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Chiropractic care is designed to help your body to function better by allowing the brain (the body's control center) to communicate with all 70 trillion cells that make up your body. In return, we see the body begin to adapt, heal, and regulate better and chronic signs and symptoms begin to be relieved. Below are just a few symptoms and conditions that have shown to improve after chiropractic care. If you or someone you know are experiencing any of these problems, please contact us for an appointment today.
Allergy
Millions of people who suffer from
a wide variety of conditions, allergies included, have benefited from
chiropractic care even though chiropractic is not an allergy treatment,
Why? Because chiropractic is a method of healthcare that permits your
body to function at its best. That is especially important if you
suffer from allergies.
But first, let's find out, what is an allergy? Your immune system keeps you 100% natural, organic, unadulterated! It recognizes and destroys anything not supposed to be in you: bacteria, and viruses, pollutants, dust, pollen, drugs, tumors, dead pieces of your own skin cells, and even artificial hearts and donor organs (Metal and plastic, however, don't trigger an immune reaction.) A healthy immune system means high resistance to disease and infection, better ability to deal with stress and greater health and well-being.
By releasing stress on the nervous system, chiropractic permits the immune system to function more effectively-something all allergy sufferers need. A nervous system without stress functions more efficiently. Recent understandings in psychoneuroimmunology reveal that when the nervous system functions better the immune system benefits.
Chiropractors correct a basic cause of body malfunction to improve the function of your immune system. Please note that the chiropractic approach is to remove vertebral subluxations, a common spinal distortion that puts stress on your nervous system. Freed of nervous system stress, your body will work more effectively to neutralize the allergy causing chemicals in your environment.
Disc problems
The disc is a small cartilage pad that is situated between spinal
bones. The soft jellylike center is contained by layers of fibrous
tissues. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber
for the spine. When healthy, discs allow normal bending and turning.
Since spinal discs have a very poor blood supply, they depend upon the
circulation of joint fluids to bring nutrients and expel waste. If a
spinal joint loses its normal motion and this pumping action is
impaired, the health of the disc deteriorates. Like a wet sponge, a
healthy disc is flexible. A dry sponge is hard, stiff, and can crack
easily. This is how many disc problems begin.
Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebra above and
below it, a disc cannot slip as commonly thought. However, trauma or
injury to the spine can cause discs to bulge, herniate, or worse,
rupture. This can be quite painful, putting pressure on the spinal cord
and nerve roots, interfering with their function.
While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided needless
surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing conservative
chiropractic care.
Whiplash
Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck
from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is
suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles
and ligaments that support the spine and head can be overstretched or
torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or
rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing
range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get
stretched and irritated. While occupants can suffer considerable soft
tissue injury, the car may only be slightly damaged.
The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can cause
headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulder, arms and
hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As
the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even
months later.
The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific
chiropractic adjustment to help return spinal function. After a
thorough examination and case history, the doctor will recommend a
series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of the
spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and
scar tissue can often be minimized.
Consult a Chiropractic Doctor before enduring constant headaches,
depending upon addictive pain medication, or submitting to surgery.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a condition
characterized by the gradual breakdown of joint cartilage, most common
in the weight bearing joints of the body such as the knees, hips, and
back. It is also common in the neck and hands. As the joint is broken
down it can lead to joint stiffness and increased strain on the muscles
in that area. Additionally, as joint function changes it can lead to
movement compensations and place strain on other areas of the body as
well. Although degenerative changes are common with age they do not
automatically result in pain. Research now shows that it is not the
degeneration of the joint that is responsible for pain but the effects
the degeneration has on how the joint is functioning particularly the
stiffness and muscles strain.
We focus on restoration and maintenance of function by emphasizing
joint movement and increasing the ability of the muscles to support and
stabilize the affected joints. In addition, we assess how the body as a
whole if functioning to uncover any other movement abnormalities that
may be affecting the degenerated area.
Joint Dysfunction
Joints of the body need to move. When this movement becomes
restricted and normal motion is altered several problems arise. Most
commonly joint dysfunction results in pain, stiffness, muscle
tightness, cartilage breakdown/degeneration, and movement compensation
leading to undue stress on other areas of the body. Joint dysfunction
are common in the spine and the extremities and can commonly occur with
injury, poor posture, muscles tightness, scar tissue, or muscles
imbalance.
The doctor will assess movement of the joints to feel for areas of
altered or restricted movements. Once identified, the abnormal movement
can be restored using a combination of chiropractic joint adjustments
and ART. Whenever possible simple home exercises are demonstrated to
facilitate and maintain proper motion in key areas. Underlying factors
such as poor posture and muscle imbalance often need to be addressed in
cases of chronic or recurrent joint dysfunction.
Neck/Low Back Pain
Subluxations (misalignments of the spinal column) are one of the most
common causes of neck and low back pain. When vertebrae are misaligned,
they put pressure directly on spinal nerves, causing pain. Muscle
spasms may set in, which can increase the pressure further. This extra
pressure can cause even more inflammation and irritation, which leads
to more pain and the cycle continues.
Often times stretching and massage may only temporarily relieve the
pain, because the cause (subluxation) has not been addressed. A
chiropractic adjustment focuses on correcting the cause.
Headaches
Studies suggest that 80% of headaches originate from the neck.
Usually an increased amount of stress and tension held in the shoulders
causes contractions of all of the surrounding neck muscles. When these
muscles contract, vertebrae can become misaligned causing pressure on
spinal nerves, and ultimately pain. With a typical cervicogenic (neck
origin) headache, a person usually feels pain starting at the base of
the skull which radiates into the temples, eyeballs, and forehead.
There may be several other causes of headaches, so a proper examination is needed to determine the actual cause.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is a long nerve originating in the lower
back and extending down the back of the leg. When this nerve is
irritated, it can cause pain, numbness, weakness, or other symptoms in
the lower back and down the leg. There are several possible causes of
this condition. A misaligned vertebra can cause inflammation of the
joints, putting pressure on the nerve. Bulging discs and muscle spasms
can also cause pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Several other conditions may cause this symptom, so a complete evaluation would be needed to correctly asses the exact cause.
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve is just that. It is a severely compressed nerve,
usually caused by a misaligned vertebra. When nerves get pinched they
become severely inflamed and muscles may spasm, causing even more
discomfort. The pain is usually so severe that you can't move that part
of the body and it can cause other symptoms as well.
There can be several causes of the pinched nerve; a proper examination is needed to determine the exact cause.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
These days millions of Americans have jobs which can have damaging
effects on the hands and arms. Repetitive movements which are not
performed with good ergonomics in mind can cause micro-trauma to the
hands and wrists. This trauma combined with joint dysfunction and
spinal problems may result in a condition known as carpal tunnel
syndrome. The median nerve which is affected travels from the tips of
the fingers through the wrist up the arm and into the neck connecting
to the spinal cord. If one or more of these structures are affected,
symptoms of wrist pain, numbness, weakness, burning and loss of muscle
function can occur.
Chiropractic can assure that all of the joints and muscles along the
path of the nerve are free of obstruction and functioning normally,
thus reducing nerve irritation.
Maintenance Care
What many people don't know is that you don't have to be injured to
benefit from chiropractic care. By staying well adjusted with
maintenance chiropractic care you can help prevent injury. Some other
possible benefits of maintenance care are: optimal nerve output for
optimal physical performance, improved posture, decreased stiffness,
increased mobility, energy, strength, circulation, and immune function
just to name a few.
Everybody benefits from chiropractic a little differently, but one thing everybody has in common is that they just feel better.
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