disease. Its effect on blood pressure is one of the lesser-known, but very important, benefits of chiropractic care. High blood pressure could be related to an alignment problem in the neck in some cases. Researchers at UChicago Medicine noted spinal manipulation therapy resulted in a significant drop in blood pressure in people who had misaligned vertebrae in their necks.

10. Natural Stress Reduction: Stress may be unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. Chiropractic treatment loosens tight muscles and triggers the production of endorphins, the hormones that ease pain and improve your mood.

11. An Answer to Your Sleep Problems: It’s difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep if you’re in pain or feel stressed. Unfortunately, insomnia is a common problem in the U.S. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 30 to 35 percent of Americans experience brief periods of insomnia, 15 to 20 percent develop symptoms that last less than three months, and 10 percent develop chronic insomnia. Chiropractic care relieves insomnia naturally, helping you get the sleep you need.

Would you like to enhance your health and wellness with chiropractic care? Contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Insomnia Awareness Day Facts and Statistics

UChicago Medicine: Special Chiropractic Adjustment Lowers Blood Pressure Among Hypertensive Patients with Misaligned C-1 Vertebrae, 3/14/07

The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association: What Effect Does Chiropractic Treatment Have on Gastrointestinal GI Disorders: A Narrative Review of the Literature, 6/15

U.S. News & World Report: Surprise: Chiropractors Can Treat These 5 Conditions, 11/30/15

How a Chiropractor Can Treat Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Surgery isn’t the only solution if you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, pain, and weakness. Your chiropractor offers several treatments that will ease your symptoms and make it easier to live with the nerve disorder.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Causes and Symptoms

As many as four to 10 million people in the U.S. have carpal tunnel syndrome, according to the American College of Rheumatology. The disorder occurs when the median nerve that travels from your hand to your wrist becomes compressed. In order to reach your hand, the nerve must pass through a tight pathway, or tunnel, made up of soft tissues and small bones in the wrist.

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms can develop if the tunnel narrows due to injuries, arthritis, fluid retention, or inflammation. When the tunnel is too narrow, pressure on the nerve causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms.

Nerve pressure may also increase if you participate in activities or work that requires repetitive hand motions, such as typing, knitting, or repairing cars. If you frequently use vibrating tools, your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome may increase. Women are more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, as their carpal tunnels may be smaller.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may affect your hands and fingers and can travel up your arm. Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Burning
• Pins-and-needles sensation
• Weakness
• Difficulty grasping or holding objects

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Improve Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms may actually be caused by a neck issue in some cases. In one study, researchers discovered that women who had carpal tunnel syndrome were more likely to have a restricted range of motion in their necks. Restricted movement in the neck was a factor in minimal, mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome, according to the study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.

It may be difficult to move your neck easily if the vertebrae in your neck aren’t properly aligned. Misaligned vertebrae can also press on nerves, which could trigger inflammation and swelling in and around the carpal tunnel.

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation, a common chiropractic treatment, improves alignment and may ease carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. During the treatment, your chiropractor uses quick, hands-on thrusts to realign the vertebrae in your neck and back. Wrist and elbow adjustments may also help decrease pressure on the median nerve.

In a case series published in the Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic, researchers reported that combining spinal manipulation with wrist manipulation offered an effective treatment method for carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy offers another way to treat your symptoms. Sound waves produced by a small, handheld device penetrate deep into your tissues during your treatment. The waves decrease inflammation, relax soft tissues, improve blood flow, and reduce pain.

Therapeutic Taping

Your doctor may recommend that you tape your wrists or wear wrist supports to improve the alignment of your wrist and decrease pressure on your median nerve. If you tend to sleep with your wrists bent at night, wearing wrist supports can help you break this habit.

Exercises

Your treatment might include exercises that improve nerve movement and help strengthen your hands. Exercises can prevent your condition from worsening and relieve symptoms when they occur.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy may be part of your chiropractic treatment plan. Massage treatments relax and lengthen muscles from your neck to your hand, reducing pressure on the median nerve. The therapy also eases inflammation and numbness and triggers the release of endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers.

Have you been struggling with your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms? Chiropractic care can help you improve your grip and ease pain, numbness, and weakness. Contact our office to schedule a convenient appointment with the chiropractor.

Sources:

American College of Rheumatology: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Canadian Chiropractic Association: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 12/11/19

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Therapeutic Exercises for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, 10/18

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy: Women With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Show Restricted Cervical Range of Motion, 5/11

Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic: Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Conservative Multimodal Therapy: A Prospective Case Series of Outcomes with Concurrent Wrist and Cervical Manipulation, 2019

Medline Plus: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Chiropractic Care for Regaining Your Balance and Coordination

Good balance and coordination can help you avoid falls and improve your sports performance. If you’re not making saves during the game or feeling a little unsteady on your feet, chiropractic care may be just what you need to improve your balance and coordination.

How Poor Balance Can Affect Your Life

Information from your eyes, inner ears, muscles, and joints help your brain control your balance. When your balance system is operating normally, you’ll be able to walk, stand, or perform more complicated movements easily. If the brain receives conflicting messages from any of these structures, dizziness, poor coordination, or balance problems can occur.

Balance issues are particularly common in older people. More than 25 percent of older people fall every year, resulting in 3 million emergency room visits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ability to maintain your balance naturally declines with age but can be affected by arthritis and other joint conditions.

No matter what your age, problems with balance may make it more difficult to walk on uneven terrain, climb stairs safely or stand on a ladder to change a light bulb. If you’re an athlete, poor balance could affect your ability to make contact with the ball or stay on your feet when pivoting suddenly. Balance or coordination issues can increase your risk of injury while playing or practicing and prevent you from performing at your optimum level.

Improving Balance with Chiropractic Treatment

Your balance issues may be related to:

• Misalignments: Even a slight imbalance or misalignment in your bones, joints, or muscles can affect your balance. Alignment issues can be a result of falls or overuse but can also occur due to poor posture or normal wear and tear on your body. Bone and joint misalignments increase tension on muscles, tendons, and ligaments, worsening alignment issues and making injuries more likely.
• Nerve Issues: Misaligned bones, muscles, or tendons can press against nerves, disrupting the signals sent between the various parts of your body and your brain. When the nerves don’t function normally, the signals that control balance can be affected. As a result, you may experience dizziness, vertigo, poor coordination, and loss of balance. A misalignment in the vertebrae in your neck could affect the nerves that lead to your inner ear, affecting the balance center in the ear.
• A Gait Problem: Your gait (the way you walk) may contribute to your balance issues. A misaligned spine or pelvis may throw off your stride, causing an abnormal gait.

Chiropractors use a variety of therapies to improve alignment, balance your muscles and bones, and enhance nerve function. Spinal manipulation, also called a spinal adjustment, improves the alignment of the vertebrae in your back and neck. Once the vertebrae are properly aligned, nerve function, posture, and muscle balance and strength will also improve.

In a study that appeared in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, researchers used spinal manipulation to treat patients complaining of neck pain, dizziness, and balance problems. Most of the participants noticed improved balance after treatment and some experienced less dizziness.

Older adults in New Zealand who received 12 weeks of chiropractic care during a research study had improved sensorimotor function after treatment. “Sensorimotor” refers to the combination of systems needed for good balance.

If your problems are due to an injury, chiropractic treatment can help you regain strength and balance more quickly. In addition to providing helpful treatments, your chiropractor can also show you exercises that will help strengthen the muscles that support your joints and offer tips that will help you improve your posture and gait.

Does chiropractic treatment sound like the perfect solution to your balance problems? Contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: Effects of Chiropractic Care on Dizziness, Neck Pain, and Balance: a Single-Group, Preexperimental, Feasibility Study, 12/9

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics: Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial, 5/16

Vestibular Disorders Association: The Human Balance System

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Important Facts About Falls

Chiropractic Care Can Relieve the Pain of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Do you have pain in your lower back and hips due to sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction? The condition can make walking, standing, or sitting painful and keep you from doing the things you need to do. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment offers an effective way to manage SI pain.

What Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

Your sacroiliac (SI) joints connect your pelvis to the sacrum. The sacrum is a triangular-shaped bone located just below the lowest set of vertebrae in your spine. The pelvis, a bowl-shaped bony structure, contains the bowel, bladder, and reproductive organs.

One SI joint is located on either side of the upper part of the pelvis. Stretchy bands of tissue called ligaments hold the bones of the SI joint together. In addition to supporting the joint, the ligaments also prevent the joint from moving too much.

SI pain occurs when the joint is either too tight or moves too much. Movement issues may misalign the joint and cause inflammation in the tissues that support the joint. Pain can also happen if the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears away due to injuries or the natural effects of aging.

The disorder causes hip or back pain that may only occur on one side. Pain can be dull or sharp and may extend into the groin or legs in some cases. Pain may worsen when you bend or twist, stand, or walk after sitting for a while or climb stairs. You might experience stiffness, limited range of motion, or notice that your leg buckles sometimes when you stand.

What Causes Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

You may be more likely to develop SI pain if:

• You’re Obese or Overweight. Excess weight may strain the SI joint causing the disorder.
• You’re Pregnant or Recently Had a Child. During pregnancy, your body produces relaxin, a hormone that loosens the ligaments in your pelvis. Loosening the ligaments prepares your body for childbirth but may increase your risk of sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
• You Have a Gait Problem. An imbalance between the left and right sides of your body may stress the SI joint and lead to sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The disorder can be related to a change in the way you walk, which is called your gait. A gait change might occur due to knee or hip pain, wearing a boot after an accident or surgery, weight gain, or pregnancy. It can also happen if one of your legs is shorter than the others.
• You Don’t Move Enough. The muscles that support your SI joints can tighten if you’re inactive. Tight muscles may pull a joint out of alignment, causing pain. If your job requires sitting for long periods, you may be at increased risk of developing sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
• You Had an Injury: Falls and other injuries can also affect the alignment of your sacroiliac joint.
• You Have a Chronic Condition or Had Surgery. Arthritis, autoimmune disorders, or back or hip surgery may increase your risk of SI problems.

How Do Chiropractors Treat Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

Chiropractic treatment is aimed at:

• Improving the alignment of your SI joint
• Decreasing inflammation
• Strengthening and stretching the muscles and tissues that support your pelvis

Realigning your SI joint is a priority. Your chiropractor may use either of these methods to restore the normal alignment to your joint and reduce pressure and inflammation:

• Spinal Manipulation: This treatment involves using quick, hands-on movement to realign your SI joint. A handheld device may be used to deliver quick thrusts.
• Spinal Mobilization: Spinal mobilization also realigns joints but uses slower movements.

Treatment plans vary depending on the severity of your condition but may include these therapies in addition to spinal manipulation or mobilization:

• Ultrasound Therapy. The therapy reaches deep into your tissues, warming tight muscles and ligaments.
• Flexion-Distraction. Your chiropractor uses a moving table to stretch your spine and pelvis.
• Exercises and Stretches. Several exercises and stretches will keep your SI joint limber and strengthen the muscles that support it.
• Massage. Massage loosens tight muscles, improves blood flow, and reduces pain.
• Heat Therapy. Applying heat can ease pain and help keep muscles from tightening while you’re recovering.
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS). TENS therapy blocks painful nerve impulses with a gentle electrical current.
• Orthotics. Orthotics are prescription shoe inserts that balance and support your feet and can improve gait issues.
• Sacroiliac Belt. Your chiropractor may give you a special belt that supports your joint and reduces your pain.

Don’t let sacroiliac joint dysfunction take over your life. Contact our office to schedule your chiropractic appointment.

Sources:

SPINE-health: Chiropractic Procedures for the Sacroiliac Joint

Spine Universe: Chiropractic Treats Sacroiliac Joint Pain and Dysfunction

Medline Plus: Sacroiliac Joint Pain – Aftercare, 11/5/18

Hurt at Work? Chiropractic Treatment Can Help You Recover from Your Injuries

Whether you work in an office, a fishing boat, a manufacturing plant, or another location, you may be injured on the job at one time or another. In fact, 2.8 million people suffered workplace injuries in just one year, according to the 2019 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. If you’re ever injured on the job, chiropractic care can ease your pain and help you get back to work sooner.

Types of Injuries Your Chiropractor Can Treat

Chiropractors treat a variety of on-the-job injuries, including:

• Strained and Sprained Muscles and Joints
• Pinched Nerves
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tendonitis of the Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder, or Knee
• Herniated Discs
• Whiplash
• Back and Neck Pain
• Arm and Shoulder Pain
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Sciatica
• Bursitis
• Trigger Point Pain
• Hip Pain

Chiropractic Treatment Eases Pain Practically Anywhere in Your Body

Lifting, turning, holding, pushing, throwing, or carrying objects are the top cause of workplace-related injuries, according to the National Safety Council. These injuries can strain the muscles in your back and neck and move your spine out of its natural alignment. Back and neck injuries may also occur as a result of poor posture. If you spend hours sitting at a desk, driving a truck, or using a digital device, you may be more likely to develop neck or back pain.

Spinal manipulation, a treatment used to correct spinal alignment, can ease your pain. The treatment involves quick, hands-on pressure that moves vertebrae back into alignment.

Once your spine is properly aligned, you’ll also notice less tension in your muscles. Manipulation, massage, ultrasound therapy, and other treatments improve the flow of blood to the injured area, which speeds healing. Treatments also decrease inflammation and decrease painful pressure on your nerves.

Sciatica, a condition that occurs when nerves in your lower back become pinched or irritated, can be a problem if you’ve been hurt at work. The shooting pain travels from your lower back to your buttocks and legs, making it difficult to walk, stand, or even sit. Reducing the pressure on the nerves with chiropractic treatment relieves the pain and reduces nerve inflammation and muscle spasms.

Chiropractic treatment is just as effective at improving carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, reducing bursitis pain, or loosening knotted muscles. When a workplace injury causes knee or hip pain, chiropractic care offers an excellent solution. Hip or knee manipulations keep joints loose and mobile, reduce inflammation, and restore normal function.

Your Range of Motion Will Improve After Chiropractic Treatment

After an injury, you may notice that you can’t move your back, neck, arms, or legs quite as easily as you could before. Range of motion issues can be caused by spinal misalignments, tight muscles, or scar tissue build-up around a joint.

Chiropractic treatment improves the range of motion by realigning your spine and loosening muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Massage and soft tissue mobilization treatments gently break apart scar tissue, relax muscles, and stretch tight tissues.

Chiropractic Offers an All-Natural Way to Treat Pain

Pain medication is certainly effective, but it does have a few troubling drawbacks. It’s easy to become addicted to prescription painkillers, particularly if you’re taking opioid medications. Fortunately, addiction is much less likely to be a problem if you’re under the care of a chiropractor.

In fact, patients who received chiropractic treatment for neck or back pain had 64% lower odds of receiving an opioid prescription, according to a meta-analysis published in the February 2020 issue of Pain Medicine.

Chiropractic treatment can also help you avoid nausea, drowsiness, and other prescription drug side effects. The treatments may make it possible to forgo prescription pain medications completely, or at least reduce the dosage.

Are you suffering from an on-the-job injury? We can ease your pain and help you get back to work. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employer-Reported Injury and Illnesses, 2019, 11/4/20

PubMed: Pain Medicine: Association Between Chiropractic Use and Opioid Receipt Among Patients with Spinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 2/1/20

Chiropractic Economics: Text Neck Pain, Treatment and Prevention, 10/30/19

Palmer College of Chiropractic: Benefits of Chiropractic

National Safety Council: Top Work-Related Injury Causes

American Chiropractic Association: Neck Pain and Chiropractic

10 Signs That You Need a Chiropractic Adjustment

Do you know when it’s time to schedule a chiropractic adjustment? If you have any of these issues, it’s a good idea to visit your chiropractor.

1. Pain Anywhere in Your Body

Poor posture, stress, strain, and injuries can lead to a misalignment of the vertebrae that make up your spine. Even minor misalignments of your spine can cause problems that affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves in your back, neck, and other areas of the body.

A chiropractic adjustment, also called spinal manipulation, realigns your spine with a quick, hands-on thrusting motion. Adjustments not only improve joint function but also reduce muscle tension responsible for pain and stiffness.

2. Range of Motion Problems

A range of motion problem makes it difficult to fully extend or move your arm, leg, shoulder, hip, back, knee, or other joints. Inflammation, joint injuries, stiffness, and scar tissue may cause mobility problems. Pain may also be a factor. If it hurts too much to move your joint, you may limit its movement to avoid triggering the painful sensations.

Chiropractic therapies treat the source of your pain and improve range of motion issues by improving joint alignment, decreasing inflammation, and increasing blood flow to the restricted joint.

3. A Recent Accident

A chiropractic adjustment can help you recover more quickly from a car accident, fall, or another injury. In adjusting to realigning your vertebrae, chiropractic treatments improve blood flow to the injured area, speeding healing. Treatments also relieve muscle spasms and stiffness and break apart scar tissue before it can restrict your range of motion.

4. Sciatica

Chiropractic care offers a natural way to treat sciatica, an annoying condition that sends pain shooting from your back to one or both of your legs. Sciatica happens when nerves in your back become inflamed and irritated. The problem may occur if a herniated disc or an out-of-alignment vertebra presses on the nerve. Fortunately, your chiropractor can treat sciatica with adjustments, cold therapy, massage, spinal decompression, ultrasound, and electrical nerve stimulation.

5. Headaches

If you’ve been struggling with tension headaches or migraines, your chiropractor offers drug-free relief for your painful symptoms. Adjustments and other treatments increase blood flow to your head and relax tight muscles.

Chiropractic treatment can improve migraines and headaches that originate from the neck, according to evidence-informed practice recommendations offered by The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.

6. Numbness and Tingling

Reduced blood flow or nerve issues may be to blame if you experience numbness and tingling in your hands, feet, legs, arms, or other parts of the body. Adjustments decrease pressure on the nerves and blood vessels, reducing pain and improving blood flow.

7. Gastrointestinal Issues

Your chiropractor doesn’t just treat head and neck pain but can also help you manage gastrointestinal complaints, like cramps, heartburn, diarrhea, and gas. Relieving pressure on your nerves with chiropractic adjustments helps your stomach and intestines function normally. Chiropractic care also targets tense abdominal muscles that can make stomach problems worse.

8. Insomnia

It’s difficult to sleep if you’re in constant pain or are dealing with the unpleasant side effects of pain medications. Chiropractic treatment relieves pain naturally, helping you sleep better. Treatments also prompt your body to release endorphins, hormones that act as natural painkillers.

9. Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Spine)

Stiffness and inflammation in your back or neck may be a problem if you have arthritis, a condition that can be caused by age-related wear and tear. Adjustments improve range of motion and reduce pain, while flexion-distraction therapy decompresses and stretches the vertebrae. Your chiropractor may also recommend massage, traction, spinal manipulation, ultrasound, and other therapies.

10. High Blood Pressure

Chiropractic adjustments may even help you lower your blood pressure. A UChicago Medicine Study discovered that after receiving adjustments, blood pressure declined significantly in people who had misaligned vertebrae in their necks.

Chiropractic adjustments offer a simple way to ease your pain and protect your health. Contact us if you’re ready to schedule your next appointment.

Sources:

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics: Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Headache, 6/11

UChicago Medicine: Special Chiropractic Adjustment Lowers Blood Pressure Among Hypertensive Patients with Misaligned C-1 Vertebrae, 3/14/07

American Chiropractic Association: Whiplash: More than Standard Neck Pain, 3/15

The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association: What Effect Does Chiropractic Treatment Have on Gastrointestinal GI Disorders: A Narrative Review of the Literature, 6/15

U.S. News & World Report: Surprise: Chiropractors Can Treat These 5 Conditions, 11/30/15

How to Prevent Back Pain While Working

It’s hard to focus on your job when your back hurts. Unfortunately, standing or sitting for hours can stress your back and worsen your aches and pains. These eight tips can help you reduce or prevent job-related back pain.

1. Change Your Position Often

Stress and strain on your back are more likely to occur when you remain in the same position for a long time. Whether you work in construction, drive a truck, or spend the day in an office, changing your position regularly will reduce the strain on your back.

Breaks don’t have to be long to be effective. A five-minute standing or stretching break every hour or two will decrease the effects of stress and strain. If you spend most of your shift standing, incorporate a few sitting breaks into your day if possible.

2. Switch to Ergonomic Office Furniture

Ergonomic office furniture reduces stress on your back and improves your sitting posture. Office chairs designed with ergonomic features support the lumbar curve in your lower back and reduce slouching and back strain. Spine-health notes that your chair will be properly adjusted for your height if:

• Your arms are even with the top of your desk.
• Your feet are flat on the floor. (A small footstool can be helpful if your feet don’t quite reach the floor.)
• Your thighs are horizontal.

Ergonomic furniture is just as important whether you work in an office, factory, or at home. Your kitchen chair or couch probably don’t offer adequate support for your back and may contribute to slouching or posture problems.

3. Practice Safe Lifting Techniques

You’re more likely to strain the muscles and ligaments in your back if you don’t use proper lifting techniques or lift an item that’s too heavy for you to safely handle by yourself. When you lift a box or other heavy objects, crouch down and bend your knees. Bending your knees while lifting makes it easier to use your strong leg muscles and limits strain on your back muscles.

Keep the item close to your chest, and don’t twist while you lift. Try picking up a corner of the box before you lift it. If it feels too heavy, ask for help or use machinery to move the item.

4. Wear Supportive Shoes

Your shoes may be a contributing factor in back pain. Your feet support the weight of your body and help keep your spine properly aligned. If your shoes aren’t supportive, you’ll be much more likely to experience back, hip, or leg pain. Wearing shoes with supportive arches or adding orthotics to your shoes can be helpful. Orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts that support your feet and keep them properly positioned in your shoes.

5. Try Stress Reduction Techniques

Stress can cause back pain or make it worse. In fact, 29 percent of Americans surveyed by Statista said that they thought stress was the source of their back pain. When you’re stressed, the muscles in your back, shoulder, and neck become tense, which can lead to pain and headaches. Meditation can be helpful, but participating in any activity you enjoy may lower your stress level.

6. Lose Weight

If you’re above your ideal weight, losing a few pounds will reduce stress on your back and your joints. In addition to straining your back muscles, being overweight or obese increases your risk of degenerative disk disease and arthritis in your spine.

7. Stop Smoking

Smoking can cause faster deterioration of the discs between the vertebrae in your spine, reduce blood flow to the ligaments and muscles in your back, and slow healing if you injure your back. In a U.S. study published in Cureus in 2016, 36.9 percent of current smokers reported back pain compared to just 23.5 percent of people who had never smoked.

8. Visit Your Chiropractor

Regular visits to your chiropractor will reduce the effects of stress and strain on your back. Back pain often occurs when the vertebrae in your back become misaligned. Misalignments stress joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and can press on nerves causing increased pain. Spinal manipulations, commonly called adjustments, realign the spine, easing pain. Massage, traction, ultrasound therapy, and other chiropractic treatments may also be part of your treatment plan.

Work doesn’t have to be a painful experience. We offer the treatments you need to relieve your back pain naturally. Call our office to schedule your chiropractic appointment.

Sources:

Cureus: Association Between Smoking and Back Pain in a Cross-Section of Adult Americans, 9/16

Mayo Clinic: Back Pain at Work: Preventing Pain and Injury, 5/22/19

Spine-health: Choosing the Right Ergonomic Office Chair, 7/2/04

OrthoInfo: Preventing Back Pain at Work and at Home

Statista: Back Pain in the U.S. – Statistics & Facts, 11/21/19

What’s Causing Your Back Pain?

Nearly everyone has back pain from time to time. In fact, 60 to 70 percent of people living in industrialized countries have experienced low back pain, according to World Health Organization estimates. Back pain can occur for many reasons, including these common causes.

Herniated Disc

Flexible discs located between the vertebra in your spine help hold your spine together and act as shock absorbers when you move. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of the disc protrudes through the tough, outer coating. The bulging disc can press against nerves in your spine, triggering back pain. Wear and tear due to aging is a common cause of herniated discs, but they can also occur as a result of an injury.

Spinal Stenosis

Wear and tear may also cause spinal stenosis, a condition that occurs when the spine narrows and presses on nerves. In addition to back pain, spinal stenosis can also cause numbness, tingling or weakness in your arm, leg, foot, or hand.

Spondylosis

Arthritis can affect any bone in your body, including those in your back. When arthritis occurs in the spine, it’s called spondylosis.

Sprains or Strains

Did your pain start after you lifted something heavy, fell, or started a new, intensive workout program? You may have strained or sprained the muscles or ligaments in your back.

Scoliosis

You may be more likely to experience back pain if you have scoliosis, a condition that causes an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. Children are most often affected by scoliosis, but older adults may develop it due to wear or tear or injuries.

Sciatica

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve in your spine becomes irritated. Irritation can be caused by a herniated disc, bone spur, or even spinal stenosis. Pain from your back usually radiates to your buttocks and leg if you have sciatica. Other symptoms can include numbness or weakness in your leg.

Disc Degeneration

As you get older, the discs that cushion your spine can begin to break down, dry out, and become less flexible. If you have disc degeneration, you might notice pain in your lower back, buttocks, or thighs.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens your bones, may cause painful fractures in your vertebrae. If you have a fracture, you may notice that your back feels worse when you stand, walk, or bend.

Other Back Pain Causes

Pain in your back doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a problem with your spine. Fibromyalgia, kidney stones, endometriosis, gallstones, pancreatitis, and other diseases and conditions can also trigger pain in your back.

What You Can Do About Back Pain

These tips can help you manage your back pain:

• Use Proper Lifting Techniques. Use your legs, not your back, to lift heavy objects. Wait until someone else is available to help with lifting if the package or object is very heavy.
• Lose Weight. Excess weight strains your back and can increase back pain. Losing weight just might be a simple way to ease your pain.
• Stop Smoking. Smokers are at increased risk of back pain, according to a study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science in 2016. In a national health survey, only 23.5 percent of non-smokers reported back pain compared to 36.9 percent of current smokers.
• Exercise. Exercise keeps your back flexible and decreases pain and stiffness. Weight-bearing exercise is particularly important, as it keeps your bones strong and may decrease your risk of fractures due to osteoporosis.
• Visit Your Chiropractor: Chiropractors offer a variety of therapies and treatments that relieve back pain naturally, including spinal manipulation and mobilization, massage, soft tissue manipulation, ultrasound therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation treatment.

Are you struggling with back pain? Give our office a call and schedule a convenient appointment.

Sources:

World Health Organization: Low Back Pain

Cureus Journal of Medical Science: Association Between Smoking and Back Pain in a Cross-Section of Adult Americans, 9/16

Mayo Clinic: Back Pain

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Low Back Pain Fact Sheet